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quickly

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just a quick post today.
i dropped talby and annie off with my parents for the weekend.
i stopped in 2 very small town antique stores on the way home.
there was so much cool stuff.
lauren was sick but is feeling better.
sean and craig are at wal-mart getting the oil changed.
then we are off to watch scott’s first basketball game in a few minutes.
i am nervous for him.

this is a picture from the craft room a few months back
i liked how the word create is in a shadow on the counter.
the beaded word is hanging from the shelves above.
my favorite picture of craig in the background…
with many others and drawings and quotes from the kids…
have a fun saturday!

traci - I just love your creative space…no wonder you are so creative!! I just love your blog

traci - what a great space to create in. very inviting. love all the pictures and little bits of life on the board right in front of you.

Jennifer P. - That space looks like it could produce so many great ideas! I would love a place to just pin up anything and everything that inspires me. The ‘create’ shadow is cool!

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thursday

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i have decided to change my christmas break uniform…
to my new Thursday uniform.

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after taking the big kids to school
and checking in on the blogs i like…
annie and i made pancakes.
blueberry pancakes.
mmmmmm…..

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then a bath at noon.

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with ponies.

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then an impromptu haircut…
while watching backyardigans

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with candy.
i love a fresh little girl haircut.
my kids all have straight-as-a-board hair so their haircuts look so…
blunt?
homemade?
cute.
i’m going to go with cute…but i am partial.

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and somewhere in between all that…
some scrappin’.

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good day today.

melissa @ the inspired room - You are so funny, I have always cut my kids hair. My girls make fun of pictures of themselves with their lopsided bangs. My son has naturally curly hair and it is a DREAM to cut! You can’t go wrong, and it always looks great.
I so wish I had a blog back when my kids were younger. I love how you capture days in their lives with photos and words. Modern technology is great! HA, I sound like I am ancient, but times change quickly! I didn’t have a digital camera “back then”.
Happy weekend–how’s the bathroom coming?
Melissa

traci - i love that you cut their hair. so cute. great layouts – i think i could possibly lift them.

Emily Loria - I had that same haircut as a little-y. I think someone refered to it as a “dutchboy” cut and I was so offended! I love it, and the simple quality of it. It reminds me of Ramona (did you read those books as a child?) Sounds like a fun Thursday, I am craving blueberry pancakes now. Yum.

kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu - I love your uniform! I also love your new banner! Did you do it?

Mom - And you said you couldn’t make pancakes! They look very yummy to me – wish I had some right now. Annie’s hair is very cute.

siobhan - Enjoyed your scrappin’ I was having a giggle at your Top 10 List – all boys are the same it doesnt matter where in the world they come from Lego, wrestling, the beach will always feature. Although I’m not sure what AWANA is???? Star Wars features heavily in our household, especially the Lego Battleships. Hope all the family are well and take care.

Jennifer P. - Those ponies sure do look clean!
If I had little girls, their hair would be cut the exact same way. I think there’s nothing cuter than a girl with a bob. Or in that braid wrapped around your head hairdo ala-the sound of music. I guess I just wish for any little girl hair from time to time….
Glad you had a good Thursday. The pictures told the story in such a pretty way.

traci - Love your pictures, Love your writing style, Love your house, Love your witt….JuST Flat out love your blog!!!!

the feathered nest - Love all those ponies lined up! Thank you for taking the time to drop by my blog – it’s nice to meet you.
Manuela

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color this week

since the sky was completely gray today…
let’s enjoy some more color.

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do you feel a little happier now?
i know i do.

Lauren - Get-down-with-your-bad-self! Those photos ROCK! Made me laugh to think that you had your camera out in the grocery store – what must people think of us camera-totin’-mommas?! 🙂
I’m only laughing because I’ve done it also!
Take care!
p.s. Annie’s haircut is perfect!

Andrea - Hey, thank you. The sky is gray here too and the pretty white stuff is flying. The color was soooo needed. Thanks. By the way, I so wish I could not be a chicken and take my camera with me everywhere……

traci - love the color – definately in need of a little of that. thanks!!

Jennifer P. - I think you should make this a regular thing. Colors really do have a therapeutic happy effect. They are all so beautiful! I need to get brave enough to start taking pictures in the grocery store I think.

danelle - yes, the colors make me happy. 😀

jerusalem - very happy! I want those boots!!

Julie K - I love how you can appreciate color even at the grocery store! I just want to get out of the grocery as quickly as possible!! :o) And to think you just happen to have your camera on you. People walking by must think you’re a food artist/photographer or something. :o) You could be. You’re photos are beautiful.

