We LOVE school!

Tate's officially a first grader. Holy cow, I'm tempted to feel old, but then I think of really old people like my sister-in-law Leslie (who will no longer be speaking to me), who has a middle schooler. Despite my newly realized elderly status, I really do love school. Tate learns so many new things and if I can pry it out of him, he shares a few tidbits with us. Yesterday (first day), a kid told the teacher to "shut up" and "leave me alone, I hate you!" After making sure it wasn't my kid, it was nice to ask some leading questions and let him come to the conclusion that saying nasty things to the teacher is not a good idea. Lucy's getting quite the heads up on what you can do in school and what gets you sent to the principal or even the "supernintendo". Lucy's preschool starts today too. In fact, the other little people will be here any minute. My goal is to gain world wide recognition by making these children so smart they could launch a space shuttle by Spring. Well, maybe just knowing the alphabet will suffice.

The bathroom floor's never been so clean!

Did you ever have the urge to get on your hands and knees and disinfect the bathroom floor? You know, that undeniable need to kill each and every Hepatitis, Necrotizing Fasciitis, Dysentery, and Staph germ, to dig out and destroy every dust bunny. You might even have been so motivated as to scrub a couple of inches up the wall all around the bathroom, or maybe say, two feet out into the hall. No? Well then, did you ever have a flood in your bathroom because your 4 year old used 37 wads of toilet paper and 16 wet-wipes to get the "sneaky poopies" that she's just sure are clinging to her backside and then attempted to flush them? I say attempted because I'm pretty sure only 9 or 10 wads will fit down the plumbing at once. After that, it becomes a dam (that's not the first time that word's been used in this house today regarding this incident. The spelling may have been a little different.) that succeeds in spilling the contents out of the bowl, over the bathroom floor, splashing up a couple of inches, and spreading about two feet into the hall. The bathroom floor's never been so clean.

Oh no! It's coming!!!

I know that all good things must end. I know that the seasons are all beautiful. I know that without winter, I wouldn't love summer so much, that we cannot know joy if we do not know sorrow. I'm just not quite ready for the sorrow. I saw my first changing tree today and visions of snow, sleet, and slush danced in my head. I saw muddy boots, soggy bottoms, slush in my mudroom, icicles hanging from cars, and a very cold toy room. I'm going to bury my head in the sand. Denial seems the best option here, so we will continue to go to the beach and eat popsicles until hypothermia sets in.

How do you know when you're out growing your toys?

Yes, it's true we may need a bigger pool, but this reminds me of one of my favorite poems. My mom used to read Shel Silverstein a lot to us.

There's too many kids in this tub
There's too many elbows to scrub
I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine
There's too many kids in this tub.

Lucy's Luau!

We had our annual Lucy's Luau in honor of her birthday last month.

She didn't come in first in the limbo contest (or even second or third) but she definitely got points for style.


The cupcakes were "totally good." -tate


Lucy's favorite "big girl friends" were there too. Jen was trying to play a song on a blade of grass. Either that, or the cupcakes weren't as good as I thought and she's trying to suplement her meal.


Everyone fought for the one with "the biggest frosting". After bodysurfing on a sea of children and biting the nearest competitor, I think Katherine won.


We played pineapple bowling. Who doesn't love throwing food and knocking stuff down?



Lucy wins the award for best score while holding a cookie.


Miles was not doing so hot, but don't worry. It is not below his dignity to cheat.


Although everyone gave a valiant effort (especially Jake and Adam who might have won, had it not been for those fourth and fifth cupcakes), Katherine was crowned Queen of the Limbo. Laura and I picked the safest spot. Nobody can drag you into participating if you're holding the stick!


We had tons of food, of which I think Tate had more than anyone.


Well, maybe not anyone.


Just a cute baby with a little dinner still on him.


I think this is all the friends Lucy's allowed to have until we get a bigger table.


The easiest cake decorating I've ever done! My only fear was catching all those umbrellas on fire and having this go down as "that birthday where the birthday girl lost all her hair."

Happy Birthday Sweet Luey! I love you.

We miss Grandma and Grandpa

My mom and dad came for a visit last month and I forgot to put these pictures up. We had such a fantastic time with them and can't wait until they come again!

We took them on a hike (walk) up to the "castle" at Tod's Point.


Seeing as how he's half ape, Jake had no trouble climbing up to the top.



"Hey kid, that looks good. Can I have some?"

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Build-a-Bear guilt free! What could be better?

She always asks and every time we pas the Build-a-Bear workshop in the mall, I say, "No". It's too expensive for a stuffed animal, experience or no experience. (yes, I also answer to Ebenezer Scrooge)

Well, Lucy's fantastic grandma, "Nana", sent her some birthday money. Lucy was all set to go to a toy store, until we happened to be walking through the mall and she yelled (yelled so all the other mall-goers had the opportunity to watch our little exchange and think I'm one of those mothers who does whatever my four year old tells me to), "No! I want to go there!" I happily escorted her in there and we had a lovely time picking the carcass, stuffing it,



washing it, brushing it,



buying panties with a hole in the back for the tail,

and buying a fairy outfit for it, complete with wings. I would have said "no" to the kitty (the boring brown bear is cheaper), the panties (can't we just cut a hole in a pair of yours, Lucy?), and the outfit had I been buying it. Since it was Lucy's money, though, she got everything exactly how she wanted it and had a fantastic time. Thanks Nana!
(I had to document this for my mother in law, but some of those same mothers who believed me to be controlled by my toddler saw me taking pictures of her building this thing and I saw some eye-rollin' going on.)

