Silly times just hangin' out...
Before I left for my "field trip" last month...

the kids just wanted to play, hang out, and be silly.

One time Owen was wearing one of Daddy's t-shirts...I guess all kids figure out how to do this:

He said, "look mom! I'm a nut!"
I laughed.
Gabby is our little peanut...that's been a nickname because she's so little.
We stopped calling Owen that within a month after being born, but Gabby has retained the title.
So...Halloween came along and it was appropriate...

Gramma and Grampa came for pumpkin carving and Owen couldn't decide which costume to wear when...this is one of the many combinations he came up with...

One I did not get a picture of was a Spiderman costume with a Ray Mysterio (did I spell that right?) mask...goofy kid!
Time to go!

Family...Words for my childrenHow do I let the itch of discontentment get under my skin and drive me to want to change what is already wonderful?
How do my eyes get too clouded to see beauty in our lives...our schedule...our routine?

Innocence...naivete...oh, to see the world with the eyes of a child...
and to forgive and love and trust as a child does...

We go through good times. We go through rough times.
We admire one another at times and get annoyed at times.
We fight.
We love and adore.
We are thankful. We are regretful.
But we prevail. Love endures...and flourishes.

If we complain of being too busy, we are filling our lives with things we don't really want to do.
If we are happy to be busy, then perhaps our lives are full of things we love...

Yes, breaking the routine, playing a game instead or going on vacation for just a bit...
we are revived and can love our days again.

Run circles around your challenges in life!
Laugh
Eat, Drink and be Merry!

Buy cute clothes you are comfortable in...
or you just feel good in!

Get really close to what matters!
and tip well...don't be afraid to be generous...

Accept sloppy kisses and neck-bending hugs!

Let the simple things make you happy...like a stick to wave around or a rope to swing

Love and play with your siblings...even when they drive you nuts!

Don't just give a nod to people on the street...smile and say hello!

And don't worry if not everyone is looking at you.

You are special, beautiful, and I will always be watching you!

If (when) the day comes that you won't let me hold your hand or hold you close...

I will cherish the moments you fought for my attention and affection.

I will never be too far away to love you!

You captivate me and energize me...

You are beautiful!

God is Great.
God is Good.Always and forever

I love that my children love to play!

And pretend...and be goofy...and invent games together...

I have a poster in my classroom that says "no cell phones please" with a picture of Owen when he was about 15 months...I needed to up date the pictures!

So I took these!

Owen is into goofy pictures and Gabby is into letting you take a picture and then asking to "see it". Man, we missed out with not having digital pictures as kids! :-)

I don't remember my first day of pre-school so I don't remember if it was such a big deal. Perhaps it is just a big deal for parents sending their little one...the first time...their first one...the first time...

We took the opportunity to take some family shots...
some silly shots...

and shots with granny nanny...with her eyes open!

does this boy look ready for pre-school??? :-)

Baby Sister was practically pushing him out the door...
or at least off the couch!

His first day was just fine...I have not seen him that excited before or excited afterwards in awhile. Ok, he gets excited about a lot of things, but this was so exciting for me...to see my little boy so excited for school. I hope he always loves school!

It's been the summer of pajamas...

On the last day of my summer vacation...I am up at 5:45 in the morning.
I can't blame kids either.
After lying awake for 40 mins trying to fall back asleep, i gave up. I decided that my blog had waited long enough; there was so much to catch up on and do instead of lying in bed, feeling all the soreness of the week getting worse.
So, here I sit...

We've had so many fun times this summer, but in a short list of
"what happened on my summer vacation..."
here it is...

In June, Gabby had 4 teeth and now she has 13
We did T-ball and swimming lessons
Both kids had a bout with pneumonia...at different times
Since our trip to CA on Memorial Day weekend,
we've also traveled to CO
and then WI (twice)

Got haircuts...

I did a week of curriculum writing and two days of summer institute
and three days of mentor training with 8th graders
and had lots of Popsicles
We worked on "the duplex"
(which needs to be re-named: home-away-from-home,
destination MN, the appendage...any ideas?)

And came back home to have campfires
We helped with/attended two baby showers

Went golfing once or twice
Learned to share
Learned to wrestle
(the wrestling "ring" is seen above...a big pillow on the ground)
and won the "championship" belt!
I painted my entire upstairs area (kitchen, living room, etc...)
Grocery shopping became just a bit more fun
and I started a fun business...(if you want to see, click here)

Yes, busy.
But WONDERFUL!
I could not, would not, and shall not wish anything different or better.
My kids are the best!...
Roger's been pretty amazing too!
:-)