Shawn - I do actually. Gorgeous post. 🙂

carissa - awe thanks… you put a bright smile on my face!
great pics… always! your amazing!

Liz - Beautiful photos! And now I’m hungry for avocados and M&M’s.

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special delivery

i hear often from my friends…
“how do you have time to be on the computer?!!”
putting up with the mess of this game
is one way i can do it while annie is home.
we call it special delivery.
i sit at the computer…she brings me things.

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“DE-WIV-A-WEEE!!!”
“de-wiv-a-wee for you mama.”
then i say
“for ME?! oh what could it be?”

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she helps me open my package…
wow.
play food…lots of it.
this goes on and on.
it’s a different gift each delivery.
then i say “okay…time for a nap annie”

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“one more de-wiv-a-wee mama. just one more.”
okay annie.

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so if i am willing to deal with this at my feet…
i get at least an hour of computer time.
and i am wliling.

but now i have been summoned to a pony birthday tea party.
i must go.

traci - oh so cute!! i would take a delivery or two. those days are gone in my house and sometimes i miss them.

Jennifer P. - oh that is a goooooood game!And very cute pictures of Annie. I just get on the computer instead of eating meals. I have as long as it takes my kids to eat breakfast and lunch to computer :).

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speed and strength

annie like to run.

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she has a game where she tries to run past you
without you grabbing her…and tickling her.
but she really wants you to tickle her.
(that’s why it’s a game)

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tonight she was squealing and laughing trying to get past me.
she ran and ran.

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she had to stop because she was out of breath.
suddenly she was grabbed by super dad.
for the torturous wrestling tickle fight with talby.

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this could be one of my all time favorite pictures.
i love watching them be crazy like this.
i wish you could hear them too.
so much giggling mixed with screaming.

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then they are thrown off.
and they love it.
still they come back for more.

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i could watch super dad do this all day….

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finally they tackle him.
jumping on his back until he grabs them and tickles them again.
it’s a cycle until they are just too worn out to have fun anymore.
and then we send them off to bed.
exhausted.

jeanetta - honestly i hate this game at my house. especially when all 3 kids get involved in it with the former-high-school-wrestler-daddy.
its one of the times mommy has to close herself in her room or leave to get away from the craziness.

Jennifer P. - I can almost hear the laughter in these pictures! What a great dad–I’ll bet he was exhausted when he went to bed too.

eryn - you are funny! Actually, the book even tells you what veggies to buy, how to puree them, how to store them, what kitchen tools you’ll need, everything!
It’s worth adding to your wishlist, if nothing else. If someone happens to get it for you…
have a great night!

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reading

to begin…
i don’t read books.
i am pretty sure i have ADD (seriously)
and i just can’t concentrate on books very well.
i read about 1 book every 2 years.
terrbile…i know.
but with having concentration issues…and 5 children….
books just don’t happen.
although it’s funny because at the moment
i am into 5 books at once.
see?
concentration issues!

this is my newest book to begin.

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just a little light reading…you know
only about the hardest thing we’ve gone through so far as parents.
the very first paragraph describes our “teen” prefectly.
it’s going to be a good one.

i am in a bible study that is finishing this one.
(and now you know exactly how wide my hips are)

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it’s the second in a series.
the first was called “the frazzled female”
they were good studies. this is a workbook technically…but it’s a book.
they were about finding balance, dealing with stress and being with God.
i would recommend it especially for mommies.

this is to be our next study.

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do you see a theme here?
can you tell what i am struggling with?
i was not thrilled about this one
but my friends have assured me i will learn from it.
remember the facts of life show…Blair wrote this.

and then my friend gave me this one to look over.
and i am.

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so give me about a month
and feel free to call me with any parenting questions you may have.
surely i will know it all by then.
ha ha ha ha ha

and then our sunday night small group is studying this book.
the white one in the middle.

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knowing god.
oh my goodness.
this book is so right on…so convicting…so challenging…
but so hard to read.
the way it’s written is practically like reading a foreign language for me.
but when craig explains it in our study…it rocks.

so that’s what i am reading.
i would ask what good books you are into right now…
but i don’t really think i’d read it anyway.
magazines are so much easier.

melissa @ the inspired room - Those books look familiar! We like to read parenting teen books right along with our Strong Willed Child and parenting boys books. Just to keep ourselves INSANE!
I am reading a classic right now, The Celebration of Discipline. That one is for ME! We need a lot of help with discipline around our house.

