Good Intentions

As of last weekend summer was "unofficially over".  The last week of August was the first week of school and I have blogged about none of it.  Not even the last day of Kindergarten, where I failed to notice that school got out early that day and a classmates mother had to pick HT up from the bus stop.  My good intentions to write about it all have been lost in the busyness of summer, what with swim lessons,

VBS,

vacation,

"Wook at me, I'm doing nuffing!"

a wedding,

anniversaries and house hunting our days are full and night time comes too soon and some days not soon enough.  Not that there wasn't anything to say, just not the time to do it justice or so I have thought.  I know that some of you have missed my posting and I'm pretty sure some of you have forgotten all about me.  You, like me, probably like to read something of substance, or be entertained, to have a chuckle or at least something to make you think or to smile, in pictures or in words.  That being said, if my stated objective in blogging is to keep an online scrapbook of sorts, I am failing miserably. And as you can see I have lots of pictures to share.

We have said good bye to friends who moved away, visited with old friends home for a weekend.

We have been to the zoo, the aquarium and countless parks.

Dipped our toes in the ocean and ran through sprinklers in the back yard.

Played pee wee baseball and watched how the big boys play.

Watched the fireworks on Independence Day and set off a few of our own.

We have traveled near and far to visit relatives and friends and I would be remiss not to thank them for their hospitality and generosity.

We truly enjoyed our time with each and every one of you and left wanting and wishing for a little more time.

And just so you know this post has taken me the better part of today to compose and edit all these photos.  No wonder I don't blog much.  Then again, maybe if I did a little more regularly one post wouldn't be so time consuming or so painful (painful for me anyway, I hope it wasn't too painful for you).

Luck Of The Irish

"The day started as any day.  

As any day you would expect to see come springtime.  The sky was brooding and dark, the clouds looked bruised and wrung dry.  The air hung heavy with the scent of leftover rain.

As I pondered the gloomy day over my cup of mint tea I thought I heard a strange noise.  

I knew I'd heard a noise . . .  there it was again, the scurry of little feet and the jovial laugh of  . . .  could it be . . .  a leprechaun!  I knew I had to move fast or I would miss my chance for fame and fortune.  

What to do?  What to do?

It came to me in a flash.  I'd set a trap.  

It'd be brilliant! 

I rushed to find my supplies, a hat, a whoopie cushion and a trail of chocolate covered sunflower seeds.  Everyone knows that leprechauns love a good joke and surely they couldn't resist chocolate.  Once they snatched that cushion the hat would fall and their pot of gold would be mine.  MINE, MINE, MINE.  

It was with glee that I bounded up the path to set my trap.  The sun decided to peek through the clouds as if to see what all the fuss was about.  That was when I remembered that today was St. Patrick's day and knew that luck would be on my side.  How could I fail?

I crouched behind the bushes patiently waiting, just out of sight, then I heard them again.

They were coming!!!!!

I could hardly contain myself.  My hands shook with excitement as I tried to hold the camera steady.  I needed to capture this moment!

And then . . .

I kissed my blarney stone for good luck.

And then . . .

I snapped the picture.

TO BE CONTINUED.

::

I hope you're feeling the green.

Several months back I agreed to participate in Amanda's (aka Dumb Mom) totally awesome blog photo chain.  It works like this.  A disposable camera is mailed to each participant, who takes one photo, only one and then mails it to the next person in the chain.  I just happened to get it today.  So we will have to wait until the camera makes its way back to Amanda to see if I was successful in capturing a leprechaun or not.

I'll letcha know!

Cheers."

::

So if all that seems familiar, it is, it's a reprint from two years ago.

Anyway . . .

After more than a year the camera finally showed back up at Amanda's house and she got the pictures developed, but because it had taken so long and I suspect didn't turn out the way she had hoped, she didn't do anything with it until now.  If you would like to see her post you can go here.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

This is the picture I took with the disposable camera.

The following are the pictures I took with my camera.

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Sugar Lips

So we all know that yesterday was Valentine's Day or as some of my friends like to call it "Single Awareness Day".

