We've Got Spirit! Apparently!

Brooke is doing cheerleading this year. 

It's pretty fun to watch.  Brooke is in the back. She's got spirit, that one.

 



By the way, did you know that if the cheerleading coach asks for help and you casually agree you might find an email addressed to "Assistant Coach Amy" in your inbox?  You might then find yourself trying to learn cheers in the kitchen while your kids eat snacks and stare at you. 

Ah, well.  She's having fun, right?  Go team!

 

Shoot the Moon

I grabbed my tripod and shot the moon tonight. 

This isn't really kid-related, except it may explain some of the behavior going on around here as of late. 

Know what I mean? 

Fallish

I took a little walk with Eli and brought the camera along. My idea of a perfect morning, I think.

It cost me a few handfuls of goldfish, of course.

And off we went.

 

I tried a new technique I read about.  Choose a slow shutter speed and move the camera while pressing the shutter.  The idea is to create an abstract idea of the subject. It's...different. 

 

 

Six!

My biggest little one is 6!  

I can hardly believe it.  I have a kindergarten-going, brother-fighting, Lego-loving, dress-upping, dancing six-year-old. She's getting entirely too big and stop it, stop it now! 

This weekend we had a little birthday party.  Remember last year's princess bash, complete with a real live princess?  That was fun.  And work.  A lot of work. In fact, I'm still trying to get over that one. So this year, we (I) thought we'd try something different.  We painted pottery, which is the exact opposite of having a party at your house with a real live princess.

It was lovely.

You can almost hear the quiet.  Almost too quiet for a birthday party.  Not that I'm complaining.

The saying should be "toddler in a pottery shop" instead of "bull in a china shop."  Yes, I'm talking about you.

So, with that, she's six!

Happy 6th birthday to my sweet girl.  I love your spirit, creativity and curiosity at this age the most, I think.  God truly blessed me the day He made you mine.  I love you, B!

Love, Mama

7 Things

1.  I know.  I haven't blogged in forevvvvvver.  I'd like to thank my one loyal reader for checking back every now and then to see if I've posted.  (Hi, Mom!)

2.  So let's get started.

3.  Nate turned the big 0-4 in July!  He's the biggest four-year-old in the history of ever.  Of course, we had the traditional grandparent party with cake and whatnot.

(Not pictured: napping baby brother.)

 

Nate loves his friends, telling jokes that make no sense, cuddling, getting my full attention,  corn dogs, the color green, peeing on the fence, playing Candy Land, and Brooke.

 

He doesn't like sharing, taking naps, anything I make for dinner, and babies that take his toys. 

 

Oh, I do love that one. Happy 4th birthday to you, Nate. :-)

 

4. Brooke lost her first tooth and now she looks like a big girl and that makes me a little sad. 

 

 

5.  Eli is 18 months now!  He doesn't say much yet, but he loves to dance.  He'll make an excellent husband someday.

 

 

6.  Brooke started KINDERGARTEN!!  Sheesh.  She's getting so big. 

I'm very proud to report that I didn't cry.  I almost cried, but I didn't.  She was just so ready and excited that it was hard to be sad.  She wanted to ride the bus and everything.  Her first day was "amazing" and the "best day ever."  Hopefully she can keep this attitude up for the next thirteen years.

7.  And that's about it!  I have plans to keep up with blogging in the upcoming months.  I've missed it.  :-)  

Cake Smash!

Eli is ONE!!!

Wow.  I know it goes fast, but wow. How is it possible that this child is one?? 

So, of course we had to have a little party last weekend.  This one was a little different than the other first birthday parties I've thrown.  Simple was the name of the game.  No theme.  Kid-made decorations. Ordered a cake. Done.  Scot and I didn't even do gifts unless you count a crib rail cover to keep him from chewing completely through the crib.  Simple.

The birthday boy provided the entertainment.

Eli's first words were "umm...seriously, Mom?"

 

 

A little help blowing out the candle. 

Let the games begin!

 

 

 

Check this out!!  Well done, baby.





 

Boy, do I love this little dude. :-)

 

And of course, bath time.

 
We all had a sweet birthday weekend with the grandparents.

My parents weren't feeling great on Eli's birthday weekend, so they came up a few days later.  Of course, we had to reinact the cake smash.  I don't even want to know how many grams of sugar this baby has had in the past few days.   He didn't seem to mind too much.

 

 

More grandparent fun! I thought the kids' heads were going to explode. 

 

Thanks to all the grandparents!  And happy birthday to my absolute favorite baby.  I love you and thank God for you every day, Eli!!