Before I get to the pictures of the past couple of weeks, just sit right there and let me tell you a story that's kinda funny in a horrifying sort of way...

This morning Mia woke up much too early so I laid down with her in Jill's bed because Jill was in my bed because according to her, last night around 2am, there was a bunch of bees in her room. Anyhow as I lay there awake, I heard Lucas get up. I could hear him rummaging around doing who knows what. Fast forward 30 min or so, Lucas calls for me repeatedly until I finally succumb and get up. As I round the corner I see Lucas standing there in his swim trunks and rash guard dripping wet and beside him, Henry, muddy and dripping wet.
"WHAT are you doing? WHAT...Why?...WHAT?"
To my stammering he says with a look of innocence with a pinch of self-satisfaction, "I was hot."
"WHAT?"
"I went outside and played with Henry." As if that should have been explanation enough. I look outside and see a sprinkler going at full force.
"WHAT! WHAT! WHY? WHY would you do that?"
"I was hot."

Commence, Mommy laughing/crying. What else can one do?

I still do not know what possessed the boy to go play in the sprinkler at 7 am on a 50 degree morning. How does one come to conclusion that that would be an acceptable thing to do? WHAT in the world! After cleaning up after Henry, I think he may have learned not to let a muddy wet dog (and you know what wet dogs like to do) in the house. Oh who am I kidding. I have no idea if he learned anything. Can anyone out there with this sort of experience tell me when little boys develop that thing that says, "Stop just one little moment and THINK!"

Anyhow, on to other things. A couple Saturdays ago my sane, gentle, unadventurous one was running with an orange and fell on an open drawer and cracked her head open requiring 5 stitches. When Jill tells the story she always emphasizes how she was running with an orange which cracks me up since it has nothing to do with anything of importance. She was exceptionally brave during the whole ordeal which reminds me of another story. I suppose since your sitting there, I'll tell you that one too. As soon as I saw the split I knew it needed extra attention. She actually cried more about having to go to the doctor than the actual injury. Nathan stayed home with the other 2 and I ran her to the ER. First they put some "magic gel" on the wound to numb it and then they gave her some shots to deaden it. As they were giving her the shots I thought "I better not watch, I don't want to get woozy." Strangely enough at that exact moment the room got really warm.

I took me jacket off and the Dr. looked at me pointedly, "Are you o.k?"

"Oh, ya I'm fine." I'm not THAT kind of mom. I can handle stuff like this and why is there a ringing in my ears?

"Actually, I think I'm going to just sit down."

Dr, loudly, "We're going to need a gurney in here. I have a mom that's (insert medical term for a big ole wimp)".

So for the rest of the procedure I laid on the gurney next to my brave girl holding her hand and helping her through. SO embarrassing.

Enough stories...here are the pictures.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

and video...

I forgot the memory card for the camera so I had to use my phone video for Jill's performance. She is in the brown dress with red sash. The girl in the blue dress beside her is her bestest friend. Jill didn't smile once but she sure got into it. ;)

November Wrap

I'm liking this wrap business. This way I only get frustrated once a month when I can't get the pictures to upload the first time. So before the December crazies start let's wrap up November...

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

cruisin'

I can't really remember the circumstances the allowed for a half dressed baby in her shades to be riding her rocket up and down the street but I do remember standing there with several neighbors laughing at how fast she was going with her bare feet and her crazy get up.

October Wrap

Before we finish the month of November, here are October pictures.

First up, weekend in Shadow Hills for the Sunday School Picnic and time with family and friends.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

And all the rest..

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Grpa and Grma Visit

A few weeks ago, we got to have a visit from Grandpa and Grandma. Ohh the excitement of anticipation! Growing up I remember checking the front windows every 2 minutes hoping to see that car from Walla Walla pull around the corner. I love watching my kids do the same. Course, I'm still pretty excited myself to see that Idaho car pull around the corner.

One day while they were here, we pulled L. out of school and spent the day downtown San Diego. We visited the Maritime museum and finished with a Padre game.

As for the rest of the visit, what did we do? I know we had fun. I know Nathan and I got to go to breakfast all by ourselves. I know Grandpa spent a good amount of time building Lucas a ramp for his birthday. I know Grandma crocheted a scarf and 2 hats for the girls. I know I want them to come back! :)

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

As I already mentioned, Lucas had a birthday while they were here. These are the pictures from his party and the next day at the beach with the McElwee's

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Summer Revisited

Hey now! Look what I finally got loaded onto my computer....Pictures from our trip to Idaho...that we took back in July. They were on Nathan's computer which is UPSTAIRS. Ya'll understand why this took a couple of months to get done now don't you.

Enjoy! :)

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Labor Day 2010

We ran up to LA for Labor Day to spend a couple of days with family and friends.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Lucas and his buddy cracking themselves up...

