Just chillin'

Jacob was going through his book looking for extra arrowpoints to earn for cub scouts when he came across Daddy's editorial note about his cat.

Didn't realize it was plaid day....

Emily after a birthday party Friday.....they did make-up, nails etc. 

Thanks grandpa for the hat!  It's awesome. 



Tara's sketch of the other half of Salena Gomez



Thanks Diana for the cute clothes. 

We've just had a relaxing weekend.  I'm not really quite sure what happened this week.  I think it's best to forget anyway......Just kidding!

Jacob is learning how to fish in scouts.  They learned how to tie their hooks and cast last week.  Only once got it stuck in the tree.  Next week they are actually going to the water.

The girls got to visit the ambulance from Children's hospital in the church parking lot and learned about first aid.  I had some inservice days afterschool this week, was volunteered to head up the reflections contest for PTA.  How do you say No to the principal?  We are getting 3 more new students in our class.  I am gonna need a back brace for all this lifting in and out of strollers and high chairs.  I should keep track of how many times I say "ugh" during the day. 

I was too tired to get out of bed Saturday morning which put me way behind on the weekend work.  I see now how people can start to "not care" about housework.  We ate chinese take out on Friday, I thought it would be easier than cooking something......but, it made Gene sick Friday and most of Saturday.....which ended up being not easier.  Oops!

Book club book this month is "The Chosen" didn't have a hard copy at the library so am listening to books on CD in the car.  All the kids love it!  They can't wait to hear the next part of the story. I never would have thought they'd chose that over music. 

"Blink".... and another week ....gone.

No Wii today....we are playing wii resort a different way.  Sky diving practice for Jacob and Tara.

Emily was recovering from a sore tummy.....so, watched from a little distance away.  The best part is when the ball rolled out from underneath them.

Jacob earned his AR hat from reading over 100 books and getting over 50 AR points.  He has to take a test after each book and it earns him points.  He's a machine!

It downpoured on Monday ....we had no school for labor day.  The girls wanted to play in the rain.  They put on jackets and got umbrellas.  I told them that was not "playing in the rain"....so, I told them to go with  no shoes and no other protection.  They tiptoed out and then I said "you have to scream and run around."  Once they got started, they didn't stop. It was like hitting the release valve.....now they are truly experienced rain players.

Notice all the dead plants on my deck.  We haven't had rain for a long time. 
Everyone's keeping their grades up.  Emily made a project this week, a plant cell (made from a cake)  Fruit by the foot=cell membrane, green mike and ikes=chloroplast, jumbo marshmellow= nucleus, fruit snacks=mitochondria.......we ate it before I realized we didn't get a picture yet.  OOOPS!

Some things have changed

Emily''s chalk drawing of the last unicorn (with reflection in pool of water)

Jacob's description of self...joyful, adventurous, curious, obedient and brave.

Jacob is now officially a Wolf......Most exciting: he cooked a meal outdoors

Most frustrating: he did a backward roll.

As much as we have loved having a few good couches that were free from family, we thought it was time to move on and get some that I didn't need a ladder to climb out of  ( I know I'm not supposed to end in a preposition, but here it is...I'm too tired to think of another way to put it.)

Emily was the only one sad and wanted pictures of the old ones....but, here is the new one.

Good thing:  Everyone fits and 4 recliners built in.

Bad thing:  No more eating dinner infront of the tv on Friday nights. 

                                  All of you are invited to come and see it in person any time you like. 

Tuesday I had book club.  We read "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah...it was a hard book to read as a mom....but, I had some very insightful moments while reading it.  If you are hot and need to think about snow and bitter cold, this is a good book. 
Weds. night Jacob recieved his wolf award at pack meeting.  Friday we had Bingo night at church.  We exchanged our used items for others used items.  We "won" banana grams (the game), a cooler, a pitcher, a purse and some more cars.  Yay!  Saturday Bennett came to visit AND conveniently it was his birthday...so, we had pizza and cake and games.  We are glad it's our day of rest and
we are so glad we have Monday with no school or work.  All our Saturday chores are done and we can just play.