Swimming is Exhausting...

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The boy and his Daddy went swimming while the babies napped. Swimming is hard hard work. :)

Also these:

 Sometimes we don't get out of our jammies. And sometimes yogurt has been spread from heck to breakfast.

Lost our Marbles....

150/365

My kids love this thing.

Persistance, thy name be Moonpie...

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Last night this little goober was playing with this farm set so happily. I didn't want to interrupt to put him to bed. He kind of freaked about having to stop. He wanted the fun to go on and on. 

This morning he woke up before everyone else and insisted he play with this first thing. He is persistent. He likes things in their place, and he isn't forgetting 

I love this little persistent bug. He gives the best hugs and even gave me butterfly kisses the other day. Awwww....It was too cute for words. Plus, he likes things in their place which means he is my best helper when it comes to put away.

I love this boy.

 I liked this picture of Ellie with the kids feet under the table. I was telling J how I was really enjoying black and white photography but it's hard to know if I am doing it "right". I guess I want to feel purposeful in what I do and that is not always the case. I showed J this picture and he says, "I like black and white photography. It makes things more interesting. It's especially important when it's a dog because they can only see in black and white. It's only fair."
So I posted both to be fair.

All about the tu tu.

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Doodle was having a melt down. I took her into her room and looked in the closet for a long lost toy that might make her happy when she saw this outfit. That was it. It was on. Tu tu love.

Sneaking up on the joy...

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The kids were down the hall having a giggle fit. I tried to sneak up on the action but that never works. The boy was jumping out of the box and the twins thought that was the most funny thing ever!

I love Moonpie's face in this. 

It's hot. Too hot. I do not like Summer and it is here early and in full force.

Dried up...

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The last few days have been lacking in sleep. I am hoping I get some tonight. It's getting hot and I am already out of ideas of things for the kids to do in the house. Mostly because I am trying to get organized and the idea of a bigger mess on top of an organizing mess is just a huge ol mess. I am also feeling like I am on a blah when it comes to pictures. I need ideas or inspiration or something.
Anywhoo...
Dry play pools are not as much fun.

Sometimes when Ellie looks at me I know she is thinking, "Why would you live someplace this hot?" and I'm like, "I know right? Buckle up pup."

Little miss...

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 I did doodle's hair for church. She has been rocking a mullet for a long while. I wasn't sure how it would look but her little pig tails brought me such joy. 

Also, we got a new dog. Her name is Ellie. She is already potty trained and although she misses her old family she is doing really well. We are excited to have a new family member.

PS. Isn't her dress to die for? I love it.

Sunset

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Spent the day with dear friends.  J took this with my phone.  Only pic I got of the whole day. The sunset was awesome. Never as awesome in pictures and certainly not on my phone. Oh well. We had a great day. 

And it came to pass...

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After a bath in the washing machine.

 On this day a small child will offer to clean a toilet. Putrid water will rain down from a T-Rex. All of the house will know the spray.

Mothers will cry "Where is the time to prepare? I was to make merry this holiday with my kinsfolk, but my time to prepare has been spent on baths and wipes of clorox. Behold steam mops and washing machines are my task masters. 

But verily time is fleeting and guests arrive herewith. 

To the movie featuring Muppets we will go and the house will remain a mess.  

 

Baths for everyone!

Watching sheriff Callie while mom mops. 

Helpers...

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I had some help organizing the pantry. Did you know fruit leather could be so messy? I did.

Play dough day...

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The boy asked me to take a picture of them together. I liked this one best.

I need good ideas to keep these monsters busy. Summer may be long and lacking in naps and I need some sure fire sanity savers. Any ideas?

Monsters...

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We had a rough day. Sad, lacking in naps and abounding in headache.

There may be molars trying to push their way through?

Regardless. I am tired. 

I had quite an epiphany about hope while I was brushing my teeth but alas, I have the memory of a gnat.
Apparently, brushing my teeth gives me hope. I should do it more often.

Maybe it will come back to me. 

Then again, maybe not.

Good works

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We will not be back any time soon.  *Collective sigh of relief from all Bahama bucks workers.* They did fill thier warm fuzzy jar with good works and I'm so very proud.  They did great and they will get a different less blue and less messy and less melty treat in the future. :)

Problems focusing...

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I laid down on the floor to take a picture of Moonpie...

 

But this is what happens when I lay down on the floor.

And I have the audacity to wonder why pictures are not laser sharp?

The boy wanted to take my picture though so I helped him get it all set up and this.

It's a fair representation, wouldn't you say? I think a future artist is budding. He was so cute. He came running over to see the picture. He looked so excited and then it turned to confusion. "What happened??"

Also my bestie came over and talked with me and I love her. 

Happy Sabbath one and all.

pirate toy

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We built a desk and moved rooms but still had a little time to play with a long lost pirate toy that surfaced in the mess.

New Table...

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We got a new table for the kitchen!

I want to paint it a fun color. What do you think?

Simply Irresistable...

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 I just love these two. Even when they come in every morning after I have made my bed and destroyed the pillows. 

They are getting to be fun enough that they keep big brother occupied and it's just so fun to watch them all become friends. I hope they stay friends. My very favorite people ever should all be friends afterall. It only stands to reason.

Hide and seek

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Who is hiding from mama? Who could it be?

Mama's don't let your babies...

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I am missing the blanket. I am missing the naps, but I think we are starting to settle into this new routine of ours. He only asks for his blanket once a day now. I only wish I could give it to him two or three times a day now. Baby steps.

Today he took me to his pretend farm. (He wanted to be sure I knew it was pretend. Maybe he realizes there was a time I had a vivid imagination and he doesn't want me to get lost.) He showed me his animals and taught me how to brush them. 

In the car he told me all about swimming at the beach. They must be talking about the ocean at school. I would love to take them to the beach. Maybe in another year they would be old enough that it wouldn't frighten me to death. 

Herding cats at the beach sounds awful.

Sanctuary...

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This is probably my favorite part of our new place. I may or may not have been jealous that the kids got a soak and I didn't. 

I'm gonna buy me some quality bubble bath.

Happy Mother's Day?

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The mother seemed happy even if the kid didn't. 

Long long weekend for all. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women I get to learn from. I am thankful for you. Especially that one, up there. 

Thanks mom.

Party Time

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This picture sums up my day.

The man of the house is still sick. Really sick. Like, lots of pain up in here. He's been down for the count. 

I somehow managed to pull off the birthday party with my dad's help. The kids refused to nap. They have been grumpy and into everything and by the end of the day (now) I feel like falling over dead. Already had doodle up and had to rock her back to sleep. Yikes. Hectic day.

But it was fun. The boy had a great party. I think it was everything he hoped it would be. Superheros abound and fun was had by all. 

He told me in the car, "All my friends and woody woodpecker are coming to my party, I can't believe it." He's too funny. 

The family did not disappoint. Thanks guys for coming and making it great!

 The big 04

 I told them to say "Party time" 3000 participation points to The big G over there. Am I right? He's into it!

Birthday boy...

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 My heart is full of gratitude for this little jokester today. He has made my life so much better and harder and everything. I can't believe he is already four. The other day I told him I just wanted him to stay little. He keeps asking me if I want him to stay little and I say yes you are growing up too fast and he says, I'm getting big and I say, I know. I can't keep you small, I can only wish.

Been playing with my new lens and metering. Photography is interesting. It seems like just when you start to think you are getting it you learn something new and feel totally inept all over again. Learning, learning...