Memorial Day Weekend

Since Jerry does not get very many holidays, we decided to just take it easy this weekend and enjoy some quality family time.


Playing Jenga with an engineer takes a little longer than normal. Every move is carefully analyzed. But sooner or later, the tower must fall!

The best $20 we ever spent! It took a little coercing at first, but once the kids got the hang of it, they were entertained for hours!




Also, I just finished reading this book for my book club. It takes place in modern day Afghanistan and follows the lives of two women who are married to the same abusive man. I highly recommend it! It made me really appreciate living here in the United States, and realize how many of my basic rights I take for granted. It also made me appreciate the sacrifice our soldiers have and are making to help other people.

The Nursery

This is Miles' room. His room is the only bedroom besides ours that is downstairs. I like having him close to me at night, but it is harder during the day when he is trying to nap. This was the first room we painted. Jerry also put in the chair rail. We used the same color that had been in Claire's room in the other house, but it looks a lot bluer with the boy bedding.

Whoa, Nellie!

" . . . She said 'a-hip, hop, a-hippity hop! '" This hippity-hop has become Claire's main mode of transportation throughout the house since we got it a couple weeks ago! Have you seen the ones for grown-ups?!






Looks like Darren's getting ready to do some risky business, ala Tom Cruise in the movie "Risky Business." (Before my time, but maybe some of you know what I'm talking about!)

FYI

For anyone planning to visit us in the next few months, you may find yourself looking for some toilet paper. It's in a WalMart bag. Under the sink.

My Favorite Room

Okay, enough of the kid posts! We celebrated our one-year anniversary of being in our house back in February, and I had planned to take pictures of all the projects and decorating we had done - but I guess I've been putting it off because I wanted the whole house to be clean first. I'm starting to think that may not happen anytime soon, so maybe I'll just do one room at a time. This is my piano studio. We still have a few plans for it in the next couple years, but for right now, it's just perfect. I love the art and LOVE the color, which Jerry picked out!

For the Grandparents: Candid Photoshoot

It's hard to believe that Miles is already almost 10 months old! He had his first haircut last week. I meant to give him a little trim and got carried away. I'm sad that he doesn't look as much like a baby anymore, but he's wearing a shirt that says "I still live with my parents!"



Claire let me fix her hair and paint her nails - this doesn't happen very often, so I had to take a picture!



Darren is just like his daddy - always working on something!



You can see how much Miles loves his big brother and sister!

Accident-Prone, or Third Child Syndrome?

Here is our sweet Miles hanging onto the banister! He is finally smiling in this picture and you can see his cute little pirate tooth! Because Miles is crawling everywhere now, and because he fell down the stairs the other day, I think it is time to put some gates up. Miles has also fallen off a couple chairs and the changing table. I also fell while I was carrying him last week in the rain. I don't remember Darren or Claire ever falling!




I suggested to Jerry that Miles must be very accident-prone. He said maybe it was just me! Thanks, honey! Well, no doubt I've been more distracted with Miles than with the other kids! We just hope he turns out okay!

125.4

. . . with a special thanks this week going out to Miles, who is still drinking my milk (and FINALLY figured out how to hold his own bottle!!!)



My prize for reaching some weight-loss goals - aren't they cute?!!! (Can't walk in them, though!) Claire went crazy when she saw them, so I am keeping them hidden so that she won't try to wear them.

Block Party

Last weekend we had our neighborhood block party. There was a pinata and bounce house for the kids, and lots of good food. There are sixteen kids on our street, all under the age of six! We love it!