We're being invaded...

...by art projects!!!  It's been the perfect storm of the 4H fair, VBS at church, and the usual day to day creative productions.  I've been a bit pre-occupied with getting ready to start the school year, and all of a sudden I can't find a single horizontal surface in the house!!  I also have all our new books for the year spread all across my dining room table (in an orderly fashion... sort of). 

The kids have made lots of cool stuff lately, and it's been deposited around the house.  Mostly in the kitchen.  Each day I move one wave of colorful paper, clay, feathers, etc. to a new countertop to make room for the next batch. 

My husband has been a little extra touchy about the state of things when he walks in the door in the evening.  Gee, I just took a good look around and figured out why. 

I know I get a bit overly-sentimental about the things the kids make, but when they're really special, I like to take a picture before they hit the circular file.  Unfortunately, the camera is MIA.  How can I possibly discard the 2-week-old popcorn mix which earned a participation ribbon at the fair before it's been duly recorded for posterity? 

Tomorrow I've promised myself to get this stuff organized before it gets the best of us. 

{pretty, happy, funny, real}...

...the it's-99-degrees-in-the-shade edition!!  For more, stop by Like Mother, Like Daughter (one of my absolute favorite blogs.

{pretty}

After 6 months of looking at mud, weeds, and gravel out our back window, I'm so happy that this beautiful patio is almost finished!

Sweet little friends catching some shade during one of their big brothers' games.

{Happy}

Going...

going...

gone!!!  He is thrilled to have lost another tooth.

{Funny}

Somebody else thought she ought to have her teeth photographed.

{Real}

A fun and popular indoor activity this week has been using our 'wikki sticks.'

I love this 'man making a pizza.'

It's been so hot that we're staying indoors much of the time this week.  This neat activity has come to the rescue!!

Heat Wave

To quote my brother-in-law, it's hotter than the devil's armpit around here.  We are coping in various ways, namely staying in the air conditioning as much as possible.  Of course, the current heat wave would have to coincide with the annual county 4H fair, which we must attend.  Everybody has projects there which must be visited, and my kids would never let me hear the end of it if we skipped the llama barn...  Aside from that, we're pretty much staying in the house or my parents' pool.

Anyway, yesterday morning's softball game was cut short, mercifully.  The youngest child in this family is very accustomed to being a spectator at all kinds of things - ball games, ballet class, swim and gym, etc.  Never does she complain. 

Yesterday, when we arrived in our pajamas (see yesterday's post), the game was already over.  All we had to do was swing through the parking lot to pick up big sister. 

As she realized we were leaving without ever getting out of the van, Felicity exclaimed, "That was the best softball game I ever went to!!"

Sleep Struggles

Our second son (in age), has a lot of trouble sleeping.  He has sleep apnea, apparently.  He's probably going to have his tonsils removed sometime later this summer.  My husband, who happens to be an expert on these things, has been gently preparing me for this for some time.  We saw an ENT physician for another issue earlier in the summer, and when Dr. H got a look at his tonsils, he started asking questions about his sleep:
-does he wake up and still feel tired?
-does he move around a lot in his sleep?
-does he snore?

I answered in the affirmative to all of the above.  I was shocked at the possibility of facing surgery, especially because our reason for the appointment had been something entirely different.  My husband, on the other hand, was not surprised.  He knew I just needed to get my mind around it. 

Anyway, some nights are worse for our little guy than others.  Last night was a doozy:
1:00am  jumps into bed with us
2:00am little sister cries, so I get in bed with her because our bed is too full
3:00am Vic starts asking questions about his Daddy's snoring ("can't you take a medicine to stop that snoring?")
3:30am  gives up on sleeping with Dad and comes upstairs with little sister and Mom
4:50am  sits straight up in bed and starts asking questions in full voice: "can't I take some medicine to go
     back to sleep?" / "when you say it's almost morning, do you mean it's almost midnight or almost daylight?"
7:00am  big sister's alarm goes off for her softball game.  I begrudgingly drag my sorry carcass out of bed. 
8:00am  Vic wakes up for the day and stumbles downstairs.  He looks like he could benefit from some coffee. 

We're all going to the softball game this morning in our pajamas. 

My Favorite Tooth

Due to a couple of typical 2-year-old accidents (hitting his mouth on the countertop, etc.), Victor has had one gray front tooth for about 4 years.  We've all grown rather fond of that particular blemish, even calling him by the nickname "Graytooth the Pirate." 

Soon, however, we'll have to say goodbye to that trademark tooth as it's currently dangling by a pink, fleshy thread.  I'd say it has about 12 more hours to live. 

I love toothless grins, so as soon as it falls out, I'll be rushing all the kids out the door for the annual picture-taking session.  Maybe I ought to do some laundry to make sure matching outfits are at the ready...

A Day at the Lake

After the boys' baseball game yesterday, we made a beeline for our favorite state park, where Grandma and Pada were camping.  We jumped straight into the lake. 

The water temperature was actually slightly warmer than the air.  Perfect. 

Here are my generous parents keeping track of everybody in the water.  Meanwhile...

...I was here.  (briefly.  But even a moment to sit on the beach in peace was much appreciated.)

 This is a swimming race. 

 Searching for shells.  At last count, she had 158 (or thereabouts).

I can't believe I'm posting a picture of myself in a bathing suit. 

 After swimming, we spent some Grandma and Pada's campsite and cruised the internet (this is camping? :)).

Here I am again in a chair while my mom makes dinner in the background. 

 Ahhh, roasting hotdogs over a campfire.  There's nothing like it.  The weather was great - just cool enough to enjoy the warmth of the fire. 

To top off a spectacular day, had an unexpected visitor.  I think he was hoping for a share of the feast. 

Welcome!!

Hello!  I hope you've easily found your way to my new blog.  I think it gives a better description of our family (since much has changed since I started recording our daily happenings via blog posts about 4 years ago), and it's easier for me to access with my new email address. 

Anyway, please feel free to stop in anytime to see what's up with us.  And, the more comments, the merrier!!

Have a blessed day.
:)Anne