Happy 60th to my Mom!

We had a joint party this year for my mom and her twin.

My parents and their grandkids:

 The big kids are a couple of my aunt's grandkids, the littles are my mom's:

 my boys enjoying the view and some good food.

 Woo hoo!!

Henry says I don't know what this is:

but I love it anyway:

Home Sweet Home

And...September's family picture!

And reason number 32 why we need a tripod....this is the view from the back of Ed's truck.

Waaay back in August,

we got to go to an amazing end-of-summer dinner:

 awesome food, old friends, so fun

ended up around the campfire.

Grandma stopped by to say hi

and didn't take Henry home with her:

it's a hard life.

good stuff.

I read my sister's blog and found out I went on trips I didn't blog about and therefore don't even remember.    And this is why I blog.  I have apparently lost 90% of my brain function in the last ten years and now, thanks to blogger, I can pretend I'm still running on at least half capacity.  So I am searching my picture folders and hoping to catch up.  Until then, here's where I'm at.  I am all filled up on kid love and house love these days.  Seriously.  I love this little house.  And the people who live here. I had a wedding the other day and Ed took the kids to his parents and then ended up fishing and didn't get home till really late.  I got home and cleaned dishes for two hours and then crawled off to bed.  And then I laid there and thought about how much I was missing my people.  And finally I heard them come in and toddle off to bed and I hopped up to tuck them in and every one of them gave me a huge hug and a huge smile and everyone of them (except Henry) asked me immediately how my day was.  And I went back to bed and couldn't fall asleep because I was just filled up with their goodness.  

These are good times.  We sit through freezing rain to watch Jack play football, we listen to Ava pound away at the piano, we forget to do homework, forgot to go to the bathroom, forget to buy groceries, we get sad when Ed travels, we spend whole days doing laundry and we clean up the same toys every night.  But when I take two seconds to look around, I am always overwhelmed with the goodness of our life.  I look at my kids snuggling together or chatting at the table or giggling in the car and I can't even believe they are mine.  They are so funny and sweet and thoughtful and so.much.more than we deserve. 

And here's a Jack funny I don't want to forget.  I left Ava and Jack here for a bit while I was across the street at the neighbor's and I said they could have a snack while I was gone.  And they had a granola bar and a bag of chips and some crackers.  And so when I got home I started in on a lecture that included, I'm sure, some wise words and also me saying "on what planet is a granola bar, and chips, and crackers a snack?"  To which Jack gave me a hopeful smile and said, "California?"  

And, finally, what Henry's up to:

on the run, in his birthday suit, with buddy and a tractor.  

Good times.  Crazy times.  But very good.

Piano!

Ava started piano last week and we (mostly me and her!) are so excited!  I'm hoping she can teach me something soon...I never got past Heart and Soul!

Ed was in sunny California this week while we were here:

 freezing our tooshies and watching the bubba play some football:

Ava said, "I'm jealous of dad but I miss him at the same time."  I hear ya sister.

Pretzeltime

Last week I had to make a big batch of pretzel dough for Jack's class to make pretzels with...and then Jack got the flu and didn't even get to go to school for pretzel day!  So we tried again tonight with some pretty good success.  Those babies taste like sweet bread.  I'm thinking next time we add some chocolate chips!

Wallowas!

Last weekend we headed to the Wah-lalas (as Jemma says).  After a week of battling the flu, it was a well deserved trip (the super curvy drive, not so much).  

First roadside potty stop for the little man:

Taking a curve break at the river:

Skipped out of school early and didn't bother to take off the tie!

 and what's that happening behind him there?

just another potty break (and some chit chat):

 (this series of shots pleases me so much...this life we lead just cracks me up.)

First place they head when we arrive?  The river!

 and they don't leave till dark!

The kids were totally wiped by day two, so while the littles napped, we took Ava to town for some tasty drinks and soaked up the sun:

We came back to find the go-cart track was open for one last day:

 so I drug Jack out of bed for a ride.  His only complaint?  I drove too slow!

Art in the sun with Grandma:

The annual art show!

 Jemma's face in both of these shots is just priceless.  The girl was so so pleased to be a part of everything this year.  She is growing up!

The kiddie clan:

We love this place.  

And coming here with the whole family is the best thing I could wish for my kids...growing up with their cousins, the people who love them best.

well then.

I ran through my usual routine this morning...took the kids to school, ran an errand, went to the gym.  Finished my workout and looked down and realized my pants were on inside out.  Came home and finally hung up the mirror in my bedroom.  Sometimes procrastination just kills ya.

In other news, we are done with the flu although the memory lingers on.  Today was cleaning day and as I was taking Jem's sheets off to wash them, she came running in and hollered, "but I didn't even throw up on them!"  And later she sniffed the smell of bleach in the air and said, "it smells like throw up."  My little Pavlov's dog.

Football!

Jack's been waiting a long time to be old enough to play football and his first game happened in the middle of a freak dust/wind storm.  We left the house in perfectly nice weather and got to the field in time for this insane storm...it was hard to see across the field!

My boy on the run:

That's not snow, it's dirt!:

He was great.  He threw up later but he was great!

Good times.

I'm guessing you already know this, but crossing your fingers apparently does not keep the stomach flu away.  What?  So we all got it.  One after another.  It's been the sort of week where I can honestly say the highlight of it has been potty training Henry.

It's time....

Oh Henry.

First, can I say that potty chairs have improved immensely from my first go around with Ava?  This thing has a padded seat and car sounds!

Second, day one was a total success.  It took him all of five minutes to figure out the more he goes, the more chocolate he gets.  And, in case you can't tell, he loves his chocolate.

And third, that face makes potty training almost bearable.

making pizza!

Poor girl followed this up with the most violent flu bug I have ever seen.  Fingers crossed that she's the only one.

Oh the Joy!

Heading off to her first ever non-family birthday party!