Plenty of Independence at the Sculpture Park

 This year we had some special guests to help us celebrate Independence Day - Uncle J, Aunt C, Jackson and Sophia visited for the holiday and we had a picnic at a local sculpture park where the kids could just run and play.  Right before we had stopped to watch a 4th of July parade that the kids enjoyed.

Everyone had fun, wore themselves out, and needed a nap! Then we went back and 

swam for a bit with Jackson - the kids had a blast and could hardly believe that the excitement

 was not over - fireworks!!! What a fun-filled day!

A Fun Trip to See the Relatives

 Of course we always love a chance to take a weekend and visit with our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents who are a few hours too far away! It was so good to see everyone and ARM was able to hold a real baby doll - Beckett! She loved sitting and holding him while he slept on her lap.

On the way home our trip sometimes needs to be broken up...people get a little stir crazy otherwise! Plus we were in need of a meal.  We found a real gem of a place - Flat Branch Brewery.  That is where EMM and BGM are having this intense conversation. Also where their dad discovered he can eat a pizza that is not sausage and pepperoni! He ordered it on accident (somehow) and has been craving it ever since.

Going Wild in the Garden

 With the beautiful spring weather, we have been loving getting out and going a few places, especially when there is an early dismissal day.  A friend, Brooke, from down the street went to the Garden with us and the kids just played and had the best time and we pretty much had the place to ourselves, which was cool.

Yesterday's Find: the Missouri Trees Birthday Cake

With elk grazing in the background at the nearby game reserve, we happened upon one of the artsy birthday cakes that was planted around the city in celebration of its birthday. Evan is cutting a slice with the new sword he got for his birthday. 

   Abby made us tiptoe and whisper all the way back to the van. She said getting trampled by an elk was not how she wanted to go!

FTD?

A little wet chalk...big beautiful bouquet!
Gorgeous flowers for this April day.

Cape Town

No, not talking about South Africa! Old t-shirts were transformed into capes today and EMM and BGM loved the result - superheroes in the house! This is BGM's favorite way to play dress up so far. 

Lego Birthday Boy

This little guy is getting BIG! Six years old already! We had so much fun having a Lego party in the basement with friends from his class.  Thanks to all who came and for all the great gifts, you made his birthday a very memorable one!

Magna Doodling

BGM could sit and draw forever.  This was a pretty good looking picture for someone who is not yet three years old. 

A Great Start to Any Morning

It is so nice to sit and have breakfast and a cup of coffee with such a pleasant person as this. Don't worry...she did not really have coffee, she usually opts for hot chocolate (with plenty of marshmallows).

Happiness is...

...watching your toy snakes being devoured by your toy dinosaurs.
One smart dinosaur also brought along a jug of milk to wash down the snakes.

Tea Partiers

There are always news stories with hateful comments about the Tea Partiers in this country, but I do not see anything bad about them!  They are cute as can be and got along really well. If they had not had snacks, things might have gotten ugly, though.

Guess What Day It Is?

For the 100th day of school, EMM had to wear something with 100 on it.  So we went and picked out some fun duct tape to jazz up a shirt.  He chose tape with pickles on it.  Kids these days...so lucky! When we were kids duct tape was all one color - gray! 

Saleswoman of the Year

Some people really dread seeing a salesperson show up at their door.  But look at this one. My, oh my.  She sure is cute! She has done really well and been super enthusiastic and professional about selling her cookies for Daisies. Of course we are proud of this little Daisy! Thanks to all who bought cookies - we do appreciate your support!

I "Moustache" You Something!

 Do you like whipped cream?

 As a goatee?

Or maybe just a moustache?

Fun and delicious, how can a person not love it?

Holiday Cowgirl

Here is our little cowgirl in her new duds.  Notice her serious look - cowgirls use the serious look, don't want anyone giving them any trouble, you know?

Christmas Cousins

This does not happen too often - a picture with the cousins together! When is the next time this will happen? Not sure, but it is never soon enough. They have a lot of fun playing and the time is always too short.  One of the best things about the holidays is definitely being with family!

NOT a PETA Member

 

Weren't expecting Ms. Crockett in front of our tree, were you?  She actually found a coon hidin' in that there tree, picked it off with one clean shot from her pistol, and made herself a hat just in time for the winter storm that's a comin'.  Or maybe Santa Claus brought it. 

In the Spirit

The hat on this girl's head is actually a baby hat - but she loves it! Ever since we unpacked it with the rest of the decorations, she has been slapping it on her head and dancing around the house as our little elf-in-residence.  Every house needs one.  Usually we have three at our house - our kids have no problem being in the Christmas spirit!

The Beautiful Baker

It is always a treat to be invited to school for a special activity.  Today ARM's class hosted us for their Gingerbread Reader's Theater.  They each had a few lines of a poem about baking Christmas cookies that they had memorized which they recited for everyone while dressed in aprons and their custom chef hats.  After that, their class went to the cafeteria and transformed small milk cartons into gingerbread houses with graham crackers and icing and then decorated them with candies.

Going Downhill

Today we managed to find a hill that still had enough snow to for sledding - yippee! And no one else was even there...not too surprising given all of the hills in this area.  This hill was not super steep but let us pick up a little speed and coast a while. ARM is helping her Mom, brother and little sister get moving with a push in this picture. ARM was more interested in pushing the sledders than riding down the hill herself, but she has never been the risk taker of the family and she was not about to start today!

Hot & Cold

Is there anything better than drinking hot cocoa on a really cold day? This face says it all!

Congratulations and Good Luck to the New Grads!

Over the weekend we were lucky that the roads from our direction were decent enough for us to travel down to witness two of our favorite people and a very big accomplishment! These two graduated from college - both with excellent grades, and my little brother is wearing that medal for high honors! Since he is a veteran, he also has the red, white, and blue cord with his gown.

Another thing that is rare about these two is that they did the last half of their college career married - so not at all the college experience that many people their age have.  They both worked during school and after the holidays they will be moving to a new state and starting a new life together.  Russ has a new job and Emily will soon!  We are so very proud of them and are happy we were there to celebrate their big day.

Big Kid, Little Kid

 Most aunts and uncles probably underestimate how much fun kids think they are.  Our kids just love that attention and always look forward to it and hope that they can "play" longer.  (By the way, talking is boring.  And this is where adults should listen to the kids and get up and play!)

Here EMM (the little kid) is goofing off with his uncle (the big kid) on his graduation day.  The kids knew that this was the last time the would see their aunt and uncle's little college apartment, which they had so enjoyed visiting, so it was bittersweet for them.  But on to new adventures, and a nicer place to live - this was not necessarily an apartment to miss!

The Vanishing Violet

Have no fear! The Vanishing Violet is here! She can rescue anyone from a bad mood with her purple mask, fuzzy bracelets, boa belt, and lilac dress.  Quick as a flash, she can dress a naked doll! Her beautiful songs can calm even the most violent tempers.   Will we ever discover her true identity?

Royalty

Much to our oldest daughter's dismay, it is a rare occasion that her little sister will play dress-up.  When most girls find out they have a little sister, they probably instantly dream of playing dolls and dressing them up and so far BGM has not wanted much to do with any of that!  Today they both seemed to have fun.  And ARM really made this enjoyable for her sister and was so motherly to her, it was sweet to watch!