She likes chili, too

(And let’s not talk about this morning’s diaper.)

Funny, these were two completely different days

But the same jammies!

Last week, (oatmeal):

Today, (egg):

(She gets a lot of baths.)

Hello, old blog

Yay for REAL fall weather!  Pulled tags off girl clothes this morning and sent them through the washer.  Always fun to get out stuff I’d totally forgotten about.

Speaking of the washer, our old one was leaking oil all over the laundry room floor.  (Like, I’m talkin’ our own personal Gulf.)  It had been going on for months and my mom cleaned it up the last time she was here.  (Brave woman.)  I finally googled “washing machine leaking oil” and apparently that meant new transmission.  Which was, of course, a more expensive repair than buying a brand new washer.

Thankfully we had it covered on our home warranty plan and they’ll reimburse us.  Sears delivered our new one on Saturday.  Some things to get used to, like the automatic water level.  (I’m sure it will save $ on our water bill.)

ANYway.

Yesterday was one of those happy Sundays.  (Except for going out to the van to leave for church and the battery was dead because someone left the lights on.)  We had a yummy lunch with my sisters and then my mom cooked for everyone for dinner – including my brother and sister-in-law.  (Getting used to hanging out with them!)  She made this almond-crusted chicken that was pan-fried and a PIE.  (Have I ever mentioned banana creme pie is my very very favorite?  Has to be with vanilla pudding though and yes, it makes a difference.)

Also, tried piggies in Arianna’s hair.  TO DIE FOR with the cuteness.

And, sorry, I can’t resist:

Girls with Grandmommy after church:

Just for kicks (pun totally intended):

Haircuts and babytoes

One of the things my sisters always do when they come over is paint my girls’ finger and toenails.  (It even gets fancy with the French-tipping.)  This last time they got a hold of the baby, too.  SO funny.  And cute.

Also, I cut Adelaide’s hair again last week. I thought we’d try growing it out some but then it just got thin and stringy-ish and drove me crazy. So back to bob it went. This photo isn’t a great shot of the cut but I love it anyway. And you can still see the little braid my sister put in her hair.

Hope everyone has a good week!

This post is brought to you by Signing Time

Whoa nellie, we had quite the weekend. Our local playground was the location for a church-sponsored fundraiser kiddie fair on Saturday morning, which my kids obviously thought was the coolest thing ever. We had no idea – some friends just called to say they were there and (for us) it was a total surprise.

Although, the music should have clued us in. Anyway, Andy took the kids down, fresh out of bed. Only he can pull off wild bedhair, a wifebeater with basketball shorts, flip-flops and a cup of coffee in hand. At the park.

The kids “won” at several different games, prized with (gently used) stuffed animals. [Which may or may not disappear sometime in the near(ish) future.] All very exciting. And then we packed up, made a picnic lunch, and went swimming. Arianna and I haven’t been in a few weeks, so that was fun.

Yesterday after church we played the “lets-see-how-many-kids-we-can-cram-into-one-house” game and ate lunch with two other families. Good friends, good times. We made it home in time to clean up a little bit before GRANDMOMMY CAME! Always an Event around these parts.

She’ll be in town for a couple of weeks so there’s been much rejoicing. The fall children’s consignment sale drop-off starts Thursday, so you can guess what I’ll be doing this week. (Too bad my attic is about 1,000 degrees.)

And these are just because, taken this morning fresh out of the bath:

(Of course, she spit up five minutes later and had to be changed. Life.)

Alive and well; a little tired around the edges

We’re recovering from our weekend around here, which I’ll share on Friday. I have extra laundry to do, too, since the load drying when we left didn’t get alltheway dry and has to be rewashed. So all I’ve got is two photos I snapped of the baby yesterday.

So that will just have to do.

9 months

I forgot to mention that Arianna was 9 months last Thursday. Longer out than in!

[I know, I can't believe it either.]

8 months

I plopped Arianna down on the baby scale when we were at Madeline’s check up the other day.  She was 19 1/2 pounds.  She’s eight months.

My big girl!

(By way of comparison, at NINE months, Madeline was 16#10oz, and Adelaide was 17#2oz.)

And it’s up!

Yesterday, ALL BY MYSELF, I drug the remaining top-bunk box down from the attic, and started getting the bed set up. Andy had to pick up an extra bolt (one of the included ones was stripped or something) on his way to work, but we were able to finish last night. The kids were so excited they barely paid attention to their bedtime story.

(That photo doesn’t show the depth well, but it’s really a full on the bottom and a regular-sized twin on top.)

Arianna slept in there, too, in the crib. She woke up once (at 2 a.m.), nursed, and then slept the rest of the night.

(And there was much rejoicing.)

Just because

(Alternate title: impromptu mini photo shoot)

We cleaned out the kids’ rooms last night while Arianna watched, perched up on the bed.

And this one cracked me up:

(No wonder they make baby toys at least big enough.)

Hope you’re enjoying this fine Saturday, too, wherever you are!

Happy Father’s Day!

When I came home from dropping the girls at their princess party, this is what I found:

Arianna, covered in blueberries.

(Vintage 1960′s edit via Picnik.)

He had pureed blueberries and apples for her IN OUR [cleaned out] COFFEE GRINDER. (Such an Andy thing to do.) And apparently she loved it!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads!

It’s a little bit wild

(Her hair.)

The full effect:

She’s my jelly donut.

One of the most precious things ever

His instructions were “don’t let the baby fall off the bed.”

(He didn’t.)

We went swimming today, and apparently it wore everyone out. The kids all changed into jammies when we got home and they all napped. I got a few projects done which I hope to share maybe tomorrow (if I get good photos).

But, while I’m at it… a little Drew update.

He tends to be our child that doesn’t (willingly) share unless it’s on his own terms. (“Here, Madeline, you can have two grapes.”) So a couple of weeks ago we met my friend Sarah at the park, and Drew took it upon himself to give her son (age 2) two of his “baby toys.”

(Never mind that what he was really saying was he was too old for those ‘baby’ trucks. Her son thought they were the best thing ever, and who was I to step in when Drew was being generous!)

Then another friend had us over to swim and let each of my kids “borrow” something when we left (two of which we still have) — well, in return, Drew wanted to lend Charlie his fire engine. Which, for him, is a big deal.

So poor Charlie (and his mama!) was loaded down with the fire engine after Sunday School. I apologized to my friend but she was a good sport. Andy even went in the downpour to fetch it from our van.

Ah, life’s little lessons…it’s better to give than to receive.

Fitting

I’m sorry. I don’t usually make fun of my children but this was just too good to pass up.

(Snapped this morning before I changed her into her dress for church. Ha!)

First Piggies

Tried yesterday, just for fun.

A bumpy day

So today my girls and I attended half of our church’s Ladies Tea. It was one of those times where it just struck me sitting there that this isn’t worth it and we got up and left. Maybe next year, when they are older and I’m not stretched quite so thin; not as many little girls needing things or a nursing baby.

Plus, I had been holding Arianna while trying to manage with the chicken salad, and a mayonnaisey piece fell down the front of my shirt.  (Sorry…just had to share.)  Funny, except when you’re over-tired and already a wee bit stressed.

I also forgot my camera.  These were taken at home after we had relaxed some and she had been fed.

Six Months!

I know, I can’t believe it either.

The minimum

It’s been a rough week and I’m so behind. Dealing with a growth-spurting baby all night means I [we] try to just survive each day.

I did turn my camera on yesterday while the big kids were sleeping and/or having room time. So that’s what you get today.

(All SOOC.)