Rainy Days

When it rains, arts & crafts are essential, especially markers.






Jacqui created this cutout of herself, totally unprompted. She even traced her hands & feet to use!

Angelina Ballerina Video

Here's Jacqui's ballet video. It's edited from 10 min to less than 2. Througout the dance, older ballerinas tell the story of Angelina Ballerina and the little girls reenact the story.

Angelina Ballerina

This week, JBird went to ballet camp. Today was the recital. I took video AND pictures, while balancing a very tired toddler. Here's some pictures from the recital today. I'll do video tomorrow.

Footloose & Fancyfree

The kids had a great time at the playground the other day.

Pool Video

Hulk & Little Hulk

Hunter...I mean, Hulk, and his girlfriend.

Then there was Little Hulk, AKA Leigh.

VIDEO!

More superheros!

We are IN to superheros! Hunter gave JBird this Wonder Woman costume and she clearly LOVES it! Check out Hunter's Wonder Woman bracelet and hammer (his superhero tool).

As Julie says, Cameron is practicing for the Circus Equestrian event in the Beijing Olympics.

Chapter 3: Homestudy

Yesterday we had our first of 3 homestudy meetings. We met with our social worker from Lutheran Family Services and went over the basics. We had to submit paperwork prior to our meeting- including an autobiography each. After answering all their questions, mine was 6 pages long. Even I was bored writing about my life! That was a painful assignment. I pity her reading those!

p.s. I've been working on uploading video, but to no avail! They will be outdated by the time they are posted, but I WILL have video.

The Unexplainable

JBird drew a rose. Cameron was playing 'hide & seek'.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy, Grandad & Grandpa!

Hugs & kisses to you all!

Jacqueline Allison Elizabeth Paul

Jacqui decided a while ago that her middle name is "Allison". I have no idea where she comes up with this stuff. Nonetheless, she is proficient at spelling Allison rather than Elizabeth. In fact, when we were in WI, she was playing with Tressa one afternoon. I heard Tressa call "Allison". And I said to Tressa "her name is Jacqueline, I'm Allison." And she said "No." JBird had a funny look on her face and actually said "Here, I'm Allison."

She's also into spelling words on her own, hence the Happey & Spankey sign on the washer to denote their bedroom. We all had to wear name tags around the house that she made for us. Obviously, Happy & Spanky wouldn't go for it, so the sign on the washer was the next best thing.

Hot springs, VA

We're in Hot Springs, VA for the weekend. We're staying at an amazing hotel (courtesy of MTF). Dave's working the convention in the mornings and we're playing all day long at the pool, playground, gardens, etc. I forgot my camera, so I have a photo from the Homestead's website. This really is where we are for the weekend!

Smoke

Today we had LOTS of smoke hanging over the city, as if the fire in the eastern part of the state was right around the corner. It smelled like a forest fire too. It was unreal! I guess that's what my California friends experienced last year! Because the air quality was so poor, the kids couldn't go outside to play today. Instead, it was a lazy afternoon.

Milk Allergy: Confirmed

At lunch yesterday Cameron grabbed the remainder of JBird's cheese stick. He took a bite and gave the rest to Deane. There was no immediate reaction so we thought we were in the clear. He woke up from his nap with such a bad rash all over his body it looked like he was severly sunburned and was a fiend scratching everything. Deane picked him up out of the crib and he vomitted profusely.

The pediatrician said some children react immediately (like Jacqueline) and others reaction later. Obviously, Cameron is the latter.

He's fine now.

I could just eat him up!

My baby is still ONE! (Don't say the t-w-o word.)

Superheros!

Faster than a speeding bullet...
Stronger than a locomotive...

Captain Wheeze & Princess Sneeze save the day!

Weirdness

Sometimes my kids do the weirdest stuff.

A place for everything...

Check out where Cameron puts his bananas and milk.

There's a heat wave going on here for the next 8 days! We'll be spending a lot of time at the pool.

Neighborhood Fun

Our evenings consist of playing with our neighbors until the kids are so worn out, they crash into bed. Elise, who is 11, is sooooo good with all the little ones.