{7/365} Child Labor...

I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice cream straight out of the container.  ~Bill Bryson

I'm sure that once my kids grow up, they will look forward to the day that they don't have to bring the garbage cans down our 7-mile driveway. (Ok... it's not QUITE 7 miles--but try hauling full trash cans up it and it will SEEM that long) Or, at least Addison might get a pass but, Jonathan, my son, you'll be taking out the trash for the rest of your life so embrace it.

It's funny to me that the kids get such a kick out of doing such a mundane task. I mean, I've driven past the empty garbage cans left upside from the Garbage Men Sanitation Engineers, for 2 days before making asking the kids bring them down the driveway to the house.  Addison keeps telling me what a big girl she is and refused all help with the can (until she tipped it over and couldn't right it, so then and only then was Mommy allowed to exit the van and help her). All the while, Mommy had to drive slowly down the driveway behind them, pretending the hit the gas (in neutral) because that's what Daddy does and it makes them scream in fake-horror.

But what I love seeing the most is not the independence, but the camaraderie. Big helping little. Jonathan, who was a complete and utter turd,for lack of a better word, tonight, was as sweet as honey helping his little sister to complete her task--encouraging her all the way that she could do it and and "just a little bit farther". I hope that he is learning that from me--I like to think so, but there are days when I shudder at what they see when I'm not being my best. I love that Steven Curtis Chapman song that tells us to do everything we do to the glory of the One who made you and that everything we do matters as long as we do that. Even taking out (or in) the garbage cans...

{6/365} If it ain't broken...

... it just means the kids haven't gotten to it yet :)

I don't want to put the Christmas decorations away yet. It seems like it took so much time and energy to "decorate" that I am having a hard time harnessing the same energy to put it all back. So I've decided to enjoy it a few days longer. I have a "display" on my counter (which is a joke most days because it's more like "Find Waldo" in the clutter of my counter). Some (a lot) of the bulbs have since been broken. My kids are constantly running through the house because we've been "blessed" with enough space to run laps through the house. It's only a matter of time before the rest of the bulbs bite the dust. But now they will be remembered forever.... Plus, I think it's cool that you can see me and my new camera lens in the photo (twice)

Now, back to the kids... tonight they were in rare form. I swear, no matter what I feed them for snack/dinner, their blood sugar spikes around 6:30 and all hell breaks loose in the house. The witching hour. Most times, Delaney is sucked into that menagerie, but tonight she was mellow and happy to snuggle with baby Will. 

I managed to catch "the blur" as he was whipping past chasing Addison...

And I busted Addison tormenting Jonathan while he was trying to have some "privacy" in the bathroom... she kept opening and slamming the door. The second shot is me scaring her with a sudden "What are you doing?!"

{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...