Caught

This face can only mean one thing...

trouble!

Photos of the Week

Afton cannot wait to be a rock star.

Daisy is the best sleeping baby. Have I mentioned that she sleeps from 6pm-7am every night!

Abel is REALLY into socks right now.

Abel bonding with Daisy.

The two silly heads look a lot like each other upside down!

Daisy recognizes who people are now. She loves Daddy.

Buddies

This is Jameson and Abel. Buddies and tag team trouble makers. This is them right after finding a sand puddle.

This is Berlin and Afton being vets.

Jameson and Abel in a moment of non trouble.

And hey look...Mom has buddies too. CPB widows on our first girls get together.

Back to school

Afton's backpack surprise. Must train early to beat Grandpa at Scrabble.

The new big girl back pack. Afton deliberated over back packs for 30 minutes!

Afton said her first day was "awesome!" In her journal she wrote, "Today was the best day of my life!" Three recesses is where it's at

And here are Abel and Daisy bonding. ahhh...

Darling Daisy

Daisy is adored everywhere we go. She lures people in with her happy brown eyes then keeps them occupied with big smiles, kicking feet and wet bubbles. If she senses someone about to leave; she will pull out a trick like putting her chubby foot in her mouth or verbalizing a few syllables baby talk. I will not be surprised if "You are so cute!" is Daisy's first phrase because she hears it so often.

And, darn it, it's the truth!

It's been a while

Updating the family blog has taken a serious back seat to summer fun. Since summer is winding down for use, with school starting in just 8 days, I thought it was time to pick up with the regular posts...so if anyone is still checking, this is for you!

We had a blast traveling to and through 7 states in June and July visiting the grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, first second and third cousin and friends.

Daisy was a great traveler. Abel and Afton were happy as long as treats and movies kept coming!

Here is Daisy wearing our "heirloom" dress that Patrick's aunt made when Afton was a baby. I love this dress and squeeze the girls into it for as long as I can.

Daisy is 5 months now. I know, holy smokes, how did that happen?! She is super vocal, loves to blow bubbles, rolls over both ways and loves to play with anyone.

Afton is so excited to start first grade. She can't wait to wear her new backpack and pick out her outfit! She is the best big sister in the world. Afton is definitely Daisy's favorite person!

Abel is usually in constant motion. He still loves Buzz Lightyear and has different names for all of his Buzzes even though a few of them are identical...he can tell them apart!

Patrick is BUSY! Big news there! He was promoted a few weeks ago to an assistant creative director which means...more work! Luckily, he has hardly had to travel lately. A huge improvement from last summer!

And I promise to be a better blogger again.

Daisy's Baby Blessing

My Dad, Patrick and Tom: the blessing crew

Our family

Our family + nana and papa

Sweet Daisy in her blessing dress

Snapshots of the Kiddos

Our week in pictures

Afton graduates from Kindergerten!

Abel is happiest outside where crazy is acceptable. He has been writing "w" on every piece of paper he comes across this week. Home preschool works!

Daisy loves hanging out on the blanket outside. She is always happy; except when it's time for bed because I'm not nursing her to la la land anymore.

I haven't had a picture of me and Daisy for weeks. I recruited Afton to take some shots today, but Daisy was not in the mood.

Patrick has been insanely busy again. This is what he looks like when he is home: kids attached at all times.

I love my kids!

I'm spending my Mother's Day...
eating the Milka bar Patrick had someone from work bring back from Germany this week, watching my kids play rough and laugh/cry at me every 5 minutes when it gets a bit too rough, getting, giggling at my exotic Mother's Day card (see previous post), wishing Patrick wasn't at work, deciding to purchase a good pair of jeans while I'm sizing down, and cuddling Daisy when she sleeps instead of putting her in her bed right away.

my mothers day card

Did anyone else get a card like this for Mother's Day?

I can't choose whether this card or my Mothers Day phone call from a woman in Bangalore- she read a message from Patrick- made me laugh more.

I'm so glad that Patrick knows I need to laugh.

finally an update!

afton: 2 weeks left of school, back to short hair (hooray!), soccer super star

abel: tried to look for his babysitter at 6 am (yep he walked out the door), curious all the time, knows all his letter sounds and is starting to put together small words, has awesome hair

daisy: 2 months, 11 pounds, super smiley, sleeps 6-7 hours at night

liz: happy, overwhlemed at times, laundress, producing cucakes/cakes regularly

patrick: busy, ready for vacation, getting daily body compliments from all that bike commuting and running (liz is jealous of the running...her 70 year old knee is annoying)

Family Photo Shoot

My whole family smiling their happy smiles makes me so happy. Daisy is excused for now.

This is one totally going on the family wall.

Now we are six

Afton started off her sixth birthday with a trip to the store to get donuts and flowers.

She loved the super hero girl tee, and a new Webkinz from Grandma.

And money in an envelope always gets a great reaction!

Mom and Dad surprised her with a two wheel scooter, something she has been saving her money for! What is she gonna do with all that money now?

Lunch at Red Robin with the whole family! Afton lucked out having Grandma in town for her birthday.

The very yummy chocolate peanut butter cake!

Afton approved!

Happy Birthday Afton! You are our super girl and we love all six years of you!