Well, Hello October.

I brought school work home this weekend. Guess how much of it I worked on? None. Nada. Zip. Instead, I spent two days doing nothing but being with my family. It was awesome. Even then, this morning I woke up so tired and this house was void of coffee. I laid by the fire for the first two hours trying to get my eyes to open. They wouldn't. Finally, the girls and I went to the coffee stand to wake me up. It was raining. Libby got dressed and put on her rain coat. Peyton put on her swimsuit. It was the perfect illustration of the differences between our girls. Then, we came home, made breakfast and spent some time being crafty together. I love a weekend.

Here is a look back at some of the highlights of the last few months.....

The girls want to start earning money, mostly because they love The Dollar Tree. Hello, chores. And saving.

These people make me so happy.

Lately, the girls seem to disagree on a lot. But they both agree on what they like to watch on t.v. My little zombies snuggle in to watch.....well, anything on Nick Jr.

Future Fire Fighter....

....or Princess.

Grunny's optimistic where there's food. Poor Grunny. The other night he followed Shane out to the front yard when he went out to his truck before bed. Shane didn't know he'd followed him out. At 1:30 we woke to the sound of whining at the front door. We're too tired and too distracted these days. Luckily, he's got that unconditional thing down that canines are known for.

Look at all of the wheeled options. S-p-o-i-l-e-d.

Someone found the sunscreen.

The girls had the best time drawing on Bebo's chalkboard when we stopped by after Dave shaved off her hair. She looks great. Libby told her (from a distance) that she looked silly, and (swimsuit clad) Peyton rubbed her hands around on her head. Many of you have asked how Bebo's doing. She says she has her moments, after all she's kicking breast cancer's @$$ and that's hard work, but I think she's doing amazing. She stopped by this morning on her way home from the farm. Her last round of chemo is next month. Woot Woot!

Grammy Jane is back with us every week and it's been so great for all of us. The girls love having her here and so do we. However, when I mentioned next year, she took me firmly by the shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, "Start making a plan for next year." All good things must come to an end, I guess, and we can't believe she's done this for us this long. Thanks Mom.

We're considering pageants. Not really.

I can't remember why Libby was so hysterical. Maybe because she's wearing nothing but a bib? I can't remember why she was wearing a bib.

Libby's more of a builder....

....Peyton, more a destroyer. Check out the intensity on her face.

An evening outside.

Libby tries, but her would-be passenger has other plans.

I took this picture today. Libby spends much of her time these days with a pencil, or a marker in her hand writing her letters, words and even copying sentences. Tonight though, I made her take a break, because she gets so frustrated when her letters don't turn out perfectly. She's her toughest critic and can be reduced to tears over lower-case a versus lower case e. We're working on making mistakes and moving on without tears.

Before I go to bed, I've got to post this. We don't even know how she learned to do it, but she just says she learned here at home with Grammy Jane. I'll get my mom on video this week. In this first video all the shouting is Peyton, right up until she's sees Daddy eating something, and leaves us for food.

And of course, if monkey see, monkey do. Check out the technique we call the head-bob. It's our favorite.

I'll end with this as they are the 36 reasons I haven't touched my blog in a month. Though, only 34 of them are pictured here. I will say this.....they are a really nice groups of kids.....

Ho Ho Ho!

There has been little time for blogging lately as I'm trying to wrap up a lot of things at school this week. I'm soooooooo looking forward to a few weeks off. I did have time to watch the personal messages Santa sent the girls this year. This one is Peyton's and you can see Libby's here. Ho Ho Ho!

Near Miss

We took the girls biking on the river trail yesterday. Libby got a bit excited about the speed she gained going downhill and turned around to see (I think) if I was watching. She nearly plowed head on into a metal fence that wouldn't have budged a millimeter. She corrects at the last second saving herself from a trip to the ER. Holy heart attack for her mother. Excuse my shrieking. I couldn't help it....

God Bless Those Who Serve

I couldn't come up with words to express what this video made me feel, so on this Memorial Day I'm just posting it instead. God bless the men and women who've served and who serve in the military. And God bless those who love them. Get a tissue. You're going to need it.

