Cookie Sales & Tahoe Flashbacks

This week, this little Daisy started her cookie sales. Cookie sales! I still remember walking my neighborhood as a Brownie, convinced we would get to Disneyland if I sold enough. It never happened. Not even close.  But this troop wants an iPad. So, 900 cookie boxes need to get sold.  It will never happen. Not even close. At least we'll have dashed dreams in the same department.

She was ready to sell as soon as she left her Daisy meeting. The next morning we hit the streets. Tip for new Girl Scouts - be the first one to sell in your neighborhood. Winner!

Ford, who sold with us, saddled up to a neighbor we'd never met while he was playing the keyboard. His wife was busy filling out the form, dropping a quick $25 on 5 boxes of cookies. 

Perhaps we should get a stand for our keyboard and let the boy go crazy.

Or we could let him be a professional scooter-er. But only while dressed as Spidey with super Kung-Fu moves. 

Long, long ago, last summer.... we went to Tahoe. 

The cousins got along so well...

There was corn shucking...

Short walks to the lake...

Long floats on the lake...

Rock collecting....

Sand castle making...

Kisses on the beach...

S'mores...

...and intimate sibling conversations in the sun.

Looking at these in the winter makes me yearn for summer! 

Hope you're staying warm! 

1312. heaven being 2 hours away

1313. hot water quick

1314. immune boosters

1315.  a mid-day run

Fordy's First Day of Preschool

Somehow (I blame the little people who have fried my brain) I failed to tell you about Fordy's first day of preschool. Or maybe I did tell you and I don't remember. Either way, you get to see it now! 

He literally ran out the door, ready to go. 

And after seeing sissy's photo shoot on her first day, this was his take on what he was supposed to do. Stand in front of the fountain and make faces. 

Hmmm. We're working on this...

He seems so old... and so ready to go.

So I  was so excited to hear today, while I let him brush my teeth for a minute, that he's never ever leaving me. 

 Me : You are really good at this. Maybe you should be a dentist.

Ford : Mom! You aren't listening to me! I'm not going to be a dentist! I'm never leaving you!

So, take note. No getting married and no dentist. 

I assured him he could stay with me forever but did need to get a job.

I'm sure that's the last we'll ever talk about that.

And by the time his first day was over, he had changed into his super costume ("It's just me, mom. I'm super but I'm not superman!") and we picked up Abby from school this way in case she needed help.

1308. plastic cups in the bottom drawer

1309. socks! shoes! 

1310. getting her own water

1311. impromptu sundae

Dirty, Exhausted and Happy

This was taken this summer, but was often my POV.

I'd look over while doing dishes and see this guy, trying to wash his hands without pants on. 

I mean, really?

Shoes but no pants. 

It was a daily occurrence.

The kids and I had a very hot (over 100 degrees everyday) but very fun experience at Base Camp, our church's VBS this summer. We got to know some families at church and spend time learning crazy hand moves to funny songs.  We were up early and by noon felt like we had lived 2 full days. 

Dirty, exhausted and happy.

Go team blue! Team Kinder was, by far, the most fun group. They kept up with the big kids, had good attitudes and worked hard. 

Putting the S (science) in BASE camp -- sweaty goggles while these kids made lava lamps.

And finally - the heat getting to them. 

Abby and cousin Abram.

This guy looked like this every day at noon.

Nothing like reliving summer memories as we head toward Thanksgiving!

1304. our church community

1305. deciding to serve

1306. feeling connected

1307. others filling in with abby when i couldn't

Never Getting Married

This guy.

Killing me lately.

Such a big guy ("Mom. Your hair doesn't look crazy. You look beautiful.")

and yet so little ("Mooooom! Abby isn't including meeeeeee!")

I told him he'll make a great husband someday. 

"I'm always going to live with you, mom. With my whole family. I'm not getting married."

Let it be. 

Amen.

"Sounds good, Fordy! Stay with me always."

"Are you teasing, mom? Mom? Are you? Are you teasing? Sometime you tease me."

I just wanna eat him up.

And have him stay with us forever.

Will someone please alert the fairies that they are doing a stinky job of maintaining the fairy tree?

Thank you.

At least it looks pretty in pictures.

1300. that smile

1301. that laugh

1302. that intention

1303. that love

Star of the Week

This guy. 

He loves to swing. 

But he's graduated to the big kid swings, thanks to preschool and the daredevil antics that he and his pals pull off. His self-assurance makes me so happy. Perhaps this is because I hid behind my mother until I was 4 and was afraid of men other than my dad. Does this explain something about me? Yikes!

And this girl.

Star of the week at her school recently. 

(Which makes the moms try to smile through their grimace as they get the "Hurray! Your child is star of the week next week!" paperwork. They know it means that your weekend will now be filled with making posters and prepping for the big oral presentation.) #thethingswedoforlove #iknowitsonlybeginning

I love these shoes....

Apparently her teacher prefers blue...

Abby got to "present" her poster filled with her favorite things. 

She even got to pick out which "pointer" would best fit her. 

The rose. Like Belle, of course.

A little commiserating with her teacher - i love Abby's hand on her shoulder.

So proud of her.

Didn't even think to prep her on anything -- she just handled it. 

Of course, she's my star every week (sap!)

1295. no nerves
1296. fordy behaving while in class
1297. love, love, loving our sweet kindy teacher
1298. God's providence in putting her in this class
1299. grandparents attending

Flashback Summer '14 So Cal

It's been so long now, that I think this should actually be called a flashback.

So, here we are, flashing back to the summer. 

In early July, we headed to Southern California to spend as much time as we could with as many friends as we could. 

It wasn't enough. I fear that it never will be.

The kids did pretty great on the drive down. Memories of crying as we drove up and down the 5 in previous years were fresh in our minds as we passed familiar landmarks. I suddenly keenly remembered taking Abby to Northern California as soon as we could after surgery. Some of those hours in the car were long. But this time, leaning on electronics made for some happy moments.

We actually headed to Palm Desert first, more on that later. And about two hours out from our destination, the kids got restless and Grant decided we needed to stop for ice cream at Mother Moo, our favorite old organic ice cream shop. There were many days when the kids have said, "I miss Mother Moo!" since we moved. I've wondered if they even remember what it is. But as soon as we got there, at 9pm, they knew exactly what to order (vanilla bean! double chocolate!) and so did we (mint chocolate chunk! salted caramel!). It got us through that final two hours....

We got to stay at our dear friend's home while they were away but got some good time with them before they left. Abby got to sleep upstairs with the sweetest God daughter  I've ever met and Ford got some tips on how to be a big boy from this cutie :

There was swimming....

Coloring at the homeschool table...

Donuts for breakfast...

Meeting new little boys for Fordy to hold hands with...

Reconnecting with old pals...

Meeting new little brothers...

Sharing Elsa love...

There was nose-picking and there were tears....

Trampoline jumping...

and "big girl" time...(i pray that she learns from them)...

...pizza time with the parents of kids that i went to preschool with...

and these crazies. i prayed for each one of them before they were born.

It's a bond that can never be broken - my love for them. Even from afar.

I'm so glad my kids know them.

And of course, 4th of July madness.

Happy late Independence Day, everyone! (wink).

Better late than never.

1290. air conditioning in the car

1291. a lovely place to stay

1292. generosity of our friends

1293. reconnecting effortlessly

1294. working out problems over text