For Pete's Birthday

Pete wasn't here for his birthday last Tuesday, but we decided to celebrate anyway.

We started by making banana cupcakes.

And then headed to the City Center for a little walk...

And then ice cream with our friends.

We missed you on your birthday this year, Pete (like every other day).  

Hopefully next year we can celebrate together!!

Raindrops On Roses....

A few weeks ago, we woke up to a very thick fog.  As we walked to the bus stop, we noticed hundreds of spider webs covered in dew drops.  So I made sure to grab the camera when I took Annie and Cooper to school.

Singin' In The Rain

We pulled over today for a few quick photos in the rain.  

It was a good excuse for the kids to pull out their rain boots.  

Again With The Faces?

There is never a dull day with Annie around....

PhotoStory Friday: Project 365, Week 38

Hosted by Chris

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Day 259, September 17

These are the reasons that I love my daughter's hair:

CURLS.

Day 260, September 18

Today at the gym we had a "Get Fit, Don't Quit" Day.  We had mini versions of all of our regular classes, so I was there for a few hours teaching.

I even got a free shirt - in fact, I am wearing it right now.  

It's really big, so it is now a pajama shirt.

Day 261, September 19

If you are paying attention, Chris also posted a self-portrait today.  I would say that I am copying him, but I am pretty sure with the 8 hour time difference, and the fact that I took my picture first, he is in fact, copying me.

This is MY spot on the couch.  If I am watching TV, talking on the phone- whatever it may be- this is my spot.  The other side is too noisy.

Day 262, September 20

I walked past this bumblebee five or six times before I realized he wasn't going anywhere, and decided to grab my camera.  

Day 263, September 21

Do you know what this is?

It's a hazelnut.

When we moved into our house, there were many plants and bushes, and I had no idea what any of them were.  

On this day, Annie was playing in the yard with some friends and brought one of these to me and said "mom, can I eat this coconutty?"

After a very funny conversation about the differences between a hazelnut and a "coconutty" I decided to let them go to town on the hazelnut bush.  

Day 263, September 22

California Rolls....Mmmmmmm.....

Yummy. 

This is one of the Young Men in my ward teaching everyone how to make these delicious snacks.

Day 264, September 23

Yesterday was the first day of Fall, and all day long I saw spots that would make a perfect picture for the day.  The light was always perfect, the colorful leaves glowing in the sunlight.  But I had ZERO time to stop anywhere yesterday for a picture.  

So today, I took a breath, and stopped at a nearby lake.  The colors aren't bright yet, but in a week or two they should be perfect.  

It's Another "I Hate Being A Single Mom" Days

This past week has been insane.  

Birthday parties, breakfasts with friends, classes, school, more classes, pictures.... 

And to top it off, my headaches have been insane.

Today I deemed myself non-functioning and attempted to lay on the couch for 20 minutes in an effort to calm my headache.

That was a no-go.

So instead, I let the entire house go.  

The kitchen is covered in dirty dishes.

The living room still has baskets of laundry (it's all folded at least) everywhere.

There are even a few bags of groceries sitting on the floor... don't worry, I put the cold stuff away.

The kids had hot dogs and french fries for dinner.  I chose a bowl of Chex for myself. 

The bathrooms did not get cleaned.

My room looks like a tornado blasted through it.  

No photo-editing or Zumba choreography happened either.

However, I did get the kids bathed and to bed on time.  That's one point for me.

You'll all still be my friends though, right?

I guess the day starts early tomorrow with all the things I didn't accomplish today.

PhotoStory Friday: Project 365, Week 37

Hosted by Chris

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Day 252, September 10

I was asked to take pictures at an Eagle Scout Project over the weekend, so we went Friday night to help set up as well.  The project was a bike safety rally, so of course, there were many safety cones.

Day 253, September 11

The bike safety rally.  After all the kids had their tires, chains, pedals and helmets checked, they went on a short ride around the block using the hand signals they had just learned.  

Day 254, September 12

For those of you who know my Annie Love well, you know that she has massively curly hair.  Every now and then she asks to have it straightened, like today.  She wanted it to look like mine for church.  This straight hair adds years to my daughter who is already growing up too fast....

Day 255, September 13

This is how we do milk over here in Germany.

Flavored straws.

Forget dumping Nesquick in the cup, just use one of these straws, and your milk is instantly flavored!!

Day 256, September 14

I should go back and count how many times I have actually taken a picture of a Dr. Pepper...

Day 257, September 15

My kids love babies.

I always say they would be overjoyed if I had twelve more babies.

I'm sooo not lying. 

However, since I am not having any more babies, they have to settle for borrowing other people's babies.

This particular cutie belongs to my neighbor Tera, and Annie was delighted to hold him while she did a few other things.  The only way I could get Annie to let go of him was to promise her we would be back to see him in an hour. 

Day 258, September 16

Pete sent a package which arrived a few days ago, and I knew that it had a bunch of his clothes in it, so I wasn't in a huge hurry to open it.  However, today when I did open it, I found these books and this disc. He asked me to send some books for the kids to him, and then he recorded himself reading them.  I had hoped to listen to them tonight, but the night became chaotic (imagine that...) so hopefully we can listen tomorrow.  

PhotoStory Friday: Project 365, Week 36

Hosted by Chris

Day 245, September 3

All the neighbor kids decided to tattoo each other with spray paint today.  

Most of it washed off.....

Day 246, September 4

Miss E.

This girl cracks me up, and she really does smile all the time.

But I couldn't get her to crack for these pictures.

Day 247, September 5

It finally happened. 

I went 246 days taking a picture, and then forgot on this day.

Day 248, September 6

We walked across the street to get some ice cream bars after dinner (luckily we live right across the street from two stores).  We took the ice cream outside to eat, and the wind picked up.  

Annie fought through the wind to finish hers.

Ice cream is important in this family.

Day 249, September 7

How can you resist a cute par of shoes every now and then?

Especially when you have a 4 year old daughter who tells you that every pair you try on 

"you must buy!"

Day 250, September 8

My not-quite-three-year-old went to school today with his big sister.  

He is a potty-trained, school-going boy now.  

Am I sad?

Not really......

Give me a few days, I might get lonely.

Day 251, September 9

These were the options for dinner tonight.

Which one would you chose?