PSA

If you are one and naked and on pavement- Do not play jump rope with an 8 year old. Skinned knees are one thing. Skinned behinds are another. Don't worry. No photos follow.

Madsen

See the little ad at the very bottom? I've entered a contest to win a bike from them. You don't have to click on the ad but by simply putting it here I'm entered. Man, I would love some sort of cargo bike to lug kids, groceries and what not. I'm not very familiar with this brand and I would prefer the cargo area to be in front of the driver where I can still supervise but I wouldn't turn away a free one.

Playing Baby-Priceless

Avery has been on a "Playing Baby" kick of late. She heard about a two mom family where both women had twins at the same time. (Yikes!!) So Meryl is Cathy's child and she and Finley are twins. Together I am to call them the triplets. I find this very irritating as we have enough real whining and crying that I don't need her fake ones. But today the funniest thing happened.

We were outside (scratching at mosquitoes) when baby Avery whined "Ditch cream. Ditch cream." I told her a one year old was old enough to go inside and get the itch cream herself if she wants the itch to go away. Just then my not so favorite neighbor comes by. We are chatting as baby Avery comes out and whines "I got the bitch cream to make that bitch go away!"

The neighbor looks at me for just a beat too long before we finish our pleasantries.

Awesome!

Lazy Day

We had a very nice lazy day today, especially given the fact the kids were up several hours later than normal last night and everyone was up before 5 am this morning! Playground and grocery shopping in the morning. Hanging around in the early afternoon.

Playing on the trampoline quickly progressed to mud. (You do see the connection don't you?)

Notice Logan on the wrong side of the fence! He is standing on my potatoes who love all the water from the flooding. He was quite indignant that I dare grow food where he wants to stand. I love the mud play- the imagination, the fact all 4 kids are involved happily in one project, the sheer messiness. But I hate the clean up- rinsing all those clothes, getting everyone to the tub without mud on the walls and floors. I'm still debating over how often we should do. Every evening after dinner doesn't sit too well with me right now!

White-What all the well dressed 6 year olds wear to play in the mud!

40 is Fine

I had a great first day being 40. I slept in an extra few hours. I had my favorite sandwich for lunch (Chicken, mozzarella, pesto and tomato pannini). I got to run in the woods and didn't see too many snakes. I had an awesome birthday meal (chicken yellow with ice cream and strawberries for dessert.) And my children gave me a great present. When Logan turned 7 I gave him a letter with 77 ways I loved him. Cathy, Logan, Avery and the babies each gave me a card with 10 ways they love me, making a total of 40 ways. Along with that was a big, heavy box containing a baking stone! Here is a video of Meryl eating the dessert with abandon. Don't you sometimes wish you could eat that way!

(Please ignore the fact the video ends with me whacking my kid upside the head. He was eating my ice cream and deserved it! And yes, Meryl's diaper is duct taped on and Finley is naked. My standards are very, very low!)

Why.......

Why my children are always the dirtiest kids.

Why we buy the cheap tights.
Why I often carry my kids to the car rather than let them walk.

(Yup-Those are white tights!)

Thanks to Avery for taking these photos while I brought the grocery sacks in the house.

We've been busy with very important things.

Like playing with shadows.

Being a big brother when the hills are too steep.

Investigating the sleeping brother as he sleeps on 11am of the sundial.

Seeing the sights from the ferry.

Making mazes.......

on which to train mealworms John and Bob.

Traveling on the space trolley.

Trying not to scratch the pox.
(That is oatmeal soak on her nose. Not goo!)

Teaching the cat to keep her claws in on the Space Trolley.

(I can't seem to rotate this video. Just turn your head and don't complain! Stop whining!)