Andria - Wow, I’m a reader. My problem is putting those discipline ideas in place. Glad to see I’m not the only momma struggling with discipline. I wonder how you do it with 5, I have 3 boys & they argue all the time. I long for peace.

traci - that is quite the reading list for a nonreader. good for you. i love to read and have a few going right now – your best life now, the power of a praying wife, and playing for pizza (novel). good luck turning pages.

eryn - love your pics. and looks like great reading. heard good things about love and logic.
FYI I posted some thoughts about Deceptively Delicious on my blog…you said you were curious about my review.

eryn - love your pics. and looks like great reading. heard good things about love and logic.
FYI I posted some thoughts about Deceptively Delicious on my blog…you said you were curious about my review.

Amy - I have 2 by Becky Bailey (she’s the Conscious Discipline lady that Shana teaches). “Easy to Love, but Difficult to Discipline” and “There’s Got to be a Better Way: Discipline That Works.” You know where to find me if you’re interested. (Since it sounds like you need another book to read!)

Jennifer P. - Yes, I think YOU should read them, then just pass all the good information on to us :)! I’ve read some great parenting books, but either they’re all saying the same thing–or they’re all saying different things and then you’re not sure what to believe. Sigh!
Hope you get some good answers!

Erica - I just heard of Parenting with Love and Logic yesterday for the first time. Looks good. I have Creative Corrections and LOVE IT. Someone is borrowing it as I write. And the Boundaries book is another one I am looking to read. So I am interested to know what you think of all of them! Have fun reading!

Mom - I love it! Looks like great reading. Remember the conference I went to in California (when you and Shalon went)? The featured speaker was Dr. Townsend talking about his first Boundaries book. He was the speaker and then he led workshops. It was fabulous. So I am sure boundaries for kids will be equally enlightening. Good luck.

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play-doh

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what do think when you see this picture?
of course you think…
“wow annie has serious bed head”
and “what kind of crazy camera angle is that?” and
“why doesn’t megan just brush her hair with that brush sitting on the counter?”
and “where can i get a cow shaped butter dish like that?”
(it’s a one of a kind original made by lauren years ago…sorry)
these things are obvious.
but what do think of the play-doh?

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does this make you feel stress?
are you thinking…you can’t mix play-doh!!
are you wishing that annie had kept them all seperate?
did you begin to sweat?
did you just go check to make sure no one mixed your play-doh?

or do you think…
“those colors are so beautiful all blended together”
“the pink swirling through the purple is so bright.”
“what color will be created next?”
“i wish i could play with annie”

i just think it’s so interesting to hear people say
“we don’t mix our play-doh.”

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if we didn’t mix play-doh…
how could these dudes have rainbow hair?!!

Andria Bender - I’m with the mom wondering who was going to clean it up. But, rock on mixing the playdoh. I have 3 wild boys, the playdoh is going to get mixed.

Julie K - We just had this discussion a week ago! The kids got new playdoe for christmas. Aidan went to mix his colors right away and my first thought was – wait until it’s not so new and pretty! Then, within the same second I said, oh whatever, it’s just playdoe – have fun. So, one child mixes and the other does not. It’s more of a personality type here. Cute post.

melissa @ the inspired room - love it ALL! Bed head and mixed up playdough!

jeanetta - i was thinking what a mess i would have to clean up. lol

Emily Loria - Ohhh, we LOVE play doh! It’s better to mix it up a bit. A homemade playdoh color is way better than what you get at the store!

Ainslie - What a thought-provoking post!!! In all honesty, my first thought was not about the mixed up colours. My first thought was…’holy cow, look at that mess…who’s going to clean that up’!!! BUT, I absolutely have no problem with the play dough colours being mixed up. Isn’t it funny the things that bother some but don’t bother others. So who did clean that mess up???

Lee Ann - Ok, my duaghter just woke up from a nap and I showed her the pictures. She said “OHHH! It looks like she mixed up all the play doh! You can’t do that because then you won’t have very much colors left.”
Thanks again for sharing your family with us.

Lee Ann - My daughter’s (4) Sunday school teacher told me she was mad at everyone a couple weeks ago because they were mixing the play-doh. Honest I didn’t teach her that. She likes things “orderly” all on her own.
I love your photos. I never once would have thought you should brush her hair. It’s way overrated.

Andrea - OK. I have to admit…..the picture with all the mixed up play doh is quite disturbing to me…. Hi, my name is Andrea and I don’t mix play doh. But, and there is always a but, I do like the rainbow hair dudes!!!!!!

Jennifer P. - okay, I admit, I’m a “don’t mix the play-doh” mom…..only now I have NO idea why! The stuff’s like 50 cents a can, so it’s not like an irreplacable toy, right? I guess I just say it because that’s what I was always told. I think I’ll let my kids go mix up some play doh right now!
And I also love the butter dish. And I also think little Annie’s hair rocks! Bed head hairdo’s are the best :)!

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