Mugu Camping

Before school started we did have a summer, sort of. It felt too cold and too short to be a real summer but I guess it was. We did get a couple of fun trips in and the rest of the time enjoyed being schedule free, except for swim lessons. Here are some pictures from a camping trip in July at the Mugu Navy base.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

School

Last week we started back at it. Lucas was VERY excited to see his friends again. He has been blessed with a teacher that seems really fun, energetic and sweet. I dare say, she will need the energy.
Jill started at the preschool Lucas attended. She loves it and can't understand why she can't go every day instead of just two.

I tell her she can't go every day because what would Mia and I do without her.

That I need her sweet smile at home with me.

But I do love to watch her be so excited about something.

Happy 4th

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Fair pictures

and a to finish out the month a few of the kids as we were going out the door to a restaurant for my birthday...

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

A smile

Nathan Lucas and Jill are sleeping out in the driveway in the surfing camper tonight and Mia is sound asleep in her bed so I'm going to get some quilting done tonight but I wanted to post this picture real quick. I thought maybe some of my Idaho family could use a smile after this hard week and this picture just made me smile.

More County Fair pictures to follow...

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Almost summer

Last week we had a little taste of summer.

And last week Lucas had his open house at school. School is winding down and summer is a coming...I can almost taste it. (ha...sorry that was lame)

Jill's Birthday

Last Saturday was Jill's 4th birthday.

She wanted donuts for breakfast...with a little milk to cut the sweet.

Saturday was also the last game of the season for #9.

One last chance for team-work.

One last time to get the stop.

One last chance to demonstrate to coach what went wrong.

(The outfielder on the left is demonstrating the intense focus of t-ballers.)

And one last at-bat.And finally he got what he really wanted, a trophy!

From T-ball we headed home to party...

The Party

For Jill's 4th we decided to do a "real" party - verses the usual dinner and cupcakes. For fun I made a hot dog and ice cream parlour "stand" for the dinner. Our neighbor let us borrow his hot dog cooker and popcorn maker which the kids loved - what's better than getting popcorn out by yourself! Jill was sacked out on her bed when all the guests arrived. I eventually had to wake her up so we could get the party started.

The menu was hot dogs, sausages, chips and other heart-healthy dishes, like potato salad. Jill kept saying that she just wanted ice cream not cake so we made sundaes with all the fixings for dessert. Although I have no pictures of it we stuck 4 candles in a scope of ice cream and it worked just fine.

She had so much fun with all of her friends. It was a real treat. The girls made princess tiara's and the boys made pirate hats.

Cheetos Smile!Lucas and his cohort, Aiden

That is a deflated bounce house in the background.

Not only did it give the kids something to do but it also got rid of some of the energy that comes with a bunch of kids full of hot dogs and ice cream. Money well spent.From the cheetos to the ice cream.

Mia was lovin' having all that food lying around with parents being occupied elsewhere. I kept hearing "Hey! Mia's eating my food!" They should just be thankful we kept our other little food thief locked up.

Poor Henry.Sweet birthday girl. We love you. Happy birthday!

Wedding

Last Friday we got to attend this lovely wedding. Somehow most of the picts I came home with were of the children.

The Beautiful Bride Mia and her buddy

This is how Mia looks to me. Is that funny to say? This look is just how she looks at me.

Girl's Turn

Jill wanted to show her room to Grandpa and Grandma too! She throughly enjoyed "modeling" her room for me. Actually one of the things I like about the girl's room is that both Grandma's helped me make major decorating decisions - which I usually analyze, theorize, hypothesize to death - even though there are miles between us. Decision #1 -wallpaper. I knew I wanted to do a wall but the idea I had conjured up in my mind I couldn't find anywhere. Finally I had narrowed what I could find down to two choices but which one? Barb happened to be here and I laid out my arguements for each option. She agreed with me that the one I was leaning toward was best and then she helped me figure out how much I would need and how much it would cost and then she picked me up off the floor and helped me convince myself that what I really wanted was the cheaper one. Thank you, Barb. Money aside, I think it was actually the better choice....at least that is what I will tell myself.

Decision #2 - what color to paint their old dresser. Mom helped me see the light on this one. Although the first few strokes of paint caused me some anxiety, I'm really happy we went bold. It just looks so girly and fun to me.

Model Jill. Yes the picture in the frame is upside down. It came that way and I haven't decided what picture of ours to put into it. Anyone coming down to help me??

She wanted to take a picture of her reading a book but she couldn't help but peek up at me.

So there you have it...the girl's room.

All I need to do now is finish the quilt for Jill's bed.

Here is what that quilt looks like so far. Yeah it will be awhile...the silly thing has one inch squares! A fine example for my poor decorating decision skills. What was I thinking!