No more paci...

Only my girls have LOVED a paci. Normally at a year I take it away, but we were at family reunions and traveling all summer, so Andee got to have hers for a few weeks longer. In Utah she was never far from a paci.

The normal procedure is to clip off the nipples and string them on a ribbon. If a paci is requested after that you hand the child the string of dead pacis.
Andee's first exploration of the new paci string.
What is going on here?
"HEY!!!"
"I'm not happy about this mom."Messy face girl now happy standing on the 'tall' stool in the kitchen.

Don't look at my dirty dishes in the sink...

Few more days...

Here are some of the fun things we've done this summer...

First tooth for Andee. Face painting on the arm at the stake fair.Silver Wood during the family reunion.

Fun ride for the boys at Silver Wood.
Bumper boats for the boys at Silver Wood.
Panic Plunge for Matt.
Fun pinatas at family reunion.
Birthday party at home.

Birthday cupcakes in Bandon.

Walks on the beach in Bandon.
Fun at the park. No one threw up this year after the merry-go-round in Bandon city park.
Fun at the Seven Devils beach.
Tadpoles turning into frogs and released into the wild.

We miss CJ and hope he is catching lots of bugs.
Hiking trip for Matt.

Sleepovers with the Knowltons on our way to Bandon.
Aubrie and Emily walking on the beach in Bandon.
Building forts on the beach each night in Bandon.
Keeley and Emily in the fort they made.
Henry got stitches after the 'sword incident'.

Keeley got sick in Utah and spent several days at home while everyone else played.
Sleepovers in Utah. Jesse was always the last one up.
Jet Star at Lagoon Aubrie's on this one.
Henry and Deidre on the Puff the Dragon roller coaster.
Grandma read many many books to us.

Playing with best friends before they moved away.

Henry still asks if Dale can come over to play.

Making bracelets with Lynae before she moved. We miss you.
Summer parties on the last day of school.
Water fights with grandpa while everyone else swims.
Father and sons camp out. Fishing trips for Matt.
Learning to walk.
Camping and fishing with cousins.
Water fights.
We have had lots of fun, but my kids are so antsy for school to begin and frankly so am I. I remember my mom stating that she couldn't wait until we were back in school. I was never quite sure what she meant. Weren't we always a joy to be around - 5 kids 7 years apart- hmmm? I have more understanding now.

We have had a busy summer. It seems like we've been going non stop. It will be nice to get back to a regular scheduled day and have some time to work on my kitchen project.

Dinner for two...

My kids are the best! On our anniversary we spent the day at home anticipating spending time alone together on Saturday. When Aubrie and Keeley learned that we were not going out to dinner they leaped into action.



We were all down in the basement watching t.v. and folding clothes while dinner cooked. Aubrie was asked to set the table for dinner - her weekly job. A few minutes after going upstairs she yelled down that she was taking care of everything, "Don't come up until I tell you to, please!" This is what they prepared for us.


'Happy Annivarety Mom and Dad
with love from,
Aubrie, Keeley, Henry, Jesse and Andee'




.Candle lit dinner for two set up apart from the kids.

Sparkling Apple Cider.

Meat loaf, salad, tater tot casserole, carrots, and
baking powder biscuits buttered with a flourish by Matt.

This was my favorite part. Originally they had 14 birthday candles standing in the small bowl with peanut butter! When those burned down to nothing, they added a larger candle.
Notice the ice pack below the bowl to keep the peanut butter cold and firm? What a touch of elegance.
I loved every moment of it. I'm not sure what the kids ate, I'm sure no vegetables were consumed - and maybe that was part of the plan - It was a great anniversary.

Happy 14 Years!

Yes today 14 years ago Matt and I were married. I never knew then how much more I could love him. He is a wonderful man, husband and father. I can hardly remember being single anymore, and look forward to many more years together. I love you Matt!

I don't even think he reads my blog, but I still love him.

Dying for Vampires!!!

I had a copy of Breaking Dawn waiting for me at the public library and it was supposed to be held on the shelf until tomorrow. I went to pick it up today - got back from Utah last night - and they had already sent it back.



A few weeks ago I was #2 of 218 holds for the book and was very disappointed that it wasn't there. Now I'm back on the waiting list. There are only 119 holds now, too many must be dying to read it and bought their own copies. Anyone have a copy to borrow? ARRGH!




Never thought I'd leave the library feeling so let down. Sigh.

Don't tell me a dollar is nothing...

I won, I won, I won...

A DOLLAR!!!

Today I bought a muti-bag of chips for the kid's lunch and instead of a $1 coupon in the little foil wrapped enclosure there was an actual dollar!!

YIPPEE!