Family Time

Food Discovery

During an experiment with food, Megan discovered that she likes raw sweet potatoes. Oddly enough, she doesn't care for them cooked. Our experiment was testing different foods for fat content. We did this by rubbing different foods on a piece of paper, letting them dry, and then holding the paper up to light. If the light passes through, the food contained fat. The girls had fun discovering which of their favorites are fat free!! 

Happy National Waffle Day!!

Beautiful golden waffles!

Yummmmmmmy!

Is there a waffle under all that sugar??

Emily and I call this the PERFECT SHOT because I captured the powdered sugar falling in mid-bite!!

Our "Letter P" Meal

Each week, I let the girls choose a meal to try to teach them meal planning and also balanced nutrition. Last week, Emily planned a "p" themed meal. We had baked potatoes, plums and pears and puppy chow. Creative and fun!

plums and pears 

puppy chow

potatoes

Family Pool Party

A few weeks ago our church hosted a family pool party in LaHarpe. It was so much fun, and I thank the ladies involved in organizing the party. I would have liked to have gotten more snapshots but I had my hands full with Eli most of the night. The water was a little too chilly for him -- and me!! I didn't get a good photo of Emily because she was over in the deep end when I had the camera out. She spent a lot of her time jumping off the diving board.                                                                       What a super fun evening for everyone!!

Megan and a friend "cruised" the pool in the pink tube. They hung out in the deep end a lot, watching the big kids go off the diving boards.

Readin with Dad

I caught these two handsome men reading together one evening while I was making dinner. I had to get a shot of them having this special time together. What are they reading??? Check out the last photo. : P

Morning Smiles

Shackled

I was loading the washer with laundry one day, leaving the girls upstairs with Eli. When I left they were showing him different toys and squealing each time he smiled. When I came back, they were crowded around him, giggling. I was relishing this special parenting moment, watching the three siblings bond -- until I got a good look at Eli and realized that there was a different kind of bonding going on. They had "shackled" his feet together with wrist rattles and cuffed his wrists with link toys!!! After a good laugh, I snapped this photo. I guess it could be worse. He hasn't worn a dress -- YET!

Random Snapshots of Eli

It is amazing how quickly 2 months goes by. It is amazing how much a little guy can grow and change in 2 months! At his 2 month checkup he was ALMOST 12 lbs!! It is amazing how much more we fall in love with him each day. Eli is so alert now, and quick with a smile and giggle (although he isn't sure about the camera yet so it is a challenge to record this). He has found his hands and tries to use them to push things in his mouth. He loves to blow bubbles , so some days he gets called "Mr. Bubbles." One of his favorite times of the day is bath time. He LOVES water. Of course, his dad and I adore him, and I even appreciate the quiet time I spend alone at 4 a.m. He truly is -- to his mom -- the World's Greatest Alarm Clock!! (Thanks to some great friends for an adorable shirt!!) Emily and Megan love to make Eli smile. They love to shower him with attention every minute he is awake. They love to read books to him, and sometimes he is attentive to their reading for half an hour!! He is truly a blessing from God, as all children are. We love you, Eli David.

After bathtime, waiting for me to dress him

World's Cutest Alarm Clock

Emily rocking Eli to sleep for his afternoon nap

Celebrate the Spud!

Today we observed National Potato Day. We dug delicious Yukon Gold potatoes from our garden and baked them for lunch. Baked potatoes are one of our favorite meals!! We couldn't believe the size of some of the potatoes we dug up. 

Yesterday was National Cupcake Day. After we got our school work done we baked cupcakes because we don't like to pass up the chance to bake at our house. : )

We decorated our cupcakes to look like sweet corn with the help of yellow jelly beans. They were so cute to serve with dinner last night.

So, we salute you, 

convenient single-serving cakes wrapped in pastel paper liners!!!!

Matchbox Math

To make math facts more fun we play Matchbox Math. The girls get to choose a Matchbox car and I make a path of flashcards on the floor. We choose a destination -- yesterday we went to Hollywood. Starting at the beginning of the path, they answer each flashcard, and as they answer correctly their car advances to the next card. If they answer incorrectly, their car goes to the beginning and they start over. It is a fun way to fly through math facts!!

Another School Year Begins

We started school on Monday, and were all ready to get back to the school routine. We've had a great week, and I found out that we don't need as much review from last year as I had planned. Yeah!!! We have a lot of exciting things planned this year. 

I'm a First Grader . . .

. . . and very excited about it!!

Our second-grader

Family Run

We all ran in the Blandinsville Farmer's Picnic races this morning. Emily, Megan, Eli and I ran the 1-mile race, and Matthew ran the 4-mile race. The girls did great and I am so proud of them for finishing the race. Of course, we were among the last to finish, but we finished! It was their first race of any distance, and I am confident that in 10 years I won't be able to keep up with them!! They liked it so much that they want to sign up for the 1-mile race in Stronghurst on Labor Day. The girls also ran the kid's race, and here are some photos from the morning. After the race, they rode in the parade. WOW! What a busy morning.


This afternoon we met up with some friends from college. It was so good to see everyone and have all our children play together. We had great food, and had fun hiking at Lake Argyle as well as playing yard games. The weather couldn't have been any nicer for our picnic. What a great way to end the summer vacation.


Funny story that happened after we got home. After the girls took their baths, Megan found a tick. Matthew (our fearless tick-smasher) smashed and disposed of the crawly little guy. I explained to Megan that her tick was far easier to find than little deer ticks. Last summer we unknowingly disturbed a nest of deer ticks and I had over 100 of the tiny ticks on me. So, she asked how small deer ticks are. Matthew grabbed my ankle and pointed to a mole and said, "As small as this mole." I thought for a moment, then realized that I had never had a mole at that spot before. Upon further inspection we realized that Matthew had pointed out an actual deer tick. There were three on my ankle. Those little things love me!

Stretching Together

More stretching

All buckled in and ready to roll.

Here we come!

Emily running toward the finish.

The finish line is in sight!

My handsome husband finishing his four miles.

Lining up for the kid's race.

The parade. Emily never did see us, but Megan waved, and waved, and waved.

Emily's Sidewalk Art

A few days ago, I was helping Megan get her bicycle out of the garage as we were ready for a walk. Emily was playing with something on the sidewalk, and I assumed it was a bug or caterpillar because she is often found playing with them. When I got up to her, I realized that she was spelling out a message on the sidewalk with small twigs. I love it!!

Two Months . . . Already???