Ellie's 7th Birthday

On Ellie's birthday this year, I only took pictures of Spencer.

In my defense, my camera battery was on empty.  And also, Spencer did upend his entire container of carrots on himself, the highchair, and the floor - which necessitated a picture - or three.

He did this while I handed out food on the table.  We went to Jimmy Jack's - a new BBQ joint Ellie has decided she loves.

This is funny because she never finishes her sandwich when we eat there, and it is not that big.  Also, Grant and Meg didn't eat their food. (Let's be reminded that Spencer's food didn't make it down his throat either.)  But Justin and I enjoyed the meal. 

Ellie did not want a cake this year - only cookies.  We had to make two batches because she wanted peanut butter chocolate chip - and I didn't think they'd enjoy that at the school.  On the day of her birthday she tripped on her shoelace while walking to school and severely damaged her forehead and knee.  It was traumatic.  This will be forever documented in photos taken tomorrow for picture day - although obviously I didn't take any pictures the actual day.

I cannot believe Ellie is 7, and tell her all the time to stop growing.

She rolls her eyes at me, which only proves that she is growing anyway.

We love her!

1st Grader!

Look at this wonderful 1st grader!  Boy, do we love her.  And we miss her now too!  M and GQ hardly know what to do with themselves now that E has disappeared. 

Since I was suffering from bad haircut guilt I had her shower the night before school and then I actually pulled the blow-dryer out from its crate under the sink.  I don't really know how to use it, but I made my best effort.  E was a little irritated because she's never had her hair "done" that way by me.  I'm usually a braider.  Anyway, we dried the hair, and cut off some more crooked parts (she was a little suspicious when I pulled out the scissors - I am SO buying one of those cutters you suggested Gaylene!). 

We had also gone to pick out a back-to-school outfit, which is a first for E.  Last year I - cough, cough - made fun of her clothes choices.  But then when I packed for our trip and tried to find outfits that matched, I found out how difficult it is to make the leftover wardrobes of four different girls come out to anything remotely matching.  So, this year we got to pick some things that matched when they arrived.  Since then, E has really taken to the whole matching thing and she likes to color-code her days.

I also told E I would let her have a treat after school if she tell me every detail of her school-day.  Last year she always informed me that "she didn't remember."  This from the girl who remembers some random thing I told her three years ago that means I have to let her do something today.  Usually I don't do snacks because I am lazy that way and it means I don't have to cook/clean an extra thing and that my kids are more likely (slightly) to eat their dinner.  E was very excited - kind of embarrassing - "I can REALLY have a SNACK????"  So, now she tells me about her day and eats her snack.

I am currently trying not to be insane about the whole public school thing.  But it is kind of weird out here because unlike Utah where they have 80 gazillion kids and appreciate volunteers, in Iowa they have 16 kids and would really like it if you never entered the school door.  (Justin would say I'm exaggerating, but I really feel like anytime I bring up that I would like to volunteer in the classroom the teacher gives me this look like I'm Napoleon trying to take over the world.  The "Claire Jones" part of me wants to stage an actual invasion.  Justin offered to make me a Napoleon hat.)

E's favorite thing about school - as far as I can tell - is that they have a Guinea Pig (that thinks your fingers are carrots) and that she can pull up grass at recess and analyze the root systems. 

Yes, I meant to have four of them.

When people find out I have four children under 7, they are usually incredulous.  But one of the reasons I like having so many kids is because I was a loner at home.  My closest sibling is 10 years older than me, and all of my siblings grew up much more with each other than they did with me.  So, I love to see my own kids enjoying each other and loving each other and - of course - driving each other batty.

In the bathtub:

(In this picture, Baby S looks so much like E as baby that I hardly "see" it as him anyway.)

And loving on their brother:

He does look a little concerned in the midst of that squishy love-fest.

"Summer lovin' had me a bla-ast, summer lovin' happened so fa-ast....

met a girl "climbing a tree", met a boy cute as can be...."

We had one last lovely day before summer started and we had to get to bed at a reasonable time.  (Although why we try with M and GQ I am not exactly sure.  They prefer to throw blankets/books/dolls/ at each other until 9:30 anyway.)

This is E climbing the tree out front.  It hasn't occurred to her to go up higher than that yet.

New school/birthday outfit from Grandma:

Don't I look angelic?

Don't be fooled!!!!

Back to School

In the summer, in the morning, I lie in bed.  Justin does not leave at 5:30 as he does during the school-year.  Baby S wakes up, eats, and joins us in our laziness.  And around 6:45 the other kiddoes rush in.  There are days that I keep my eyes closed and pretend to be sleeping, days that I give up on not being jumped on - and get out to make the bed, and days where we all manage to get along and be lazy for a half hour more.

And sometimes - instead of debating who has the best spot, who stole who's pillow, who kicked who, who's hungry, and whether or not E is screaming or talking in her regular voice - we have fun:

Which brings me to my point.

(You know, the one about me hating school.)

E goes to school on Thursday.  She will be in 1st grade.  And I am not excited about losing her again.

On Friday E joined Justin and I on our get-away date.  We ate BBQ and went to pick out a "back to school" outfit.  Since E has half a heart that wishes she were an only child (the other half enjoys people to boss/love) she had a great time. 

I cannot believe she will be gone on Thursday.  Which is why I quite enjoyed the homeschooling magazine I suscribed to last year when it arrived in my mailbox this week.  But I did eventually throw it away.  Sigh.

All because JCPenney did not send me a text...

