'OOK MOM! IT'S A AY-PANE!

Wow, does a year "fly" by fast! Beau Michael was 1 1/2 last summer when we visited the airport during the Art & Air Festival, and this year he is 2 1/2. He didn't seem so awstruck this year as last, but nonetheless, he LOVED seeing the "ay-pane's" flying above, taking off, and landing. And he just could not believe it when he could actually touch them! He was kinda scared to, like he thought someone would come walking up and say, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!" or something. But, he did it anyway. I tried to get him to smile, but he was so serious! He's growing up way to fast!

Family Photo

Just us! Well, atleast 5 of us. Grace was with my sister getting school supplies, and we took a drive up to my SIL house to visit. My MIL took this picture for us. I hate how fat I look, but overall, the picture is a good one, and the first one we have of Jack and I with the kids.

Sweet Leah Dee when she first came home!

Little Leah Lou posing pretty.

From this Sweet Baby Boy

To this most Handome Little Man!

Pretty Pretty Princess

Leah has started to love playing dress up! She looks for Drew's 'pretties' and puts them all on as she finds them, be it neclaces, swim suits, panties, anything she can put over her head or on her arm! Just yesterday morning as I put her into the high chair to eat breakfast, she saw the dress-up neclaces from the night before on her tray and would not eat before she put them on. So...she sat in the high chair eating left over cold pizza in her 'pretties'!

My Little Strawberry Patch Prince

Beau Michael has begun helping me with the strawberry patch. Every day he says, "Let's check the stawberries Mom!" He has learned how to pick the right ones, only the red ones I keep telling him. He now does quite well at only picking ripe ones. He stands in the middle of the patch, barefoot, looking very closely at the strawberry bushes for the red ones. He looks ever so carefully. It is so cute to watch him!

The Heaven's belong to Handsome

Last night as we all sat on the porch enjoying the cool breeze, Beau Michael, out of the blue says, "My castle's up there!" He sat, pointing up. I said, "Where? In the sky?" He said, "Yes, my castle's up there! In da sky! That's my castle up there!"

Now, you interpret that as you may.

A first for me

Just this past Thursday, I was surprised to come home to an open door, and broken screen in our kitchen window! Yes, our house was broken into, and we were robbed. Thank goodness it was while we were not home, however, my digital camera is missing, as are about 20 of Jack's CD's, and they almost got away with my Picture Mate photo printer. For some reason they left it on my bed, so it is now in police custody for printing. I have not heard anything back from the Sherriffs Dptmt yet. Drew was hysterical, balling, scared to death! And, mind you, don't call 911 expecting emmediate response on this type of crime. My sister called for me from in town, and was told to call the other county police dptmt since I am out of town, so they would not dispatch from her phone number/zip code to me! My neighbor did testify she saw a white 4-door newer toyota type compact car in our driveway, but she thought it was just Grace getting picked up by a friend or getting dropped off. So far, one other house on our block was robbed within days of us, and they got wiped out. Lucky us....

Fun at the Park

Here is what Beau calls the 'wiggle walk',

he kept saying, "Mom, I go slow-y!"

One lonely little baby duck

"Here, sissy, I hep you!"

Leah taking off!

Grace, and Beau feeding the ducks.

Today we took a trip to the park to feed the ducks! Jack even tagged along. Leah, now walking, became so excited that she fell over many times on our way to the playground. She was so adorable wandering around, climbing like a 'big girl' all over the stairs. And, Beau, so scared to walk on what I called 'the wiggle walk' bridge. It was so hot they dare not slide down the slides. When we finally meandered over to hill to feed the ducks, Beau ran wild chasing all of them off! I(just like a boy!) I handed him his piece of bread to feed them, and he threw the whole heel at them! Leah, she just kept eating all the little pieces that Daddy gave to her. Thank goodness most of it was still good, but only heels, rather than old and moldy. It was a nice little outing, and eased the tension of our usual task filled days. Oh, how I love watching those little bodies running around the park, giggling in excitement, so happy to be outside!

Priceless are They

"Mom, see? I got a peanut!"

