tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41403923668537150892024-03-05T02:45:31.120-05:00Midway FarmJackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comBlogger764125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-17275920647828274082016-01-04T20:10:00.001-05:002016-01-04T20:10:48.461-05:00Moving to midwayfarm.wordpress.comI can't seem to get blogger to work with pictures anymore, so I migrated this site over to: midwayfarm.wordpress.com - come join me there!Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-31492829634815927442015-12-14T09:59:00.002-05:002015-12-14T09:59:30.835-05:00Quote of the DayWe were on the couch together and Molly turned to me and said, “Mom, how do
you hear God?” We discussed this for awhile and then our discussion turned to
when we feel close to God. Molly turned to me and said, “I feel close to God
when I’m snuggled on the couch next to you, Mommy.”Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-3977160354380422242015-12-03T12:27:00.001-05:002015-12-03T12:42:48.947-05:00Emily is 9 Months<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wcmVsPKQBSU/VmB7dsYgZyI/AAAAAAAAHXY/pLLrBPnhU9U/s1600-h/emily1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="emily1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="emily1" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Eg5UESfa4sw/VmB7eV4QpzI/AAAAAAAAHXg/D7XEC2sEonA/emily1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" align="left" height="379"></a> </p> <p>Emily is 9 months old already. On the one hand it seems like she’s been a part of our lives forever, and yet how can she already be so big?</p> <p>I took this shot of her this morning, trying to make it look like a studio picture… she happily cooperated for a little while, until she decided she really ought to be eating my camera, or the bear near her, or crawling off the bed.</p> <p>She was 20 lbs 0 oz at the doctor yesterday, which is right at the 75th percentile. She’s about that in height, too.</p> <p>She has happily been crawling for several weeks, though is still building up her stamina to actually go into new rooms to find people and ask to be picked up.</p> <p>She is pulling up to her knees to try to find more interesting things to play with. She was very happy to discover the pot of cacti in the sunroom (see below). She is equally interested in the coffee table and seems hopelessly devoted to the cause of bumping her head on it.</p> <p>She says “Mama” when she sees me.</p> <p>She loves, loves, loves cheese. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VqDa9wEVHm0/VmB7e4bCQdI/AAAAAAAAHXk/u6AhmFsUSKo/s1600-h/IMG_8929%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8929" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8929" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YJIf8Sa4wrc/VmB7fT3r6dI/AAAAAAAAHXs/OVm7iiYZHj4/IMG_8929_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" align="left" height="244"></a>She cries when the big kids exit the car at school in the morning. She also cries whenever we put her in her car seat (sorry little girl for all your car time…).</p> <p>People stop me in stores to admire her hair-in-the-light-socket look, and I can’t believe I have a child that still has blue eyes at 9 months.</p> <p>She is beautiful, fun, interested, happy and more. On the rare morning when she wakes up after I do, I lay in bed waiting to hear her. It is such a delight to go in and get her out of her crib, and her sheer joy in being alive and together again. She always makes sure to arch back and see if Daddy is still in bed, and if she has both of us there to admire her.</p> <p>What an amazing gift it is to have Emily in our lives!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-89qf-ZjZ2rU/VmB7gUTpdjI/AAAAAAAAHX4/2PrrVT_cI7A/s1600-h/IMG_8924%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8924" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8924" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3C2RBLnTs64/VmB7g9GHY_I/AAAAAAAAHX8/vpkW6JOCkq4/IMG_8924_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EhpcLUqOJp0/VmB7h4e3t0I/AAAAAAAAHYI/yVn12hYKy2M/s1600-h/IMG_8927%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8927" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8927" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R0drq5ni2FU/VmB7ixXEckI/AAAAAAAAHYQ/4UxAb7bQ6t8/IMG_8927_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-37589149587693569502015-11-21T12:57:00.001-05:002015-11-21T12:57:56.057-05:00Quote of the Day<p>“Daddy, what is that musket you have?” –Molly, as Austin was leaving to go hunt.</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-90362830770935383632015-11-01T09:07:00.001-05:002015-11-01T09:07:01.223-05:00Halloween<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oCnesEUwslg/VjYcb9cJbGI/AAAAAAAAHVk/JyI34---lm8/s1600-h/IMG_8725%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8725" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8725" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NcsrRQxBNXw/VjYcckv9OGI/AAAAAAAAHVs/aEVkkNf3go4/IMG_8725_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>I only got this one picture of Tucker—Cal Ripken was not very interested in taking pictures! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lMI-__R953c/VjYcdUSNK7I/AAAAAAAAHV0/XoAoGRp0QIo/s1600-h/IMG_8730%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8730" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8730" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A7v_VnxY3fo/VjYceEH7zbI/AAAAAAAAHV4/HXe0TSelXhQ/IMG_8730_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W_NC7MS-xpM/VjYces9tr6I/AAAAAAAAHWA/0nibp38q8uM/s1600-h/IMG_8710%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8710" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8710" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lycsimo3ypQ/VjYcfbHaf2I/AAAAAAAAHWM/Zo0TQW8kJhM/IMG_8710_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqooNFn14Vw/VjYcgAV6Z6I/AAAAAAAAHWU/ArgVnoCHvr8/s1600-h/IMG_8741%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8741" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8741" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YKNsn_Mzg2k/VjYcg0fWa8I/AAAAAAAAHWc/VKwNvnLTWQI/IMG_8741_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-47352387142136978372015-10-23T09:41:00.001-04:002015-10-23T09:41:36.634-04:00Molly is 5<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zGq6DX9lXPg/Vio4vANZKzI/AAAAAAAAHSk/6oLpQsdXqoE/s1600-h/IMG_8633%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8633" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8633" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-io4bOpJT6bU/Vio4wSY-JQI/AAAAAAAAHSs/WCDH57S8rkY/IMG_8633_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="348" align="left" height="240"></a>Molly turned 5 a week ago, and thoroughly enjoyed her much-anticipated birthday. She has been living, breathing all things birthday for a long time. The month-long wait between Tucker’s birthday and hers was excruciating this year. But the big day finally came, and I was surprised that it met her expectations and that all the huge build up didn’t result in any tears. She was enraptured by her pink princess cake I made, and of course, all the presents. She has a different present-opening style than Tucker—she takes her time and squeals and enjoys each thing in its turn. </p> <p>Molly has acted like a 5 year-old for quite some time. She fits right into her kindergarten class, and her teacher says that even though she is the youngest, her work is among the most advanced. We did have to adjust her bedtime when she started school as she was just too tired at night to hold it together—but she behaves exemplary at school.</p> <p>Molly loves all things princess, ballerina, fairy and pink. She loves to dress-up and wore a blonde wig to church school on Wednesday night, complete with pink lip gloss smeared in a big oval around her lips, Elsa dress, and high-ish heels. She loves to dance and if you watch her ballet class you’ll see she’s one of the few in the class who moves with a sense of grace. She loves crafts and is very detailed; she will spend hours coloring postcards made for adults to color. She loves to write notes to everyone that usually say a variation of “Molly [heart] Mommy.” </p> <p>Molly has a huge imagination and you can find her lost in her own world, in a pink cape, talking quietly to herself while she arranges things on the top of the slide, or in the sandbox, or on the craft table. She and Tucker play well together; they make forts and play baseball with their stuffed animals and do crafts. She has a natural desire and ability to organize things. She is still little enough that she loves to be swept into our arms for big hugs and frequently requests 20 kisses when we tuck her into bed—and always one extra kiss “to grow on.” She tells Austin that she likes driving home with him when it’s dark outside because he’s so big and strong. When we pray with her at night, she will thank God for a huge list of things, which is touching.</p> <p>Molly’s favorites:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O-CZv8gAigk/Vio4xHHeMfI/AAAAAAAAHS0/SUoLk2Y7x3k/s1600-h/IMG_8645%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8645" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8645" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfX-5_6p9bs/Vio4yW7fjTI/AAAAAAAAHS8/vyJETGjplwY/IMG_8645_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" align="left" height="276"></a>Color – pink</p> <p>Friend – Luke</p> <p>Food – fried plantains</p> <p>Book – Princess, fairy, ballerina books</p> <p>Show – Princess shows</p> <p>What does she want to do when she grows up – Be a mommy</p> <p>What is her favorite part of school – Getting to do math homework when she gets home (seriously, she loves this – makes her feel 10 feet tall!)