Flying...

Look Mom, I can fly!
Imagination...

It's a beautiful thing!

AT the Carwash Yeah...

Dad decided to get all of the kids out in the yard and wash the car.

Isn't it funny how we dread these chores, but the kids get so excited.

Seemingly small things can become creative activities.

Soap to a little one can be paint or a beard or just a way to pass the time.

Give a little one the hose, and you are asking for trouble.

I didn't get a picture of the ending result, but let's just say...

Everyone was wet and laughing...

Beautiful memories!

Bad mood...

My son is a clean freak!

His dirty feet completely freaked him out...

By Your Side...

There is no place I'd rather be...

Break dancing...

This dance mat is becoming a favorite of the little kids.

They love to lay it out (inside the house or outside) and dance away.

Today, I grab the camera and run to get a good photo because my son is grooving...

Oh my goodness...

watch out!

My boy is busting a move!

yeah, the kids will play...

So... I go away from the computer for a

little while and lo and behold

if someone else doesn't get on here and start

playing with pictures!

It's fun, huh?!

photo effects...

Okay... so I am not sure I like the effects on this photo, but...

It was so much fun making it.

Now, I need to go get something else done today besides playing with pictures.

He smiles...

I was reminiscing about summer while we were cleaning the house this morning.

My favorite memories from this past summer absolutely have

to be watching this little man run, jump, splash, dig and generally

have a blast while at the beach.

The smile on his face warms me to my core!

He doesn't put on "the face" the way adults have learned to.

When is is sad, he cries.

When is is mad, he stomps.

But when he is overflowing with joy...

He smiles!

If you haven't noticed, I have discovered a new photo editing site...so, yes, you will have to put up with my new discoveries while I play with my photos. I am having a really great time messing around with the pictures!

Baby Girl...

This picture shows you where our little girl fell and chipped her front teeth.

Ouch!

She is getting big, tall and has a major mind of her own.

Two years old is just around the corner...

Getting to know you...

5 things I want my kids to know before they grow up...

1. Hard times may come, but family pulls together...

2. It's okay to get dirty...

3. When you are grown and have families of your own, you will understand so much better why we did some of the things we have done...

4. Things don't bring happiness...Stuff doesn't fill that hole... only God can do that...

5. There is always more room to love someone new. Someone once told me that love doesn't divide, it multiplies... Love that!

Love this time of year...

The scenes of Fall are everywhere...

From the trees on the mountains around us...

To the deer that seem to be everywhere.

The colors are so beautiful right now.

We want to take the kids up and get some pictures with the changing leaves.

I love this time of year...

with its cool nights (perfect for sleeping)

to the warm, but not too hot afternoons.

It is seasonal perfection.

Even the food that is coming out of my kitchen is changing with the season.

I love, love, love this time of year!

Just like his Daddy...

Okay, so the smile...?

We call it the evil smile. (because we know what lurks behind it)

He can be crying one second and you can take the camera out and Bam!

He gives you this wonderful, strange, beautiful, overdone, joyful smile.

He is such a little camera hog!

He loves having his picture taken, but...

You had better take it fast!

This boy is not about to stand around and

wait while you mess with the camera.

He has places to go and people to see.

So, most of the pictures you get of this little guy are not useable.

They are mere blurs as he runs from spot to spot.

I am told that he is just like his daddy was at this age...

Good!

Then I know he will be a good man.

Still life...

Miranda has been working on a still life art project for school.

She decided to draw and paint some flowers.

First she sketched the flowers.

Then she started the painting process.

She is working on shading and blending colors.

I think she did a pretty good job.

I love that the girls are starting get a little arty.

Now I don't have to be the only one...

painting and sewing and making and creating... and ... and

Well, you get the point.

I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out at first...

I think, in the end, it turned out pretty good for her first

still life attempt!

Way to go!

Yu'pik Dance Fan...

I get so much joy out of watching this child learn.

She has been doing some lessons on the first Americans...

You know, the ones that crossed the land bridge (back when there was a land bridge).

Now the lessons have morphed into the artwork of some of the indian tribes.

After learning about the history of this arctic tribe...

she took some clay and made her version of one of their dance fans. Once the clay was dry she got to do the really fun part...

Paint!

The traditional dance fans are painted in very subdued colors.

They were using what they had around them to create the paints, after all.

This girl, however, is a little more colorful than that.

She went all out with some brighter colors.