Two years ago we moved to Iowa, and after getting everyone settled, I did this:

That is, I cut E and M's hair.  Let's just say that no one was very pleased with me.  E actually cried when I was finished.  Justin was horrified I'd cut off M's curls.  I was told to give back the scissors and contain myself from there on out.

Then, showing lots of self-control, I did this the following year:

Not so very terrible.  And E did request it this time.  I stayed away from M's hair, and did not get in trouble.

This year I never intended to cut the girl's hair.  But E kept bringing up that she might like layers or bangs.  And M kept insisting she wanted her hair cut to her chin.  Justin even agreed that M's hair was getting a little out of hand.  So, being reasonable, I decided to make hair appointments.  A friend here let us know that JCPenney would be offering free haircuts to school-aged children through-out August.  I decided to take E and M, and pay half for each cut.

I made Justin call and make the appointment.  (Because the phone is an evil device that I don't enjoy very much.  Those of you who have tried to call me know my feelings on the matter.)

JCPenney informed me they would text me with the time for the hair appointment.  But - insert sinister music - they never did.

Which is how this:

and this:

resulted in this:

Again. 

Please, someone take my scissors away!!!  This time around, E cried once more.  I had cut it much shorter than she had wanted.  M was overjoyed, but hinted she might like it shorter.  And Justin tried not to say anything, but was more than ready to take the girls to Great Clips to get it all sorted out.  He also told some story about how his mother had nicely told his father that maybe when the car was broken he should just take it to a mechanic, implying - I suppose - that I should never, ever, ever, ever cut the girls' hair again.

The girls are happy now, but I am hoping, hoping, hoping that I will manage to never do this again.

Best Buy

Currently, E abhors shopping.  As though I even go shopping that much.  Um, I don't like shopping either.  So, when we were told her we were going to Best Buy she threatened to leave the family forever.  Still, once we arrived the kids had a great time trying out headphones with Daddy.

Swim Lessons

This summer my goal was to swim, swim, swim - and get my kids more comfortable in the water.  I think we have succeeded now that August has arrived, but M started out swim lessons in the same place I always hung out.... on the wall:

GQ jumped right in and often had to be pulled back to the shallow end because he was apparently not much concerned about drowning.

Testing out the waters.

GQ would often join M on the wall:

E is officially a better swimmer than me.  Maybe I can go across the pool, but she knows way more swim strokes than I do.  She also has "invented" a mermaid stroke.

Lately...

I completely forgot I had these awesome photos that Emily took of E and her Dad on Lake Cascade:

Obviously she is braver than me.  Yay for E!

This is the first time Justin had been water-skiing since a work trip when we were at Sports and Dance Camps (9 years ago!).  Apparently he was excited to get to meet me outside of the office, but very surprised to find out that I did not attend.  Ha!  Me and water-skiing??? Not so much.  

*****

This weekend GQ decided he wanted to try the whole "potty" thing.  So, off we went to purchase underwear.  Now, I have always said I think boy clothes are pretty lame-o compared to girl clothes, but let me tell you... boy underwear is much cuter than girl underwear.  We stocked up on Buzz Lightyear and Thomas the Train underwear and then waited, waited, waited for Monday. 

Then we began.

Then we stopped.

Says GQ:  "Mom, I want to be a baby like S.  I want my diaper back. I do not like going potty."

I considered forcing the issue since he is 3, but then I considered what forcing the issue would mean: yup, me cleaning up potties all over the house.  No, thank you! 

So, I folded up the cute underwear and put it away.  I am sure he will be potty-trained by the time he's 12.  Never fear!

*****

Since getting married, I have never lived anywhere longer than two years.  So, pretty much the idea that we are staying here is driving me insane.  I like so much to go through everything we own and try to THROW IT ALL AWAY.

This - by the way - drives Justin insane.

I told him that when we "really" move - after school - I am renting a dumpster to put outside our home so I can get rid of everything I want.

He said that is renting a Pod so he can put all of his stuff in it before I start.

(Like I wouldn't find the keys to the Pod.)

So, anyway, this summer I decided I would go through every room in my house and get rid of anything I possibly could.  Since swimming lessons are over, I began that this week.  I have currently de-garbaged the kitchen and the living room.  It is so nice.

Justin is concerned, and is hiding all his headphones. (Don't even ask how many that is.  And don't EVEN ask about the new pair he is saving up for.)

*****

I want a yard.

*****

Baby S has decided that whenever I lay him down and walk away I am doing a great injustice to the world.  Whenever he hollers, the image that comes to mind is from the A&E Pride and Prejudice when Darcy's lovely Aunt says something like:

"Is this to be borne? Are the shades of Pemberly to be thus polluted?????"

While the content is obviously different, the indignation is about the same.

Swimming Lessons

We had two weeks of swimming lessons for E before we left town.  Poor Baby S had to hang out in his stroller. M and GQ enjoyed watching the swimming for the first week - and then they decided it was very boring.

E was very excited about swimming this year and dunked herself repeatedly.  She is getting the hang of swimming, which makes me very happy since I was always so talented at swimming myself - cough, cough.

Eisms

(Baby S has a bouncer with toys that he enjoys.  One of the toys is a gecko in a see-through ball.  The ball turns and the Gecko gets pelted with small plastic balls.)

E: Mom, that lizard looks like a poisonous lizard I saw in a library book.

Mom:  Then it's a good thing it's in a bubble or it might hurt Baby S.

E: For someone who isn't usually funny that was a pretty good joke.

Mom, Why You Dressing Me in Girl's Clothes?

Everyone always asks who Baby S looks like.  I always say that I don't know.  But recently I took a look at these old pictures of E as a baby.  They pretty much could be Baby S dressed in pink:

Back in Blue (photo by Angie):