I'm the One!

Our orthodontist has a practice of bringing in fresh flowers every Monday, and since they're closed Fridays, the give the bouquet away to one of the last patients on Thursday. Well, since I was in there for 4 appointments in 3 days last week, they chose me! I was the One! They're almost spent now (insert frownie face here), but hey, it was nice while it lasted.

Haircut and silliness

This was her haircut immediately after we cut it.

This is a self-portrait sometime later. I think she was doing a Posh Spice impersonation.

This silliness (yes, she's upside down on the recliner) was found on my memory card this afternoon. I actually enjoy seeing who took what pictures on my camera, or trying to guess. M's subject of choice lately is whatever website he gets to play a game on. So, I had 6 pictures of nickelodeon.com before I deleted them.

Happy 48th

O. made the sign. I wish the picture turned out better, she was really creative, especially with the letter T.
One thing they never tell you in Parenting 101 is that you will never again blow out your own birthday candles. We got balloon shaped candles to co-celebrate a.a. milne's birthday (author of Winnie the Pooh, of course) and we got silicone ice cube trays shaped like hearts at Target and froze Black Cherry Kool-aid in them and added them to Robin's drink (his only request for his birthday was Black Cherry Kool-aid). Happy Birthday sweet husband/cool Dad/loving son! We love you.

Bigger, but not too big

The puppies are growing, but still prefer to sleep together in their kennel. I wonder how much longer they'll be able to fit comfortably?

Cuddling

Although they're growing, they still *choose* to sleep in the crate together, even during the day, when the door is left open. They figured out once how to jump on the couch, but haven't been able to do it again. I think once that becomes easier, it will be TTFE (ta ta for ever) to the crate.

Montessori Mike and Puppy Love

One good thing about a 2 yr. old getting money for Christmas is that you can buy things you know no one would normally think to buy (how many grandparents do you know that get a Montessori Services catalog in their mailbox?) So, with P's money from his paternal grandparents this year, I picked this from our "wish list" of Montessori things. P. played a long time with just one cylinder block, but Mike was much more ambitious and decided to do all 4 at once. N. is supervising so no pieces get lost, they don't get dumped erratically (I'm afraid those knobs won't stand up to 4yo boyhood) or puppies (imagine the fun they'd have chewing on those!) and speaking of puppies...
Look how they've grown! We estimate they weigh about 20lbs. now. K. took these pictures while lying in the backyard with them (see the evidence of our drought? that brown scratchy stuff is supposed to be grass. the good soaking rain I thought we got the other day? turned out to only be less than .5")
Romeo says, "what did you say? did you just say what I think you just said? smile? don't you know we canines can't smile?" he cocks his head like this every time we whistle real short and he's not sure if it came out of our mouth or not.
Juliet, we decided yesterday (from O and J's Latin lesson), should've been named Regina, the Latin word for "queen." because she thinks she is one. As evidenced by this pose. In this season of life, when my only New Year's resolution is to pause, and enjoy life, motherhood, being a wife and child of the King more, puppies are a great addition and reminder to slow down and enjoy.

The BSF boys

Drew is on the left (with no hair) and Chris is on the right.
The little boys especially like when they come over. We've tried teaching them Blokus and Dutch Blitz, but they prefer things where they don't have to sit down, like Swing Ball and the trampoline.

Merry Christmas

Christmas dinner--the kids first time to try sparkling cider (which the majority did not like. at all.)
In front of the tree.
You're invited to share some sugar free cheesecake (sweetened with sage honey, even good for diabetics) and strawberries with us.

Romeo and Juliet

H. with the "twins"

This is not a posed picture--they really ended up sleeping like this (she's a little more restless than he is) and formed a heart! How can you NOT love puppies?

N. with Romeo

The 3 sisters and 1 brother before we broke up the band. At least we kept 2 together.

Chick-fil-A Christmas

Here's K and her friend Lindsay from work, at the University Center Club for their party. She won a gift certificate to a local restaurant and a favorite CD, but someone else won a whole Wii system!

We need your vote!

Number 1 (above)

#2 (the irony of this one cracks me up. H. was going for effect)

#3. who's the tallest? M. is singing

#4. Yes, it really is Dec. 5

#5. The street urchins/Von Trapps

So which is your favorite? Comment in the comments, and look for the results in your mailbox in about 2 weeks.

Baby in the bathroom

It's interesting what you see when you download pictures from your camera that has been confiscated by your oldest kids. Who even gave this child a bath w/orange paint? At least it got cleaned up well....

and here I always thought a child under 6 should have careful supervision when brushing their teeth.

K's first day...at Chick-Fil-A

Doesn't she look great in her uniform?

"How did you feel about your first day, K?"

Nice shoes!

Silly face

Who's the best sister face?

H. says, "show me your _________ face."

This is supposed to be the angry face.


Surprise face!
Sleepy face...







Happy face
Hungry face

imPOSSUMble

Mom, remember that possum I saw when I was talking to you from the back porch the other day? Well, today his inquiring ways got him into trouble. He got tangled up in the volleyball net that Robin had neatly leaned against the wall outside by the gas grill because it kept falling down. P. was the one to see it. We had been out at the pool when a storm came quickly on us. We were all standing on the back porch when P. pointed and said, "cat." We were all thinking "rat" but when we saw he was stuck, we had to do something. So, since I was already wet and in my bathing suit and saw this guy didn't have much fight left in him, I went out (yes, in the pouring rain) and cut him out. He quickly walked 1 ft. to under the grill (so he couldn't continue to get wet, presumably) and collapsed. You can see how swollen and red his left "arm" is, that's the one that had all the circulation cut off from the net.


He has since crawled about 10 feet (so pathetic to watch him, limp so slowly) under the portable fire pit outside our bedroom window. We gave him some scraps from the trash (he's so skinny) and he spent the afternoon cleaning himself like a cat, then making a nice bed for himself from the pine straw under the pit. He's breathing. We're hoping he makes his move toward home once it gets dark.

Dining Room

This picture is looking towards the front of the house.

Boy's haircuts/Room Rearranging

Vote in the comments section whether you prefer their hair long or short. The house is divided at this point....




We no longer could all fit around the kitchen table, so we moved the bookshelves out of the dining room, into the living room, the computer desk/printer into the family room (no picture) and the kitchen table into the dining room. We still have one bookshelf and a small hutch in there (that picture to follow, blogger would only allow so many pictures to be posted at once). Then we got a new small bistro-type table for the kitchen. The kids call it the "game" table, as it's the perfect size to play chess, checkers and other games.

cake close ups

Duff (from "Ace of Cakes") has nothin' on these girls! Didn't they do a great job?