The Carousel

My FAVORITE~The Sea Horse

Beau 'kissing' the Cow

THE Carousel

So, it was yet, the girls' 4th day of thier 4-day weekend (I was going crazy!) and I had been wanting to take them to this Carousel for some time. I had heard about it years ago, when Drew was merely 2 years old, but had never taken the kids. It really is a sight! A ticket booth sits in the corner, and they have an old fashioned popcorn popping machine with a handle like a stroller, on wheels. I rode free, only because I had to hold Beau and Leah, even though they were buckled to the horses, on either side of me. Both started to slip, and within seconds Leah was saying "All done! All done!" But, we stuck it out. It was some fun for a rainy day!

The Pumpkin Patch

We found this great Pumpkin Patch this year! It was right down Beau's alley. They had a quarter scale train, which took us out to the patch of pumpkins, he loved it! All the kids had fun, but he just could not get over the train! As it dropped us off, he ran back, running along the track watching it leave, we had to call him back! The main attraction was the train ride, but the kids were able to pick a small pumpkin as well. They certainly aren't no carver pumpkins, but to the kids, they are perfect!

Simply Disgusting...

The other day, as I was exiting Target, and walking to my car WITH both Beau and Leah on either hand, I suddenly heard, "THAT'S RIGHT BABY! I SWEAR I'M OLD ENOUGH!" I looked over real quick, and sitting on a bench were a few girls that could not have been more than 12 or 13 years old, hollering at what I then realized was a man atleast in his 20's who was also walking to his car. They continued yelling, "TURN AROUND! LOOK AT ME! AREN'T YOU GONNA LOOK AT ME, BABY! I SAID I'M OLD ENOUGH!" I was nothing short of stunned by thier behavior! I mean, how appalling is that??? All I could think of was my 11 yr. old spending a few hours at the mall with a friend, and ending up doing exactly what I had just witnessed! It sped through my mind, pure horror! I just hope and pray I have instilled in her to be above that type of behavior. And, also to steer clear of any other girl, that may exhibit that behavior. Lord Help Me!

The Jungle

Everyday, Beau asks me, "Mom, can I go dig in the jungle? Can I? Can I, Mom? Can I go to the jungle?" Well, let me tell you what the 'jungle' is. It is this tremendously large tree in our front yard. Jack, recently, cut back the branches on the bottom, so that I could fill in under the tree with dirt and plant some of my columbine seeds ( since they are supposed to enjoy acidic soil). But...as you can see, I may never be able to do so...

Go Drew!

She was so excited when it was her turn to throw the ball in!
That's my girl! Positioning the ball to kick a goal!

Drew has made a total of 4 goals in her first 3 games, and is doing such a good job staying on the ball. So much so that she tries too hard to play goalie when she should be on the ball guiding it to the opposing teams goal! She definitely has defense down. That's my Drew!

Mine Giggles!

I took the kids to the video store to rent a movie tonight. Ofcourse EVERYONE wants thier own movie, Beau is grabbing Bob the Builder off the shelf, Drew has Aladdin, and Leah is holding the Wiggles up to me while Grace hands me Herbie. I quickly let them know I am NOT renting any more than 2 movies at time. Well, ends up if you rent 3 newer releases, it's only 9.99 this week, and for each of those rentals you get a free movie from the kids older releases. So...we decided on Doogal, which was okay, but not that great...Aquamarine which we have yet to watch, and I rented Lake House... you gotta love Keanu! Beau ofcourse sticks to Bob, and Leah to Wiggles, and so as the lady is checking us through I take the wiggles from Leah to hand to the lady scan, and she starts screaming... "MINE! MINE GIGGLES! AAHHH MINE! GIGGLES!" It was so cute. The lady said, "We've had few like her!" We got home, and she refused to put it down. I had to take it from her and hide it so I could get her to bed. I feared she would chew up the outer cover, and then I would own yet another Wiggles movie.

Ni-Nite Gummy Bears!

Precious

Today Leah is 18 months old! Wow does time fly by. I had made an apptmt to take her to Sears for her 18 month photos, and as I was pushing the stroller through the bedding dptmt toward the photo studio, and Beau says, "I don't think I like this place." Then as we turn the corner, and he sees the automotive department, tires, etc... he says, "Hmmm, maybe I do!" It was so funny! Had to be there I guess. Anyway...Leah did a great job this time for pictures, no crying, just happy face! I just can't believe she is almost 2 already!!!

Another Nervous Breakdown

Drew is so worried about how she looks when she goes to school, part from watching Grace get ready in the morning I'm sure, and also just because she is a very sensitive person when it comes to being made fun of. If she thinks someone is making fun of her she comes unglued! The other night she missed her bath, it was a sunday, so school was the next day. I had planned to give her one early in the morning, but things got crazy and I forgot. So, we agreed to just put her hair in braids. She was fine with this. Her pants had a rainbow belt, and we have some rainbow fringe hair bands, so I thought, "This would be so cute Drew!" She did not protest, but once I got done, she looked in the mirror and said, "I don't want these MOM! I look kiddish!" I was like, "Kiddish? Your only 6 Drew, not 11 like Grace!" She started balling, kept balling, and was trying to tell me she was not going to go to school unless I took them out. Her hair was already done, I was NOT taking anything out, besides, she looked so cute! She did end up going to school, and last night in the bath said, "Mom, I don't want you to wash my hair 'cause I want my hair to be the same as you did it for tomorrow." Hmmm, she liked it afterall?! In any case, here is a tantrum photo from the morning fit, see the pleading in her face??? Heehee!

Leala

Hmmm...Looks like Leah likes Blackberries too!

Back to School...YAY!

Next week my girls start back to school, and they are just driving me crazy! As crazy as they make me feel, I stood in the babies window, listening to the girls laughter traveling through the afternoon breeze as they played (and fought) in the pool. It made me think...I won't hear that sound forever. They are all going to grow up and there will be no more summer days with giggling, splashing sounds coming from our backyard. How sad is that?!
Never-the-less, I must get them back in routine of getting to bed at thier bedtimes for school. And, Drew is vehemently protesting me on this! She has creeped her way later and later the past few nights, but tonight I stuck to my guns. She got a book, and went to bed, Grace shortly after her. Then I tackled Beau, read him 2 books, put him to bed, and as I walked by the girls' room, I heard them talking. I opened the door, and reminded them, Drew especially that the purpose of going to bed 'on time' was to go to sleep 'on time' to get ready for school bedtime. She quickly responded, "But, we don't have school tomorrow!" Duh, I know this, she knows I know this. So, I said to her..."I am going to wake you up in the morning, every morning from now until school starts (even after that) and make you get up and ready for school just like it's really a school day, so that's why you have to go to bed on time now!" She had nothing left to say. I'm sure once I left the room, she whispered a little "mom is so mean" to Grace. Oh well. I'm Mom. What can I say?

The Enchanted Forest

Wow!

Hmmm...I can do that too Mom!

What's a trip to The Enchanted Forest without this shot?

Here...The witches candy cottage, from Hansel and Gretel. Beau was all for running right into that little house once he saw all the candy painted on the outside, but quickly booked himself right back out once he saw the talking witch inside! Ha!

http://www.enchantedforest.com/enchanted_forest.html

'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!