</p> <p> </p> <p>And here are some highlights from Molly’s ballet class this fall:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0eZA-DdIUFA/Vio4zGP-ycI/AAAAAAAAHTE/WNWem35WO60/s1600-h/IMG_8675%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8675" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8675" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wS1EkIOA-6A/Vio40EC806I/AAAAAAAAHTM/AT4gz3gdFj8/IMG_8675_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="304"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v7J-L7tsOEo/Vio40-dIs2I/AAAAAAAAHTU/_--hqJqwZFE/s1600-h/IMG_8690%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8690" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8690" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GQwjZFBljDY/Vio41xKWUpI/AAAAAAAAHTc/264b_TjdzFQ/IMG_8690_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="303"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-om7wnz6dGPQ/Vio42ju8vZI/AAAAAAAAHTk/JZKyKqDY8nk/s1600-h/IMG_8672%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8672" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8672" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cD_MWwfG6nk/Vio43XDvZcI/AAAAAAAAHTs/rqAnBrsW_rw/IMG_8672_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="444"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YA3tCN8XeiQ/Vio4428eGKI/AAAAAAAAHTw/Z4ZMDuJfmwg/s1600-h/IMG_8677%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8677" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8677" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Koky8pMWKXw/Vio45wSrx2I/AAAAAAAAHT8/LSpiPN3ZbfA/IMG_8677_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="439"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P25KV_jNERk/Vio46taDANI/AAAAAAAAHUE/4-UJrUte-Bo/s1600-h/IMG_8685%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8685" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8685" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3RINLNdxB1U/Vio47o1uXEI/AAAAAAAAHUM/rZk9Xq_FG4A/IMG_8685_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-91SQmXASEpo/Vio489MizDI/AAAAAAAAHUU/WkJdIur57fE/s1600-h/IMG_8680%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8680" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8680" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gg6tqOFRf2Y/Vio4950r16I/AAAAAAAAHUc/7VeUWx3P7kI/IMG_8680_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bNkTv5ufmZE/Vio4-oif0AI/AAAAAAAAHUk/3eDRrF29QsY/s1600-h/IMG_8674%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8674" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8674" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qTO-vZEuWyE/Vio4_pPNujI/AAAAAAAAHUs/IBgoMzioohc/IMG_8674_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utIL3ngO0lM/Vio5Ar1tBTI/AAAAAAAAHU0/1N87IcMNs0I/s1600-h/IMG_8684%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8684" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8684" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i_UfQL3N6Sg/Vio5Bfv0jiI/AAAAAAAAHU8/mmmTQMZxoVA/IMG_8684_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cS8T32nBnks/Vio5CRZh2iI/AAAAAAAAHVE/AC6KHaBrLn0/s1600-h/IMG_8689%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8689" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8689" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YeeNcrCwGRw/Vio5DCp4T9I/AAAAAAAAHVM/uPBlM4md8Hg/IMG_8689_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-30919792140138290032015-10-12T20:06:00.001-04:002015-10-12T20:06:58.428-04:00Soccer<p>Molly and Tucker are both playing soccer this fall. Molly is very into ballet—a phase she does not seem to be growing out of yet—and while I’m a fan of my kids only having one activity each week, I don’t want Molly to reach age 9 and decide she doesn’t like ballet and yet never tried any other sports. So I’m signing her up for sports and ballet now (if she’s interested) when the sports are only 1x/week. So far she has been lukewarm about soccer. She liked spray painting her shinguards pink. She likes running up and down the field in games. I’m not so sure she touched the ball in any of the games, though.</p> <p>Today both kids spent a good couple hours after lunch with their soccer balls. Tucker was chipping his ball over the rebounder, trying to see how much air he could get. Molly named her ball “Bally” and held a birthday party for it. I thought it was a good illustration of their different approaches to soccer.</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-43966326973480588132015-10-02T08:54:00.001-04:002015-10-02T08:54:31.106-04:00September Photos<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UCq9bpdyJgw/Vg5-YJZPN8I/AAAAAAAAHPQ/xJDKWm06UDo/s1600-h/IMG_8585%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8585" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8585" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W6TB5UHNIIo/Vg5-Y-iiIXI/AAAAAAAAHPY/JhRcy3iEBOo/IMG_8585_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-57mc9wpwX_c/Vg5-ZS1xngI/AAAAAAAAHPg/5DkKIF_XHDw/s1600-h/IMG_8627%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8627" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8627" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OkVR_NECHUA/Vg5-aPC-afI/AAAAAAAAHPo/XSWfHdXNG0c/IMG_8627_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jcW57_rUHew/Vg5-ancJQ7I/AAAAAAAAHPw/77oQ04AO7uc/s1600-h/IMG_8575%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8575" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8575" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-orUZVVf-E0M/Vg5-bK5y-fI/AAAAAAAAHP4/tLvmi6kpqoc/IMG_8575_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--owJFyzjbec/Vg5-bxYxyUI/AAAAAAAAHQA/_dGEusGtxLs/s1600-h/IMG_8583%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8583" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8583" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mDz11XHpLA/Vg5-clJ4HGI/AAAAAAAAHQI/ehFGUkW9zlA/IMG_8583_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AVMuWxUvMD8/Vg5-dFfCBYI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/qigBL9XZsWM/s1600-h/IMG_8603%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8603" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8603" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SIYa_4QvT-M/Vg5-dmAiiZI/AAAAAAAAHQY/5BwXEhLgy2I/IMG_8603_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l6ztk8id1KU/Vg5-eAouIGI/AAAAAAAAHQg/CN_NrXC8xkw/s1600-h/IMG_8620%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8620" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8620" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nUE12yGExo/Vg5-e5fuoTI/AAAAAAAAHQo/11nn2obymso/IMG_8620_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="643" height="484"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PdqvhEkrq7A/Vg5-fsN96pI/AAAAAAAAHQw/5wVqiGgsRHg/s1600-h/IMG_8614%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8614" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8614" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lmdPcbnoqQg/Vg5-gBsbheI/AAAAAAAAHQ4/vqaAy7QGipE/IMG_8614_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kBnxifiBDWE/Vg5-gkKEzLI/AAAAAAAAHRA/FUKL1HCcUTQ/s1600-h/IMG_8617%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8617" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8617" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k_mJc6yLtm8/Vg5-hTWY-dI/AAAAAAAAHRI/CRwuGrJxmAg/IMG_8617_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-71113312664404765262015-09-27T14:55:00.001-04:002015-09-27T14:55:33.708-04:00Quote of the Day<p>Austin: Daddies can do whatever they want—they can go to bed when they want, they can eat what they want to.</p> <p>Molly: You can’t do whatever you want if it doesn’t serve God.</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-53355608661667391012015-09-21T08:37:00.001-04:002015-09-21T08:37:07.463-04:00Emily is 7 Months<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PcH_OlSGOMY/Vf_56lfE9ZI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/uATleimaT7Q/s1600-h/IMG_1338%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1338" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1338" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TFNH2aaiGNs/Vf_57FjvBHI/AAAAAAAAHOU/Nt1D3ohO2x8/IMG_1338_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e5rMSgjm3RI/Vf_570Rf9JI/AAAAAAAAHOc/R7naEvNh9hk/s1600-h/IMG_1336%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1336" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f2V2U4eHEQRX_PYY6C8kTwEZmtYlLqkTxKwkiGCdnfCZ7K19sRTFDefnwXZOEElTesissH6o2udUv34QK9VkTO6BSEBB-S5afbk_TDVzG1rHBuN4z1VVKxpX09cGT5INsbcpJxYyiq4/?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-90774511411398608052015-09-20T14:39:00.001-04:002015-09-20T14:39:30.198-04:00Happy 8th Birthday, Tucker<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-atizqhvb_Aw/Vf79RP_UiyI/AAAAAAAAHMk/G6Vepzd3sP0/s1600-h/IMG_1382%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1382" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1382" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c1xo19d9uD0/Vf79SJJYEaI/AAAAAAAAHMs/7qEcFB9Qj5o/IMG_1382_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="643" height="484"></a> </p> <p>Tucker turned 8 on Friday. He is at an age where he is so big in some ways but still little in others.</p> <p>His feet are almost as big as mine… but he still adores his loveys.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YhxHa6rdEs8/Vf79S_K80lI/AAAAAAAAHMw/e-31aXU9ZK0/s1600-h/IMG_1399%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1399" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1399" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qHm0ZQzp2lA/Vf79TQqYTGI/AAAAAAAAHM0/fBTj6PH6i08/IMG_1399_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" align="left" height="323"></a>I find the newspaper pulled to his spot to look up sport scores… but he still tears up when a harsh word goes his way.</p> <p>He is ready to give away his brio train track, and big trucks to his 1 year-old cousin… but will spend hours racing matchbox cars to determine the fastest ones.</p> <p>He would rather watch a sporting event than almost any TV show… but engages in elaborate make-believe games with Molly.</p> <p>He will sit for hours reading books… but has the same chapped lips from when he was 4.</p> <p>Tucker is a wonderful big brother. Emily adores watching him. Now that he’s 8, he doesn’t need to be in a booster and the 3 kids can fit in the middle row all together now. He gladly squishes into the middle seat of the middle row (Molly’s booster is too big to buckle in that middle seat) so that he can be next to Emily.</p> <p>He has big gaps in his toothy grin, and towers over his peers (he’s in the 97th percentile in height). People mistake him for a 4th grader. He is usually a rule-follower, but also a budding lawyer in his desire to investigate all the nuances of whatever we tell him.</p> <p> He loves the Redskins, Orioles, and all UVa sports, and likes the Nationals as well. His favorite book is anything by Matt Christopher. His favorite desserts are layer cake and soda. His favorite ice cream flavor is salted caramel. His favorite foods are Subway subs, pizza, fried plantains, mangoes and persimmons, though he will enthusiastically eat most anything. His favorite color is green. His best friend is David Shonka. His favorite sport to play is baseball, followed by golf and track (tied), then soccer. </p> <p>For his birthday, in lieu of a party, we took him and two friends to watch UVa play William and Mary yesterday. It was a hit, and UVa managed not to choke away the game in the last seconds. Amazing!