Sl2's Great Loves

Have you ever had to clean horse poop off your daughters fancy Sunday shoes? I did today:)


Sammie Lou and her favorite things, horses, leotards (because they = gymnastics or ballet), fancy shoes and cousins.

She was lucky enough to get to see all of them today.

This is one of Lou-lou's favorite places to go. It's right by our house, so today we stopped by on our way home from gymnastics.

Lily was saying the horses are a little to stinky for her taste:)


Drew was feeling the love:)


I'm always amazed at how much Sammie Lou really does love horses. She is not afraid to get right up in their faces (even after being bitten once). She is never ready to go home and I think would spend every minute possible with them. I foresee lots of money spent on all things horses in the future, it makes me a little nervous.

Around the house

We had the luxury of just hanging out this weekend. Brad was out of town and the rest of us just took it easy, it was just what the Dr. ordered for us.

Here is Sammie Lou in all her morning glory, including 18 hour lip stick she found, while I was still trying to sleep.




Watching some morning cartoons.


Still watching T.V. but Lou-lou thought Gordy was in need of some sparkle.


Can you believe what a good dog he is?


Cole practicing piano. He also got some new prescription sports shades, if you're wondering what he is wearing on his head.


Some quality park time with the Callaways and a GREAT hill.

From left to right, Maren, Sl2, Kiera, (Clay & Rachel sitting at the top) and Cole.





Thank you Britt for this adorable shot of Cole, including the super cool photo shop enhancements. I love it.

Alex B. Party

So Britt just e-mailed me these photos from the birthday party. I couldn't resist not posting them. Thank for the great photos, I love them, and thanks to the Blatters for the awesome party.

Freeze dance.


? ? ?


Some were a little more into it than others :) I know shocking that it is a child of mine.


Can you say trouble? These 3 all go to the same pre-school. Luckily the teacher is a saint.

Drew' hair has been trimmed since this photo. He was sporting the tired, sick pregnant mommy hair-do.

The Pinata

I'm not sure how he made contact with his eyes closed?

John busted out the blower to help with clean up. Drew thought it might help improve his lack of hair-do. Too bad he couldn't open his eyes while it was on him.

Sand Dollar

Introducing Sand Dollar (our new pet!)

Grandma & Grandpa have had a turtle living in their back yard for a few months. They would see it in their pool and around the yard from time to time. Being the coolest grandma EVER, she caught it the other day and brought it over.
/
To put it mildly the kids are thrilled! Can you tell from Cole's face?


SL2 getting acquainted with Sand Dollar. She wasn't so sure she liked him at first.


"Walking like the turtle!" Notice the distance between Sl2 and the turtle.


"Sand Dollars Tunnel"


The kids can't get enough of him. We even had to bring it to Cole's school for show and tell, baseball practices, parks and back to Grandmas for another swim in the pool. This turtles been on more field trips in a week than anyone would ever ask for. (maybe that's why we couldn't find him today?)

"My Nest is Best"

This is how we found Drew sleeping when we went to check him in the other night. You can see the corner of his bed in the upper right side of the photo.


The sitter put him to bed, and he obviously conned her into letting him collect pillows from all over the house. Ever since Drew was little his bedtime ritual always ends with a very labor intesive aranging of all his "gear" before he can sleep peacfully. He calls it his "nest" Here are a few more classic shots.




He slipped out of his nest! I think it got a little hot, it was in the middle of summer.

Gymnastics


Drew has a gymnastics class with 2 of his best buddies, Ty and Alex. Once a semester they have camera day, which means you get to go down on the floor with the kids and take pictures. Of course Annie and I didn't remember and didn't have a camera, but lucky for us, Ty's aunt was there! She's a professional photographer and she was nice enough to take some shots for us www.kellinicolephoto.com They are great and really capture how much fun the kids have. Cole did gymnastics up until baseball season started - he was REALLY good. He's got the perfect body for it.










Thank again Kelli for the great photos!

Ice cream extravaganza!!


My friend Kelli is a professional photographer and she had this great idea to take photos of these adorable 4yr. olds eating ice cream. Tons more amazing photos on http://kellinicolephoto.blogspot.com/

Brad brought back these cute outfits and the gutiar from Mexico. Drew has found his musical passion with the guitar. (They are all supposed to share it - yea right!). Drew accidently broke off a piece (didn't take much - it's very poorly made.) Cole was livid and told Drew it would never play right again. This conversation took place a few days later.

Drew: Do you know what makes me supa (super) happy?
Cole: What.
Drew: That I can play this guitar so much better now that the special part is missing!

So far, it has improved Drew's playing. He takes it everywhere with him at home, to school, in the car and plays it constantly. Now maybe some lessons? Cousin Will, do you still teach?

Our school is on Lockdown!

There are confirmed reports that there is a Mountain Lion roaming the greenbelt.  So our kids are not being released from school until a parent picks them up from their class and drives them home.  Crazy and a little scary.  We will be spending the rest of the day inside; although, part of me wants to grab my camera and go look for it.   You'd think we live in the mountains!

Ducklings!


On our way home from school today we saw a mother duck and her ducklings! They were so cute I had to run home and get the camera. When I got back Cole was very excited "Mommy! mommy!" (why is it always the double call out? Like I didn't hear it the first time?) "I caught one! It was stuck in the reeds and I just picked it up!" So I had to explain that we shouldn't disturb nature and we shouldn't touch wild animals. I'm not sure it really sunk in with the boys, because we were all causing quite a ruckus trying to catch a glimpse of the ducklings. Secretly, I was a little disappointed we didn't get a photo of Cole and the duck. By the time I got there the ducks were sick of us, I couldn't get a good shot, so it pretty much turned into a photo shoot of Cole and Drew. I couldn't decide what to post, so I picked quite a few. You choose your favorite.








Drew "That sure was fun ducking walking!"
Cole "You mean duckling watching."

I guess both statements are appropriate?