Addy survived 1st grade...and so did I!!

I can't believe this year is over already! It really doesn't seem like that many days ago that Brian drove me home whilst I bawled my eyes out after dropping Addy off for her first day of first grade! I really had a hard time having her gone ALL DAY long! (of course it probably didn't help that I was 9 months pregnant and an emotional wreck!) Here are a few pics from that day (pre-tears for me):






Eventually, I was able to somehow cope and manage to live my days without being able to watch her make 10 crafts a day or imagine up some story with Pumpy and the Littlest Pets. But, I must admit I'm glad she'll be home for the summer days! Here's my attempt at a group photo of her class on the last day of school...a poor one, but not too bad considering I only had my phone camera with me!





Until next blog,
Jen

21/52

Here is my mushroom expert spotting one of the many mushrooms around our house this spring! Can you spot the "dog stinkhorn"? Its the bright orange, quite phallic, object just under the mum next to Keith. And, let me tell you...it definitely earns its name! I can smell that nasty thing several feet away, especially if I'm downwind of it! But Keith didn't care, he loves fungi of all shapes, sizes and smells!

Until next blog,
Jen

20/52

I say it over and over again...I don't know how single parents survive! This was the second week in a row Brian was gone for consecutive work meetings. I'll have to brag that all my kids really behaved well and, as Addy said, "Mommy never even lost her temper once!". Of course, Brian was missing all of us, so I took this picture of the kids while we were playing on the swings to send to him. I think it is such a great picture of ALL of them!

Until next blog,
Jen

19/52

Keith finished his last day of preschool and graduated...he is officially a KINDERGARTNER!! I think this little guy (a tree frog, in case you can't tell) wanted to congratulate Keith himself because we spotted him just sitting on our lilac bush by the front porch waiting to be found! WAY TO GO KEITH!!!


Until next blog,
Jen

18/52

There is no special story about this picture, except that these smiles prove boys just love to "rough-house" with each other no matter how young!

Until next blog,
Jen

17/52

Addy's springtime school field trip was this week and they were heading to the zoo. As per school rules, siblings are not allowed on field trips. So, Brian and Addy headed out with the rest of her class to see the animals. But it was SUCH a gorgeous day that, after preschool let out, Keith and Duncan and I decided to "sneak" in and meet up with them. At the end of the day, the entire family ran into Addy's teacher and Addy (always a stickler for the rules) whispered to me loudly "Quick, Mommy, hide Keith and Duncan...I don't want to get in trouble!" Of course, Mrs. Dunlap could care less. It was a great family outing.

Until next blog,
Jen

Easter 2011

I knew that I wanted to stick to my tradition of making the kids Easter outfits this year so I knew I had to start early if I wanted to make THREE! I'll admit, I sort of cheated on Duncan's by using a ready-made onesie and adding a yoke to match Keith's.



Keith was super-excited to look like his little brother AND have a shirt that had trains on it!



This year Addy really got involved in picking out the outfit AND the fabric. There were SO many panels in this skirt...every other one was a "calico cat" print by Alexander Henry (which is what she first picked out and matched the rest of the fabric to). It was a little wild for my taste, especially the buttons, but she L-O-V-E-D it and I was happy that she was so interested in helping create it. Maybe next year she can sew a few seams!




Brian and I wore boring old clothes that were already hanging in our closet, but we didn't really care! HE HAS RISEN! (He has risen indeed!)... and that's really all that matters, right??




Until next blog,

Jen