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6lgCxDOxU3o/Vf79T8hQPyI/AAAAAAAAHNA/npvWgyv_7nE/s1600-h/IMG_1369%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1369" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1369" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zk5xsYaa-nc/Vf79UbavIvI/AAAAAAAAHNI/bYrIb7pUpmE/IMG_1369_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EVpS-uNdUgk/Vf79U74-FgI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/f4lrfUJcj6c/s1600-h/IMG_1385%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1385" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1385" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qDgKfGnK1LU/Vf79VnKBA3I/AAAAAAAAHNY/UR5EPXFUT3s/IMG_1385_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iY6ojXGEkdE/Vf79WfF8nDI/AAAAAAAAHNg/A4ndJM1Ty58/s1600-h/IMG_1389%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1389" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1389" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kjaq1QgqMI8/Vf79W1LazBI/AAAAAAAAHNo/-6E4EOkX92A/IMG_1389_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O1fgu6Idif4/Vf79XuZd9FI/AAAAAAAAHNw/b_gC3zKJDpI/s1600-h/IMG_1393%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1393" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1393" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1tREbmsdeAQ/Vf79YOI_p6I/AAAAAAAAHN4/UNQcYdIXfzw/IMG_1393_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-68653138168964264822015-09-20T13:09:00.001-04:002015-09-20T13:09:02.579-04:00Quote of the Day<p>As I was putting Molly to bed.</p> <p>Molly: I’m scared.</p> <p>Me: Well, here’s a picture of Jesus that can lay beside you.</p> <p>Molly: I don’t need that, Mommy! Jesus is in my heart. He is with me always.</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-49219830943005625612015-09-03T13:36:00.001-04:002015-09-03T13:36:19.712-04:00First Day of School<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-msfihPZT2dc/VeiE_kbGIYI/AAAAAAAAHKo/z78puiESF1I/s1600-h/IMG_8561b%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8561b" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8561b" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PCPrkOEHpxU/VeiFAUCPxDI/AAAAAAAAHKw/tf3Ny4TduuM/IMG_8561b_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="462"></a> </p> <p>Tucker and Molly started at Regents, a classical Christian school on Tuesday. Molly is loving every minute of it. Her favorite part yesterday was apparently doing a math worksheet. I guess she just felt so grown up. Or maybe she liked doing something that she was good at. I told her I can pick her up at lunch on certain days (it’s a half day program with a fine arts extended-day option that she’s doing)—but she said no. She is vehemently opposed to missing any second of it.</p> <p>Tucker’s first day put him in total shock, but yesterday was much better. The fact that they only learned rules and didn’t get to play at gym almost crushed his sweet spirit on Tuesday. And the kids at Regents love to play gaga ball at recess, which Tucker doesn’t know. But on day two he was in the top 5 during one round of gaga ball and he beat a classmate in a running race, so all was right with the world again. His biggest complaint going to school today was wearing a uniform, which sounds pretty good if that was his worst complaint today.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_-8w4Z40pwk/VeiFBOTG_uI/AAAAAAAAHK4/D02zbDAtclM/s1600-h/IMG_8568%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8568" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8568" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uItKjf8eEf8/VeiFBtZuISI/AAAAAAAAHLA/vUuu_MZq2kg/IMG_8568_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QeR4Subj070/VeiFCTKu6mI/AAAAAAAAHLI/qtGZby3YBsU/s1600-h/Tucker%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="Tucker" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="Tucker" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZxtwEyanoHY/VeiFDJtQLAI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/cvFuQyeOJYk/Tucker_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dsE7sVWT9So/VeiFDkeD0jI/AAAAAAAAHLY/y3yFDXKTnJ4/s1600-h/IMG_8569%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8569" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8569" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_c8-UcUiXaI/VeiFEfcHOKI/AAAAAAAAHLg/jURZzIOGpto/IMG_8569_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="439"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-56091644785985190452015-08-25T13:54:00.001-04:002015-08-25T13:54:02.685-04:00Emily is 6 Months<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5YTJraEVHhY/Vdyrn5vxKSI/AAAAAAAAHJA/HUfEKCaKHIQ/s1600-h/IMG_8323%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8323" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8323" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iM0H5PD3Aw0/Vdyro0dUTrI/AAAAAAAAHJI/yQzt9B9Eubw/IMG_8323_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>Emily is 6 months old! At the doctor today she was in the 75th percentile for weight (15 lbs 6 oz) and 90th for height – 27 inches. She is about the weight Tucker was at 4 months. </p> <p>At six months Emily gets up on her hands and knees and rocks but doesn’t crawl yet. She can push herself backward and make her way across a room, as well as rolling every which way. Not sure she gets to where she wants that way, but she sure loves to move.</p> <p>Like before, she continues to love solid food and jumping. (She even went on a nursing strike last week and only wanted to eat real food.) When she does nurse, she is so distractible, and continually crunches up so she can sit up and look around. She loves to be outside on a blanket, and she loves books and read-aloud time. She tries to plank when we put her in her car seat, and she would rather be on her tummy than sitting up. </p> <p>She doesn’t eat at night but she is not as deep a sleeper as the older kids were. She is often up in the middle of the night, just because. </p> <p>She continues to have blue eyes… the doctor guessed today that they may turn out hazel or green rather than brown like her big brother and sister.</p> <p>She also continues to prefer Austin and I… and make life kinda miserable for anyone else who watches her.</p> <p>Most of all, she’s so much fun. She really is. She’s delighted to lunge at the food on our plates, delighted to try to eat a spatula, delighted to see us, delighted to see the sights at the grocery store, delighted to roll on her back underneath the sky, delighted to find a good carpet to move backward on, delighted to put her toes in her mouth, delighted to try to catch the cup at communion, delighted to sing along with the songs at church… just delighted. (Which of course, is delightful.) We love you, Emily, and are having so much fun being with you!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d1nAG6I0uqQ/VdyrpQkd_sI/AAAAAAAAHJM/WNOhcTpl2-o/s1600-h/IMG_8511%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8511" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8511" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IU2dzsI7TZo/VdyrqH_7psI/AAAAAAAAHJY/3p40QGqVN9w/IMG_8511_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nAmH6YEuItY/Vdyrq5DVtbI/AAAAAAAAHJg/ymKl5DFGKQg/s1600-h/IMG_8310%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8310" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8310" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6FT1sl6Myww/Vdyrrl4wfdI/AAAAAAAAHJo/r06zF_e1TXo/IMG_8310_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jTtkf16Yzmw/Vdyrsa9QwII/AAAAAAAAHJw/9TzM_Uv2igo/s1600-h/IMG_8346%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8346" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8346" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r5G7S231weg/VdyrsydwWTI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/_3afsHn4-_c/IMG_8346_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QaWhP6p9gAQ/VdyrtZIk-II/AAAAAAAAHKA/IhOrwf3pO4w/s1600-h/IMG_8510%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8510" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8510" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bEQojPC-ovA/VdyruDyumPI/AAAAAAAAHKI/4etz9R1fLRs/IMG_8510_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-91204308823315373902015-08-21T14:04:00.001-04:002015-08-21T14:04:38.667-04:00Quote of the Day<p>“Maybe she is crying for joy!” Molly said as we looked at Emily screaming on the baby monitor. (She had woken herself up early with a dirty diaper and was so miserable up that I put her back down, which made her equally upset.)</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-51677191789251715282015-08-17T18:47:00.001-04:002015-08-17T18:47:09.410-04:00Shark’s Teeth and a Family Picture<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jDGGyrLpsrE/VdJkWcIvjxI/AAAAAAAAHGo/OAC1S2_d4L8/s1600-h/IMG_85543.jpg"><img title="IMG_8554" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8554" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jbRKEr5LxSA/VdJkXAR0ZAI/AAAAAAAAHGw/r4NsmVEp-kE/IMG_8554_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p>We made it through vacation without one picture of all five of us so we had the waitress at breakfast take one. </p> <p>And here are the fossils we found!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XQSXdrj6Oss/VdJkYAWx8JI/AAAAAAAAHG0/xgMWt0kij8Q/s1600-h/IMG_85433.jpg"><img title="IMG_8543" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8543" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QKlglyNypg0/VdJkY6KvSKI/AAAAAAAAHHA/gfZoTO4CwtI/IMG_8543_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jk9ohtbJVUw/VdJkZcfHQkI/AAAAAAAAHHE/_0aJKbBE4Nk/s1600-h/IMG_85463.jpg"><img title="IMG_8546" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8546" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e1J3LRoEzL0/VdJkZxnboOI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/9iaYXF46ASw/IMG_8546_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7HMKfhzLIis/VdJkabZZciI/AAAAAAAAHHY/luqa1cdcnk4/s1600-h/IMG_85473.jpg"><img title="IMG_8547" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8547" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qV2k_-QOZSo/VdJkaxLFwoI/AAAAAAAAHHg/vnmcmSifTmk/IMG_8547_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-84460435597170332372015-08-16T21:37:00.001-04:002015-08-16T21:37:48.929-04:00Westmoreland State Park 2015<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p76qcczbY7A/VdE5zbddQ9I/AAAAAAAAG68/ZT1K1L6-zZU/s1600-h/IMG_82853.jpg"><img title="IMG_8285" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8285" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DFvBN5MqWQg/VdE50Xd2-pI/AAAAAAAAG7E/awJsrzT_uYU/IMG_8285_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>Virginia state parks are the best. Once again, we have had a fabulous time at our week-long cabin stay. I was thinking this trip that state park cabins are a true gem, but they would be a big disappointment if you’re looking for a luxurious retreat with the amenities of home and more. State park cabins are for the people who would almost be willing to camp… and are thus delighted with a rustic cabin’s infrastructure.