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!

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!!!!

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.

Cute Baby

Baby S not only looks like E, he also acts like her.  He loves to stand up all the time and hates sitting or laying on the floor.  Since he is so stiff, Justin pulled out Grandpa Duck's standing trick.  Obviously Baby S enjoys it:

GQ picked out Baby S's hat for the summer.  I thought it would be silly, but GQ insisted S try it on - and boy did it end up being cute.  It's good we have one trendy person in the family.

Sucking his thumb:

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):

Boys

Baby S has recently begun to enjoy laying on his tummy because then he can look around and see the world.

Sometimes when he looks around to see the world, he finds his brother.  If he is alone, and he sees GQ - he starts to cry.  GQ is not very good at boundaries.  If there are adults to act as referees than he is willing to smile and enjoy his big brother.

"What?  I shouldn't grab his head and rub it for good luck?"

On the day we took pictures of all the ballerinas, my friend Angie tended Baby S when I went to pick up E from school.  She just happened to take these adorable photos while I was gone.  Now if only I could convince her to do our family photos.  Apparently some crazy lady conned her into taking a bunch of dance photos and she is feeling slightly worn out.

At the Park

Bald baby getting swung by sister:

Boy with a stick:

Funniest face ever, even if it is fuzzy:

Check out that hair.  We've got to get this kid some Rogaine!

It's true, GQ is pretty much always whining these days.  But we still love him.

Hello!

I am a cute, fat, balding baby.

And if you get too close, I will eat you!

Four Items of Business

E loves detective stories.  Nate the Great.  Encyclopedia Brown.  Things like that.  Recently she heard about a crime in the neighborhood from some school friends (I admit I am a little suspicious as to whether it actually happened).  She drew up a "Wanted" poster that night.  It said:

"Wanted: Thief.  Unknown Name. Unknown Looks."

She drew a picture of a bandit below.

She also recently found a small plastic fork.  She attached it to a drawing of a road and labeled it:

"A fork in the road."

That girl definitely takes after her father when it comes to humor.

****

M has begun drawing presents for everyone.  After craft time I always find scraps of paper left on my pillow, hung to the door, or waiting on my desk.  With both her and E in the craft production phase I am going to need a warehouse for all of their treasures.  I have taken to hiding some of them in the bottom of the trash can.  It is sad when it happens, but I don't know what else to do????  M signs all her pictures (even the ones drawn directly onto the walls).  She used to sign them Mee.  Then I taught her how to draw a "g".  Now she signs them Mgg.  I don't know if I'm up to correcting her.  She's so proud.

****

Lately, GQ likes to say the following:

"Mom, I love you."  Pause.  "I love both of you."

Does this mean he considers me a split personality?  That he loves both the cranky me and the nice me?

****

Every night S gets a bottle.  Usually I nurse him before I give him the bottle.  Still, when it is 7:00 he somehow knows that the bottle is coming and he will barely put up with nursing.  He keeps looking around for that contraption that just flows with seemingly neverending milk.

He is also taking to sucking on his fist.  As a thumb-sucker myself, I hope it doesn't stick... but it is really cute.

Lucky Lilacs

With an early Spring comes an early Lucky Lilacs.  When I noticed the lilacs blooming mid-March I could hardly believe it.  Lucky Lilacs isn't usually until Mother's Day!!!  I had planned on inviting some friends to the festivities this year, but since the Lilacs were perfect over Easter it didn't work out.  Instead, we had Lucky Lilacs a week too late for the flowers themselves.  I had to hunt down a few un-brown blooms the weekend after Easter.

Baby S had his first Lucky Lilacs ever.  Since my mom thought she'd have time to send the glasses later, we went without.  Last year I used sunglasses, and felt pretty stupid. I am not sure if I would have felt better with old-fashioned eyeglasses, but maybe we'll try next year.  I did enjoy the pictures Justin got of little S enjoying his first reading.  The first picture is my favorite.  Not only does S look amused, but E looks so happy to be watching Lucky Lilacs begin.  (She had gotten over the fact that we were going youngest to oldest by this point.)

He is definitely gazing in that lilac (above).  What do you think he sees???????

Below I told him to spit on his lilac.  He blew a few bubbles instead.

The kids gather around to hear his clue so they can go find his present for themselves.  I didn't get pictures of the rest of the kids on my lap because Justin wanted to videotape it instead.  But we definitely got a few higgledy piggledy's in there.

This year I had six hiding places to remember.  It's a little pathetic that I almost lost M's right after I hid it.  Apparently I need a little whispering in my ear.  After all the searching, with their prizes:

Playing with Baby S's bubbles:

(Lucky Lilacs is a family holiday started by my Great-Grandpa Rees and continued by my Aunt Becky.  A Lucky Lilac is any Lilac with either less or more than four petals - no cheating !!!!  Once you find one, Aunt Becky looks inside the Lilac.  With a few magic words and a little spit, the hiding place for a prize appears.)