A glimpse to the future?

When we were in San Diego this summer, Bekah asked if I would take a few shots of her and Chris at the beach (with Mr. Cash still cooking in her belly). When we were about finished the kids had started to gather round and I couldn't help but snap a shot of the motley crew!

Maybe it's a glimpse into their future.......though I think the look on Chris' face says it all.

My silly little girl.

The kids were playing out back the other day and Addie decided to ham it up for the camera. How do you like her "throwback" pink jammies and snow boots?

Such a bundle of energy......maybe I could borrow some......

What really happens.

So last week, I had a stretch of blogging almost daily...wow! But, what I need to share today is what really happens around here when mommy blogs more often:






Addie and Gage raided the coat closet and with Addie in her new swimsuit, proceeded to dress in their winter attire. All this while I blogged....

As you can see, all of the photos of Addie were taken "on the run" and it was a bit like pulling teeth getting them to put it all away when they were done!

Only Gage and Addie.

Ashlynn and China.

For the last few weeks, in Ashlynn's curriculum, we have been studying Asia. Last week, we went more in depth with China and it's culture. I told her about the dress I had that messy-guy-Grandpa bought me while on business in the Orient when I was exactly her age. She begged to see it and had to try it on. Once she had the dress on she asked if I would take a picture of her in it. Little did I know what she had in mind!

See, she's been playing with photo shop for the last month or so and is apparently having way too much fun! Here is her "finished" product:




Oh, and check out the bag I made HERE.

Where's the sprinkles?

While talking to my sister, Bekah, Saturday afternoon, we exchanged "stories" about what cool thing we were working on. She was excitedly getting ready to steam mop her floors, "Aren't you jealous, Lizzie? I mean, I know that's how you want to be spending your Saturday!"

Um, yeah, that's what I wish I was doing...

"Well, I think I might be cooler Beks. I'm trading out the kids clothes. You know, fall and winter to spring and summer."

Silence.

A bit of snickering.

"Yeah Lizzie, cuz we have seasons and all here in San Diego, I know just what you mean..."

So Beks, just for you, you know, so you can see what you're missing out on living in a season-less city:

Ashlynn helping to lighten the mood of the lovely job:

When Addie and Gage heard what was going on they were super excited. I had announced that we were getting out the spring clothes and they couldn't wait to get started, even offering to help with what they could...

Until the bins started coming up from the basement and getting opened.

Where's the sprinkles? You said we were getting the sprinkles!

Do I look cool now?

With Paula off to Oz, *sniff, sniff*, we decided to scrape the ceiling in her room and repaint before the girls move in. Our house has that lovely 70's popcorn on the ceilings that we wish we would have scraped off before we moved in. But, when you are living with you in-laws, expecting your third child and basically living out of a suitcase, you make do and move in. Fast forward five years and we are finally scraping the ceilings one room at a time as we shift things around.

Here is how cool I looked working, try not to be jealous:

I decided I needed to breakdown my look and see what your own input would be:

If only it ended with scraping and painting the ceilings. This post is to be continued.....

The case of the conjoined fruits and veggies.

Gage has been addicted to carrots lately and asks for one nearly every hour. When we reached the end of the bag the other day, this is what we pulled out:

Seems we had a case of conjoined carrots!

Then yesterday, we were eating strawberries and found yet another conjoined food in our kitchen:





Ofcourse, the kids found all of this quite entertaining and I, ofcourse, was there with camera in hand to share with you all! Had any funny looking fruits or veggies lately?

For Auntie Colie.

Just enough for a pony-tail.....and a whole lot of mischief!

The 48 hour switch.

In 48 hours I went from this:

To this:

The kids had a blast playing outside in the white powder and I didn't really have to shuffle off the entire driveway....

More pictures to come!

Because you have to see Ryder.

Unfortunately, I grabbed my camera after the sun had set on Halloween, so these shots are not fantabulous. Actually, they are the perfect example of why I hate using the flash and avoid it whenever possible. But I thought you would enjoy how Ryder stayed in character for each shot and remained so for the rest of the night.....until he arrived home with the candy bag that is.

Look closely behind Ashlynn and the dude is still posing.

Ashlynn was a rock star/princess, Gage was, ofcourse, Darth Vader, and Addie was a princess, which really isn't dressing up since we call her "princess Addie" every single day. And here we are in December and several pieces remain in their candy bags.....kind of hoping they just forget about the rest....

Almost famous.

My good friend, Kia, always has an amazing wall display of her beautiful portraits hanging at our local mall. This fall she chose one of our family images from last year to grace the wall. Here are Ashlynn, Addie & I proudly showcasing her work:



We are practically celebrities around here..... :-).

Miss Jean and her jelly beans.

One of the most wonderful parts of going to the cabin in Wisconsin each year is getting to spend time with the neighbors. Miss Jean, in particular, is a crowd favorite. She is witty, brilliant, reliable, kind, thoughtful and never afraid to say what is on her mind. She doesn't hesitate to pop in with a funny story or drop off some "extra" produce and cookies.

One tradition she has established with the kids involves dolling out handfuls of jelly beans. As soon as Addie would see her each day, all we would hear is ,"Miss Jean, jelly beans!" Now Miss Jean is very generous with her jelly beans, but she is careful to make sure the kids have eaten their lunch/dinner and taken care of any responsibilities they had for the day. What mom wouldn't love her for a neighbor?








The kids were peaking over my shoulder as I was posting this and they are all dreaming of next summer and Miss Jean's jelly beans!

Look no further.

Than outside, that is. Oh, the inspiration these kids provide!

No stifling around here.

Ryder came to me the other day with an idea. It involved lots of tape, his spider man gloves and four light sabers. He had it all planned out and knew exactly what he wanted. Now I just happen to be reading this really amazing book, Raising Kids for True Greatness , and I just happened to have just read a chapter that made me think how we as parents have a tendency to stifle our kids creativity simply because we are tired, don't have the time or just don't want to deal with the mess.

Lucky Ryder.

Here are the results:

"Jedi Rule"

Honestly, it was so easy to create and he overflowed with joy for days showing everyone what "me and mom made". I'll be sure to review that book soon.

She gets it from me.

Isn't that what we are supposed to say when our kids do something kind or creative or really, really smart? Then when they act out and embarrass us (like screaming in the library because they want to walk, not hold hands and basically act like they own the place) we wonder where did you come from?

So, Ashlynn loves making her now famous homemade desserts. Last night was no exception and we all couldn't help but smile when we looked at our plates:




She said they were "all natural and so healthy" and the mustache was made from "fresh-picked mint leaves from our garden".


Um, yeah, she gets that from me.

The Farm.

Tuesday, the kids and I made our way down to the farm where Randy and Dale were working hard on their food plots. The guys needed to pick up a fertilizer spreader, so I was awarded the task of towing the trailer with Ranger on it. Actually, I was feeling pretty cool that I was towing this huge trailer with this manly ATV ratcheted securely on board (like I did it!) cruising down the freeway.

Until I went the wrong way.

Three times.

Have you ever had to turn around while towing a trailer. Lots of prayer, folks, lots. of. it.

Coolness, aside, here are some shots of us enjoying what was left of the day by the time I arrived.

The kids were keeping a close eye on daddy turning the seed under:

Ashlynn, my new bookworm, and Addie walking down the trail:

We had to have the book (Ramona the Pest) with us at all times:

The boys trailing daddy as he spread clover seed:

The kids sticking on the trail, staying out of the tall grass (mom's orders, no ticks, please!):

Addie and I riding shotgun in the Ranger:

Time to head out....let's see how far we can run before mom calls us back!