{5/365} There's a cow in my driveway, dear Liza, dear Liza...

Santa Claus would have had a hard time competing with this little guy today. How many days do you get to wake up and walk out your door to see a 7 month old Bull in your driveway? Well, in a CARRIER, in your driveway?
My husband's friend Erick from childhood came by for a visit and to pick my husband up for 6 days of hunting bliss.  It has been years since we've seen him so it was so great to catch up! Although meeting Daddy's friend was nice, my kids were over the moon for little "Levi" who was on his way to Ohio to be sold to a Mennonite family. BTW, Levi was born on my husband's 40th birthday... kind of cool.
I pretty much had to drag Addison away kicking and screaming from the trailer. She didn't want to leave the "Moo Cow". Now she thinks every time she wakes up, she can go outside and see the cow. Daddy... don't even think about it!
So today's picture of the day goes to LEVI, with some back ups thrown in for good measure!

Oh... and I just couldn't resist this one of my sweet "Linus" and his blanket. The calm before the storm which is my Jonathan. So very sweet when he wakes up from his nap. Before the sugar kicks in (again) . I sure do love this boy though.

{1/365} Everyone needs a facelift every once in awhile

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.  ~Pablo Picasso


A true friend lets you paint all over their face and loves you anyway. I love having the kids all together just making a huge mess of the house and each other. The house can always be cleaned, but these are true and lasting memories we are making that I will cherish forever. Besides, the most fun part is taking them to King's restaurant for ice cream with their faces painted. It's like celebrating Halloween way off season. You should see the looks we get. Good times!

Go Red Sox!

Torturing Daddy...

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In the midst of history

Ever wonder how a last-minute road trip comes to be? Here's how...
Jonathan came home from Phoenix late Thursday night. "Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor Rally is in DC on Saturday. I would have liked to have gone"
Tracy: Want me to check and see if there are any rooms available for us to use our Sheraton points?"
Jonathan: Sure, but I doubt there are
Both: Night :)
Friday morning...
Tracy: There were rooms available at the Westin we stayed at last time which is within walking distance of the Lincoln Memorial. What do you think?
Jonathan: Book it! We'll leave as soon as Delaney gets off the bus.
So we packed the van and off we went. On the way down, we were hungry and looking to stop for dinner. We promised the kids Pizza and breadsticks but a Pizza place was hard to find on the TomTom. We found one in Grantsville, Md--a beautifully quaint little town but it was closed (I think they pull their sidewalks in at 6 and this was 7:30) But driving through town we found the most amazing Inn and Restaurant built in 1840... The Casselman Inn. The food was so delicious and the atmosphere was so quaint. We want to go back and stay in the antique hotel sometime.
We arrived in DC late and hit the hay. We tried to get up early, but I guess we were all exhausted because we only all woke up at 8:20. We showered, dressed and hit the street to walk to the rally. It was really uplifting to be walking down the street with others who had come to our capitol to join in wanting to make America the best it could be. Here are a few snapshots I took at the event..




I have to say that the moment I will never forget was when all these hundreds of thousands of people lining all open areas of the mall and beyond joined their voices in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It brought a tear to my eye to think how were were standing amongst the memorials for so many who gave their lives for the freedom to fly our flag over this great nation. There was such reverence and a hush fell over the crowd as hands covered hearts as the National Anthem was sung. I'm so glad we were able to be there and be a part of this historic day.
I had to include a few of my little patriots too :)



And three cheers for the man who made it all happen--who planted the seed and drove all the way here to DC :)  I love you, baby...

{Day 37} Fun with Photo Booth

I found a new program on my MacBook yesterday... it's called {Photo Booth}
It's hot outside. Too hot to play--heck! Too hot to get the mail or even breathe for that matter! So we've been spending a lot of time indoors.
Mommy has also been very backed up on Photography work so I really had to buckle down yesterday and finish editing a session from over a week ago. (I know... I'm ashamed--I blew my own personal deadline).
So you can guess that after about 3 hours there were a lot of "Mommy. Mommy. MOMMMMMMMY! You're not paying attention to me!!!"
We all needed a little comic relief. Wait for it... here it comes. Be prepared to pee you pants (I did--just a little bit though)



I hope that gave you a little joy today...

ET is in my closet!

It was a scorcher today! Almost too hot to be outside. Delaney and Jonathan both had swimming lessons this morning and by the end of the lessons, MOMMY looked like she had been in the pool with all the sweating I was doing.
After such an exciting weekend, we needed to turn it down a notch and made all 3 kids take a nap this afternoon. (boy, did they need it) Daddy cooked us an awesome dinner of Tri Tip Roast and Roasted/Grilled mixed veggies. Delicious! Thanks, Daddy.
I had a photo session with some friends of mine so Dad was on his own and the movie "ET" was on the menu. Delaney requested to watch the movie "with the boy on the bicycle with the monster with no ears"--that was her way of describing the ET DVD cover.
On my way home from my session, I asked Jonathan how the movie went. Were the kids scared from the movie? He related to me that little Jonathan had just made another appearance downstairs after he had been tucked into bed a hour previously and announced that ET was in his closet. (Insert Giggle here) He was sure of it... he had heard him! The only cure for ET in his closet? "Dad, can I sleep in your bed until you come to bed?" (of course)
We had another first today. We usually blockade Addison in the living room with a folding table. She has now discovered that she can crawl between the wall and the back of the couch and escape. Clever girl! What will they think of next?