Anyway . . . last night at about 7:30 someone rang the doorbell and ran so when we opened the door no one was there but there were cupcakes on the door step for the boys.   And as much as I love them and despite all their begging I was not about to let them have a cupcake at bed time.

Because some how I knew that eating this . . .

 . . . would result in this.

 And just so you know, I could kiss that face all day long.

Today

Today its cold and we have an inversion so its smoggy as well.  We did have some freezing rain yesterday, but it wasn't enough to scour out the valley, so I can't believe I am saying this, but I really want a storm to blow through and give us some relief from the poor air.

Today TR goes to see a specialist about his vision.  Seems like the meds he has been prescribed for RA could be negatively affecting his vision, not good for a dump truck driver.  We would appreciate your prayers.

Today HT had pajama day at school and couldn't have been more thrilled.  Seems to me that maybe this might be why some people think wearing your pj's in public is acceptable.  I'm not a big fan of pajama day in school.

And EM . . well today he peed his pants and is now naked from the waist down.  I'm going to have to do something about that . . and just when I think I have him potty trained.

Argh.

What about you, how's your day?

"Bunker" Beds

That's what the boys call them, not bunk beds but "bunker" beds.  Just in case you were wondering.

So yeah, we set up the bunk bed we have had in the garage for several years, figured it was about time, since EM has just about outgrown the toddler bed.  I keep pushing down on his head but he refuses to stop growing.  Beside HT has been begging us to set them up for months.

And in honor of EM getting a "grown up" bed I made him a quilt for Christmas.

I had been given the "Cars" panel and this is what I came up with to make it fit on a twin size bed, it measures 68 x 84 and I backed it with a very cozy flannel.  I thought it turned out quite nice and he likes it too.

See what you can do with no pattern and a little imagination.

One of these days I may dust off my mad decorating skillz and make them matching blankets.

Ta ta for now!

Christmas Pictures

Because I can.

Aw Christmas, its the most wonderful time of the year, at least that's what I have always heard, some are good, some are great and some . . . not so much.  This year was pretty nice all things considered.  The boys sure had fun and I didn't get too stressed so I would say Christmas 2012 was good.  Some of us spent the whole day in our pajamas.

The Christmas Eve service at church was very entertaining as always with the kids doing the "impromptu" live nativity.  All are included.  EM pretty much thought he should be a part of everything everywhere and was all over the stage during the whole thing.

Every time they lit the candle at church during advent he wanted to have the fire.

HT "sang" in the children's choir so EM thought he should be up there too.

Even Papa got in on the act, since none of the children wanted to play the donkey that carried Mary, he volunteered.  This is a man who isn't afraid to make himself look foolish for the sake of his children.  A man recently diagnosed with RA and in considerable pain on his hands and knees for the sake of the children.  I do love him so.  I'm pretty sure he enjoyed himself also.

New Years was spent with the boys early to bed along with their papa who had a nasty cold, that is still lingering, and I sat up by myself, sewing, binding a quilt actually until at least 10:00pm.  We sure do know how to ring in the new year, don't we?!

A Caroling We Went

When we were kids, nearly every year at Christmas time Dad and Mom would pile all eight of us in the car and take us christmas caroling to folks they knew, family, friends, those from church and sometimes my Dads co-workers.  Being one of the littlest I didn't always understand or appreciate my parents need to bless those folks.  I was also a shy and introspective child and sometimes resented being put at the center of attention and asked to perform.  Mom would spend the day baking and we would deliver a loaf of fresh bread and a jar of homemade jam along with our singing.

All that to say we went caroling with a group from church and the boys had a fabulous time, entertaining themselves and those who enjoyed our singing.

We went to the VA and to two assisted living centers.

EM found himself a place to sit, much to the delight of these folks.

The other littles decided to dance while we sang.

Super Mario Brothers!

So for Halloween this year HT decided that he wanted to be Mario.

And that pretty much meant that EM had to be Luigi.

I must admit they did look stinkin' cute in their costumes and it pretty much put a smile on the face of all who saw them.