Hands

For some reason the last few days i have really wanted to take pictures of hands, here are my two favorites
One is Ellie's hand on top of Brian's on Mary's family quilt. the other is Little Joe holding his feet... I swear that kid is just too cute.

Back By Popular Demand............US!!!

Hi there after much ado, we are back. computer repairs are complete and peace reigns (mostly) (somewhat) (a little) (well, every once in a while). we are all well. Ellie has been home for a full year now and she is just doing great. She is a tiny ball of energy. Summer vacation is LOOMING over my head. With the kids home from school all day this should be fun. We have alot of fun plans but still there will be alot of down time to fill. Here are a few pics from our recent adventures.

Here are the boys this morning playing chess.

The gang loaded up for a trip to sacramento to visit the fam (more on that later)

Easter bunny side job?

Ok so weve got 4 kids in bed (ofcourse there not asleep they don't really think thats what beds r for) anyway mom and i are headed to bed when i notice a small bottle of apple juice on the floor in the doorway of my room. so huh thats odd then we find that there is an apple juice in every doorway in the house. there not opened, there is no mess, but who is leaving us these little gifts? i am guessing that they are compliments of Ellie. She has just recently mastered the opening the garage fridge door. (its pretty funny the steps that she goes thru just to obtain illicit apple juice ill try to get a pic) but i think that maybe the easter bunny is bored. i mean really he's only got the one day a year. I mean he doesn't even decorate the eggs anymore. but there must be something more constructive to do?

WHY?

why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why?why? why? why? why? why? why? why? why? This is my day. Ellie is achieving new hights with her vocabulary, stringing 3 and 4 words togather using more complicated words and her speach is greatly improving, so with all the wonderful words in the universe, WHY is WHY her favorite? first thing in the morning, last thing before bed. every 5 minuites in between. I think im going nuts (ok more nuts) HELP!

ETSY SHOP

ok that didn't work, so here ya go for now

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5180329

comming out of our shell

Well hi there. We are stil alive i promise. Summer was busy but finally the white shoes are put away and into the new rutine we are settling. Thank God Oh and the best part is i have lost 12 pounds Yeah i know but hey its all iv got to brag about.

Well lets see the kids are great. In october it will be six monthes since Ellie came home, I am both shocked it has only been 6 monthes and can't beleive it hasn't been longer. It seems like she has been a part of this family forever. Shesa adjusting well and advancing well. she does all of the things she is supposed to do as a three year old. including eat cookie dough off of a beater. a true right of passage.

Mitchell is in the fifth grade this year. He has joined the band and is a trumpet player. today he learned to play three notes. we are so proud. He also was eligable to test for the GATE program at school (brains he di not inherit fom mama) He is an exceptional young man and he makes me very proud. he is also blessed with an increadably smart mouth (that he did inherit from mama)

Keleigh the intrepid 4th grader. is also thriving although the transition to the much more independent and fast paced 4Th grade has been a rough one. But she seems to have found the rhythm a few week in and is doing very well. She is growing into a really great young woman. She's got allot of friends and i think shes just always going to be the social butterfly of the bunch.

And that leaves us with Connor. What can i say about laid back Connor. Loving the first grade. Doing well. Learning to read more confidently every day. i even catch him reading to Ellie sometimes (really sweet since she is usually beating the tar out of him. If he had his way he would turn himself into a pokemon and never leave his seat in front of the computer. Next week i am going to get to start working in his class. I've been fortunate enough to be able to do this with all of the kids, i love it.

Well that's whats been going on here. Brian has been working hard. i have been sewing up a storm and have a shop set up where i am selling some of my fun little creations (ill try to add a link to the sidebar) I should be better about posting now that things are calmed down.

what a big girl

well its 9:42 pm and all is well. but our tiniest of children is right now as i type this is sound asleep in her big girl bed. She looks very tiny at least. We are having some sleep issues so i plan to take her to my room when i go to bed but she was so excyted about being with the big kids. i thought she would never fall asleep. i had to read four chapters of the kids book before she fell asleep. its so hard to see her growing and changing so much. i know its good and right but i miised so much of her little life that i do not enjoy going through these stages in fast foreward. i will try to take a pic of ellie sleeping cuz its pert dern cute. well i am off to ANOTHER of mom super yummy peanut butter cookies.