Project 365: Week 42 "fall fun"

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Atticus's Birthday!

After church and a special out-for-pizza lunch, we came home and let Little Bit open his presents. He was so excited!

Snips, Snails, and Pretty Pigtails

It has been so LONG since my last "Snips" post!! What kind of a mother am I?? ;) Okay. To explain, "Snips" are little tidbits of information I want to remember about each of my children at their various stages and ages. When I don't write these things down, they get lost in the jumbles of my brain, so really...it's proactive memory sustainability in action! (You can read other "Snips" posts by clicking on the tab just below our banner picture.)

Noah, 9

He is the leader and instigator of all things thought out-of-the box. There's always a fort/clubhouse to build, a rocket ship to make from a shipping box, a strange invention made from rubber bands, pencils, and index cards. That's just who he is. Evidence of this is all over this blog. You can even see it in how he plays. For example...

Summer Time

This is my favorite picture from the last couple of months. Had to choose one for Melissa. Be sure to check out her photo contest each week!

Wheee!

Participating in Wordless Wednesday and Melissa's Monday Moments.

He Loves His 'Bucha

Also posted at Real Food in Little Rock.

Project 365: Week 38

Sunday, September 12, 2010

We got up this morning and, half-planned, half on-a-whim, decided to hop in the car and drive four hours to Missouri. Because sometimes? Sometimes...we're crazy like that. We were wanting to go to the "Ozark Sustainability Festival" being held there--to see what we could learn in preparation for what's next in our lives (selling the house, buying some land perhaps, and living off of it). We also wanted to see how well the kids could do driving for that long, since we are hoping to drive to Virginia this fall. The trip was not. my favorite part. But at least it wasn't horrific or anything. (Nobody threw up! So that's always a plus. Ha!) 

Once there, we visited booths, displays, and even workshops on all manner of things, from solar energy to goats' milk. The kids had a blast with all the animals. Even Saylor! Our little dog-hater actually found a dog breed she quite likes--the Long-haired Dachsund, of all things.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Paul stayed home and we ran errands and relaxed all day. Atticus and I noticed this little number (the pink one) in one store. It's somewhat unsettling to know that I owned a shirt and leggings almost exactly like this. Only, if I remember correctly, mine was black stars instead of black checks...and to really create a picture for you, it had a narrow black belt...and I wore a black banana clip...and I may or may not have worn it while singing some ridiculous Michael Bolton song at junior high Homecoming. (Or was it Debbie Gibson? Good grief. Either way...ewwww!)

This is Atticus saying, "Pleeeeze tell me you didn't do that, Mommy!"

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I got this 100-piece puzzle at Good Will for $1.00. It was one of Noah's Workbox activities today.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

I caught Noah going through a word book with Gabriel right before bed tonight. Noah would say, "What's this, Gabe?" and "That's right!! Good job!" They both enjoyed themselves so much. Even Atticus climbed up and joined in. So, Noah's pretty much officially enlisted as my Speech Therapy Assistant.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

It was "Teddy Bear Night" at our library. The younger three wore their pajamas and brought a favorite stuffed animal.

Gabriel enjoyed going on the "Bear Hunt," especially when we went through the mud. (Not surprising.)

The surprising thing was that we ran into a few of our friends!

Saylor had a good time making the teddy bear craft with her girlfriends.

And Noah enjoyed the books.

Friday, September 17, 2010

A few nights ago at bath time, I had to pass the water-warming-up time with Atticus by focusing him on something other than the very sad reality that he could not keep playing in the dirt outside and did, in fact, have to come in, have a bath, and go to bed. In desperation, I grabbed a handful of foam letters which had previously been confiscated during one of my mad stuff-removal sprees. I showed him a letter and said, "What's this?" Well, he told me. I had no idea he would. In fact, he told me the sounds of the whole pile of letters...except for the "x." So tonight the bigger kids helped me video him doing it again.

How? you ask. We are firm believers in this movie.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Daddy left urrrrrly Friday morning for depositions in Florida. We HATE it when he's gone. But he got back to Little Rock just in time for the game today! A convenient "coincidence," wouldn't you say? ;) As if his very presence wouldn't have been good enough, he even came bearing gifts for the kiddos!

This is no ordinary egg, by the way. It contains a toy alligator that will hopefully hatch out after some soaking time in a cup of water. What I really needed--but didn't get--was a picture of Atticus with his "pa-pane" (airplane), because Paul could never have found a more appropriate gift for that little guy. It seems that all his favorite things are up in the sky (the moon, the clouds, and...airplanes). He has not stopped flying his plane around for two days now!