I want to send a personal thank you to our dear friends Jodi and Gary Grubb and your three boys. Your family has sacrificed a lot over the years for Gary's service in the military. We love you guys and think of you often.

Someone owes me forty bucks.

And next week it'll be one hundred forty.

I'm ranting today, so if you want something that will make you smile (Mom), go see this instead. Or, if you can't get enough of my adorable children, watch this.

I am stressing. I'm admittedly not the world's best student, no? Well, remember that online class I took way back when? I completed it in PLENTY of time to get my grade, and therefore my transcripts and therefore my renewed teaching license and therefore a j-o-b job. I was really on top of it. Really. I emailed my coursework to my professor on March 22. March 22. She missed it. When I called her a month later (on her vacation in Hawaii) she was grading (in her condo, from the lanai, probably sipping a daiquiri. Okay, that's speculation, but I'm just sayin'). She asked when I'd turned it in. "March 22", I told her. She went back into her email archives, found it, told me she'd received it and assured me that not only would she turn my grade in the next week, but that the registrar's office would then have my grade posted within days. I left that conversation feeling satisfied. Mistake.

Fast forward to last Wednesday. Last Wednesday was May 5. May 5 and the registrar's office still. did. not. have. my. grade. We've bypassed April and now it's May. I spoke with a very nice woman who is apparently the liaison between the independent study professors (daiquiri sipper) and their students (me) who said she'd call my professor and then call me back. She. did. not. call. me. back. I called her back. Today. I called the registrar today too. And guess what? They have my grade and won't tell me what it is. And since my teaching license expires one week from today I paid FIFTY DOLLARS to make sure TSPC (Teacher Standards and Practices Commission) has my hot little transcripts in their hands well before next Monday so I don't have to pay another ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS in fees when my license expires. It should've cost me ten dollars. On April 5. And remember that liaison? Right about now she calls me back to tell me that she's spoken with the registrar's office and they have my grade.

Wow. Thanks. Do you remember our conversation last Wednesday? They one in which you said you'd call me back?

I want my forty dollars back. Registrar won't give it to me. Liaison won't give it up either. All hopes are hanging with my professor who's probably at happy hour, sucking down mai tais and reminiscing.

Grrrrrrr!

Thanks for listening. Now, go watch this so you leave all warm and fuzzy. Ah, Fuzzy. We sure miss you.....

Girlie

We girls love shoes and bags. It's who we are......

Things I love (and a few unpaid product endorsements)...

I got the idea for this post from a few friends, starting with Boog here. It's a little braggy, so if you're not in the mood for my gushing, turn back now. Just know I'd rather gush about my kids here, because I feel more comfortable than doing it to your face. Except, I'll still probably do it to your face. Somebody stop me. I can't help myself. I've become that mom.

I love the sun. I haven't seen it in a while, and I'm so glad it's back. It floods the kitchen in an obnoxious blinding way in the afternoon this time of year, but I managed to get this shot of Libby against the kitchen cabinet before it set the other day. I plan on trying for more shots like this, but getting both girls to hold still is about as easy as herding cats, or combing the back of Libby's hair.

I'm obsessed lately. White cake with white frosting. Y-U-M.

This next one is a life saver! Peyton wants to sit on the potty and have my undivided attention for about 30 minutes at a time. That's a lot of time on the potty, considering up until now she doesn't produce.....well, much. My friend Anna posted this seat with a built in training seat on her blog, and I HAD to have it. Now, Peyton can sit for as long as she likes and I'm confident she won't fall in if I'm not there. And (insert drum roll) GUESS WHO POOPED ON THE POTTY TODAY! Well, yeah Shane, but guess who else! Peyton! Woot woot! Happy birthday to ME! If you need to buy a baby gift for someone....I'm telling you. Bemis Next Step. Home Depot $29.99.
Libby is starting to write her name. The spelling isn't always perfect, but who cares. Yesterday a little boy at a birthday party asked her name and she said, "Libby."

"What is it?"

"Libby."

"Huh?"

