What's your eggscuse?

The eggs on the side are medium.  The one second to the right, a large.  And the one to the left of that?  I don't think they catagorize them in that league. 

Nothing like a little bit of peer pressure in the chicken coop.  If they want to try to one-up each other, we are not stopping them.  

(for the record, this egg *only* had two yolks - bets in the house ranged from 2-4)

Part of This Complete Breakfast

 After eating a bowl of cereal, try some fruit.

Because nectarines and tomatoes are part of this complete breakfast.  Just ask Camden.

Random

I finally got around to looking through hundreds of pictures and posting about important things.  Now for the random tidbits that deserve to be remembered as well.

 My boys decided that underwear made great head-gear this summer.  I thought it really funny that a friend's girls did the same thing around the same time, and that if you turn the underwear around it accommodates piggy tails really well.

 Emmie is not short on playmates.

 Meet Mr. Stripey.  It's an amazing, meaty tomato.  Biting in to this thing is AMAZING.

 Somebody got into the stash of garden produce to share.  Somebody named Camden.

 Callie finished my Mother's Day gift - a cute apron.  I've always wanted one of these and I love it!

Here's my number one kitchen assistant.

 And taste-tester.

Even when things aren't quite taste-ready.

 I love this guy.  I thought he looked pretty cute when he came home from his campout.

 Callie has LOVED having time with cousin Lisa over the last couple of months.  Okay, we all love Lisa.

 Drew says he is Indiana Jones here.  You want to know what I think?  Something here strongly reminds me of the traveling salesman from Pete's Dragon - the one that tries to sell the elixir that cures all ailments.    What's really amazing is that he can go from being a tough guy to what you see below.

 I'm at a loss for words, but should I ever need to laugh, I know where to look.

Wigs courtesy of Hannah's classmate.

 Vote for Hannah Bannah - She won't let you slip up!
Hannah had a great campaign and skit but didn't make the student council - 37 kids ran for 12 slots.  We are so proud of her for participating and think she did great!

One day J & Drew got busy in the basement and came upstairs asking for "clear tape" and permission to go in my bedroom.  I could tell there was a surprise in store.  Above is the big reveal.  Details are below:

 I love that the boys know that Dad loves cars

 but Mom needs flowers and hearts.  Smart boys!

And of course, both parents love nature.  Surprises like this put a BIG smile on my heart.

Growth Spurt

A few days ago Emmie looked like this:

 Quintessential Emmie

Classic Emmie - love that this profile shows her rooster tail

Then she had a growth spurt.  She shot right out of one size of clothes and almost through the next overnight.  She's rolling around to get what she wants, grabbing on to things, and just getting cuter by the day.  Cuter, and bigger.  I love it, and I don't.  I'm so glad that pictures can bring back the sweetness of every stage.  Here's the new & improved Emmie:

 

 I gasped the first time I put this outfit on Emmie.  She looked like a LITTLE GIRL, not a baby.

 Beautiful matching sisters.

 Little bright eyes thought canning rings were a great entertainment the day I bottled tomatoes.

 If she wouldn't sleep so much, maybe she'd stop growing so fast! 

 Can you tell that she likes her fingers?  And they are always pulling at the corner of her mouth.

One word sums up having Emmie in our family:  DELIGHTFUL.

On house arrest?

Hannah wanted me to braid her hair one night.  When she came down the next morning all ready for school, I almost didn't let her out the door.  The girl looked drop-dead gorgeous and I was trying to decide if house arrest or a brown sack over her head were viable options.  In the end I just took pictures.  Holy smokes these girls grow up!  Emmie got a few extra squeezes that day - I was afraid I'd turn around and she'd be grown up, too.

(H prefers the closed-mouth smile - okay, she prefers that I not post at all so at least I'll include a picture that she prefers - but I gotta say I love her smile)

Getting a reading

During the school year it's not too hard to get a reading on where Hannah is at.  Just take a peek at her lunch bag and you'll catch a glimpse into what is a big deal in her life at the moment.

 The following one was done on the student council election day.

This is a fun part of my life.  If you can hear her singing constantly while she is decorating and filling her lunch bag and I am making breakfast, overseeing the dishwasher unloading, and helping with the lunch packing you will get the complete picture of one little aspect of my mornings, an important part that I want to remember.   At the top of the Hannah Play-list is always "When Will My Life Begin?" from Tangled and "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid.  Not far behind is "What Makes You Beautiful", "Party in the USA" and "Dynamite".    "Paradise" would be number 3 on her playlist but that song has been BANNED by her mother.  I can't stand it.

Dear Bear,

Just so you know, I love to hear you sing.  Thank you for singing even though your crazy mother gets on overload and says things like "I've already heard that song today, try another one" and "Nope, not that one either" or "Remember, we're not allowed to sing that song - Mom doesn't like it" or "Hannah, can you sing just loud enough so that you are the only one that can hear?"  You are wonderful.

Love, Mom

First Day of School Fall 2012

I have reached a milestone.  I now have four children in school ALL DAY LONG.  This came a year earlier than expected, and was a sudden change of events, but everyone concerned is now delighted (there were some tears on the mother's part for a day or two during the decision-making process).

DAY 1

 See that big smile?  Not only is she at the top of the food chain at her school, she gets a ride EVERY DAY - no more walking!

 Another one on top of the school, and one very happy biker.  The homebodies sent them off and then we went off to the Dinosaur Museum to meet some friends.  Our countdown was on for how many days Drew had left at home and there was much fun to be had.  We played with lots of friends, had mom time, and the last day before kindergarten began, we headed to Farm Country.  

 Everything is better when friend Harley is around!

 After riding ponies, wagons, petting animals, hunting down pretty girls (yes, you read that one right) having a picnic and getting thrown into jail, it was off to Target to pick out the perfect lunchbox because the next day was 

 the BIG day!  

Armed with a Batman lunchbox, this guy is ready for anything.  He got to sport a cast on his right arm for the first day of school, too.

 At the end of the day he was still perky!

 (but I still think he was rather worn out as evidenced above)

No matter, because in the morning he's ready to start all over again with a BIG smile on his face!