Beautiful Doll

My little helpers

This evening, I started cleaning bathrooms, and such going back and forth wiping counter tops, the babies, or should I say Toddlers, were busy with some dolls in the girls' room. Next thing I know I hear something spraying, so I run to the other bathroom and Beau had sprayed air freshener spray all over the counter, the floor, the mirrors...everything! How could I be mad, when all he was trying to do was help mommy?! After I got that cleaned up, I went down the hall, and low and behold, Leah's trail of baby wipes. She's standing there with one in her hand wiping her mouth (she's walking finally!), and on her bedroom floor are atleast 20 baby wipes strung about and out the door! I can't take my eyes off of them for one second anymore!

Wow! Fishies!

A Day out with Thomas!

She Walks!

Leah is finally starting to take some of her first few steps with confidence! I am so ecstatic! It is so cute! She walks with her legs slightly spread apart, very slowly, not more than 5 steps at once, but she is getting there. Beau thinks it is so funny, he just laughs at her, saying "Mom, 'ook! E-yah walkin'!" Unfortunately, this is just one more sad reminder of how quickly they grow. No more babies for me. I will miss it for sure. Sleepless nights and all. I just love my babies!

Smokin'...Broken!

Last week my son, whom I sincerely adore, happened to push the CLEAN button on my oven just before we went outside to play. I did not realize this until an hour later when I smelled some terrible burning smell as I approached the back sliding door. Now, I realize not everyone does this, and I will not any longer, but I had 3 pots and pans in the oven. We have small cupboards, little storage space. Needless to say, they burned up! Two of them were new to me for Christmas last year too! I had to turn off the fuse to the oven just so it would cool down enough for me to open the door and remove the pans to take them outside. The handles were all cracked and flaking off, ash was all over the inside of the oven...it was a nightmare!

And...to top it off, tonight, that Boy was so anxious to get a sucker from our cookie jar, (which WAS, my treasured Tinkerbell, Pouting Pixie, cookie jar I purchase on clearance over a year ago from disneystore.com) that he dropped the top and completely busted off both of her wings! It is broken! FOREVER! Why MY stuff? Why my Tinkerbell????? WHY? I guess it is just a material object, and I should not really care. But, I right quick looked on Ebay to see if I can even ever replace it, but, not for less than a good $50.00!!! I only paid $19.99 in 2004! How insane is that?! I did let him know that he must not touch 'mommies pretties', and without hesitation, he said 'I sorry mommy' . I just melted. Screw the damn cookie jar! Who really needs one anyway?

Dummy Mommy!

Yesterday I had my Fitball Core class and it had been of for a couple weeks, so I had not been going to it. It was great! We did power abs, hamstrings, triceps, and biceps. I really felt the workout. And, BOY, do I feel it today too! I am so sore, I can hardly walk, my arms are barely holding up so I can type! And, oh, MY BACK! I gotta keep on top of this workout stuff. Jack is at work, so how on earth am I gonna deal with my little Leala? (monkey on my hip!)

It was also SO hot yesterday that I just decided to throw modesty to wind, and jump in the pool with the girls in my FAT swim suit. I was also stupid enough to stay out there WAY too long sunning, and now have a terribly red upper back and face! My back in burning, just a slight brush of my shirt and it starts to sting like mad! I must be CrAzY! I have just been thinking back, watching my oldest daughter turn into a brownie, 'gosh, I can get tanner than her!" Atleast, I did at her age. Well, now I just burn. BURN, BURN, BURN! And it is miserable! No more sunning for me for awhile. Dummy!

Drew's First Fish!

Drew caught her first fish this past week in Montana! Wow! It was a 19 inch Rainbow trout. She doesn't look proud or anything does she?

Happy Birthday Miss Grace!

Monkey cupcakes for the Monkey girl!

Grace with her prize Monkey! Hee-hee!

Leala enjoying one of Sissy's cupcakes!

Striking a Pose!

My Gracie is just growing up so fast, so beautiful! I can't believe it when I look at her sometimes, she is so big now. Where did the past 11 years go?

Happy Birthday Gracie Mae!

