School Days

Brother - "I am glad that I am going to school now so that I can learn stuff."

Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Brother started school, so we officially have a kindergartner on our hands! How old does that make us?? Well, we won't talk about that... He was very excited to ride the school bus, I think more so than actually going to school. Hmmm...definitely a boy car/truck/motor vehicle thing. I took the day off so that I could document this grand day.

Here he is waiting for the school bus. I asked him if he wanted me to take his picture, but he said no. However, mom always rules, so here he is. Looking very smart I might add.

Again waiting for the bus. It was a little late, however, that is expected on the first day. I am sure that there were several parents out taking pictures and meeting the bus driver. Brother was getting very concerned and nervous as he waited.

Yea, it finally arrived! Brother is all business as he gets on the bus.

This is Brother with his bus driver, Mickey. At least she looks to be under 75 years old...That must be a good sign...

After he got on the bus, Bugs and I got in the car and made a mad dash to the school. Hey, at least in my credit I didn't follow behind it to school. I was thinking that I was a little nuts, but that subsided when I saw the mob of other mothers waiting with their cameras for the school buses to arrive.

Here he is getting off the bus at school. At this point there may have been a tear forming in my eye, but that is strictly rumour. Brother is all business today. He waived at me when he got off the bus, but he proceeded to walk right past me to his classroom. Very intense.

Here is Brother trying to pose for a picture with Bugs. However, she was way to busy with all of the activity going on to even think about standing still. Notice her 'slide out of his grip by twisting my wrist' move she is doing. Very effective.

Ahhhh...the teacher tries to 'coral' the kids by having them line up against the wall. She looks pretty threatening with her teddy bear.

She tells the kids to waive to their parents and tell them good bye.

However, Brother wants to get on with business, so he only waived for a second. He is now ready to get moving. Too bad he is being held up by the cute, loving children waiving to their parents and posing for pictures. Brother happened to ask me earlier why I was taking so many picture of him. Because I am the mom, that's why!

They start to file into the classroom. Good bye! Have a nice day!

Good...bye....

Funny, I get the feeling that they don't want the parents to go into the classroom today, as we were stranded outside...Hmmm...

That is all of the pictures I have. Bugs and I picked him up a few hours later, just long enough for us to go grocery shopping. I had brought my camera with me when we picked him up, but with all of the parents there and juggling Bugs (who thought she owned the place), the camera never came on. Maybe another time...

Little Scholar

We went to "Meet the Teacher Night" at Brother's school the other night. We got to find his classroom (pointing out landmarks along the way including bathrooms and water fountains...very important) and meet his new teacher. He was very excited, but I think someone else might have been more excited...

It seems that Bugs is ready to start school too! She was very interested in everything and didn't want to leave...

And Do You Know What?

Brother talks, nonstop. I think that he just likes to hear himself talk. His favorite phase is "do you know what?" This is how a typical conversation goes:

Brother - "Do you know what?"
Mommy - "What."
Brother - "Spider man is a really good fighter. And do you know what?"
Mommy - "What."
Brother - "He uses his web and flies through the air. And do you know what?"
Mommy - "What."
Brother - "My friend says that vampires really do exist, and he knows because he is in first grade. And do you know what?"
Mommy - "What."
Brother - "If you play this skateboard game, you can jump really high and make flips. And do you know what?"
Mommy - "What."

I could keep going, but I don't believe that there is enough storage space on my blog.

Happy Birthday Aunt S!

It was Aunt S's birthday yesterday (Daddy's sister). Most of the family got together to celebrate with her and eat lots of CAKE! Who doesn't like cake?! It was her 30-ish birthday (a girl never tells), but if you ask her, the magic age is 14. Hmmm...maybe we should have gotten her that barbie doll that Brother picked out...

Happy Birthday and Lookin Good!

How Does Your Garden Grow

Papa L and Grandma C's garden. It is very nice with lots of good stuff in it. Different types of peppers and tomatoes seem to be the majority with various other items intermingled. Yes, we are very envious. I could post a picture of my fried up flowers (from the extreme heat) to prove my point, but that would be too depressing. Good thing grandma and grandpa share!

Crazy Hair

Our crazy hair Bugs. She has to wear some sort of pony tail to keep the hair out of her eyes. Barrettes are a no-no, since small items are still a magnet to her mouth. Brother always wants her to have pig tails. He says they make her look cute (he is usually concerned with how she looks). Hopefully she will appreciate her natural ability to grow thick hair when she get older. For right now, we just call her Crazy Hair.

This photo was taken after the pony tail was taken out of her hair before bed time. In the mornings, we can't see her face since her hair usually covers it.

Tender Moment

How sweet is this picture. This is why I love the zoom on my camera. You can capture unexpected sweet, tender moments when no one is looking.

Grandma C. and Bugs

When I grow up...

Brother talking to Mommy:

"When you and Daddy grow up, you are going to be grandparents."

Sweet Tooth

I was busy baking this weekend for a friends baby shower. Of course I had to make cupcakes, my new "signature" piece. They are so much fun, I just love to make them! They are also very yummy...

I did have some help. Or should I say, I had some help licking the beaters...

I also attempted to make my first diaper cake. It turned out pretty well I think. Brother rolled some diapers for me and was a big help. He is a very good helper.

