She's Got Skills

Today I had so much fun teaching Lauren how to sew and she had just as much fun learning! She started out watching me turn pants into shorts, then before I knew it she'd learned how to thread the machine, fill the bobbins with thread and attach the bobbins underneath. She practiced sewing straight lines on an old shirt and then once she was confident we decided to make a sleeping bag for her special stuffed animal (AKA "Dog Dog"). The sleeping bag turned out perfectly and Dog Dog is sleeping comfortably in his new bed. Lauren, on the other hand can't wait to get back to work. Oh, the things you can create with a sewing machine!

Twirly Locks!

I recently got my camera out and asked Lauren to help me with a little project. I'm a little rusty on the controls, but you'll get the idea. Here is Lauren, patiently ready to go and wondering if she should request some Dramamine.

Weee, this hair can catch some air. Pfooooof!
A little dizzy now... This one looks a little bit creepy. How did her eyes turn white?
Look out for swinging limbs!
A golden curtain!

Ethereal comes to mind.

Lollipop Turns 9!

Last week our baby had her 9th birthday. The problem is that she's not actually a baby anymore, but I keep forgetting this. I forget that she doesn't always need our help with things and doesn't need to be looked out for quite so much. She's growing up and yet I still have this feeling in my heart that she's the itty-bitty two year old who was seldom found two feet from my side. I guess you would call this denial and I should probably try to resolve this issue sometime soon. At least, before she goes away to college.

Love This...

One afternoon Lauren was drawing at the dining room table. After she had gone outside to play I found this. A single word, accompanied by a few colorful hearts can be so powerful.

Back-2-School

Every year on the first day of school, I take out my camera and snap a few pictures of each of the kids. I love documenting these momentous days but as they have grown older, they've also grown more and more annoyed with this little tradition. Since last year's pictures were full of rolling eyes and impatient frowns I actually considered giving them a break this year. Boy was I surprised when the evening before the first day of school they all said, "You're taking pictures in the morning, right?". It's a nice feeling when someone asks you to take their picture instead of groaning when the camera comes out! Here is Lauren on her first day as President of a large Corporation. Oops, I mean the first day of 3rd grade. When I look at this picture I get a little flash of her future. Anyway, her day went great. She loved her teacher, she was excited about the three thick text books she gets to use this year and she was relieved to find that the little boys who made last year miserable were NOT in her class.

For the first time ever, Amanda loves her teacher! I can't even tell you how happy this makes me. She always seems to get the one teacher that should have retired already. She has made friends with a couple of girls who like to avoid the girl drama that Amanda seems to get sucked into, against her will,every year. Thank goodness for that. I think the 6th grade is going to be a great year for her.

These next few words come out with a sniff and damp eyes...Austin started HIGH SCHOOL this year! Can that really be right? Wasn't I just IN high school? I'm not sure what is more upsetting, that he's growing up or I'm growing old! So far Austin loves the 9th grade. I hear the most about French (I guess Spanish was full) and Geography class. I love that he comes home excited about the things he's learning and tells me all about it. It makes me want to do High School all over again, minus the teen angst.

The Princess Locked in the Tower, I Mean the Bathroom

This morning Lauren went to the bathroom, then had quite the suprise when she discovered she couldn't get out. The door was stuck and there was no prying it open. Luckily there is a window and Daddy was able to rescue her through it. Oh, the joys of living in an old home.

My Little Helper

One thing Lauren loves to do is help me in the kitchen. Especially if I am baking. For her birthday we decided to make one of our all time favorite desserts, key lime poke cake with strawberries. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words...

(Make sure your sound is turned on!)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The New Additions

Today Austin and Amanda gave Lauren an early birthday present. Knowing they've been wanting fish for quite some time, I questioned their motives, but Lauren was very happy with the gift. The jumbo goldfish is named Winston and three smaller ones are Stormy, Poppy, and Blossom.

Winston looks like he'd be a tasty little snack, don't ya think???

Two of My Favorite People

Those Special Moments

Whenever I look through old photo albums I pretty much skip past the hundreds of Chistmas and birthday photos. I don't know why I have taken so many pictures of people opening presents other than the fact that it seems obligatory. The pictures I really stop and look at are the ones that capture a little slice of every day life. A couple weeks ago I went into the girls room to deliver their clean laundry and found Lauren laying on her bed reading a book. Something about her look of peaceful concentration and the soft glow of light made me want to remember that moment forever. It's moments like these that I will miss when my kids are grown and gone.

My Girl

Contemplative
Lady Like
Imaginative
Beautiful

Aaaahhh...

Some days I want to run from my house, screaming and pulling my hair out because of all the bickering my kids do. And then there are days when they melt my heart by the kindness they show each other. Today when we were doing some running around, Lauren said, "I want to buy Austin something with my money, just to be nice". She picked out a comic book for him, wrapped it up as a gift and excitedly presented it to him when he came home from school. It was one of those moments that just make you go, "Aaaahhh..."

Jump, Jump!

Oh, to be a kid again....