Leala loyal one

"Teasure huntin' "

Today we got up and out of the house to do a little garage saling with a friend of mine, or treasure hunting as I have explained to my boy. At one of the first sales we came upon, they were selling baby bunnies, and chicks. He noticed this right away! Without hesitation, he held each and every bunny, AND chick. We had to pull him away screaming! Then, he found a 'vintage' tonka digger truck that he could not live without, regardless of it's rusty old paint job, and he won't let it go! I figure, maybe, I could do some paint repair, but then, it's probably gonna be splashed through mud puddles, run through the gravel, and pushed through dog poop, so why bother? He likes it just the way it is anyway... I also came across a very old version of The Wizard of Oz, it's a huge hardback book, great condition, for a whole quarter! WoW! My find of the day. Got a few other small items, but nothing too amazing. It was fun, though. I think the boy is hooked on "teasure huntin' " now! My little garage sale buddy!

Pretty Precious

Yep, it's a boy alright!

My Husband recently went fishing with one of his buddies and brought home his catch for the boy to see before he fillet'd it. Quite opposite of any of the girls, he quick put on his rubber boots, and ran outside to see that fish, and just reached right down there to touch it's head, and all! EW! GROSS! My first instinct was to tell him to "STOP!" But, then, what else is a curious little boy to do?

Too add to his "boy-ness", everytime Daddy gets out the lawnmower, or even mentions mowing the lawn, Beau gets out his 'mow the lawn' play lawn mower and takes off for the rubber boots following Daddy outside and right behind Daddy and the lawnmower, which I have to pull him back from, screaming!

Oh, and the other evening we were all out back in the yard, Boy, again, 'mowing the lawn', but Daddy was at work, so he was on his own mowing around the outer edges of the yard, and I saw him stop at one of the trees, then he yelled, "MOM, A SNAKE!" I ran over to him so he could show me, and the boy reached right down there to pick it up!!! Scared the u-no-what outta me! Again, I said, "NO, STOP!" To which he responded so appropriately, "WHY?"

She's Growing Up Too Fast!

Last night, Grace went to her first dance. It was at our local Boys and Girls Club, and chaperoned by what I was told to be many parents, one of which was a police officer. Well, let me tell you, I have no respect for any so-called, 'police officer /parent' after hearing what went on in front of thier eyes!
Grace was so excited about this dance, wore the dress we had gotten for her 5th Grade recognition, and went with about 4 other friends. But, she came home completely disgusted with what she saw AND experienced. She said, and I quote, "OH MY GOSH MOM, there was so much innappropriateness there. There were gays, lesbians, perverts, humpers...it was so gross. Boy's were coming up to me and humping on me, and I was getting so freaked out, I tried to run and get away, but they followed me and Kam everywhere we went, and OH, those chaperones did nothing, they just acted like nothing was wrong. It was NOT a dance, it was just a wild party!! I do not want to go ever again."
I was so upset hearing all this from her. Ofcourse I protested her going in the first place, but I also know that she needs to experience things in order to understand why I say no. And, I was assured by the Mom taking them that there would a police officer/parent chaperoning which was the only reason why she agreed to let HER daughter go, so I gave in. I hate this growing up stuff!!! GO WITH YOUR INSTINCT, ALWAYS! A great book to demonstrate this is, "PROTECTING THE GIFT" by Gavin DeBecker. I read it years ago, and still think of it each time I question the safety of my children.

Best Web Code Website Ever!

Moms, you must check this site out! They have amazing web codes for The Childrens Place, 15-25% off, etc...Have fun shopping!

http://www.clevermoms.com/coupons/Childrens-Place/Id/84

I MADE THE MERMAID!!!

Well, another birthday party down, one more to go for the year. Drew is a whopping 6 years old now! We celebrated her birthday this past saturday, she wanted to have a pool party. We were recently given a 13ft. trampoline by a close neighbor, and so the girls swam, and jumped non-stop. It was a chore just to coax them out of the pool to have cake!
She had a blast! Made out on the gifts, AND birthday money, a few cards with $6.00 in them.
I had gotten up at 5:30am the morning of the party to get a head start without the babies at my feet while I baked the cakes. By cakes I mean, 1-11x9, 1-8 inch round, and about 18 cupcakes. I was determined to make my version of the Family Fun Mermaid Cake. And, I did! About 5 hours later, it was done. (give or take a few interruptions once the babies woke). It ended up being almost as long as the picnic table! It was surely a site to see! And, all those little girls loved it! Amazingly enough, not a bite of cake made it past party time. It was devoured by all!
Now I can say, "I made the Mermaid Cake, you know, the one on the family fun website?" Hee-hee. I'm sure Drew will remember it forever. I know I will...I've never spent that much time on any cake!