"Libby. L-I-B-B-Y!"

I acted all casual, but the teacher in me teared up a little.

I think the fact that it's written on toilet paper with a marker only adds to its charm.

Another of my not-so-new obsessions are flash mobs. Seemingly random gatherings of people dancing and singing for the sole purpose of making me happy. I would think that it's a lot of prep on my behalf, but I'm glad they go to the trouble. You can search flash mobs on you tube and watch all day long, or you can save some time and watch this one. It's my favorite.

Last, but not least is the Strider Bike. Oh little Strider, we love you. We got this for Libby when she was a year and a half. We put it together, set her on it and let go. She tipped over, cried and wanted nothing to do with it for a long time. Leave it to us.

Still, it's the sole reason she has gone from this, to this, to this in the course of one month with very little instruction from us. We can ride bikes together now, and we are loving it.

She doesn't need it anymore, and look who's taken it over....

Strider Sports, call me. I will plug you to the masses with nothing in return except lots and lots of money.

Two Wheelin'

Libby rode her bike today for the first time. We were so excited, but the session was cut short when she started crying for reasons still unknown. She said she'll ride again tomorrow.... Turn down your volume. I get really screechy at the end.

Sun, Please Stay.

On dry days we've been getting out to get as much activity as we can. Libby has been riding her bike and she's getting the hang of balancing on two wheels. Watch her here. It totally wears her out though, and she napped for three hours in our bed the other day after falling asleep in the car on the way home. Sun, please stay so I can wear her out like this everyday.

Little Miss Fashion. I put the hat away. She gets it back out as the perfect accessory to every outfit.
Grammy Jane came last week for a women's b-ball game at The Pit. The Lady Ducks killed it.
If I look like I'm about to spring into action it's because seconds before this shot we got chased off of the court by security. Yep, that's me. I totally live on the edge like that.
My sister did a Mary Kay class here on Thursday night. Guess who loved lip color? Shocking, I know. Peyton got into it too.
Yow. za.
Libby is so happy tucked between two of her favorite people on the planet. Peyton waits her turn.
After a day together yesterday ( in the house, because it rained all day. We were stuck inside. Did I mention I'm sick of the rain? I know, I live in the valley. It rains here. I get it.) we went to Putters to DO something besides look outside at the rain. Fun was had by all, and Peyton didn't fall into any of the MANY water hazards. Success.
The girls won some tickets at the arcade after our round of golf which they used to buy grape Laffy Taffy. That's good for growing teeth, right? Peyton waits for me to bite off a piece and feed her like a baby bird.
No rain today! We spent the morning on the river trail and at the park. I've got two very tired girls at the moment.

Rogue Emu

We took a family field trip today to...

...and I have too many pictures to post. If you haven't done this, or haven't been in a while, GO. We had so much fun. The girls loved not having to sit in their car seats and couldn't wait to see the animals.

The giraffes and our emu encounter were my favorites. Excitement built as we approached...

Then, excitement turned to fear. Seconds before I took this shot Libby had her face in the window. But, as the giraffe came closer she retreated to the safety of the middle of the car. Peyton was sitting on the console between Shane and I.
As you watch this, know that I practiced some serious restraint by NOT opening the window. I was so tempted. Isn't that terrible? I mean, Shane could be minus one eye. Forgive my cackling. I couldn't help it. We'd watched this emu accost the car in front of us and were all a little nervous as he approached us. Watch. You'll see.....

Hello Spring! Oh, How I've Missed You.....

I had to crack up at Libby for a couple of reasons this morning. First of all, someone has recently taken to dressing herself and she's got her dad's fashion sense. Secondly, I've seen her take off running and hide behind the couch a few times lately. Turns out she's not a fan of anything on t.v. that scares her. Disclaimer: she only watches Sprout and Nick Jr. "It's like preschool on t.v.". This kid has got a low threshold for scary. Here she watches Dora from a safe distance.

Hello spring. Hello river trail. I LOVE warm weather!

Look at my girl balance.

Peyton picks flowers.

Shane picks poo. Look at his face. He's totally dry heaving.