Personality...

I sat down this morning to do some editing of photos from the past couple of days.

I was planning on doing a whole post on the excitement that took place when we received a box from Galen and Cadi...

but I couldn't resist posting this picture!

This is a perfect example of crazy attitudes in this house.

Take special notice of the little one on the left...

Do you notice anything... strange about her face?

Click on the picture to get a close up...

She thinks this is hilarious!!

It is definitely a true representation of her personality...

Crazy Face!!

The Road Not Taken...

I'm feeling good today.

Wait.

Did I just say that?

Was that me?

For a second there...

I thought I...almost... recognized myself.

Even if it was only a second...

it was nice to see myself...

for a bit.

I miss... me.

Now, I'm off to make this day...

Wonderfully Dreamy.

The Road Not Taken

~Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Flying...

Laughter, giggles, smiles, joy, dreams...

flying through the air...

A moment in time.

Summer's End

Summer is officially over.

Not just on the calendar, but on the weather map.

I love these crisp days, though.

The leaves blowing around.

The colors on the hillside.

The breeze blowing and making everything feel somehow new... or old.. or different.

We had a very busygreatbigchange kind of summer.

I am glad to see it come to a close and get on with this new chapter of our lives.

As a friend recently reminded me...

Change is NEVER easy.

It is possible, though.

And...

It is possible to do it without completely losing my mind...

...partially, but not completely.

Engraved...

The other day, the kids were cleaning up cookie crumbs and for some reason I thought that would make a great photo...

Yeah, still not sure about that...

Anyway, when I was looking at the photos, it got me to thinking...

No matter where I am...

No matter what I'm up to...

No matter what I'm thinking...

No matter how alone I feel...

God is with me always.

He never lets me go.

He never abandons me.

 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:16

I think I was supposed to take those photos...

to remind me that He loves me...

even when I feel unlovable.

Smiles and Because of Galen...

I love nothing more than seeing a big old smile on the face of one or all of my children.

The swing seems to be a great place to get this type of shot these days.

They love that thing!

Lily is hanging on for dear life.

Anytime I can't find some of the kids, all I have to do is look out the window and there they are...

on the swing...

laughing...

enjoying the last days of summer 2010...

Aren't those the best days of all?!

And...

Just because Galen loves him...

Here is a photo or two of beautiful Taz.

He doesn't know what to think of the crazy lady

 running around taking photos of him all of the time.

So, he just ignores me.

Typical.

A Lesson From Your Kids...

Summer days......

I know, I know...

I've been hearing it from all kinds of people.

Not just the ones who live in my own neck of the woods...

This is a strange summer.

Burning hot for some...

Freezing for others...

I will tell you that we are finally getting a few days that are at least warm enough to put on shorts...

We've even had a couple where the kids were able to play in the sprinklers.

I wouldn't think of venturing out to the lake right now, though...

Yikes!

That makes me shiver just to think about it!

Around our house, summer is a lazy time.

Don't get me wrong.

We stay busy.

We are a large family.

I don't know any of those who don't stay busy.

Wrangling the schedules of 11 people is difficult, to say the least.

(Not to mention helping to plan a wedding that is 3 weeks away.)

What I do mean, is we try to play it cool.

We don't schedule a lot of extra activities.

We try to get outside and let the kids run and play.

We want them to spend time in the sun and look forward to their beds at night.

Sometimes that means the house gets a little dirty...

(Be quiet husband... I know, I am a clean freak.)

My house does get cluttery.  I can hold on to "stuff"...

If I'm not careful it accumulates and WOW... that can feel really messy to me.

I love days like the one where I captured this photo of Lily...

She had been playing in the sprinklers, swinging on the swings, jumping on the trampoline...

and then she decided to just lay down and check out the

big. white. fluffy. clouds.

that were gently floating by.  She lay like that for about 20 minutes.

We all need to stop and watch the clouds go by sometimes...

I know I do.

In the end... those are the moments we really cherish.

It isn't the doing, doing, doing that are the special times.

It is nice to learn a lesson from your kids.

Lily

The warmer days bring out the energy...

Non stop...

Go, go go...

Stay active...

Keep moving...

One more girl has discovered the pole around here...

You'd think frisbee throwing would come naturally to us...

I think maybe this skill kicks in later.

Growing Up...

Loose teeth, baby fat history, learning to read, smart as a whip (what's a whip anyway)...

These are all signs of our little beauty growing up...

Turned Loose...

The kids are begging to be turned loose outside.

However, when they get out there, they learn that just because the sun is shining does not mean it is warm!

So, Daddy has been taking them out to run around while we do school.

They go to the mall, air craft museum, train station.

You know, anywhere that little ones might have fun and work off some of their energy so they will take a long nap!

What Do You Do...

What do you do

with your smallest children

when winter has gone on for too long

and spring hasn't sprung yet?

Yes...

That is pretty much what you do!

Grandma is SOOOOOO COOL!

I'm sure my kids are no different from yours...

They love getting anything in the mail.  You could hand them your junk mail and they would carry it around for a couple of days... so proud of  "their" mail.

A few days ago, they really did get a package... from Grandma.

Grandma and Bampa had been in Hawaii recently and, like always, they were thinking of the kiddos.

They sent the older (and medium) girls pens that said Hawaii on them.  The two little girls received bracelets.

Look at their proud little faces!

Our son, who had just climbed out of bed from his nap, loved his car!  He has barely been a foot away from it since.  He checked it out for awhile... he was just waking up, after all... and then proceeded to drive it around forever!

