New Bed

Gracie recently transitioned into a "big-girl" bed. It has been fun to see her becoming such an independent kiddo. This was the bed-christening event :-)

Caramel Apples

My Mom was always big on traditions. One of her favorites was caramel apples. I think it is quickly becoming one of my favorites too. So much fun and so yummy.

1st Day of School

So behind again. We have been pretty busy with school, and colds and life, but I wanted to at least post the pictures I have been taking.

These are from our first day of school. Lizzie and Ellie are doing first grade this year (though Ellie's is a bit modified since she doesn't quite have the hand control for writing yet that Lizzie has). Gracie is "tagging along" now and then based on mood, etc.

Caught Pink Handed

I guess this is what I get for trying to cover the kitchen table with paper (pre-pumpkin carving) and leaving a 2 year old alone in a room with markers.




Before you jump to conclusions, she did not technically write on herself (as she has been disciplined for that offense more times than I can count). No, no, no, this time she simply took the marker apart and squeezed out every drop of marker ink from the marker-spongy-insides. She is clever, but still lost marker privileges :-)

Jack of the Latern

As I was looking for the best way(s) to cook pumpkin seeds (in prep for our pumpkin carving), I stumble across this little bit of info.

The History Behind the Jack O' Lantern

"The story of the Jack o'Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down.

In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as 'Jack of the Lantern.'" (taken from allrecipes.com).

Despite this disturbing tale, we chose to carve away at our pumpkins anyway.

Give Away entry

So generally as a rule I don't blog about giveaways that I enter. Mostly because I don't want to reveal to you (or myself) just how many giveaways I enter. This one however, looks like it would be amazingly useful as we start homeschooling up again this year.

It is a We Choose Virtue Giveaway worth $99

You can find the giveaway here and it is hosted by the crafty classroom

Summer Inside

We have spent way more of this summer indoors than we ever could have thought. Yesterday it was warm and the younger girls were napping so I allowed the older two to watch one of their favorite cartoons:

Word Girl

It was intense

so a snack was requested

and I was low on "snacks", so they got cold pasta

but didn't seem to mind

Raspberry Lemonade

We love lemonade, so Lizzie, Ellie and I decided to make up a batch a month or two ago. It was a lot of fun.

Sera Roll-up

I left the room with a little baby girl lying on a blanket on the floor. I came back to find:

Our Summer Time Activites

Ok, so we actually have done some fun things, like hiking at Latourell Falls with the 4 girls and moving into our "new" home, and of course berry picking. But alas, I did not take too many shots of these events. Instead I ended up with TONS of random pictures, and a few of our summer events.

Let the randomness begin:

Allen...being silly

the girls...being silly

Sera eating a water bottle, which I think qualifies as...being silly

snow cone eating at the Battle Ground Saturday Market

smiles from our sweet Lizzie

Uncle Dan being accosted by the camera man

Auntie Nono cuddling with Gracie after a long day

Ellie, "planking" in her sleep :-) (this one is for Josh Reynolds :-)

"Auntie" Bethany looking pretty together considering she just spent all day "selling" books outside in the hot sun at the Battle Ground Saturday Market

Lizzie is 6!

I can't believe that this tiny little person is now 6! (As of June 22...did I mention I am a bit behind...again).

This year Lizzie chose a Mexican-Luau-wedding party theme. AKA dollar store meets Auntie Nono and Uncle Dan's wedding leftovers (inlcuding wedding cupcakes, yum) and of course a pinata.

Great fun for all and the birthday girl in all her birthday excitement:

WAY behind!

I got a new camera recently, ok, so it was Mother's Day. And well, I have been too intimidated by technology to try to figure out how to upload or download or just plain load them onto the computer. I know... I know... I am married to a tech genius and yet can't put pictures on my own computer. Well a couple weeks ago the computer genius showed me how to do it, but refused to do it for me (something about learning to do it myself since it was my camera). And even after I batted my eye lashes and smiled just so, I was still left with the task of doing this tech job by my lonesome. So today I finally sat down and did it. And guess what, it only took a few minutes! So without further adieu, the last few months :-)

Boys

Yesterday as we were driving to visit some friends we overheard this conversation (Note: the names have been "changed" to protect the unsuspecting "boys"):

Ellie: Lizzie do you like boys?
Lizzie: I don't know...what do you mean?
Ellie: I mean do you like any boys?
Lizzie: I know some boys.
Ellie: I don't like boys...except "boy A" and "boy B" and I know "boy C" so him too I guess.
Lizzie: yeah, they are ok since we know them, so they can be our friends, but no other boys.
Ellie: Yeah.

Happy Father's Day!

Thank you Allen for being such an amazing daddy to our girls.

We love you and are so glad you put up with all the drama and pinkness that goes on in a house FULL of girls :-)

Time Goes By So Much Faster with Four

I am starting to think I need to redo-rename-and renew my blog.

With Four Little ones running around (ok only 3 running, but the 4th is busy with her own needs, so that counts as 4 running...right?)...

Where was I going with this, Oh, yeah, running around.

Yeah I find myself often running around like a crazy person trying to remember why I left the kitchen in a panic headed for a bedroom, but unable to remember what was so urgent because before I reach the room that "needs" me I have been asked 1,000 questions;


none of which did I actually hear because after the words "Mommy I..." I began to pass another room that had the all too busy 2 year old who has apparently been left alone far longer than should be, because she is sitting in the middle of a room covered in shredded wet wipes. She immediately looks up in a moment of guilt, or manipulation (not sure yet) and says, "Sorry, Mama." and then hangs her head just enough to indicate shame, but not so much that she can't also glance up to see my reaction.


Where was I going? Just as I am about to lose my mind, I remember where I was going because the crying that started me in motion has begun again. I quickly silence the questioning, command the 2 yr old to put the wipes away and enter the bedroom of the littlest only to be greeted with a smell that makes me wish I could sit in a room alone quietly shredding wet wipes into microscopic bits trying to see just how small I can make them before they disappear into nothing.

All that to say, sorry for the neglect of this little blog. It has been a bit crazy :-)