Family Pictures

Max and Sarah are smilers. They smile when they wake up in the morning. They smile at the cats. They smile when they brush their teeth. They smile when they give hugs. They smile when they are being sneaky. They smile at strangers. They smile morning, noon, and night. But put them in front of a paid professional and ask them to smile - the smiles disappear.

Was Mommy really requesting so much? Just a few pictures of the entire family instead of someone being hidden behind the camera. Although there were some beautiful individual shots (including ones I've already shared)...

this was as close as we got to family harmony.

I am the only person in my family who cares about pictures. Everyone else likes having them, but doesn't want to take them; not my husband or my children or my parents or my in-laws. They moan about being the subjects. They complain about not understanding the camera. I am the lone voice calling in the wilderness, "Take pictures! Preserve the memories!"

I know it is possible to have family pictures. Others succeed where we have failed. Now if we could only learn their secret...

Stinker!

Favorite guys

Is there an indoctrination program that produces the desire for picture-taking ?

I'm out of here!

If so, sign us up!

If not, then tell me some bribes that will work better!

In Thanksgiving

I am thankful for the smiles of these two precious people who never want to smile for pictures!

I am thankful for the many people in Louisville who graciously opened their homes and tables to my wild bunch.

I am thankful that my children have friends in Louisville whom they are just as excited to see as we are! Jack, Calvin, Jax, and Cooper got special discussion in the car - no offense to the others!

Jax and Sarah - the perfect pair of trouble!

I am thankful for the new babies of friends and relatives who allow me to snuggle their tiny bundles (Miles, Blake, and twins Grant and Owen) and get a baby fix without having to make another one of my own.

Baby Miles!

I am thankful for chasing after a non-stop, bossy, stubborn, willful, independent ball of energy who keeps me in shape and laughing all the time.

I am thankful for the times when Max's whining makes me want to hide inside a soundproof room because he has the breath to speak.

I am thankful for insurance and the financial resources to manage trips to the ER in the middle of the night in a place far from home.

I am thankful for the kind and engaging intake nurse at the second hospital we visited for her compliments on Max's pajamas and her ability to put him at ease.

I am thankful that our visit to the ER was quick and relatively painless and Max was excited about being up in the middle of the night instead of feeling upset or scared.

I am thankful that although November has been the month of hospital visits, they have ended positively with my grandmother back in her own home and Darin walking again after his surgery. And I'm thankful November is almost over!

Max is thankful for....Kyle and soccer.

Sarah is thankful for....baby dolls and pumpkin bread.

Daddy is thankful for.....moments of quiet!

Polar Bear, Polar Bear

Polar Bear, Polar Bear
What Do You Hear?

I hear a lion roaring in my ear!

(and boy can these lions ROAR!)

Lion, lion, what do you hear?

I hear a flamingo fluting in my ear!

Flamingo, flamingo, what do you hear? 

I hear a zebra braying in my ear!

Zebra, zebra, what do you hear?

I hear an elephant trumpeting in my ear!

Elephant, elephant, what do you hear?

I hear a leopard snarling in my ear!

(and a horse)

Leopard, leopard, what do you hear?
I hear a peacock yelping in my ear!

Polar bear, polar bear, 

What do you hear?

Wait a minute, that's not a polar bear - it's a brown bear!
We are in the wrong story!

Zookeeper, zookeeper, what do you hear?
We hear children laughing

at the Louisville zoo!

Back Seat Drivers

An unusual phenomenon has been reported in Acura SUVs: the case of the backseat drivers.

The first report alleges a five year old male has made repeated statements directing the driver of the vehicle to "turn here", "go faster", "go the other way", "get in that lane", "go before the light turns red", and "I want you to go now!" The driver stated she was unable to focus safely on the road due to the distractions. The alleged offender is pictured below:

A second report was filed with the Bureau of Vehicular Safety, which also involved a car of the same model. It described a 19 month old female whose car seat had recently been turned to forward facing. The child attempted to alert the guardians that they were NOT following the guidelines set by the APA through a constant barrage of chatter. The claimant reportedly instructed each person about their appropriate seating location within the car and protested loudly when an unauthorized driver got behind the wheel. Despite the claimants best efforts to promote safety, she was eventually restrained and drugged.

If you have any evidence of back seat drivers or would like to file a claim, please contact 1-800-Let-Me-Drive-In-Peace.  The driver in these two reported cases has requested compensation in the form of a new car.

Take It To The Max!

Turning five is pretty momentous and this birthday marked a lot of changes, including for the actual birthday party. Max has been adamant for months about wanting a gymnastics party. Goodbye, personalized backyard parties. Mommy's obsession with Olympic gymnastics increased his determination for a gym party, but fortunately it also helped convince him to have a "theme" - Olympics! Max said there were five Olympic rings because he is five. Naturally!

He also insisted on inviting his entire class this year, which led to a bit of a conundrum since space was limited and he has many other friends who have been coming to his parties for years. Max is either really popular or we chose a perfect day for a party (after attempting to accomodate football schedules) since almost everyone showed up! Luckily, the gym was gracious in accepting a few extras and it was a precious, well-mannered group of kids!

The favors were hand-painted Olympic tshirts for the kids to wear at the party and take home and gold medals. 



Olympic popcorn Torch

Warming up

Stretching

Ready to tumble!

 

Man, is this what we are supposed to be doing?

 

Into the pit!

The only way to keep Sarah out of the foam pit!

 



One place it is ok to "climb the walls"!

Max's favorite part: the trampoline runway!

Future Olympians!

Silly faces!



Cupcake time!

(The cupcakes are organized into "rings")

Frosting Mustaches

Things began to descend into chaos when the gold medals were issued.



Love this sweet bunch of friends!

My gold medal team!

Take it to the Max!