{farmhouse_flowers}

Eat, Sleep, Breathe...

HOCKEY

He's on the Mite Green team.
A member of the Everest Flames.
He has 8am games on the weekend.  (WhAt?!)

It's so much fun watching these little guys zoom around on the ice.
We go to open skate every Sunday night.

We're waiting (im)patiently for the pond to freeze over.
Then Todd will go to work, setting it up for hockey.
Fun just across the street from us.  :D

SWIM




This last photo is one of my new favorites.
I look at her, only 8 years old, doing something she loves.
She'd grow gills & fins if she could.

I can't believe my baby is 8 years old.
Time really does fly.

***

So...
This is where we are, seemingly 24x7.
When we're not on ice, we're in the pool.

Not much time to come up for a breather, but we love it.

Superheroes - Halloween 2007

Happy Halloween to everyone!

I don't have time to post much as I'm in between doorbell-rings.  :D

Enter the Superheroes:

I like to call this first one "What-EVER". 
Wonder Woman was not into having pictures taken at first.

Then I made her laugh.  (I've still got IT!)

Superman LOVED his costume this year!

This is his tough-guy face.  :D

Little Superman was more interested in playing with toys.
He doesn't know he now gets his own "special" 1x1 session.

I was SHOCKED that Superman allowed this type of behavior.

It's one of my favorites.
(Even though Wonder Woman was humoring me.)

If I ever dig out of this mess I'm in, I will have lots more to post!

Pumpkin Throwing 101

We visited the pumpkin patch a week ago (Wilke's Sweet Acres), with my good friend Sue & her (2) daughters.

Kole was NOT into having his photo taken.
I tried to get him to stand still, even smile, for one photo.
Just give me ONE.
Is one measly photo too much to ask?  LOL

Apparently so...

He would much, MUCH rather throw pumpkins.
Yes.
Throw pumpkins.
See evidence in Exhibit A below:

Yes, I was mortified.

Note the two older children cooperated, for the most part.

The kids fed the goats, played with Buster, the dog, went through the corn maze, jumped on old tires, played with toy tractors & went on a long, wonderful hay ride.

We stayed way too late.  It was getting dark!

It was worth it though.

Thank you for all of the comments regarding Sydnie.
I appreciate every single one of them.

Dance Among the Stars

little one.  Dance among the stars.

Sydnie Larson - age 5

If ever there was a face of an angel, this is one.
Sydnie was diagnosed with rhadbomyosarcoma at age 3.
She passed away at home early this morning.

Our best friends are her aunt & uncle.
Please keep Sydnie's family in your thoughts & prayers.

Where in the World is Jenny?

It's time for another guessing game!

I just got home from spending the day with an incredibly talented woman.
Many of you "know" her.
She is one of the nicest, most genuine people I know.

We spent the day driving around the countryside looking for red barns.
She was amazed by the corn fields.
And our glorious Wisconsin fall color.
All of the trees aflame.
(It's like they knew she was visiting me THIS week.)

I pulled over on the side of the highway just for her.
So she could take pictures of winding trails into the trees.
And of red barns.
And of pumpkins.
Really BIG pumpkins.
Pumpkins bigger than HER.  (She's so darn petite.)
But I still like her.

We even trespassed. [gasp]
Well...technically, SHE trespassed.
I was just the innocent driver.  [wink*wink]

Tomorrow we go to  Door County .
I can't wait to see it through her lens!    

Our Everyday...

With big sister & big brother in school all day, we have time for a little of this...

and a little of this...

Note:  The black playground stuff is recycled rubber tires.
Didn't want anyone to think I make my 2 yr old play on rocks.

Note2: Yes, we have MANY diggers.  Wanna come play?

Sometimes, we even do a little of this...

The 8 yr old jumps. 
The 5 yr old jumps.
The 2 yr old jumps.
The 34 yr old does NOT jump.

Especially not in Arizona in October.
No way, no how. 
(No matter WHAT some of you might think...)

