These Shoes are Made for Walkin'!

For you unbelievers out there ;)

I suspect she can actually walk in them because they are only a few sizes too big for her.  Not like clown shoes or anything :)

More Visitors

Nana and Pop stayed down at Pa's house for a few more days and were nice enough to stop by for a short visit on their way home.  I just love how their shirts match :)

 I love this pic of hubby.  It is so hard to get a genuine smile from him...

 I don't remember if they were fighting or sharing.

 Pop always has a lap full of children!

Until next time!

The silly girl and the comb

Kelsey found this comb lying around the other day.

 I suppose it felt good (and/or weird) on her tongue and gums.

 So I did what any good mother would do.

 I took lots of weird pictures to post on the internet.

 That way they can haunt her until her dying day.  

You're welcome Kelsey :)

Cookies

I, apparently, am a bit of a control freak.  It is much easier to do things myself than it is to let my children do them.  I am working on relaxing my stance on this.  For example, my children put their own clothes away in their drawers....  I just don't look into them.  And, now the girls clean their own bathroom.  I just go in and point out any glaring places that need to be fixed.  And now I have stretched myself a bit further.  Kari decided to make cookies the other day.  I did my best to step back and just watch, only assisting when required.

This is what I got for my troubles....  I know, I know.  "It is only flour.  She is having a good time.  She has to learn some how."  I know!  It's just hard for me, ya know?

However, a good time was had by all.

And the girls really enjoyed feeling all grown up.

Cute Kelsey decided to sit in her chair and wait patiently for the cookies.  I love how her foot is ever so casually up on the table.  She owns it!

Interesting story:  I still cuddle Kelsey to bed at night.  The big ones get a hug and then go to bed. Kelsey and I cuddle while I read a chapter (ish) in my book.  She is still in a nursing sorta position, with her head in the crook of one elbow, and her bum in the other.  However, she has to have one leg up on my shoulder or she isn't comfortable.  True story.... :)

New Kicks

Kaitlyn needed some new tennis shoes before school started.  I let her pick out her favorite pair, and we brought them home with the rest of their school supplies.  Once home, however, they became a favorite play thing of Kelsey's.

She took to wearing them around the house.

And practicing her walking skills.

They are now, unfortunately, on the feet of the girl they were intended for, but that doesn't mean that Kelsey doesn't enjoy them when she can.

For the record, she tries my heels too, but isn't as good at walking in those.... :)

Pa's

We went out of town to attend a family reunion down in Pa's neck of the woods.  Ironically and unfortunately, Pa went into the hospital the day before the reunion.  And while I didn't bring my camera in and take pictures of the family at the reunion (or the super sweet, 3 month old baby I kept stealing), I did get a few shots when we visited Pa later.  Because, lets face it, a hospital is a super fun place to take pictures in.  Right Kelsey?

This was, perhaps, our third visit.  And one thing I learned in our visits was to bring things to keep the kids entertained.  Like toys.  Or food.

Easily portable food.

Like granola bars.

Then it was time to go.

And everyone gave hugs.

It took a few more days, but thankfully Pa was able go home a few days later.  It was a good weekend and we had lots of fun.  At least, we had more fun than Pa did.... :)

New Toy

While we were out of town, hubby had the chance to play with his new toy.

Watch the cartridge being discharged in the next 3 shots...

Then he was nice enough to let Kari have a turn.  First, a safety lesson about loaded vs unloaded, safety on vs ready etc.

Then taking aim.

Ah.  That's better.  Even if it does look a bit uncomfortable for hubby.  She only shot once, and that was enough :)

Not bad for the first time he had ever shot it...  The one on the top left was Kari.

One of the good things about living in the sticks...  The infinite range possibilities :)

Sea Monkeys

When Grandma and Grandpa were here a few weeks ago, they brought presents for the kids like good grandparents do.  Kari was super excited that her grandparents gave her her first, very own pets:  Sea Monkeys!  The going was slow at first, and I'll admit I was a bit concerned that she was going to be completely disappointed.  All was forgotten however, when we moved them to a more homelike environment (AKA a different window sill) and we saw teeny tiny dots moving of their own accord.  We went away for the weekend (more on that later), and came back to some "huge" sea monkeys; visible to the naked eye even...  See those two dots (the one in the circle and the one right below it)?

 I am sure she was hoping for something she could hold and stroke as her first pet, but these will have to do. :)

My only hope is that they avoid the unfortunate end that my sister Piko's came to, when they were knocked off her dresser and vacuumed up.  While I love my Spot bot, I doubt that is the most ideal living situation for them....

Party in the Back

A few days ago, Kelsey brought me an elastic band one of her sisters had carelessly left on the floor.  She, somewhat forcefully, pushed it into my hand, then held her head at a funny angle and held very still for a girl of 17 months.  So, I followed her cue, and did the best I could with what we had.  Business in the front . . .

 . . . Party in the back!

 She is my longest, most hairless child.  I don't have a picture of Kari at 18 months, but this is her at 3 with quite a bit of hair...  Kaitlyn at 18 months.  Dylan at 18 months.  He may have even had a hair cut by then.  I don't remember.

That is alright.  I still love my baby.  Mullet and all :)

1st Day of School

Today is the day when mothers all over the world cry out with happiness.

This is the outfit Kari picked out for the first day of school.  Totally her.  Her second day of school outfit reminds me of the 80s, with it's neon colors and patterns.  Like, totally.

 Today, Kari went into 3rd grade with her new teacher Ms. Carpenter.  She wasn't the teacher Kari thought she wanted, because the other teachers (she heard) were a bit nicer.  But I am sure Ms Carpenter will impart much wisdom to her young paduan.

 There we go!  That is a more genuine smile.  NOW she is ready :)

 And now for Kaitlyn.  In first grade, she has Ms. Giles, who was also Kari's first grade teacher.  

And her outfit, yes, she picked that out herself.  Totally her.  Such a cute dress.

She may be a bit over excited for school.

 Whew!  That's better.

And there was much rejoicing in the land.

2 less kids!  Score! :)

Cute Kelsey

One day, daddy was having a not so great day.  As it turned out, it was a bit of a rough day for Kelsey too.  (check out the red eyes in the picture below)  However, if I could get a cute picture of her shirt (it says "I get my good looks from my Dad"), so I could send it to daddy, I thought it might put a smile on his face, even if it only lasted for a minute.

 So I kept trying (cute picture, no shirt)...

 And kept trying (good shirt, no smiley baby)....

 But in the end, it was this picture I sent to him.

Because, lets face it...  You can't look at this picture and not smile :)

Our Visitors

After we got back from vacation, I had some time to get ready for our visitors.  My parents were coming back for their annual R&R visit (from living outside the country) and were going to be able to spend a few days with us.  I was super excited to see them again!  Wouldn't you know, I was so excited that I didn't even think to take pictures until the last few hours of their visit?  Yeah.  I'm good like that.  

So we were sitting around the table, about to eat an early dinner before they had to depart, when Grandpa and Dylan started playing a bit.  They looked around, and Grandpa picked up Kari's placemat.  They looked at myriad of faces that SpongeBob was making. . .

 . . . picked one. . .

 . . . and did their best imitation :)

 I made them do it again, but this time I turned my flash on.

 Love those two faces! :)

 Then we took a few group shots . . .

 . . . before it was time to load up in the car . . .

 . . . and go back to the airport.

Almost 18 hours later, they landed safely in Chile to continue with their adventure.  And we are already planning our next one for when we can visit again :)