Picking Favorites

Brother - "I love you mommy."
Mommy - "I love you to."
Brother - "Do you know who I love the best?"
Mommy - "Who?"
Brother - "Bugs, because she's the funniest."

4th Of July Fun

We had a great Fourth of July spending time with friends and family. We first made a pit stop at a friends house for some games and BBQ. We had fun visiting with all of our friends and watching the kids play.




We then stopped by our Aunts house to visit with family and have some firework fun. Papa helped cover Bugs ears from the loud fireworks.

What a fun day!

Visual Aid

Mommy - "Do you want a tortilla with dinner?"
Brother - "What is a tortilla?"
Mommy - "You know, a flour tortilla."
Brother - "Oh, I don't like flour."

Mommy shows brother the tortilla.
Brother - "I like those."

Model Behavior

It is hard to find good models who will work with you...

Smile pretty for the camera! Good, good...Now turn your hands inward...Perfect...

Wait, where are you going? We're not done yet!

New Hobby

I began to learn how to knit about 6 months ago, and I love it. I am quite the nerd, taking my knitting to soccer practice, t-ball games, family gatherings. Daddy says that I look like a little old lady, so I just give him a sweet smile.

I just finished this panel for a bag I am doing. Whoo Hoooo! Looks good, doesn't it! Now I only need to knit three more...knit the handle...sew them together...line the bottom...and that's it!

Hmmmm......

They Don't Forget A Thing

In the car...
Mommy - "What did you do today?"
Brother - "You said that you weren't going to ask me that until I started school."

Was that the actual deal? Funny how I don't recall that...

Firefighter Daddy

Daddy was sent out to help control some wild land grass fires in and around our neck of the woods. He was gone for a few days and we sure did miss him. Lucky for us he brought his camera along.

Helicopter dropping some water on the fire site.

Pretty sad at the devastation that fires can cause.

The guys slept next to the fire sight to make sure that it didn't flare up again (notice the charred grounds in the distance)

Some guys slept on the actual rigs themselves (there was some talk about snakes...)

Pretty good looking crew.

Onion Breath

While halfway done with his "take out dinner" burrito...
Brother - "This burrito has onions on it."
Mommy - "You like onions."
Brother - "No I don't."
Mommy - "Do you like the burrito?"
Brother - "Yes, it is good."
Mommy - "I think that you just don't like onions on your hamburgers."
(Bad, I know...)
Brother - while looking at his burrito quizzingly, "Oh."

Who Wants A Beer?

While picking up dinner at the "drive thru" window last night, Brother exclaimed "They are going to be rich. Look at all of the money they have!" This was of course after I gave them all of our money...

Anyway, this reminded me of a time when I was picking up dinner a few years back (the domestic diva that I am). Brother was with me and he was somewhere between 2-3 years old. I was ordering into the microphone and Brother kept yelling from his car seat, "I want some beer! Did you get me some beer!"...He also was frantic when we were at the window to make sure that I got him some "beer". Of course at that time, my car was pretty trashed inside (by the way, who gets into my car and throws paper and clothes on the floor and garbage all around?? I would really like to find out who they are), so needless to say, I was VERY embarrassed. I figured the high school girl working there must have thought that I was a white trash mom that feeds my toddler beer and lives out of my filthy car (we probably could have survived a few days in the car...It doesn't look like that anymore of course...)

Also, just in case it wasn't obvious, Brother was asking for ROOT BEER...

Holding Hands

Before Bugs really started walking, she would always be looking for a hand to hold. Because she was unsure of her footing, she wanted the security of Mommy's or Daddy's hand. Ever since she has really taken off on her own, a few months ago, she has become very independent and WILL NOT take a hold of the offered hand. Normally when we offer her a hand, we get the 'cold shoulder turn brush off'.

Today, I offered her a hand as I was leading her out of her room and down the hall, she actually took it! She held my hand all the way to our destination, the living room. Actually, whenever I offered her a hand today (going in and out of the house, being led out of the kitchen so I could finish unloading the dishwasher...) she took it. It was so sweet and gentle. Her very independent nature will only get more pronounced with time, so I need to capture and cherish these fleeting moments when they are offered as I am not sure what tomorrow will bring...

They Learn Fast

In the car...
Brother - "I know how you can see Bugs."
Mommy - "You mean I can see her in the rear view mirror?"
Brother - "No, you have eyes in the back (of your head)."

Yes. I. Do.

Vacation!

We went on a family vacation about a month ago to visit some of Mommy's family. We had a great time visiting with everyone and the kids kept entertained as well (as the pictures below will show). We also visited some of Daddy's family, however, we had forgotten to bring the camera. It was really too bad, because we had a great time at dinner being silly (Brother made everyone put stickers on their foreheads that the waitress had given him. Bugs really got into this and started putting stickers in her hair by herself! She really knows when she is being a crackup.) We had a lot of fun and the kids can't wait to go back.

Bugs & Brother with Uncle D and Cousin B.

Hello, anybody? Can you see me down here?

Bugs driving the tractor.

Uncle D. giving Brother and Bugs a ride.

We got to go and visit the animals at the farm. One of the horses broke through the fence and was running around wild. We believe that the gun shots heard from a neighboring farm spooked him. The stable crew got a hold of him and brought him to the barn. Lots of excitement.

Bugs telling Daddy secrets.

Brother posing with a pretty flower.

Bugs has a pretty flower also!

We had a lot of fun on vacation!