~Day 120: Instrumental Zoo

 Ashton went to an instrument "petting zoo" tonight. I think he enjoyed checking out some different instruments.  He was drawn to the Baritone (mini tuba thingy), the trombone, and the flute.  He was naturally pretty good at the Baritone.  I'm not influencing any decision he makes, but it will be interesting to see what he chooses.

 

~Day 119: Can I help?

 

The kids are expected to help with the dishes after dinner.  Cailee was so excited to rinse the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher.  I love it when they volunteer to help.

~Day 118: Another one who isn't tired...

 

I asked her earlier in the night if she was tired.  She said no.  But she laid down on the couch after dinner and was half asleep.

~Day 117: I'm not tired, Mom.

Here's the proof. 

~Day 116: Good Friends

I came home today and this is the scene that greeted me.  They are always together.  

I love scenes like this.

~Day 115: Crazy fun with crazy girls...

 

I wish I got better pictures... but it was dark.  In the theater.  It was fabulous!  Such a fun night with these girls!  We saw a movie and then walked over to Frost for Gelato (which I did not partake of)  On the way to Frost, we decided to take a picture in the middle of the road.  Some were about to jump for joy because we were all alone...

 Ok, one was about to jump....

But it was so much fun to sit and talk and laugh and get to know each other better.  It's fun to see different sides of people.  I loved it and it was a much-needed night out! I almost didn't go, but I'm so glad I did!

 
Pictured: Shanna Johnson, Tina Keller, Melissa Lantz, Francis... Francis, and Jessica Carr.

~Day 114: Bunco #4 -- my turn.

 

Another fun night!  It was my turn to host.  It was stressful to come up with things you hope everyone likes to eat for dinner, then make something for dessert you know you can't eat, but hope they enjoy and don't die from eating it because you can't taste it to make sure you die instead of them... I hope everyone is alive in the morning....

~Day 113: SOOOO tired.

Found Cailee asleep on the couch this afternoon.  I guess she really doesn't feel good.  Again.  This poor baby is always getting sick.  I wish she wasn't..

~Day 112: Only for her....

Cailee turned 6 today. I can't believe she is getting so big.  She requested a ladybug cake for her birthday.  Since I'm so artistic (hahahaha) I attempted the cake just for her.

Maybe I'll stick to reading....

~Day 111: Another old movie

The

The girls are watching The Secret of Nimh.  Another classic movie I made them watch.  Ashton is not interested... he is playing his favorite game, Smite.  Of course it has to do with Mythology....

~Day 110: Too much sugar

They destroyed the living room while they played with Petshops and candy together.  And now they are all wound up because of all the sugar intake today.  I don't think they will ever go to sleep.

~Day 109: Easter Fun

Today the kids were able to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt.  I think they had a good time.  The highlight of the morning was Cailee's clothes... I couldn't talk her into changing.  Stylish, that one.

The evening ended with the kids dying eggs.  I think they had a good day.

~Day 108: If I am going to embarrass one sister...

 

...might as well embarrass the other one the next day!  My 'baby' sister left this hanging on my bedroom door the eve of my having Abbie.  Julie would have been 12 at the time.  This helped me more than she will ever know.  Love you Julie!

~Day 107: Saved Keepsake

 

I had to share this.  I was going through my old school days book and found this letter stuck in there from 1993.  It's from my little sister Aubrey.  She would have been about 10 years old.  I would have been 16 I think.   I was not always the nicest older sibling, so seeing this made my day.  I guess I wasn't always such a pain in the behind.... love you Aubrey!

~Day 106: Grilled Weeds

These are my new favorite green.  Love making it slightly black, too.

~Day 105: More Loops

 

Ashton had Pack Meeting again tonight.  He earned a few belt loops this month.  He is excited because now he finally has a belt where he can put all of the belt loops he has earned recently.  He really enjoys scouts.  Proud of this little man.

~Day 104: There's a moon?

 

Went outside to get a shot of the moon.  But my tiny camera is inadequate.  The girls followed me out, so of course they had to get in the picture.  Unfortunately, the picture is pretty grainy.

~Day 103: Homemade Olaf.

The girls received white playdough at a birthday party.  They have had so much fun playing with it, and today they decided to play Petshops and Frozen.  Complete with their own Olaf's they created.  It was fun watching them play.

~Day 102: After almost 12 years....

Took a very long time, but we finally have a 'real' dining room set.  Solid oak table and chairs, complete with 2 bar stools.  I almost cried when we got it. (if you want to know why, you have to ask me)  I can't wait to use it tonight for dinner!

~Day 101: Blah. It needed to go . (2 pics)

 

Yes.  That is gray hair.  NOT blonde highlights.  I repeat. NOT blonde highlights.

 

New color.  Say hello.  I love you.  The end.

~Day 100: National Siblings Day

 

Yes, I am posting a sibling picture like so many others online today.  But this is one of my favorite pictures we had taken when Nick and I got married.  This was almost 12 years ago.  So much has happened to all of us in that time.  Love these guys so much!!

~Day 99: More Dirt

 

This little one loves to be outside.  A few days ago I showed a pic of how dirty her hands and face were.  Now her feet are almost the color of her shirt.

~Day 98: I could think of worse things to hoard...

 

Ashton's backpack this morning looked extremely full, and he was lugging it around like he had rocks in it.  Not rocks.  Much better.  Books.  They aren't small books either.  ALL of these were in his backpack to take to school in case he got bored.  Yes.  He hoards books.  He's not related to his mother at all.  Nope.

~Day 97: His Turn

 

It was brought to my attention by all my children that Ashton's photos are severely lacking on this blog.  So here is my cute little man showing me the game he would love to play tonight.  Unfortunately, it was too close to bedtime to start a game.  We will have to play another day.  Love this kiddo.

~Day 96: Before and After

Before:

This child was so filthy after playing outside.  I don't think the picture adequately shows how black her hands and face really are.

After:  Much better. Two newly showered girls that practically glow with cleanliness.

~Day 95: Shopping Buddies

These are my two goofy kids in the back seat of our vehicle as I hauled them all over town today.  It was fun to run errands with them.  But by the time we hit the grocery store just before going home, I knew it had been long enough.  I was about to leave them in the seafood section of the store... luckily they came home with me, or I would not have been able to get a picture today for my blog...AND I do love them a lot and couldn't imagine life without them.  So they lived to see another day.

~Day 94: And She Sleeps

Brookie came home from school early today because she said she didn't feel well and was tired.  I made her stay in her bedroom the whole afternoon.  She was only allowed to read or rest until her siblings got home from school in about three hours.  She said at one point that she almost wished she could go back to school.  I think she thought it was going to be a fun afternoon at home. 

 She then threw a massive fit because she wanted to come out of her room.  She ended up falling asleep for a much-needed nap.  She fought it all afternoon, but apparently she was tired after all.  They look so peaceful when they sleep.

~Day 93: Ouch

 

Cailee is always sitting with her legs crossed in some way. This was a new pose.  I think I would get stuck and not be able to get up if I sat like this.

~Day 92: Boring Food

Never have I been so excited to eat a pile of green weeds.  Not glamorous, but oh, so good.

~Day 91: Site Words

 

Cailee is so proud of her progression in school.  Nick has done a great job of encouraging her and he helped her make a chart to track her progress.  She is working hard to get to 100 site words by the end of year.  She is well on her way.  Good job Beans! 

(And Brookie is a very encouraging sister)