I love how she added her own personality to her artwork!

Once the paint dried, she glued on the feathers...

from her own personal stash, might I add.

She has a box of feathers that she collects.

She was very proud to be able to use her feathers in this way.

I love it!

She really amazed me with her patience and artistic ability.

Way to go, girl!

I'm proud of you!

Our little mouse...

How cute is this little mouse?!

We have been stocking up on Halloween costumes and the mouse came along...

I think it is a perfect choice.

Our little girl was so excited...

She wore the costume for three hours,

Then mean old mama made her take it off to eat her dinner.

I had to hide it away in the closet so

she would be able to wear it next month to trick or treat in.

After that, she can dress up any time she wants!

Hunker Down...

First of all... Happy first day of Autumn...

The good Lord has blessed us with rain today.

I loved waking up to the sounds of the pitter patter of the rain drops this morning.

The room is dark and it feels like one of those hunker down days.

You know, where all you want to do is get a comfy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate and read all day long.

But...

That is not to happen of course.

There are children to dress and feed.

Lessons must be done.

Life must go on...

Even on the days when I just want to hunker down and enjoy the rain...

A little scare...

This lovely young lady decided, while playing volleyball on the trampoline, to do a flip.

She landed straddling one of the springs, having fallen through one of those holes.

She scared the bonkers out of me.

Years and years ago, we had a friend who had done nearly the same thing

and severely broke his leg.

Luckily she got out of it with a scrape and a hole in her new outfit.

Oh well...

At least she was safe.

Budding artist...

Miranda has been painting in her art class.

This was her rendition of our fireplace.

She is slowly coming to the realization that she isn't half bad.

She is enjoying the creative side of herself.

I came home yesterday (from grocery shopping)

and found that my back patio

was covered in chalk artwork.

That isn't abnormal.

The little kids love to use the chalk out there.

The fantastic part was...

This piece that my budding artist had left for me.

If it is about family, I am all over it.

Thanks, Miranda!

I love it...

Standardized Testing...

This wonderful, sweet, adorable girl is hanging out at the library today...

It is IOWA Testing day and she gets to conform to what society tells us she must and take the darn standardized test.

Can you tell I hate these things?

Oh well...

She will do fine...

And once they track her and pigeon hole her and...

She will get back to playing and being the wonderful young lady that we all know and love.

Drama Queen...

Guess who will be playing the queen in the high school production of

Cinderella's Glass Slipper

You guessed it...

Cheyenne found out yesterday that she had received the role.

She is very excited.

We can't wait to watch you shine, baby.

Love ya!

Okay, I've had it!...

STOP GROWING UP!

What happened to that little girl who used to stand in front of the fireplace...

in nothing but her black cowboy boots?

Hmmm? Can you tell me that?

I don't see her here anymore...

who is this tall, beautiful creature?

Why do all of my children insist on growing up?

It really needs to stop.

It is all going way to fast!

Every single time I blink my eyes it seems like one of them is a foot taller.

I don't want anyone else to leave the nest... Okay?

Do we have that clear?

Okay... I think I need a nap...

Will the real Cadi please stand up...

What a silly creature.

The more I tried to get her to give us some real poses...

The more i got stuff like this.

I guess in the end I will be so thankful to have pictures of her before she gets to serious.

She is such a silly girl when it comes to pictures.

At lease she had us laughing... for awhile.

..then I was ready to pack it all in and go home.

Taking pictures of this many people is exhausting.

Oh yeah...

And I forgot to bring any water bottles for the bunch...

so we were all wasting away...

and losing our minds!

Fun Photo Day...

My husband suggested that we go out and take some family photographs today.

We haven't taken any new ones in awhile.

I was not looking forward to it... it turned out to be a great time.

It is amazing how my children grow up so doggone fast!

I thought a photo of my sweethearts lined up

from oldest (not tallest) to youngest would be cute.

Miranda is actually the tallest,

if she was standing up straight...

Chey is next and then the oldest...Cadi.

This picture of my entire family warms my heart.

We only had to take about twenty of them to get it right.

That's fine with me...

It was worth it.

***Just wanted you to know that taking pictures today was a very stressful idea for me.

The last time we went out somewhere to do this, my two oldest children were in

a severe car crash that almost took their lives.

It was a big deal to go out and do this again.

We did it and survived. No accidents.

Thank you, God.

I know I sound crazy, but... well, yeah, I am probably just crazy.