Of course, Paul can't let me just mention the game. I mean, this is the man who, despite the fact that our family gets along just fine without any TV, has now purchased cable "JUST for a few months" so we can get through college football season! He was thinking we definitely needed a picture of this...

...the winning touchdown!!!!!

Yeah, baby! Sorry, Georgia fans. It was OUR day today!  

Woo Pig Sooie!!

And that pretty much sums it up! I wonder if our lovely hostess, Sara, and her family have been sucked in yet by the phenomenon that IS the Razorback culture. You know, you don't have to be FROM here to love the Hogs!  :)  

Wordless Wednesday (Sort Of)

Just when you think you've fallen in love with the cutest cowboy you've ever seen in your life...

...the cowboy smiles.

Be still my heart.

 

Photos by Kim Magnus (Family Camp 2009)

Mudrooms: An Argument For

The "End."

It's Wordless Wednesday.

Snips, Snails, & Pretty Pigtails

Noah may not know everything there is to know about soccer yet. But he certainly gets in there and isn't afraid of the action. No, sir! I think he's a lot like me and really wants to always "be the one" who gets the job done! Ha! Even his guitar teacher says he's really picked things up quickly. And, believe me, it's been with very little practice. We're still working on that nice, disciplined lifestyle we know we're supposed to have by now. *sigh* But seriously, the other day Noah finally pulled out his guitar, immediately checked to make sure it was in tune (he definitely has an ear for that...), and then absentmindedly began strumming a chord combination. I swear, he sounded like he'd been doing it all his life. The strumming pattern itself was so laid-back--it really sounded good! And, y'all, I know I'm biased 'cause he's my boy and all, but I'm telling the truth here! He is just a natural!

Saylor is such a big girl now. If you know her well, you know that for her entire life she has owned (and adored) a small, pink blanket called "Silkie." When she held it, she sucked her thumb. It was an automatic response. From babyhood to age five, this is what would happen. She mostly only had it when sleeping, so it wasn't too big of a deal for us. But deep down I was a little worried that once she lost her front baby teeth, we'd have a mess on our hands. Well, the Lord was good to us and one day about a month ago, Saylor just flat-out lost "Silkie." I mean, for REAL lost it. We looked everywhere!! So, after quite a few tears were shed that first night at bedtime, she had no other choice but to go to bed without it. The next day it was still nowhere to be found, but by this time Saylor was a little proud of herself for making it okay without it. Since then she's only had a handful of moments where she really felt distraught not having it to comfort her. She's doing so well!! And she has truly delighted in telling her grandparents, etc. about how big she is now. And no thumb sucking! (She never even considered putting her thumb in her mouth unless she held Silkie. So, that part is completely over and without any blood, sweat, or tears.) Isn't that a blessing?

Then there's Gabriel...aka Resident Woodcarver and Visual Artist of Many and Varied Media, has recently been enjoying different activities, like filling the sink with water until it overflows the top (that's always fun), eating whatever scrap of food anybody was foolish enough to leave alone for two seconds, and dumping contents (like unpopped popcorn, for instance) of plastic baggies onto the carpet. He's always sweet about it, though. When you tell him, "NO! We don't do that," he says, "Oh..." and nods his head like he completely understands. He's one of those kids that will have to try everything at least once--just to see what it's like.

He is also turning into quite the little talker. Mind you, we still have a world of trouble understanding him. (Just try to speak the English language without using "g" or "k." Yeah...sort of limits him a bit.) But he tries so much more than he used to and even puts two and three words together on his own. The other day this little girl got hurt in Saylor's dance class, and Gabe said, "Mommy, girl...ear." Of course, it sounded like "Mommy, duh...ee-uh." But I got it. And it made my day! A few other marvelous things that regularly come out of his mouth nowadays are: "upstairs," "Honda," various friends' names, and "oatmeal."

Atticus is my Cuddle-Bug. I recently weaned him so Paul and I could take a trip to Eureka. Hate weaning...so. much. But he did great. He really did! Every once in a while (even now) he'll ask to nurse, which breaks my heart, but so far I've been able to distract him easily, and he doesn't fuss or anything when I put him in his bed without it. Still, it's hard for us mamas. I'm just so thankful that he is so very snugly. He loves to sit in my lap when I'm reading or we're watching something together as a family. And he's one of those babies who loves to put his head on your shoulder while you rock him. It feels so good to have his sweet little head up against my neck. In fact, I'm starting to tear up a little as I type this post, so precious he is to me.