</p> <p>We did a lot this trip: the pool, the beach, hunting for fossilized shark’s teeth, enjoying great breakfasts out, lots of biking, some (relatively short) hiking, lots of ranger programs, lots of campfires, fishing, boating, visiting George Washington’s Birth Place, two family movie nights, and lots of time to play and just be together. I even finished two fun novels, and managed not to neglect anyone too badly while I was engrossed.<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ikQbDmNbiCg/VdE51TR1KSI/AAAAAAAAG7M/6mg16kQNvC8/s1600-h/IMG_84423.jpg"><img title="IMG_8442" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8442" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ud1qMi6wz0I/VdE52P5yMHI/AAAAAAAAG7U/9595Y0ObiVM/IMG_8442_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qJmB7OGT2Tk/VdE53IV6DGI/AAAAAAAAG7c/8NcjIFPJs0Y/s1600-h/IMG_83233.jpg"><img title="IMG_8323" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8323" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Enk8cw-65ec/VdE538QptLI/AAAAAAAAG7k/J_vjumxuFzc/IMG_8323_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SdIYsGjroxI/VdE54gqZP8I/AAAAAAAAG7s/z6d_t1RQnZE/s1600-h/IMG_84994.jpg"><img title="IMG_8499" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8499" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y0DmYDMIA1M/VdE55enmz9I/AAAAAAAAG70/eL5EFgA9cc8/IMG_8499_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="469"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZRaKo9C7PX4/VdE56MSqAeI/AAAAAAAAG78/CW5Xo4EM96w/s1600-h/IMG_85204.jpg"><img title="IMG_8520" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8520" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zzy9gLCJvPA/VdE568m4LLI/AAAAAAAAG8E/FaxilxAFnTk/IMG_8520_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="470"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZAABt_tRkZ8/VdE58Ia6j-I/AAAAAAAAG8M/-lUNfFM8koU/s1600-h/IMG_83663.jpg"><img title="IMG_8366" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8366" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J4YDfDwSzv8/VdE581gMHvI/AAAAAAAAG8U/W5t7KhjwboI/IMG_8366_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>One of the highlights for me was finding 11 fossil sharks teeth and 3 ray teeth (the pictures are of my favorite minions looking for the teeth with a sieve, aka a colander)… I’ll add pictures of the actual shark’s teeth later.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tBP-Awo4Xjo/VdE5940fLEI/AAAAAAAAG8c/NhUT2_vMSvU/s1600-h/IMG_13044.jpg"><img title="IMG_1304" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1304" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d51_5ZaOGDM/VdE5-Xb6J3I/AAAAAAAAG8k/8ax4r3FlBQw/IMG_1304_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="241"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4GieQiUouzI/VdE5_IOtD4I/AAAAAAAAG8s/-supNA2Nt64/s1600-h/IMG_12963.jpg"><img title="IMG_1296" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1296" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7LPn8BhB-Q8/VdE5_rRYhEI/AAAAAAAAG80/hH2aQG506hA/IMG_1296_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a></p> <p>Another big highlight was eating out four times all week… at the same place each time. The Art of Coffee in Montross makes a mean breakfast. We all loved it, but the person who liked the breakfast best there might possibly have been Emily. She is an eating machine and pulled Austin’s plate of food onto his lap in her excitement to partake one morning. Egg, hash browns, biscuit, bacon… not bad fare for a five month-old. Here are all the kids waiting for food….</p> <p><img title="IMG_1199" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1199" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VL7--c9e9_M/VdE6AYaSWTI/AAAAAAAAG88/QDud8KU4BSw/IMG_1199_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="162"><img title="IMG_1206" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1206" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UENjxKd8YKE/VdE6A1_sRsI/AAAAAAAAG9E/HZGPIE3-f94/IMG_1206_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="162"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AP7oUjri5oc/VdE6Bl16uvI/AAAAAAAAG9M/3SL7jEYY9WY/s1600-h/IMG_12873.jpg"><img title="IMG_1287" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1287" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9nsv5KVuveA/VdE6CsMbjRI/AAAAAAAAG9U/1yo_tVK07Ss/IMG_1287_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="162"></a></p> <p>Another food highlight for the kids were salt water taffy in the camp store, local root beer and gingerale, as well as marshmallows over the campfire almost every night…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZolhRyAJMiY/VdE6Dkv3Z6I/AAAAAAAAG9c/1qagy53cEz0/s1600-h/IMG_84063.jpg"><img title="IMG_8406" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8406" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9GJy00Fp8zg/VdE6EeAAUWI/AAAAAAAAG9k/HJyEWN_VUjM/IMG_8406_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WVLixcVphug/VdE6FIGHIYI/AAAAAAAAG9s/0m4Vo62JjYg/s1600-h/IMG_83903.jpg"><img title="IMG_8390" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8390" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-byHtx76xGIk/VdE6GKk3G8I/AAAAAAAAG90/MmGWPQssrLE/IMG_8390_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9clLli6W9Cs/VdE6G3URHHI/AAAAAAAAG98/MC_lPfFDicI/s1600-h/IMG_84013.jpg"><img title="IMG_8401" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8401" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CETOVLry_10/VdE6HrSLVZI/AAAAAAAAG-E/S5ecfIOZn48/IMG_8401_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gIS0ppiSjBw/VdE6IvwbaYI/AAAAAAAAG-M/AfVP2xEF19I/s1600-h/IMG_83973.jpg"><img title="IMG_8397" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8397" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U8Mzm2-luyw/VdE6JAQ3TJI/AAAAAAAAG-U/BN6kB8ewopM/IMG_8397_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a></p> <p>…except for the night that some coals fell out of the grill on the way to the fire pit and managed to burn both big kids. That night we abandoned the campfire in favor of our second family movie night (Swiss Family Robinson, and An American Tale).<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kObA9_4xokU/VdE6KKZBj5I/AAAAAAAAG-c/E1egDGtbJa4/s1600-h/IMG_84823.jpg"><img title="IMG_8482" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8482" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U2so5DlbIeI/VdE6Ldlen4I/AAAAAAAAG-k/TavogWu36hk/IMG_8482_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>We did some boating and fishing…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SvA4ZxEuoAE/VdE6MEI7DzI/AAAAAAAAG-s/R8vTn3SPeqw/s1600-h/IMG_12933.jpg"><img title="IMG_1293" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1293" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wbexviCQbjI/VdE6MweACUI/AAAAAAAAG-0/8rS9Ib_9SSU/IMG_1293_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxDbSMf39ds/VdE6NkOWARI/AAAAAAAAG-8/BhNW8HQQTTk/s1600-h/IMG_13293.jpg"><img title="IMG_1329" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1329" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mg2G8c46K28/VdE6OiAFlGI/AAAAAAAAG_E/rjU3ChDvNXM/IMG_1329_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GkSP_UrrtKg/VdE6PPzFDlI/AAAAAAAAG_M/o-u3iFR--9Q/s1600-h/IMG_13193.jpg"><img title="IMG_1319" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1319" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-44EFaPTQ7Yg/VdE6P4cQOvI/AAAAAAAAG_U/AjeLasdq05w/IMG_1319_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240"></a></p> <p>And lots of biking. This was maybe Tucker’s favorite thing about the trip. He got a taste of freedom because we let him bike to most of our destinations around the park. Because I have a bum foot that is taking forever to heal, I drove from our cabin to the beach, the trail heads etc… and Tucker would just bike on his own. What a taste of glory for a seven year-old. Molly has had no interest in biking at home, ever. But she caught the biking bug too and really pedaled for the first time ever. She did three bike rides of a mile each, which is a lot considering she had never even pedaled before.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nSqR2VOTFUA/VdE6Q4s15rI/AAAAAAAAG_c/zkoXHX9RZI8/s1600-h/IMG_84546.jpg"><img title="IMG_8454" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8454" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NrX_nl9DBgk/VdE6Rn-ouwI/AAAAAAAAG_k/lf5yXmyqrpA/IMG_8454_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="296"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7gHvZwtZ16o/VdE6SZ2r6RI/AAAAAAAAG_s/mXAgVrKFVwM/s1600-h/IMG_84506.jpg"><img title="IMG_8450" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8450" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SmRw8Nls0tA/VdE6TGg_-vI/AAAAAAAAG_0/OJNOPD8E2qY/IMG_8450_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="303"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v7UY-MdY67s/VdE6TzTSkdI/AAAAAAAAG_8/42ddTnks3Lo/s1600-h/IMG_84763.jpg"><img title="IMG_8476" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8476" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Z4vyE9M8Kc/VdE6UlN84GI/AAAAAAAAHAE/gNL-oqP1dGk/IMG_8476_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GSEWmrDSEOM/VdE6VaeHrnI/AAAAAAAAHAM/KH3FQhUASWs/s1600-h/IMG_84643.jpg"><img title="IMG_8464" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8464" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-elfUof-AjVU/VdE6WFfsxNI/AAAAAAAAHAU/qLZCm7kTqhw/IMG_8464_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2wkw9V2qh_0/VdE6W7CfBGI/AAAAAAAAHAc/NdKwEffBbJM/s1600-h/IMG_84633.jpg"><img title="IMG_8463" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8463" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JV2wOUOu5H8/VdE6XpeW8dI/AAAAAAAAHAk/tdm64_w7I4E/IMG_8463_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="214"></a></p> <p>We took day trips to Belle Isle State Park (our destination for next summer) and to George Washington’s Birth Place. Belle Isle was a neat surprise, and Emily was an amazingly flexible little girl who didn’t take a single nap in her crib that day without complaint. She was actually amazing the whole trip and napped in the stroller, the front pack, and the car seat when necessary. