That's all.

Okay. I have a few funny things my kids have either (a) done, or (b) said. Here goes:

Grace: Mom, will you comb my hair?
Me: Sure Grace.
Grace: Thanks, Mom. Do I look pretty now?
Me: Grace, you always look pretty.
.....pause......
Grace: Mom, you're always mad.

Thanks, Grace. At least you're honest, I guess.

Grace: Mom, I like you.
Me: Thanks, Grace, I like you too.
Grace: I don't like Crede.
Grace: He's......he's..................
Grace: He's just a bad one.

I'm not sure if I'm sensing a pattern or not. I hope that our home is a happy one, but maybe in my 4 year old's mind, it's not such a happy place. I guess I'll find that out here in 15 years when she can reminisce.

The other day Gage had a game of tickle tag with an earwig. THAT was nice. I picked him up off the kitchen floor where he had been sitting for about 5 good minutes, being quiet....when I noticed a WET, dead earwig on the floor.

**shudder**

At least he didn't eat it, right?

Now, last but not least ~

We were driving home from school the other day when we passed a house with an old man sitting on the front step. This man had completely white hair, and a nice, long, white beard. We drove by, and Crede said, "Theeere's Santa." More like a statement rather than an excited exclamation. It was the funniest thing.

Lets see, I think that's it! Here's a picture of my Grace taken with my new toy. No photoshop. I thinks I'm gonna like it.

Chance finally had the opportunity to come with us to Morgan's soccer game. You know what that means, right? I got to bring my camera. I strapped on my ol' lens and went to town.

Here's Morgan in all her glory. All her "Red Dragon" glory. Can you tell she's a little petite for her age? She's about a foot shorter than all the other girls on the field. You know what though? She is AMAZING. I really think that she has found her sport. She runs like a little bullet, she won't let anyone kick that ball by her, and she scores goals like no one's business. 2 of her really good friends are on the team with her too. I have to say, soccer season is about 200% better when friends are on the same team. It's not even about car-pooling. It's just the fact that during each practice and game, I have someone to talk to (someone ADULT to talk to).

Yay.

I finally sold this thing. I washed it off and gave it a hearty "farewell" yesterday morning. Oh, and you see that tacky birdhouse in the background? I finally decided to chuck it. I threw it in my trashcan, and hauled it to the curb.

Guess what. Someone totally ripped it off during the night last night. I have to chuckle thinking about what was going through their heads. Something like:

"Sweeeeeeeeet. Check out that birdhouse."
"Are they REALLY throwing it away?"
"Let's come back tonight to pick it up."

Then I have to smile as I think about them pulling all my huge cardboard boxes out of my trashcan, taking the birdhouse, and then putting all the boxes back in all nice-like. I hope that they enjoy that dang thing. I'm just happy to get rid of it.

We're officially junk-free.
Hoo. Ray.

I think I've finally reached the point of motherhood when I can actually put my kids to work. REAL work. I'm not talking, "Please pick up the toys" or "Can you wind up the vacuum?" I'm talkin' mopping the floor, windex-ing all the mirrors in the house, actually operating the vacuum....THAT kind of work.

YES!

I cleaned my ENTIRE house, both bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, mopping by 12:30pm. 12:30pm. Can you believe it? Grace vacuumed, Morgan mopped, and Crede.....well Crede picked up the toys. Gage wandered around all morning, playing, and I cleaned.

Here's Morgan windex-ing our front door window. She got pretty enthused. Can you tell? She had to stop. Get my keys. Walk out to the car. Unlock it. And then get her sunglasses out. This was so she wouldn't be bothered with that pesky sun coming in through the window. She's cute...I know.

And now my house is officially CLEAN. For a few hours at least.

Hi!

I've got some exciting news. I. Made. Salsa.

Yep. And THIS time I didn't add too much salt. That seems to make a HUGE difference! **snicker** I'm pretty excited about this. I, now can say that I know how to (a) garden, and (b) can. Growing up I never would have thought that I, Emily, could do either one of those things. I wasn't much of a cooker (except for desserts) and canning was for old ladies.

Ah well.
Aren't those jars beautiful?

Today was my HUGE photo shoot. 27 people....14 of them kids.

Aaaaah!

So I think it went pretty well. After the session I couldn't turn off my head with things that I would have done differently. It's maddening. I realize that is how a person grows and learns new things...but I'm impatient. I want to learn NOW. I want all the vast knowledge instantly. Is that so wrong?

Here is my favorite picture of the day. It isn't so much a "fine art" photo, but that baby was toooooooo cute. Little Fisher. I could have taken him home with me.

Seriously.

