Happy birthday to Clint!

An extension to his FAVORITE computer game...i think he liked it. (It kept him up until one in the morning, anyway.)

Clint has owned and loved the same blanket since high school, and it definitely shows. The binding has ripped off half the blanket, it's not nearly as soft and cuddly, and - well - it needed to be replaced. The kids helped him try out the replacement, and so far it's looking like all thumbs up!

And a new mummy sleeping bag...


And a jungle gym...


I guess the children had their own vision when they picked this out at the sporting goods store!
I hope you had a good birthday, honey. I love you and sure appreciate all the sacrifices you make for our family!!!

A Day at the Fire Station

Autumn & Micah REALLY enjoyed climbing into all the big fire trucks today when we took Micah's preschool group on a field trip to the local fire station. Watching the firemen slide down the pole was another big hit, as well as taking a "ride" in the ambulance.


Our future fireman trying his hand at steering the big engine. The fact that he's not looking out the windshield is of little consequence, since he couldn't actually see over the steering wheel. :)



The firemen couldn't explain why the bumper was so big on this particular engine, but it made for a good place for a group picture. Some of the subjects were less excited than others about this. :(


I don't know what these chains were for, but Autumn had a blast pulling on them.

Picnic Season!!

One of my favorite things about spring/summer is that my kids can have unlimited picnic lunches outside. I don't know if it's because they seem to enjoy it so much or because it seriously reduces clean-up time afterwards, but we all seem to agree that we're glad it's warm enough for picnics on the lawn again!

We See You!!

She's Weal Sowwy 'Bout Getting Into My Stuff

Clint alerted me that Autumn was not in her bed napping, as I had left her only minutes earlier. I told him I'd check on her, then got caught up in baking, cleaning and talking to another child. When I remembered, I went upstairs to see what was up. I had to walk through every room before finally happening upon the suspect, looking very guilty:


I guess she got a little carried away with the idea of playing with make-up (or "stuff," in Autumn terms). In fact, her face, hands, hair and shirt alone were too small a canvas. So she added this to the beautification project:


Now, I'm not trying to point the finger of blame. I'm only saying...thanks again for sending her the stuff, Aunt Valerina!! :)

Bus Trip

I remember loving it when my Mom mopped the floor. Now don't get me wrong; I was no neat freak as a kid...far from it. But she always lined up the dining room chairs in preparation for the event. And to me, the long row of chairs became a natural playground for imagined trips to Disneyland, my friends' houses, and even the supermarket.

Lately, as I rearrange up my own kitchen chairs before mopping, I remember these fun times and wonder when (and if) my own children will discover the fun to be had. Well, as you can tell from the pictures above, today was that day. As I was mopping the floor, I heard them driving a bus. (Micah got more creative than I was at that age, and added a prop to the scene...his little paper plate from snacktime became the steering wheel.) And Autumn enjoyed her trips off the bus just as much; Cinderella was awaiting her departure each time! :)

P.S. Notice their necklaces? If you didn't know who was oldest before, I think you'd probably guess just by comparing the number of beads each child is wearing.

Putting on her Stuff

Well, if "Aunt Vallerina" (that's what she calls you now, Val) was going for favorite auntie status, her strategy was unblemished. Autumn has been applying her "stuff" almost non-stop since the package of girlie goodies arrived. She basically lives in the bathroom. A small taste of what teenage-life holds in store for us all! :) But, seriously, thanks Val!! (And, to an only slightly lesser degree, the boys are enjoying their new clothes as well.)