Thanks Dad! You rock!!!

For my birthday, my dad sent me something "to play with in the backyard". Not until it arrived did I realize it would require my entire backyard. This has got to be the greatest toy ever.


Lucy liked it despite gallons of water up her nose and "the giant wedgie".


One of the many tests of "skills" was to see who could jump through the hoop without ever touching the slide. Katherine was the reigning champ. . .



Until Mr. Antigravity gave it a shot. I swear that boy's made of helium.




Claire (my younger, prettier, thinner, faster sister) had just as much fun as the little kids.



Tate, however, was the most inventive when it came to fun things to do with the toy. This is called "bum bounce"


This doesn't have a name, but it was by far his favorite.




This one's fun too, but only if you can convince two bigger kids to do the grunt work.


All of this was fantastic, but the true excitement happened when Tate's beloved Kindergarten teacher, Holly, stopped by to give it a go. I hope she's still speaking to me after I post this picture.

Thanks Dad. I love it!

We're not going to need a Jack-o-lantern this fall. . .

(the fact that I did not pass out or throw up makes me particularly proud, as wiggly teeth are worse than maggots to me.)

Funny pictures

I was trying to take an unposed picture of these three monkeys just relaxing in the backyard. They kept making stupid faces and I wanted them to go back to what they were doing before. All I said was, "Don't look at me."


You can see where everyone sits on the totem pole by which seat they get in the car. Poor Grandma!


The girls assured me that he was a boy rockstar, but Jake was not convinced enough.


What happens when both kids need a drink and can't wait their turn? Blackmail.

Don't worry, be happy

Okay, I very recently turned 30, and it sent me into somewhat of a tailspin. Do you ever have one of those days (several days, weeks, whatever) where you allow yourself to wallow?

I'm 30. My house is messy. It's not my house, it's Tom's house and I can't even paint. My midsection is roughly the consistency of overly-risen bread dough. I'm far far far away from my family or anyone I've known any length of time for that matter. I wanted to have all my kids by the time I was 30, and if things had gone differently, I'd be having one right now. All my same-age friends here (this is not an over statement. Literally ALL) will have babies this year and I will have to see them and make sure I smile and say how great it is, which it is. Jake works 60+ hours each week and we never see him. My van smells like old feet. I can't get my youngest to quit pulling hair and I'm afraid he will be expelled from nursery. . .

Wallowing never seems to come full circle. It never seems to lead to that lifting of the dark cloud. You have to do it yourself. You have to think of the good things.

Sure, I'm 30, but now maybe the moms at school won't dismiss what I say simply because, "yeah, but you're not even 30 yet. Just wait until you have real problems." And hey, my house is messy because we have a really good time here. Tonight, for instance, you can tell by the popcorn on the floor, the wet bathing suits by the back door, the popsicle spots all over the back steps, and the unconscious children down the hall that today was a really great day. And hey, it may not be my house, but that just means that if the heater breaks, I don't have to fix it! I may not have the abs of a rock star, but if one of my kids ever feels sleepy in church, he can very comfortably lean onto my lap and rest. And I may not have known these people long, but that just means they don't know all the dumb things I've done in the past. (I have a theory that this is why Jake keeps moving us. Just to get away from the people I've offended.) Oh, and I may not have all my kids yet (or worse, I have), but I can help my friends out now and if I have a baby next year, they'll all be recovered enough to bring me dinner and babysit. And I'm glad Jake gets to do what he loves for a job so he's always in a good mood when he gets home. As for my van, there's no upside to that. There's only so much to say about old feet and none of it's good. And if I can't get Miley to quit beating up other kids, they may just call me to nursery, which I would love.

I like my family just the way it is. If I was younger or if there were more of us, we might not be able to survive so well. I'm done wallowing. As Bobby McFerrin so wonderfully advises, "Don't worry, be happy."

What do you do when it's hotter than snot?

Why, you go to the beach of course!



Actually, it's too hot and muggy for the beach. This was the only relatively cool spot Miley could find.


All that hot muggiess lends itself to glistening muscles, though!


I bought this wagon about 2 months ago and it's the best thing ever! It's wheels are big enough to go on sand just fine, the sides come off so I can dump out all the sand, and it fits in the back of my van! He had a swimsuit on earlier, I promise.


Lucy tried all day to find shells with holes in them for necklaces. She found about 10.


Miles and Jake had a great time in the water. Especially Miles. Can you tell?


This look says, "Seriously, not funny!"