We had so much fun today, even though our time outside was short.
Because...
NAPS are very important.

Now that Fall is here, I hope to have many more days like this. :)

I think he had fun, also.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?

Flag Football that is...

Meet our team's secret weapon:

Koley & Daddy were on the red team.
Asha, Ryder & Avery (my nephew) were on the yellow team.

I have alot more to share...um...er...right after I find time to edit them.

Here's one more that I love...

I hope the tradition of back-yard flag football continues.
It makes the little one go to bed at a reasonable time. :D

Harvest/Halloween Decorating & Studio Calico...

The weather is finally getting to where I like it...60 - 70 degrees.
I know we have some hot & humid days still to come, but I'm enjoying this.

In the spirit of all things Autumn, I started decorating a little early.

My mom & I went to Buttermilk Creek's Harvest Open House yesterday.

We found some cute things.  [insert BIG grin here]

Note:  This is just one area.  I'll wait to do the rest.

Michele , here is the hutch I was talking about.
I need to find a few more things to finish it off.  More pics to come.

The brown bag package sitting front & center is from a new kit club called Studio Calico.
Check them out & let me know what you think.

I am all about the packaging & the girls from Studio Calico certainly delivered.
They also included a classy Thank You note for ordering their first kit.
(That scores big points with me...)

I can't wait to play with September's kit: In Session.
I also ordered the Math Drill add-on kit, which looks fun.

If only there were more hours in the day...

Oh.
I cannot forget to give another big THANK YOU to the best photography teacher, ever.
Wendy Schulz is her name. 
Maybe you've heard of her?  LOL
Without Wendy, I wouldn't have been able to get the above photo OUT of my camera.
Heh.
(Let's just call them "technical issues", not User Error.)

Speaking of Wendy, I can't wait to get Flashed by her in October.
She's holding a workshop in Ar-i-zo-na.  In October.
She has ONE spot left.
I can pretty much guarantee a great time will be had.
And we might all even learn something.  :D

Check out her "a Picture a Day" HERE.
Prepare to be amazed.   

Now...How Do I Get Out of This One?

I've been tagged by Stephanie and Julie to list 8 interesting things about myself.
I've thought & thought about this, but can't come up with anything!
Seriously.
8 obsessive/anal-retentive/slightly screwy things?  Yes.  Without a doubt.
I could probably write a book.
But, things that someone else would find interesting?  Nope.

I really enjoy reading everyone else's tags though, so I guess I should get on it.

In the meantime...
I tag anyone reading this!

I've Met Bread Smarter Than You...

Just some random kid bits to share today...

Asha was watching The Suite Life of Zach and Cody earlier today.
One of the girls made this comment to another girl:
"I've met bread smarter than you!"

Ash & I thought this was THE funniest thing.
It cracked us up!

(Yes, she does have food in her mouth here.)  :D

(Photo taken one week ago.  Fun with new friends!)

Tonight we made a quick run to Target to buy a birthday gift.
We stopped in the backpack/lunch bag aisle to take a peek.
(If you don't get there early, they're G-O-N-E.)

Ryder spied a Spider-Man thermos type thing.
Before I could say Yes (or No), he said:
"Well, I put the straw in my mouth already so now we have to buy it."
ewww!

Don't you just hate parents who don't watch their children in stores?
(Looking  behind me to see who  "they" could be talking about...)

Speaking of not watching my children...

This little bugger is quick.
Lightning quick.

So quick in fact, that at Subway tonight, he grabbed an empty soda cup by the cash register & made a beeline for the soda machine.
He pressed the cup against the dispenser & some soda sloshed out before we could grab him.

Yes.
He truly is that quick.
Anyone who has met him knows just how busy & fast he is.

I always say he's "silent but sneaky".  LOL
When I look at his little face though, I have a hard time being mad.

(Note:  Rydie evaded the camera once again.  More on him later.)