happy vday daddy!

And this is how we told daddy we loved him this year. . .

You're the best man for this job!  We are so thankful for you, and we love you two bazillion.
xo

Libby in a nutshell

This morning Libby and I spent some time on Innerstar U (an American Girl website) and as she registered her doll on this virtual reality page, she was asked a series of questions - a sort of personality assessment.  I thought it resulted in a pretty accurate summary, considering they asked her 4 multiple choice questions.  :)  The final screen asked her to choose which of the listed (Libby's) personality traits she wanted for her doll. She asked me, "which one would be the most kind?"  See for yourself, a glimpse of my american girl.

Libby as Helen

This afternoon we were delighted to go to school and watch Libby and her friends perform three little plays.  The kiddos are fascinated by nonfiction, and love to hear stories about *real* people.  She and her classmates reenacted three scenes from US History before their parents, and their fifth grade buddies.  :)

I snapped a couple of pictures of the other plays, but for Libby's a shot a video, so I don't have photos.  bummer that it's a trade-off, but I was so glad I took the video - we'll enjoy re-watching her time and again.  I hope you do too (at least once!).

You're looking at Betsy Ross and her helpers...

You're looking at Squanto and the pilgrims he helped...

You're looking at our girl, Helen Keller...

and here is the *real* Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan, as researched by our little lady.

Libby, I love you and was so pleased with you today!  You did a great job learning your lines and even going the extra mile and learning sign language for your part.  Mrs. Anderson said in all her years teaching, no student has ever asked to learn sign language as Helen Keller.  :)  And on the way home, you made me smile even more, when you told me you declined to bring the set scenery home with you, though you had the opportunity, because you didn't think we had a space for it, and you doubted that we would use it.  So sensible!  I love you!  xo.

"L" for YEBBY and "P" is MINE

ooopsie daisy

sometimes kids say words that are just cuter than others.
(this crazy video is 3+ minutes long.  don't watch the whole thing.  the punchline is:  oopsie daisy. :)

elefun

i think there is a time in every kid's life when elefun is their favorite game.  x and p are laughing hysterically this morning.  :)

nothing to see here

you know what I don't do often enough?  video.
last night, it was bedtime and the kiddos were playing together in the living room, and just before i thought it best to whisk them off and tuck them in, it struck me that this was just a beautiful moment in their little lives.  so, there's no need to watch this, there's nothing to see here.  but i wanted it documented on our blog for memory purposes.  my little loves on august 18, 2011.  building the tallest tower ever, rolling around on the floor, wearing their jammies and enjoying one another.

if only they knew that THIS is the kind of thing that can cause me to turn a blind eye to bedtime. . .   :)

little miss potato head

this never gets old.  :)

ic(sh)e

i am not the only addict in the family.  :)

chores!

Phoebe loooooooooooooooooooooooooves unloading the dishwasher!  Mama loves a cheerful helper!  :)

you.are.right.

mama:  SO, what was your favorite part about being at grandma's?
xander:  Watching Franklin.
libby:  going for a walk with em.  And we were really glad Xander and Phoebe didn't come with us.  You'll understand, mom.  It was a REALLY hot day, and Em and I were so glad Xander and Phoebe didn't come because they would have really slowed us down.  And made us more hot.  Phoebe would have needed Em to carry her, and that would have made her more hot, and Xander walks really slow when he's hot.  And we had to be home in 30 minutes.  And we were 10 minutes early.  But they would have really slowed us down.
xander:  Libby, you.  are.  right.  I WOULD have slowed you down.

:)

he makes us laugh

Xander:  Grammy, did you go to Lucy's?
Grammy:  noooooo, we didn't go to Lucy's.  (confused)
Xander:  But what about your cup?
Grammy:  OH, yes, we went to Wendy's.  (restaurant)   :)

Mom:  okay, now these are words that end with "S."  plates, cups, spoons, chairs, tables, foods, drinks, napkins, beans, drinks...  can you think of one?
Xander:  tentacles?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy had a big birthday and we celebrated in a big way!  We enjoyed hanging out ( = playing games) with sisters and brothers for days on end, a little getaway for the two of us, and a big celebration on the big day.

we spent a night at this old mansion

sideways picture and I can't make it right!!

my party planner extraordinaire threw a fantastic party for her daddy.  she started the week before, putting the kids to work on a fabulous banner.  but she didn't stop there.  she inquired of daddy, his favorite cakes, and wrote a long list for me to choose from.  and while he and i were away and she was at grandma and grandpa's, she *really* set to work.  She asked much of Grandma Anna, and when everyone arrived for his party, Libby had bags of decorations, as well as personal goody bags for everyone in the family.  Each was filled with treats either found at grandma's or that she had convinced grandpa to buy for us.  Above, she shows one of the porcelain dogs that found their way to the party.  Below, we model our new sunglasses.  Chime in, all, what did you get in your goody bag?

Happy Birthday, my love!  I am so thankful to share your days with you.  I love you!

accessorize

if I could document accurately the loves of phoebe's life, I would be telling you of music, food, and accessories.  I know she and I will be great friends someday.  :)

here she is, accessorizing in her brother's crocs and cowboy hat.  

Libby Rides!

One warm spring day Libby came to us and announced that she was ready to ride her bike without training wheels.  She is so sweet and funny how she gets an idea in her mind and pronounces it so.  Sadly, her tires were flat and it was several days before we got them filled with air and we had a day without rain.  But the soonest day that met those two criteria she was out and determined.  Brian went out to help her for a while, running with her up and down the street and she soon took flight!

stop.drop.&.roll.

In her last days of school Libby went on a field trip to the fire station at Eppley.  She had a great time and had much to share with us about her new knowledge regarding fire.  She also came home with a new workbook, and in the workbook a checklist.  The checklist is serving to assure her that we are or are not prepared for the moment our house burns down.  She knows me too well.  :)  

One of the items on the checklist was, "The members of your family know how to stop, drop, and roll." 

Well.  No!  Not ALL of the members of our family did know how to stop, drop, and roll.  And so that must be remedied.  Libby crafted some paper flames, taped them to our bodies, and taught us the proper method of extinguishing.  Phoebe did quite well, and so:  checkity check!

Easter Photo Shoot - take 2

Easter Photo Shoot 1

I don't know what I'm looking for when I group the kids together and try to take a picture.  Maybe just a moment frozen in time where 3 kids look pleasant, 6 eyes are open, no weird expressions or gestures.  I'm not good at capturing that moment.  I'm sure it must exist...

Spring Concert

Libby's class performed with the other Kindergarten classes at her school in their Spring Concert.  She was so excited and quickly got herself dressed up as soon as she got home from school.  She also fixed her hair.  The result wasn't quite as ... presentable ... as her wardrobe selection.  I was thankful to be able to tactfully convince her to let me run a comb through it.  :)  

Xander chose his favorite sweater and was pleased to stand by her side.

play

i heart summer.  but, these pics are from the spring.  i also heart spring.  and so do the kids.  isn't it great to get outside after a long cold winter?  yes.  phoebes hit the swings for the first time of the season and she was a fan.

i think it's worth mentioning, these pics were taken april 27.  i'm that behind in blogging, and phoebe has changed that much.  amazing. 

xander and our sweet neighbor donovan enjoyed swinging, too.

but not libby.  she chose to illustrate the afternoon's events.

i love my kids!