Even though he was still tired, he gave a sweet smile.

That is asking a lot for a sleepy boy!

Sleepy or not...

Do not try to take this car away from him!

When I asked the kids what they thought of Grandma thinking of them while they were on vacation...

The little girls said, "That is so sweet."

The little man, however, said...

"Grandma is SOOOOO COOL!"

Happy Birthday, Lily...

Lily is 5!

Happy Birthday, Lily!!!!!!!

We made chocolate filled brownies and hot fudge cake with ice cream.

The hot fudge sauce in the bottom of the cake is oh so good.  I found this recipe on a blog that I visit, but now I can't remember where.  So, if it is your blog... thank you and drop me a note and I will give you credit for the yumminess of this cake!

Grandma sent a hula skirt and a lei...

So cute!

This was Lily doing the hula...

Galen challenged her to wiggle her hips so she had to show him her stuff...

Five is so cool.

She has such big changes coming this year. 

I am so glad that we get to be here to see it all!

Happy Birthday, Lily Hillbilly!

Not a Baby or a Toddler...

Today we are cleaning the house... just like every other saturday.  However, tomorrow is not like every other sunday...

Tomorrow is Lily's birthday!!!!

5 Year Old, baby...

I am planning on making a hot fudge cake for her... have any of you made this?  The picture looks so yummy.  I hope she loves it!

Take a good hard look at 4 year old Lily...

Everything changes tomorrow... right?

I mean, 5 is not a baby or really even a toddler anymore.

Dramatic stuff ahead, I'm sure.

I will post birthday pictures as soon as possible...

A Recipe and a Picture...

My family loves good food.  I cook a lot.  We love trying new stuff and aren't ashamed to say if we love it... or not.

One of our all time favorites is Mac-n-cheese.  Now, I know that isn't new and most people have a recipe they love.  We used to make it the "old" way... with flour, butter and milk... and then I found this recipe about 10 years ago.  We love it and haven't gone back to the old one since.

In case you are wondering... the stuff in the blue box... is nasty!

So, No... We don't eat that stuff.

Macaroni and Cheese

(I usually double the recipe... but I'm feeding a crew)

1 box pasta (whatever cool shape you want to use... sometimes I do 1 1/2 boxes)

1/2 package velveeta

2 C cheese (cheddar and monteray jack is such a nice combo)

1 egg

1 Cup milk

Coat the inside of a 9x13 casserole dish with butter or margarine.

Cook the pasta according to package directions.

While that is cooking crack an egg into a measuring cup, whisk it good.  Add milk until it is around 1 cup... sometimes I do 1 1/2 cups.  Mix and set aside.  Cube your velveeta.  I make it small cubes.  Grate the cheese.

Once the pasta is finished... not mush people... but cooked, place half of it in the buttered dish.

Place 1/2 of the velveeta and half the grated cheese over pasta.

Pour 1/2 of milk mixture.

Repeat layers.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for around 15 minutes.

Take out and mix well.

Sprinkle paprika over top and cook for additional 15 minutes.

Take out of oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Yum Yum!

I have been known to throw in a cup of sourcream on occasion or top it with some toasted bread crumbs.

I usually serve it with homemade rolls and a vegetable.

The picture has nothing to do with the mac and cheese... except this girl can put the stuff away!  She loves it and will ask for seconds and thirds until her little tummy can't hold any more.

Lulu and Bud...

Our kids (probably like yours) have all types of personalities.  Some are sweet, loving, caring, hyper, friendly, cuddly, independent, joyful, grouchy, etc...

Most of the time they are a combination of these things.

We have two four year olds.  No they are not twins.  They are 10 months apart.  When you put these two together, you never know what you are going to get.

Sometimes they play house or school.  You know, someone leads and someone follows.  They take turns.

Sometimes, they play wrestling or spiderman, or starwars...

This is when they are advesaries.  They fight against each other and someone comes out the victor.

We lovingly refer to this dynamic duo as LuLu and Bud...

You know, kind of like Bonnie and Clyde...

Trust me on this one...

The name fits.

This pair can get into more mischief and somehow not know who did whatever the misdeed was.  They can fight like real enemies, but ususally they just absolutely love and adore each other.  Lulu sticks up for Bud and Bud does the same for Lulu.  They are partners in crime.

As soon as I think I have them figured out, they change tactics on me.  They have that esp connection, I guess.  They are in this together, that is for sure.

Full of joy...

and spunk.

Lulu and Bud are the perfect combination.

All Too Soon...

I think I've told you all before...

that I love photos.

I love them.

I have them all over my house.  I enjoy taking them, editing them and hanging them on my walls.  I enjoy filling books with these same images.  I just love them.

Sometimes I force my kids to dress up and we go out for a day of photos.

However, some of my favorite photos are when we just relax...

We stop trying to get "THE" shot.

We just pull out the camera and shoot...

capturing the little seemingly insignificant moments.

I want to remember these precious little ones as they are.

I don't want to only have albums filled with canned moments.

I want the smiles, laughs...

and, yes, I want the cries and owies and frowns, tears...

All too soon these moments will have passed...

Who Could Resist...

The beauty of Fall...

Great Hands...

If this is the future...

We are in GREAT hands!

Blessing...

A bit of a wild child...

Loves to be hugged and cuddled...

Wants to please the world...

Energy coming out of her ears...

Full of Joy...

makes you understand why children need to be cherished...

Blessing...

Absolutely Beautiful!