first day of school

My kids came up to see me just before they left for their first day of school. They were very excited. LMG has already made a good friend. LMS made a 104 on her pretest in spelling. And when I asked Mr. Happy if he likes school the other day he said "yeah....we get to sleep!" :-p School is a big adjustment for my sweet boy - says a lot that his favorite part is when he gets to stop and rest!

I miss them.

my last day

This was the day I had been dreading all summer. It came way too soon. LM Sunshine asked to have a "goodbye party with a Leah cake" added as the very last thing on our summer list. As this day got closer, I realized it was a very good thing we were going to have people around that day - otherwise we all would have just been sad all day! Which I was, really, but it was just good to have some distractions.

We decided to make it a pool/slip'n'slide party...of course!

Sometimes Jonathan is not so sure about trying some things...but the slip'n'slide?? He cracks up every time!!

Laura was not too sure about the slip'n'slide herself at first but I told her she had to try juuust once!

She loved it. Everyone does! It's better than Dollywood! lol

Then Leah wanted to try.

Shannon didn't get to go on the slip'n'slide the last time she was here because she was pregnant...this time she went and said it was more fun than you could imagine!

Cute, cute, cute.

LM Giggles is very serious about her butterfly catching this summer. It's one of her favorite things to do.

Then I got to babysit for the evening and put my kiddos to bed, which was the perfect way to end my last day as their nanny.

Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Giggles, and Mr. Happy:

I love you so very much! I have loved every day of being with you for the past five and a half years! From potty training to time outs (that I thought might never end on some days!) to trips to the library to imaginary pink hammers :} and so so so much more! All three of you made me laugh and smile every day by just being you. :} I hope you always remember all the fun things we did together and how much I love you...but most importantly of all, I hope you will always remember, no matter what anyone else ever tells you, how much Jesus loves you - so much that He died for you! He who created you thinks you are beautiful (and handsome! ;) ) and even though Kiki can't be with you every day now, He is ALWAYS with you and He will NEVER leave you!

I already miss seeing your sleepy little faces each morning and I especially miss my eskimo kisses each evening (oonne...twwwo...frreeee...)! But I am asking and trusting God to keep you safe and to remind you often just how much He (and I!) loves you. I will never stop praying for each of you by name and I will always be here if you need me.

I LOVE YOU.....TO THE MOON AND BACK!!

aarrrrr!

Mr. Happy is in to pirates these days. He always has been really... see? :)

I have called him my little captain for a long time. His bedroom used to have a firetruck theme...but is now being turned into an awesome pirate room. So when Laura mentioned she had a big box that she could bring over to make a pirate ship out of...Jack's mouth dropped open and he was VERY excited! (Not to mention that making something out of a cardboard box was on our summer list!)

Leah is into pirates right now too - so it was a perfect match! Laura and I worked on the general design...and Mr. H. drew everything he wanted on it.

Terrible cell phone pic... but after Laura and Leah left, he even fell asleep in it for a little while!

Then we took it up to his room where it fits in just perfectly!

Ha! He and his sisters figured out that this little stuffed animal fit perfectly through the porthole and was also used as a cannon ball. :}

I promise we feed him really well!! lol The boy just has so much energy he runs it all off in a heartbeat!

Aw! He almost has a baby six-pack! Lol

Thanks for bringing the box, Laura! It was a huuge hit!! :)

quick pic

I am attempting to madly pack so I can move tomorrow. I will stay at a friend's house for a little bit and hopefully before long will have another job and be able to afford my own place again. My attention span today is zero however and I decided take a break and post a quick pic.

LMG loves to play dress up. You never know what outfit she might come up with next! This was her very couture design from last week...

I'm sure the people on the show Project Runway would be way impressed.

:}

chinese dumplings

Ever since we read a book about the Wall of China last year in school and I told my kids I have a friend, Jing, who is from China, they have begged me often to have her over so they can meet her. We finally got to have her over a couple weeks ago and she taught my kids how to make Chinese dumplings.

They love that they can remember her name - because it sounds like the "jing" in "jingle bells"! :}

LMS and LMG take their dumpling making very seriously.

We did some fried and some boiled. I can never decide which I like better...usually which ever one I happen to be eating at that particular moment!

Soooo yummy!! All three of my kiddos LOVED them! Jing came back on our last day and brought more dumplings - and Mr. Happy pushed his to the side of his plate and said he was saving his for very last - they are definitely "last" worthy! :)

Thanks for coming to see us and help us cook, Jing! :)

catching up

Sorry things have been a little quiet around here! Just been a little busy... :} I'll work on catching up now.

Here is one of our "bucket list" items...going to the science museum.

This brought back many memories of coming here as a little girl! Their hands are on the Van De Graaff generator. It is a small model of a MUUUCH larger machine. It makes your hair stand up. That's about all I really know about it... lol. LM Sunshine didn't do this that particular day because her hair was in "teddy bear ears" as she likes to call them. :) Oh well!

On the left... trying out his hand at braille.

On the right...how he sat during the presentation about the Van de Graaff generator. :}

More coming... :)

on the farm

These three asked me to do some pics of them one evening during camp. We wanted Abby to be in them too - it's not a complete "best friends" set without her - but she was being stubborn and wouldn't do it! :-p So we did it without her!

I love the vintagy look these edits give the pictures. It's probably one of my favorite edits to use and fit well with the farm surroundings. :)