Phone Photo Dump 18

Baby is no longer in a crib.  Waaaahhhhh:(  Because my dad built our crib, and it is an amazingly beautiful and well-crafted piece of furniture, I couldn't bear to just store it in the basement.  So it's currently assembled in our guest room just waiting for any itty bitty Safe Families kiddos we may have the opportunity to care for.

Movie Night!  Penguins of Madagascar...

Looking way too old.  Whenever I first glance at this picture, I think it is Meredith.

Wrestling.

Raspberries.

Aside from being a bit short, Caleb's next-size-up coat fits me.  What the what.

New (to her) helmet!

While her first official visit was this past Fall, last week Norah had a full dental cleaning/exam, and she didn't even need Mommy to go back there with her!

New sand!

 We have an area near one of the sides of our house that has been looking a little rough.  Grass wasn't growing well there, so we decided to dig up the patches of grass that were there and create an area to mulch and possibly plant some low-maintenance flowers.  One afternoon, I decided to just start the process and I am pretty proud of my efforts.  It was a bit more difficult than I anticipated to remove the grass, so it was a good workout.  It helped to have some little helpers. ;)

Partially finished!

Pretty much done!  Just needs some mulch.

Dandelion Bouquets!  I just love how excited kids get about these "flowers".  We currently have 2 glasses full of them on our kitchen table.

Pick-Up game.  Caleb especially has been loving basketball.  He always asks to go shoot hoops, and loves to play p-i-g.  I don't think I need to tell you how happy this makes me. ;)  Can't wait to sign them up for a new bball league next winter.

She was so proud to come home with her first chapter book from school (Stuart Little).  We went to the library later this day and she checked out several more chapter books.

Underdog!  These two adore each other.

UNO on the front porch.

Puzzles at the library.

My little worker bee always wants to help.  He was ecstatic when I asked him to empty the dishwasher.

Beautiful tulips (and a beautiful girl) in our front yard.

Phone Photo Dump 17

 The latest.  In no particular order.

Rainy Day PlayDo

Flower suncatchers.  Too bad there's no sun today!  (Top - V and Caleb; Middle - Meredith; Bottom - Norah and Shane)

Snuggles and smiles with my baby.

Last Sunday, we dropped off our chickies at the farm.  Here are some pictures of the kids checking out the animals.  Farmer Mark is so nice and loves showing us around!

 

 

Last Friday, the kids didn't have school so we went with some friends to a new-to-us park.  It was a fun and apparently exhausting day.

At a different park!

"I can subtract and add.  I can do the monkey bars.  I can do soccer.  I can tie my shoes.  I can ride the bus."

The highlight of last week for me was getting the chance to visit Nicole and her family.  Sadly I didn't get ANY pics of her newest little one, or any pictures of her and I.  But our hands were a bit full managing the 11 kids between the 2 of us!

9 of the 11 (missing Nic's 2 girls)

9 of the 11 (missing Nic's biggest and littlest)

I love this flowering plant right outside our front door.  Last Spring, because of the harsh winter we had, the flowers never bloomed.  So I was extra pleased this year when the flowers did in fact bloom!

I love when my kids do things like this.  Unprompted note to God (or, Gob). ;)

After dropping off the chicks last weekend, we stopped at my parents' house.

1st Campfire of the Season

 We love our campfire nights with neighbors!