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EE865HSp2qk/VdE6YeUaqdI/AAAAAAAAHAs/7ik60d38ikc/s1600-h/IMG_82913.jpg"><img title="IMG_8291" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8291" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vQ0Oiys2Xeo/VdE6ZUhUeaI/AAAAAAAAHA0/xan3p09LL7I/IMG_8291_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r_WglgYNiRw/VdE6aZaouqI/AAAAAAAAHA8/GZz39pR2ddw/s1600-h/IMG_82583.jpg"><img title="IMG_8258" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8258" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rvR5u6KT2fk/VdE6bdoUZnI/AAAAAAAAHBE/J8-KO4nSdI4/IMG_8258_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="469"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1r03YNAmCyA/VdE6cD3znUI/AAAAAAAAHBM/TSsAQd72LdM/s1600-h/IMG_82643.jpg"><img title="IMG_8264" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8264" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3c9bu13fKZk/VdE6c88PYbI/AAAAAAAAHBU/CdIDLOUJL9I/IMG_8264_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="469"></a> </p> <p>We also enjoyed some fun ranger programs, including seining for fish, making ice cream by hand, making shark’s tooth necklaces, making survival necklaces, and going on a night hike.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jm5QV5Beaeo/VdE6dh4HIEI/AAAAAAAAHBc/ZZYdlN7MARQ/s1600-h/IMG_84954.jpg"><img title="IMG_8495" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8495" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S1FGp_K6SRU/VdE6eWRwm_I/AAAAAAAAHBk/FuZRliR1yuE/IMG_8495_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="271"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wsJff9Rh-hM/VdE6e8SZYeI/AAAAAAAAHBs/vlOweNsGf6U/s1600-h/IMG_84976.jpg"><img title="IMG_8497" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8497" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mg4iwMJaCf0/VdE6faxmEeI/AAAAAAAAHB0/kzeP_WzAJRM/IMG_8497_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="274"></a></p> <p>We had lots of beach time and pool time, of course:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RgxyCVGC1CM/VdE6gHPE4II/AAAAAAAAHB8/wZI-dyYE39E/s1600-h/IMG_13004.jpg"><img title="IMG_1300" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1300" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vN0pHopz13A/VdE6g-n7AvI/AAAAAAAAHCE/FbvxOwkRfp4/IMG_1300_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="417"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ixDYR-HwByI/VdE6h_KnotI/AAAAAAAAHCM/3RsWxMvf-jQ/s1600-h/IMG_12973.jpg"><img title="IMG_1297" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1297" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hd4frIwo0ks/VdE6ia2jZuI/AAAAAAAAHCU/CbQ2x8Mqcj8/IMG_1297_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="417"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZgtS-fJa0eU/VdE6i7dvBWI/AAAAAAAAHCc/5qGguOKJUrw/s1600-h/IMG_83873.jpg"><img title="IMG_8387" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8387" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AMl0VW12RpY/VdE6juq9WnI/AAAAAAAAHCk/ihqFuJY7YdQ/IMG_8387_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>And took short hikes everywhere around the park…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MWnxhYlstV0/VdE6kr23EpI/AAAAAAAAHCo/lMaarzzNOss/s1600-h/IMG_84173.jpg"><img title="IMG_8417" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8417" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MW__AdmA2JA/VdE6lLFX9KI/AAAAAAAAHCw/JEllZLZFdeM/IMG_8417_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ss7R_P34hzE/VdE6lt8RssI/AAAAAAAAHC8/WiKwtfhZGZ0/s1600-h/IMG_84663.jpg"><img title="IMG_8466" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8466" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0nu5eWm5tG8/VdE6mRjYo4I/AAAAAAAAHDA/AJbDB56fZcI/IMG_8466_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7owqRHadkuw/VdE6nVp9YiI/AAAAAAAAHDM/pQjxxQ_115Y/s1600-h/IMG_84253.jpg"><img title="IMG_8425" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8425" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tJry7RQhZiE/VdE6oI6bVrI/AAAAAAAAHDU/uZgx5rXa6ko/IMG_8425_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0FK4RhPlCkM/VdE6ov4fguI/AAAAAAAAHDc/88CatTWQgiA/s1600-h/IMG_84293.jpg"><img title="IMG_8429" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8429" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HbXni6rIJQc/VdE6poVbm1I/AAAAAAAAHDk/UCedbTbqB2g/IMG_8429_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pPjm9YQCed8/VdE6rCvlnoI/AAAAAAAAHDs/7FYOy7e0uug/s1600-h/IMG_84713.jpg"><img title="IMG_8471" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8471" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XtY52Y094FM/VdE6sB6g1LI/AAAAAAAAHD0/Cp0bI1EStH8/IMG_8471_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> <p>And enjoyed bumming around the cabin…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP5OTooZQa88Qto5cGx_SQba935tdpDL65hImdEyujIXuubZAiQL8LLAV9F9eb0snR-9mIS46qrBdu-wG2_FUkX4laRsqi27YkNpp-UzbBfBDomaZOMbxeak8KiKUnDyugblpn0tIE28/s1600-h/IMG_85273.jpg"><img title="IMG_8527" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8527" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_5zjSXaoqE7maxddxKRIF8Guwk1VScibskgckf5Sg6Z8x1L0ApAGwA29RvOPrppyTFuGqs2XehlSUc6ru1Rx1wDVnGI-CCCJMuzvk24q_IMjtnXCyTMLQIYLYg_MMJiBLh0h_sysZpc/?imgmax=800" width="214" height="144"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rkuQ9O1ZDOg/VdE6uY_uGLI/AAAAAAAAHEM/RtX1Qp9IJ7c/s1600-h/IMG_85383.jpg"><img title="IMG_8538" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8538" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FRRCmCUcLQ8/VdE6u61WrcI/AAAAAAAAHEQ/X5tc3cpeHnc/IMG_8538_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="144"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ha8DovbVpt8/VdE6vyU007I/AAAAAAAAHEc/Y0c8HVXhTj8/s1600-h/IMG_84103.jpg"><img title="IMG_8410" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8410" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C5GC_XjZIrU/VdE6wtMdoTI/AAAAAAAAHEg/VnsT03fZ4nE/IMG_8410_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="214" height="144"></a><img title="IMG_8341" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8341" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j-ooRFFIS_o/VdE6xcZ5r8I/AAAAAAAAHEs/paws3TqHZw0/IMG_8341_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="293"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wy7m0CLlMyI/VdE6x-DWhzI/AAAAAAAAHE0/8N1SharTu1s/s1600-h/IMG_83364.jpg"><img title="IMG_8336" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8336" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pfl7QRUUOtk/VdE6ypn-9SI/AAAAAAAAHE8/N_Cm7XAfV5U/IMG_8336_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" height="284"></a></p> <p>The kids even got some practice in photography and took some good pictures too:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7IIC4sqVzuo/VdE6zW2IU_I/AAAAAAAAHFE/ZYt5G2Rl1_4/s1600-h/IMG_12713.jpg"><img title="IMG_1271" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1271" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VXmnp8g-Lfs/VdE60Jj2HLI/AAAAAAAAHFM/RTI2o7zGD-o/IMG_1271_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sf6QinI9NWs/VdE607qfN1I/AAAAAAAAHFU/qjpwCwHd_wA/s1600-h/IMG_83623.jpg"><img title="IMG_8362" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8362" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ynq2-hEVBo8/VdE6186yNPI/AAAAAAAAHFc/zXpy0qDaTEs/IMG_8362_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EwUAyI7_6AM/VdE62oaSq_I/AAAAAAAAHFk/9i6O1MHJVkI/s1600-h/IMG_83543.jpg"><img title="IMG_8354" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8354" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-efMKT8hTme4/VdE64iIRY3I/AAAAAAAAHFs/dbqJLcBOgIA/IMG_8354_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EFkA5k7t0WE/VdE65YgS1OI/AAAAAAAAHF0/CnOH6TkC6BQ/s1600-h/IMG_83553.jpg"><img title="IMG_8355" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_8355" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GVKhiEahXZI/VdE66eMEbZI/AAAAAAAAHF8/Htl6AUgSE8w/IMG_8355_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="211"></a></p> <p>Thank you, Westmoreland!</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-59231080498863870282015-07-27T14:39:00.001-04:002015-07-27T14:39:01.526-04:00Emily is 5 Months Old<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hW61jZ8eBrE/VbZ6siuPIqI/AAAAAAAAGuc/NR3eN_Jp6b0/s1600-h/IMG_8239%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8239" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8239" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v58F0MSUkf4/VbZ6tQsfMrI/AAAAAAAAGuk/YX_fjd51YHQ/IMG_8239_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p>…And is cute as a button, and much more fun than a button. </p> <p>She has fallen in love with froggy, her lovey. </p> <p>She is a pacifier fan, but not an addict. </p> <p>She loves real food and has already eagerly eaten egg, pancake, chicken, potato, in addition to baby food. </p> <p>She rolls, pivots and thumps and moves herself a couple feet in any direction. </p> <p>She likes being on her tummy now. </p> <p>She loves to gnaw on her daddy’s fingers. </p> <p>She often has a monster nap of about 3 hours in addition to one or two smaller naps a day. </p> <p>She is definitely opinionated on who holds her. She screams till she has a hard time catching her breath most of the time when someone other than Austin or I hold her.</p> <p>She jumps in the doorway jumper for ages at a time. She jumped so much the other day she got a blister on her toe. </p> <p>She loves imitating a pteradactyl, or what I imagine a pteradactyl would sound like if they hadn’t gone extinct before we could hear one (ie a piercing bird-like shriek). </p> <p>She usually doesn’t eat at night… but never refuses if offered… and sometimes demands it if not topped off before I go to bed. </p> <p>She is flexible enough to drink a bottle of formula in the front pack, in the pool, naked but for a swim diaper.</p> <p>She is always waiting for someone to smile at her, so she can smile back.