The theme this time is definitely "Progress," wouldn't you say? They're growing up on me, y'all.

Not Me! But Maybe YOU???

I am not one bit relieved to have just done a giveaway for which I don't have to ship a thing! Because I'm really organized and prompt at shipping things out to people. Always. I mean, I did NOT just hand-deliver a CHRISTmas card to a friend the other day (because they moved and it was returned to us). I did NOT hang on to it for nearly four months!! That's absurd!

And I did not have a moment's fun reading all your comments. (By the way, obviously NOBODY likes waffles!!!) But. I actually DO have a winner. For REAL, Yo! Maybe it's you???!!!!

Or maybe it's .....

Yay!! Tamara B., I'm sure you do NOT want the waffle maker like everyone else (only you DO, don't you?). Listen, I am not one bit jealous of you either, because the waffle maker and all the other prizes I was offering so weren't my thing--they weren't appealing to me in the slightest. (Yeah...and I also hate chocolate.)

Now, back to what else I haven't done. I am not STILL organizing outgrown and winter clothing to put away in the attic. And I have not let all these clothing piles sit around in the living room, hallway, playroom, and bedrooms for weeks on end. Y'all know me better than that. I always keep things neat and tidy.

And while I'm at it, I might as well tell you that this child........

.......has the most attentive parents in the world. Those are most certainly not choking hazards he holds in his sweet little hands. He's perfectly fine. Really. Parents of four children are oh, so experienced and would never let such a dangerous scenario take place. And definitely not WHILE we take photos of it!!

MckMama has more Not Me! Monday posts over at her place. Or does she??? Hmmm...

Project 365: Week 10

Sunday, February 28, 2010

I decided to make a blackberry cobbler today from a "kit" I purchased through our local farmer's market. I believe I've mentioned my fascination for all things blackberry and cobbler-related. I was curious to see what the berry farm considered a good cobbler.

I was largely unimpressed. I'm sorry, but this was no cobbler! Tasted fine, but it was basically a dump cake. Instead of dumplings, which everybody knows is the most necessary ingredient (hello?!), it had a spongy cake sitting on top of the berries. Shame, shame, shame.

Monday, March 1, 2010

I consigned forty items in the Rhea Lana sale. Katelyn and her sisters came and sat while the three youngest kiddos slept, so Noah and I could go unload and tag everything at the sale. He was such a big help to me!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I recently posted a review about Alice.com. Well, one thing I probably should have mentioned...their shipping box makes an awesome toy for children of all ages!

Gabriel certainly thinks so!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Paul had his very first SOLO trial today. It was a lot of work, and he was gone by 6:30 this morning. Finally, he called at about 6:00 p.m. while we were on our way home from guitar and ballet lessons. His words: "Let's go celebrate!" Woo-hoo! Win #1! I'm so proud of my man. So we met him at Larry's Pizza for an impromptu dinner. And celebrate we did!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

My mom and I went to Rhea Lana's early half-price sale for consignors. Paul kept the kids. 'Cause you can't do that kind of shopping with kids. There's far too much thinking involved! I decided ahead of time I would buy Saylor nothing but dresses because that's all she ever wants to wear, and it's not a battle I believe is worth fighting. I mostly stuck to it, but I just couldn't resist a Valentine outfit by Gymboree for next winter. (I'm hoping by then she'll be okay with cute red pants with hearts on them!)

Friday, March 5, 2010

In addition to the clothes pictured above, I found a pair of $2 Nike tennis shoes for Gabriel (perfect for his fat foot) AND a pair of tap shoes for $1.50. Go ahead and say it: "You've lost your mind, Mama!" I couldn't help it. I was a tap dancer growing up, and I knew she'd adore them.

Hmm...I don't know. Do you think she likes them?

Saturday, March 6, 2010

What a gorgeous day outside! Sun shining. Cool breeze. Spring is most definitely in the air (at least for the moment). We got out and played quite a while. Atticus is just learning about playing outside, since last spring he was just five months old. There are things he's not too sure about yet. Like walking in grass or leaves. He's really not 100% positive that he CAN walk in them. And then there's the drop-off from the patio to the yard. A tough thing to maneuver when you're just a toddler. That's when big brothers come in...to give a helping hand.

Big brothers are good for things like that.

Come to think of it, they're good for lots of fun things.

That was my week. Thank you, Sara, for hosting our project"!