PS ~ It's officially been ONE YEAR since starting this insane blog of mine. ONE YEAR! It's really funny to go back and think about all that has happened since my first post: Nyquil Nightmare. I've potty trained, fixed vehicles, watched Gage grow from newborn stillness to the little mad-man that he is today ~ RUNNING around the house. We've gone camping, had visits from the tooth fairy, Santa, and the Easter Bunny. We've laughed, cried, yelled...you name it...we've done it. I've gone from an Olympus point and shoot to my blessed Canon. I've actually STARTED A BUSINESS and we've actually survived a mini unemployment stint with Chance. It's crazy to look back and think about HOW MUCH life can change in a year.

Do you think I'll be here again NEXT year? Yeah, I think so. I'm going to keep this blog...but I have to admit, I might miss a day here and there. There's only so much to blog about during the mundane day of laundry.....so we'll see.

It's finally done.

My new website! You wanna see it? Go HERE.
Enjoy.

I have this on-going problem. See, I have such good intentions with my meal planning. I sit down Sunday night, make my grocery list, a menu for the week, and then buy the things I need on Monday.

Here's my problem.

By the time Tuesday afternoon hits, I'm done. Mac-n-cheese sounds great...I'm tired, and I just want quiet. Is that too much to ask?

This is the 2nd week that I've bought this baguette. I had such grand plans for it, but as you can see....I've just watched it turn blue. Twice.

Sorry, family. Mom's burned out.

Yep, I was one of those crazy people who signed up 6 months ago to get one of the first copies of Mockingjay. I cruised into my library yesterday, checked it out, and then finished it up this afternoon. I've gotta say, I was super pleased with how this book wrapped up. I have to be honest though....I really wished a few things would have turned out differently.

**spoiler alert** Don't read any farther if you plan on reading this book and don't want to know what happens.

I wish that she would have developed Katniss's feelings for Peeta a bit more. It seemed like she made her decision pretty quickly. It was like, "Well...I decided I had enough fire for the both of us...I need a dandelion." Huh. Then Gale just kind of disappeared at the end. I wanted to know what happened to him...what HIS feelings were...

I was glad that we were privy to Katniss's future though ~ her children, that she loved Peeta...that was nice. I also was really bummed that Prim died. Was anyone else surprised that she even killed off ~ oh what's his name....Annie's husband ~ the one with the trident....crud. I can't remember his name. I will have to add that later if I remember to. I thought that at least HE would make it.

Oh, and I was so glad that she shot Coin. Buh. Bye. I never trusted that woman.
All in all....SUCH a good book.

So I have a pretty important photo shoot this Saturday and am STRESSING out about it. I want to do well...so I obsess. That's just me.

Anyway, I talked Chance into driving to my location and sitting in for some "test pictures". He. Was. Thrilled. But, being the funny, awesome, husband that he is, he made the best of it...as you can see here. Love you.

So Crazy.

I have a 2nd Grader. Do you realize that I, now, can remember what I was like in 2nd Grade and that means that Morgan will be able to remember actual events when she's an adult?

Man, this means that I really need to step up my game as her Mom. I can really mess her up now! Isn't that a fear that us Mom's have nowadays, anyway? That we're going to permanently scar our children without even realizing it? Why do we do this to ourselves?! (I'll save that side-note for a later time. Sorry.)


AnyWAY...

Morgan, you are such a fun kid! You've really grown into a peacemaker, you really empathize with others, you are super smart, and you're just a cutie pants. We love you, and love that you are still so excited about school, and about learning. I know that you will have so many fun friends around you and that you will set a super-duper example for them. We are so proud of you, bug.

Happy 2nd Grade!

No, Gage doesn't have shoulder pads on...Dad just likes to not worry about the "hard stuff" when putting bibs on. And by "hard stuff" I mean sleeves. At least Gage still enjoyed his PB & J sandwich.

THIS is what happens when you leave Dad home, alone, with the kids for about an hour. Deer. On the driveway. Like I don't see enough of this stuff around my entire yard....house....trailers....LAWNMOWER....

**sigh**

It's a good thing that he's cute, smart, funny, the best Dad EVER, and it helps that I love him no matter what.

I love your sidewalk artwork too.

Grace has gotten pretty inventive with her bendaroo's lately. She was super proud of this, her newest creation. She even explained that the green underneath "me" was grass. Very cute, Gracie.

PS: When will the bendaroo's end? I just don't care for them so much. They leave everything sticky. Blech. Oh, and now my kids want that "Aqua Sand" that they keep seeing on TV. Dang you "As Seen on TV" commercials! We are probably going to give in to the "Pillow Pet" request that has been on-going for about a year now.....I keep telling my kids to "ask Santa". Do you think he'll deliver? Hmm...pretty sure he will. At least NOW they'll be all ready for their overnight trip to Grandma's with their pj's conveniently stuffed inside.