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OzaLCdN0xOw/VbZ6uNx-csI/AAAAAAAAGus/qro9gGtZCDg/s1600-h/IMG_8249%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8249" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8249" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SUhm6kJ_qFE/VbZ6vL6IOQI/AAAAAAAAGu0/XNWYXHiHvJ8/IMG_8249_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s_8g_2zJhMg/VbZ6wJO95hI/AAAAAAAAGu8/B7UrDPZRDls/s1600-h/IMG_11593.jpg"><img title="IMG_1159" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1159" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e9erWIrwYD4/VbZ6w8vXgdI/AAAAAAAAGvE/zaIvdRJTR0M/IMG_1159_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-89475559207026086232015-07-27T14:35:00.001-04:002015-07-27T14:35:13.151-04:00History Camp<p>Last year the kids and I ran our own art camp for a week in the summer. The two summers before that Tucker had attended an art camp, but the one that was close by hadn’t impressed me a lot. I figured I could make a really cool art camp for the cost of sending him to one, it could include Molly too, and we wouldn’t have to do all the schlepping to/from camp. </p> <p>Art camp was a great success—we made drip art with crayons, suncatchers out of melted beads, fairy houses, life-sized dolls and lots of other things I’ve forgotten by now. It was a summer highlight for sure.</p> <p>This year, Tucker requested that we do history camp instead, which has also been fabulous.</p> <p>We’ve been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to the kids (On #5 right now – The Long Winter) so a lot of our activities relate to that.</p> <p>We’ve:</p> <p>-made a button lamp (make a wick out of fabric that’s tied with a string, wrapped around a coin/button, dipped in oil and seated in a bowl of oil)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qBbqlHQWXW0/VbZ5srseqbI/AAAAAAAAGsc/3SJYSWM8EEY/s1600-h/IMG_11635.jpg"><img title="IMG_1163" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1163" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hEe4D5Jcizs/VbZ5tLB0aNI/AAAAAAAAGsg/mVi5WP9zACU/IMG_1163_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jm4X6dI186c/VbZ5t6ViJWI/AAAAAAAAGss/yMJ8B2m73Q4/s1600-h/IMG_11673.jpg"><img title="IMG_1167" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1167" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8W7OjqeZreU/VbZ5uYef9MI/AAAAAAAAGs0/lIbKI6tLOJQ/IMG_1167_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="229"></a> </p> <p>-churned butter (I was surprised how well this turned out)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a7e78_0BolA/VbZ5u2zwpuI/AAAAAAAAGs8/nhtOG9X4ieY/s1600-h/IMG_11113.jpg"><img title="IMG_1111" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1111" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PNaOD28b83k/VbZ5v9PO6WI/AAAAAAAAGtE/f9C8gDh3x3Y/IMG_1111_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="297"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ngx9ug8k-BU/VbZ5wehTLmI/AAAAAAAAGtM/aAOlvAY-iN8/s1600-h/IMG_11145.jpg"><img title="IMG_1114" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1114" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bcGpqSIXez8/VbZ5xBJiRrI/AAAAAAAAGtU/G6c6s9_RLXs/IMG_1114_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="296"></a> </p> <p>-made beanbags for a pioneer bean bag game</p> <p>-made rag rugs</p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GqaPYTNARWk/VbZ5x1h1DDI/AAAAAAAAGtc/vBC8T75VPgw/s1600-h/IMG_8228%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_8228" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_8228" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-imELhKMtshU/VbZ5ymX1dTI/AAAAAAAAGtk/YyNFXg09BjQ/IMG_8228_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <p>-cooked over the fire</p> <p>-practiced our carving skills with soap</p> <p>-made a miniature log cabin out of sticks (that is now living next to Molly’s dollhouse)</p> <p>-washed clothes on a washboard and line dried them (Tucker was surprisingly good at washing clothes, but neither kid could wring them out)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F5bCdfpqbXA/VbZ5zbyYGtI/AAAAAAAAGto/_HxprXhat28/s1600-h/IMG_11183.jpg"><img title="IMG_1118" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1118" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hx4TzZJLXlU/VbZ50Hniz4I/AAAAAAAAGt0/fHblkFzhlEI/IMG_1118_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="275"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lu70eJ7Ux-8/VbZ50worZTI/AAAAAAAAGt8/2fUVPK7jFQw/s1600-h/IMG_11393.jpg"><img title="IMG_1139" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1139" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DrZY_AwJn68/VbZ51rkHvAI/AAAAAAAAGuE/6TzxgdyRBrk/IMG_1139_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="213" height="277"></a> </p> <p>-made pulled molasses candy (Tucker liked it, Molly didn’t)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6I7EsnPmmhs/VbZ52Zo7IfI/AAAAAAAAGuM/iEx31WersSA/s1600-h/IMG_11164.jpg"><img title="IMG_1116" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1116" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1i-03b-RKw8/VbZ530GH8bI/AAAAAAAAGuU/z5vMm7pn-KY/IMG_1116_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> </p> <p>-checked out the TV series “Liberty’s Kids” out of the library (the characters go back in time to different historical events)</p> <p>-visited Fort Ticonderoga in New York (when we were visiting my mom)</p> <p>-visited Shelburne Museum in Vermont</p> <p>Fun!</p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-91392901832062795762015-07-25T13:35:00.001-04:002015-07-25T13:35:45.672-04:00Summer So Far<p>We had a fabulous visit in Vermont over the Fourth, though the trip there and back highlighted why flying is so awful. We’ve had terrible luck with flights lately and this trip was no different. On the leg that I was flying alone, we got marooned on the plane for two hours before taking off, after an hour’s delay in the airport. Not ideal with a four month-old. On the way home, Charlottesville airport got closed because of a bomb scare so we had a two hour delay in the Philly airport. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3yxtOpQwXxc/VbPH7Zo4CNI/AAAAAAAAGnA/m7XPussz4qA/s1600-h/IMG_1102%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1102" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1102" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w4bj4YSvIuU/VbPH8S2luCI/AAAAAAAAGnI/wmUE_6ZprmE/IMG_1102_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="236"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bAZlpuTNO-8/VbPH9VV89KI/AAAAAAAAGnQ/z36xGeLiCLc/s1600-h/IMG_1104%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1104" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1104" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l3pTzKhtWHk/VbPH-M-sLTI/AAAAAAAAGnY/miCBv-y1Xsw/IMG_1104_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="236"></a> </p> <p>Vermont was wonderful, visiting with Go Go and generally running amock in the canoe, along the walking path, with bikes, playing pool etc. I should’ve taken more pictures but I was too busy sorting through stuff in the attic and garages to give away.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjouK6G5GpCPAtnIOsAAdHs1xJeYLAhHFk6swVeZbuh-TL2Y_le85e2ZqRXyntUeqmAJ6LPDicUfePqWymjH4rMa4sjyre27smt117W5zSjRzLPpZmS_jXOXu7mAN4BSKZvKW7Fh613c/s1600-h/IMG_1108%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1108" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1108" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oh2ttP7TGyI/VbPH_-lPBxI/AAAAAAAAGno/LsbUUmEwZI0/IMG_1108_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p>Back home, in addition to making sure everyone stay’s alive, I’ve been doing random little projects, like adding polka dots to the kids’ shower curtain so it won’t show dirt quite so badly:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xf0BQXS04AY/VbPIAfJI5HI/AAAAAAAAGnw/LYP_kQyyKsM/s1600-h/IMG_1155%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1155" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1155" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-chq1WJc-Rmg/VbPIMAMQxfI/AAAAAAAAGn4/WuUHRr-b0Ds/IMG_1155_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ugU4oB34lnM/VbPIPX9gwnI/AAAAAAAAGoA/z4o7ghxatQA/s1600-h/IMG_1154%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1154" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1154" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u8lvfgAMQ6g/VbPIQQ_QsmI/AAAAAAAAGoI/V_ufpZsdt9U/IMG_1154_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404"></a> </p> <p>And making drip pots with the kids from some old terracotta pots in the basement. Figure they’ll be good to put flowers in and give away to teachers for little thank yous.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9zXWbL8JYbI/VbPIpyhyC_I/AAAAAAAAGoQ/idviM9eDzBg/s1600-h/IMG_1133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1133" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1133" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RR1vF8gLPWA/VbPIqZ1p-zI/AAAAAAAAGoY/bw-Ri3vMszo/IMG_1133_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="233"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-isKKzDauiRU/VbPIq7UEPkI/AAAAAAAAGog/NYcacaVCgmE/s1600-h/IMG_1149%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1149" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1149" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBYoxwOHk_k/VbPIrVwMCbI/AAAAAAAAGoo/3aSyuyvgdpQ/IMG_1149_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="233"></a> </p> <p>Our puzzle board has expanded to double its previous size, and is getting well used this summer.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rJQsdO3-2XU/VbPIsDVuF5I/AAAAAAAAGow/TGC5pzOyAmE/s1600-h/IMG_1145%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1145" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1145" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tZ6BsbxSbhw/VbPIspB6mhI/AAAAAAAAGo4/KCNoAmPS5BQ/IMG_1145_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a> </p> <p>We hung a tire swing the other day,</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mNrcV6hK5jY/VbPItb5k0oI/AAAAAAAAGpA/FS-tmTsZhHY/s1600-h/IMG_1126%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1126" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1126" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38lW6XI4ZKg/VbPIuPS3asI/AAAAAAAAGpI/DTWxUluEOIg/IMG_1126_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> </p> <p>Also keeping us busy are these coloring pages for adults that are very fun for the kids and I. Henny even treated us to sparkly gel pens to feed our coloring addiction.