Not everyone looks good in a hat...

A very nice man was making balloon hats for the kids when we visited the traveling Vietnam Memorial a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to go out on a limb here but, I'm pretty sure this picture will not be a favorite during their teenage years. Don't worry, I have a whole file of these little gems that I have no plans to delete any time soon.

Happiness....

Most people would write "wash me" on a dirty car (hey, we live off a gravel road...don't be critical!) anyhoo, not Jenna she writes this. Thanks Jenna!

Ladderball

This is the lovely game of ladder ball. Oodles of fun for all ages...I'd do really well in a commercial, wouldn't I? Sam's up...despite his apathetic expression he actually loves this game.

Jenna's turn...check out that form, I think she needs to get into it a little more....don't you? Check out these first two pictures...see what hand they're throwing with? Interesting......

Take a look at that fist pumping (please, Jenna it's just ladder ball)...guess who scored big? I'll give you a hint...she's the one who's NOT competitive. Let me just elaborate on that a little bit. The other day when Sam finished brushing his teeth first (he started first...big deal) anyhoo, he said "I win". Jenna countered with "Sam, you don't have to be so competitive". If you need the perfect example of the proverbial pot calling the kettle black...this would be that example. So, being the good mom that I am I called her on it. Her response? "Mom, I am NOT competitive"...honey, what color is the sky in your world?

Everyone is in on this game, including poor Chayley who just kept getting in the way. Sorry, you really need hands not paws for this game...you'll have to stick to Frisbee. Hey, Aunt Julie...we're practicing so, you better watch out!

Summer fun

Hi! My name is Sam and I live in the country with lots of dirt...sheesh, no kiddin'

This is why Wal-Mart puts display's at the check out aisle to entice you to buy something that you did not come into the store to buy and really don't need. I am exactly why they do this...I am always picking up something on impulse. This is one of those things...it was cheap and looked like it could be entertaining. My kids have had more fun with this ginormous bubble wand...me too.

Summer Vacation-Day 8

I don't really have anything to say I just like this picture. They were enjoying Jenna's extremely well organized room. I'm not kidding, we worked really hard on it...well, I did. Little miss "I need a break" kind of lost her enthusiasim toward the end. We went through countless little boxes that consisted mostly of the following: scraps of paper with words or pictures on them, a feather or rock, a plastic toy of some sort, a ribbon and a barbie shoe. Let me elaborate on the barbie shoe for a minute...THEY WERE EVERYWHERE! Seriously, every time I turned around there was another one...they just kept multiplying. It was then that I realized that her barbies never have any shoes on, I can't believe I hadn't noticed it before. I then had a flash back to the time when a little four-year-old girl (who shall remain nameless) was in tears because she couldn't find Cinderella Barbie's glass slipper (and yes, it was CLEAR and about an 1/4" long) . I then spent an hour of my life, that I will never get back, on a mission to find it...I did. Obviously missing shoes don't seem to bother her or her dolls anymore...how nice, I want that hour back! Well, now that we've located them all (I think) they will be properly accessorized...whew, what a relief, I know I'll sleep better tonight now that Barbie has pink shoes to match her pink dress.

P.S. Like Sam's smile? I'm sure the orthodontist will...he'll probably put in an order for a new Lexus when he gets a load of that one!

Sam

Some random facts about Sam...

LOVES swimming.

LOVES hot sauce on everything. I'm not kidding, he puts it on everything...his sister dips everything in ranch dressing and their father peppers the heck out of his food. Do we think there is anything wrong with my cooking...apparently so. Oh, and he's learning to like gluten free food! For those of you who don't know that means no wheat...we found some really yummy pizza crusts at a gluten free bakery in St. Paul (who knew?).

Good in math...according to his test scores. News to me.

Has unbelievable balance. This is good since he tends to climb to a point on the tree that scares the crap out of me. He gets seriously annoyed when I make him climb down.

LOVES and I mean seriously LOVES to ride his bike. If it weren't for the massive mosquito infestation in our yard I don't think he would ever get off the thing.

And most of all he's a really good kid who overcomes a lot to do the things he loves...we're really proud of him!

Princess Pea

Me: Hey, Jenna

Jenna: WHAT? (she said it in caps too).

Me: Can we take some pictures for your teacher thank you's?

Jenna: Ah, okay I guess (sounds thrilled doesn't she?) Can I do some silly ones too?

Me: Sure...and she doesn't disappoint, as usual.

Note: Want to know why we call her princess pea? Well, humor me and pretend like you do 'cause I'm gonna tell you anyway. It's short for princess and peanut which are names we called her when she was a little baby and we were making all those silly faces at her...hey, I just figured out where she gets those faces!

Progress..

Thanks Lorie for the advice on how to get an action shot of Chayley, the frisbee dog. It's an improvement but, I need more practice. I did manage to get the shot without being seriously injured...I had to duck for cover twice, I got hit in the head once and almost run over by the dog a few times. And Rick, well, he just stood there with a stupid smirk on his face while uttering "oops, sorry"...yeah right!