Look What I Can Do!

I can hold my toes.

And, I am trying to fly, too.

Park Party

Yesterday was my littlest sister's 11 birthday. Her birthday wish was to go to the park with her little nieces & nephews & feed them the cupcakes she had baked. The little munchkins were happy to oblige.

I didn't take any pictures of the birthday girl, though.

But, I have some good summer pictures of my younger siblings from a few months ago. Check out how grown up they are.

Matthew - are you 13, nearly 14?

Lizzy is 11. I remember loving the age 11.

Daniel is 16 & knows how to drive a car.

Jacob is 9. Almost into the double digits!

Woodland Floor in the House

I found this wooden bowl at Target yesterday. I love it!!!

I Do

I do sweep at least once a day. And yet,

And this only 1/3 of the house.

Singers

I am listening to Billy Joel today. She's Got a Way. It makes me feel like butter. Soft & melty.
Gillian likes very little music nowadays, that is not "kid's music". But, she is fond of Billy Joel. And, Elton John. She calls him Melton John. He is her favorite.
This week, we watched The West Side Story. I had never seen it before. Strange, eh? After watching it, I told Scott that I thought Natalie Wood has the prettiest singing voice, eve more beautiful than Marni-what's-her-name from My Fair Lady. He told me that he didn't think Natalie did her own singing. I looked it up. It was Marni Nixon. Ha! I guess I just think she is the best. Poor Marni. Always behind someone else's face. Doing the most incredible singing, while the naive, like myself, give the credit to the big star actress.

Huckleberry Yum

She enjoyed her PB & J this morning.

The Christmas Plan

We are turning our side yard into a Christmas gift for the kids.

We are putting in no mow grass, stepping logs, a dry creek bed, a fountain, flowers...
By saying "we" here, I really mean Scott. I sat and watched &
leisurely folded the laundry today, while Scott was putting in all the sweaty labor.
Oh. And I also stood around taking pictures.

We are so excited about it! Much of the landscaping is finished being planted.
Now it has time to mature.
And then, for Christmas we will add a little bridge over the dry creek &
a playhouse at the end of the yard.

The kids already love it, sans the Christmas surprises.

Just What I Did Not Need

Why do they love to tempt me so? How do they find me? I got a catalog for Olive Juice today. SO cute. It would have been better if I had never known of their existence... Like when Twilite Moon found me. And, Serena & Lily. Come on! I have so much to be grateful for. Stop trying to make me discontent!

Leave it to the Mexicans

Stop trying to make your own Mole sauce. Leave it to the folks who know how to really make it. I just got a jar of Mole paste from the Mexican aisle of the supermarket. WOW. It is so tasty. Just like at my favorite Mexican restaurant, El Ateno. Save some time (a meal with this takes about 20 minutes!) & money (the jar was less than $3, and it will last me a long time.) Next time you are out, buy some Dona Maria condiment.

My kids even love this stuff. We are eating it regularly now.