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NXfkxrbOg0E/VbPIuj2C6gI/AAAAAAAAGpQ/VI1Oz2X9l7Q/s1600-h/IMG_1141%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1141" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1141" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nafe8Sbsu1U/VbPIvOnA1aI/AAAAAAAAGpY/TXR2CYa5qSY/IMG_1141_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="304"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9CW0V6SBeGA/VbPIv_BWHpI/AAAAAAAAGpg/unF2zfzAyiE/s1600-h/IMG_1142%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1142" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1142" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3TQwo4Jh8BI/VbPIwSzoGBI/AAAAAAAAGpo/yFd7Popqw4w/IMG_1142_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="303"></a> </p> <p>We’re chipping away at all of our summer goals, which continue to be fun for the kids, though Tucker at this point is so goal-oriented, he just wants to do things for the sake of checking them off, not for their intrinsic worth, leading to rushing through everything with little attention to detail. Reminds me of someone else I know (especially at his age)… me!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KAreloIGmJM/VbPIxDKF-EI/AAAAAAAAGpw/TAaebS7Izv4/s1600-h/IMG_1147%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1147" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1147" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4Nq6PcvoATE/VbPIxoqoKwI/AAAAAAAAGp4/62SBXgkLiCQ/IMG_1147_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OSwipQF9rV8/VbPIyJU8FtI/AAAAAAAAGqA/AE4ME4nSVjQ/s1600-h/IMG_1148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1148" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1148" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_amw9p-mErs/VbPIy2GIEBI/AAAAAAAAGqI/WEg-Uly54qM/IMG_1148_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="404"></a> </p> <p>And all this togetherness recently has brought new focus in our family to how to ask for forgiveness, and how to love your sibling well. Tucker and Molly are usually wonderful with each other, but when you share a room and are together 24/7, buttons are getting pushed to a degree we haven’t seen before. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nWIhAnADM2s/VbPIzntK_YI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/XkrfuPnHUuE/s1600-h/IMG_1143%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1143" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1143" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VWhLtlglEHc/VbPI0E_enGI/AAAAAAAAGqY/XiiSzwa5MMM/IMG_1143_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> </p> <p>One of the fun innovations (for me) of this summer is having 30 minutes of work time every day for the kids. This is on top of their chores: making their beds, getting the eggs/taking out the compost, and unloading the dishes. So every morning after breakfast during the week, we do half an hour of housework together. Today Tucker cleaned the fridge and pantry and the back steps. Molly straightened the living room, cleaned the bathroom sink and wiped up baby spit up. Tucker’s great with fetching and starting loads of laundry, folding and putting away laundry, weeding, harvesting from the garden etc. Molly is great at straightening and wiping up tables and using the swiffer. 30 minutes of work every week day is a great start to the day. Often Tucker decides he wants to work longer than that to earn some money. Tucker’s hourly rate is $2 if he’s actually on task, which is a lot of money in his eyes and is quite helpful for me. </p> <p>We recently started an allowance of $1.75 a week for him (25 cents per year of age). In order for him to earn the right for an allowance, he had to be able to tell me the value of all the coins, and do simple math with the money (ie “would you rather have 5 dimes or 3 quarters?”) kind of thing. Of his allowance, he needs to designate at least $0.25 each week to give away to church or a similar cause. Other than that, it’s up to him what he wants to do with it and so far he seems to be following his parents in being a saver. Having his own money for things has also been very helpful in situations where he wants something like a Gatorade at basketball camp. He could bring Gatorade from home in a water bottle – or use his own money and buy one there for $1.00. Guess what he chose? </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And here are some random pictures from outside… the bed we planted a couple years ago to block the sight of the cars is now beautiful:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lA_FlLL1Q_U/VbPI09XiMVI/AAAAAAAAGqg/Oy2ZXKNr3Zo/s1600-h/IMG_1120%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1120" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1120" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2P9KJWOvPfI/VbPI1XW9KbI/AAAAAAAAGqo/2A2hBy2Z3fc/IMG_1120_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> </p> <p>We’ve had these dwarf hydrangeas for years, and now they finally bloomed!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RsJeKFaILiw/VbPI2B0gFNI/AAAAAAAAGqw/K2Q8iY5KX7M/s1600-h/IMG_1121%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1121" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1121" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Whe02dckYEU/VbPI2mJTUqI/AAAAAAAAGq4/-ZdbjaRbsOU/IMG_1121_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> </p> <p>We added more tin can flowers to the outside of the outdoor shower:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9_7h9vj-vcY/VbPI3d01wPI/AAAAAAAAGrA/jItWlFxgkJw/s1600-h/IMG_1122%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1122" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="IMG_1122" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yEGV0zmavj8/VbPI346A4qI/AAAAAAAAGrI/ffVOVeg6y4I/IMG_1122_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484"></a> </p> <p>And built a low stone wall out of mostly found stone from the fields Austin has worked in this winter (with the owner’s permission)</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Aiy1JytteUI/VbPI4plThtI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/9TcO1uW8TpQ/s1600-h/IMG_1125%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1125" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1125" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rYEJAGW7yAY/VbPI5Mpm7eI/AAAAAAAAGrY/_CMyyPREjnw/IMG_1125_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a> </p> <p>We’ve given up on high maintenance flower pots outside, and decided to go with cacti and lavender, etc… so nice, I haven’t killed a single potted plant this year because of lack of water. A new record! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vtug5cPTPMY/VbPI5wxcD8I/AAAAAAAAGrg/0GUuvwl4xlo/s1600-h/IMG_1129%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1129" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1129" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ou9PKEamfCE/VbPI6XOsqYI/AAAAAAAAGrk/Rhvxm4ufll4/IMG_1129_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="233"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eOkZVpC3XN8/VbPI7R7dyRI/AAAAAAAAGrw/04PIkZzDXwY/s1600-h/IMG_1132%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1132" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1132" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3hVysBKrQpc/VbPI70zLbyI/AAAAAAAAGr4/vQvFBFxMiQo/IMG_1132_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="233"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-74457100511499372162015-07-25T13:15:00.001-04:002015-07-25T13:15:56.520-04:00Ballet Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxhMViM-0MKVjDStVczLRJXBuK_UaICuB0ZXVQ7_VxGHkHlHitlBRBRm4Oz5USPPjL5dDOw_lrDG9FP6CfWKQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Molly and her cousins did ballet camp this week. This video is of the three of them at the end of the week performance. The youngest cousin is only 3 and was in her own little world, entertaining us all to no end. Molly's other cousin was not interested performing, but Molly kept her composure in the chaos. It was very sweet.Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-71091542229166627372015-06-25T20:56:00.001-04:002015-06-25T20:56:22.396-04:00Emily is 4 Months<p> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xw0kQM9nFz4/VYyjHudrpJI/AAAAAAAAGk0/HiVlbNRyogc/s1600-h/IMG_7675%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7675" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7675" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-50F9jfCWm50/VYyjIaL_7rI/AAAAAAAAGk8/iwcT7gnndZc/IMG_7675_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p>…and she is as beautiful and fun as ever.</p> <p>Her hobbies mainly involve rolling over, which she mastered (back to front) about two weeks ago. She can’t roll front to back, though, so we often get to play flip-the-pancake with her at night. (When she rouses in the middle of the night, she doesn’t like to be on her tummy so she cries… and we turn her over… and then she promptly flips again and cries.) </p> <p>Her other love is smiling at people and blowing bubbles. She is incredibly responsive and lights up like a little bulb when you talk quietly with her.</p> <p>At the doctor she was 15 lbs 6 oz, our smallest four month-old (75th percentile). Molly was 15 lbs 10 oz and Tucker was 17 lbs 4 oz at the same age. She is 90th in height.</p> <p>This is her enjoying Vacation Bible School at our church this week:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6FMDov2jA1M/VYyjI1yLg5I/AAAAAAAAGlE/PDpZ-iHjlQM/s1600-h/IMG_7973%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7973" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7973" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vTp3ZLPqpaQ/VYyjJtCd1nI/AAAAAAAAGlM/rXcVs-MAFuc/IMG_7973_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCAT-La46YXo2Pb0fMmfWVlFlRMGbjopHyckCZmGF1qoGr2mHMvP04RNPLn20RHmB1uSfAtcZ8ZlIvS0PBKUcSWGSmjLO4J1j5J2N97HFl6Pxc-ZDfHG20ozFxiu_s81FaZ3GLV65Cdk/s1600-h/IMG_7868%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7868" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7868" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HqHBhcE5Yog/VYyjKxFusLI/AAAAAAAAGlc/t3PK70pnkQ0/IMG_7868_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>And on an unrelated note, we have had amazing fruit so far this year. Our strawberry crop was insane, topped only by our black raspberry crop which was even better. The picture below is our harvest on one day a week or two ago.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bQeJmyTCicI/VYyjMU7KeII/AAAAAAAAGlk/Sp8hhQL-4KQ/s1600-h/IMG_7677%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7677" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7677" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8EVd36jN2GQ/VYyjNHw58UI/AAAAAAAAGls/_yXyIijZPu8/IMG_7677_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-34766459124529311122015-06-13T12:56:00.001-04:002015-06-13T12:56:11.099-04:00Beauty Shots<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5J90onpUtOA/VXxgfj6LwCI/AAAAAAAAGhY/WOEvNKl_63w/s1600-h/IMG_7642%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7642" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7642" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bUuUwbIzSMY/VXxggiFWD1I/AAAAAAAAGhg/-OlGVYOSEec/IMG_7642_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u_SVFJO0tI4/VXxghNqP5gI/AAAAAAAAGho/cuwA7NkzXnk/s1600-h/IMG_7588%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7588" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7588" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZicS6hKBDGY/VXxgiJQTSdI/AAAAAAAAGhw/P7jBMLorvwU/IMG_7588_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SKVVS7WK8gI/VXxgiirHNbI/AAAAAAAAGh4/SirxLNWh35Q/s1600-h/IMG_7605%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7605" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7605" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a4Nx1enByr0/VXxgjdU4pCI/AAAAAAAAGiA/2KqN6cXtwwo/IMG_7605_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadkFKYu989gXmSbDOuqnrlg8oRFrtr56ft8jvEKR4a2XzYyP1UXFQlqdqeK6HoF1BdFkGfbF_3wdIJdc2Mdc7VQyBNu50aERmLULAu45_aKkjBjiANxIlTsX6QjX-hKZO7ZSkDdCy7Z0/s1600-h/IMG_7598%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7598" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7598" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KliXZIHJ-M0/VXxgks1JS0I/AAAAAAAAGiQ/l0deJrytSW4/IMG_7598_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DLbvPmGxBAU/VXxgnMj-7zI/AAAAAAAAGiY/U_0r2XtEha4/s1600-h/IMG_7653%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7653" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7653" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-odYQCey4ZzE/VXxgnvdGfXI/AAAAAAAAGig/z29WAl6Rhnw/IMG_7653_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xPg9jQYJPaU/VXxgoSkciiI/AAAAAAAAGio/3SYu1GaYcU4/s1600-h/IMG_7620%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7620" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7620" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p4VWZlLfF98/VXxgpKBrM6I/AAAAAAAAGiw/W_p01JTw6SQ/IMG_7620_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a> <a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Usvj_EkrcuQ/VXxgptYanaI/AAAAAAAAGi4/GTR--VJknf4/s1600-h/IMG_7621%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7621" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7621" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P05zoNFa0e0/VXxgqOCr-EI/AAAAAAAAGjA/1HPVVYVtbOk/IMG_7621_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-42861682352401533172015-06-07T13:49:00.001-04:002015-06-07T13:50:16.238-04:00Emily at 3 Months<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JPHAZRA5F9Q/VXSD-3q0k6I/AAAAAAAAGeQ/_6ciP18kl4Y/s1600-h/IMG_7569%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7569" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7569" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lVHrMzkyeC8/VXSD_X-opmI/AAAAAAAAGeY/oZ14JV-xOgg/IMG_7569_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431"></a></p> <p>Emily is flourishing. She is a beautiful little girl and we all are having so much fun having a baby again. Life has gotten much easier for us since she started zantac at 2 months. She is eating well now, without pain and screaming, which makes life for me much easier. She is a very interactive baby and cracks big smiles when you talk softly to her. She also is very active. She now often turns on her side to sleep which I don’t remember either of my other kids doing, and certainly not at three months. She wiggles all around her crib at night. We often find her at the opposite end of the crib, turned 90 degrees and smiling and cooing when we go to get her in the morning. This past week in the middle of the night, Austin went in to give her a pacifier and she flashed him a big grin and then scissored his hand with her legs, as if to say “ha! got you!” She loves her mobile and will wiggle and thump for a long time just looking at it. She also loves the front pack and will reliably fall asleep in it, which is wonderful for napping on the go. She still nurses once a night though she has gone through before, but not lately. It’s easier to feed her than to try to get enough good feedings in during the day that she doesn’t need it (she is already very distractable with nursing). </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HWpz27b59bg/VXSEAJZ-XRI/AAAAAAAAGgA/f43S2iRgHW8/s1600-h/IMG_7567%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7567" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7567" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rw8VCjQsKgQ/VXSEAob6ZaI/AAAAAAAAGgM/CUcFKYl4K8U/IMG_7567_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="234"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L2H-Eh9NzEY/VXSEBUi-M7I/AAAAAAAAGgY/c3CUpxMqqKA/s1600-h/IMG_7557%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7557" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7557" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZJzQ44jwuj0/VXSECDAZBUI/AAAAAAAAGgk/vwGCqEAsIeQ/IMG_7557_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="234"></a></p> <p>She reminds me of Tucker as a baby, partly because of personality (she loves the mobile, is happy in her crib when she wakes up in the mornings, etc.), partly because she spits up amazing amounts like he did and has eczema and a dairy allergy like he did, and partly because I think she looks like him. Also, she still has blue eyes like Tucker’s at that time—Molly’s were already dark brown by two months. (Tucker is on the right in the following two sets of photos).</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vUyinlBoZqc/VXSECpHHfdI/AAAAAAAAGfA/-W_Os2ym3V8/s1600-h/IMG_7538%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7538" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7538" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-41xBaNvsMGA/VXSEDXDKOyI/AAAAAAAAGfI/fD-wnHeoSyw/IMG_7538_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="259"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yr0Gn8h-d1g/VXSEDwJmNFI/AAAAAAAAGfQ/PtLBBhN_dcg/s1600-h/P1010036%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1010036" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="P1010036" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oicWTTzglFA/VXSEEWuMw_I/AAAAAAAAGfU/gGqy8BGjnuk/P1010036_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="264"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zfo1kb5HngM/VXSEE2iv2YI/AAAAAAAAGfg/R9fJnsc3Ouc/s1600-h/IMG_7570%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_7570" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_7570" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WPfEUF_UVBQ/VXSEFgWSU1I/AAAAAAAAGfk/2HLmecaZ9Kc/IMG_7570_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="256"></a><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-egRmo0QmiMM/VXSEGJBybzI/AAAAAAAAGfw/uOyu9dB_Xc4/s1600-h/P1010051%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="P1010051" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="P1010051" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hjs4JUMMMD4/VXSEGkxaraI/AAAAAAAAGf0/g6WDtRn-ohU/P1010051_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="264"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140392366853715089.post-90771365136228667982015-06-07T09:49:00.001-04:002015-06-07T09:49:51.727-04:00Molly Graduated<p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-98trOAUWVp8/VXRL9tO8iCI/AAAAAAAAGdo/3g42riuR95w/s1600-h/IMG_1026%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1026" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1026" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Az2q0CK1GZ0/VXRL-GYNHOI/AAAAAAAAGdw/-7SnCOZkMwI/IMG_1026_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" align="left" height="359"></a></p> <p>I was a little concerned that Molly wouldn’t wear the cap and gown her preschool wanted her to for graduation, if she decided they weren’t pretty enough. Thankfully, she got on board with the festivities. I supplied the big pink beads so that she could feel extra pretty. (She has many, many more opinions on fashion than I did at her age, or well, really ever.) Hopefully she gets on board about her uniform for kindergarten this fall as well! It’s not something I am discussing with her a) because she has no choice and b) she tends to want to wear the opposite of what I pick for her. For example, we were doing errands and she needed a couple nightgowns. There was a rack with about 5 different options, of which I told her she could pick two. She asked me which ones I liked best, and I ranked them 1 to 5. She promptly chose my 5th ranked choice. Not that I care which nightgown she picks, but it is pretty reliable how she picks things in relation to my preferences. If I do care what she chooses but am not willing to pull the you-have-to-wear-this-or-you’re-in-trouble card, then I strategically don’t tell her what I really think.</p> <p>Anyway. Molly the preschool graduate taught herself to read this past month. She came home from preschool and reported that her friends who are twins know how to read. So she sat down and taught herself. Literally, she couldn’t read, and then that day she just decided she was going to and started sounding out words and figuring them out. I was pretty surprised. She is only 4 and a half but she knows how to skip, pump on the swings, tie her shoes, read, and I’m not sure what else. If she puts her mind to it, I think the list could be pretty long. For example, a couple months ago Austin’s parents were coming over. Molly told me, “Henny doesn’t like messes!” So while I was enjoying a Sunday afternoon nap, she cleaned the house. She straightened everything downstairs, then cleaned everything off our kitchen table and wiped it down. It looked to me when I got downstairs like Austin had been at work! But it was actually Molly. </p> <p>My darling Molly, you are a firecracker! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mRhlXUX8Qys/VXRL-r5OI8I/AAAAAAAAGd4/TP4ogCbAH5g/s1600-h/IMG_1018%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1018" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_1018" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b0Ufpk5onVA/VXRL_aPfRZI/AAAAAAAAGeA/fGSHpdSJP70/IMG_1018_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> Jackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17472517428832152273noreply@blogger.com