FUNNY!

I was looking back to two years ago at this and couldn't help but share again.  I remember this day clearly and cannot stop laughing thinking I will be right there again in a few months...the whole juggling of a newborn and temperamental two year old again...

And this is yet another reason I think we keep having kids.  Priceless.

A very happy "birthday party"

Georgia and I ran to the store last night, and as we stopped by the bakery from the free cookie, I remembered poor Murphy telling me about the birthday cake he wanted for his party.  His birthday was July 1, and no, we didn't have a party.  We celebrated with James then went to the lake, but that was the extent.  Georgia and I saw a really cute lion chocolate chip cookie cake that sparked ideas.  Let's have a party for Murphy tonite!

So, here it is...a very (belated) "birthday party" for Murph Doggy Dog.  Murphy was so caught off guard it was priceless.  I think I'll do this from here on out with all the kids' birthdays...

And why the heck do they make black icing so...disturbing?!

Looking back in the chronicles, I came across this.  I thought I remembered something about a lion cake in the past.

A little peek at why the inside of my house is a dusty mess!

For Murphy's birthday, and for the enjoyment of the other kids (and their friends!) Grandma Cheryl ordered a play set for the back yard.  We have a "swing set" that was here when we bought the house, in addition to a "play structure" Trevor disassembled...thankfully...because it was scary and even housed a bee hive. 

The swings have been great up until a few months ago when the frame decided it wanted to be diagonal and the kids stub their toes on the grass every time they swing.  Plus, anyone else see a problem here?  Two swings, three kids.  It doesn't add up. 

Wednesday the kids' dreams will come true when the new swing set is installed.  Three swings, slide, monkey bars, rock wall (and no chain climbing things or anything else they can fall from)...I may not ever get the kids inside again! 

Today the demo-ed area will be boxed in and filled with tire chips for the structure to sit on and for safety.  We'll have a park in our backyard!  For now (and for the last week) I have not enjoyed vacuuming and mopping three times a day because of what the wind (and little feet) carry in the house from the backyard.  Patience...it's all worth it!

Painted flower pots

So serious!

The kids and I ran to Home Depot and got enough to fuel our to do list for Saturday.  These "little guy" (as Millie calls them) flower pots turned out to be entertainment for all three.  Georgia's was painted very precisely - she knew the colors and pattern she wanted from the start. Murphy lasted a lot longer than I imagined.  He spent a lot of time painting his plate, but did a great job on the pot.  And Millie was the last one left working. She loved it! As we were going to bed she even said "Me want to paint more."

I bought a little sweet basil plant I am planning on planting in these three little guys for my window sill in the kitchen.  Add that to the project list for today!

Blueberry popsicles

I ordered popsicle molds the other day and we're big fans already!  Georgia made blueberry popsicles with, well, just frozen blueberry puree!  Obviously Millie liked hers!  Murphy enjoyed a chocolate milk popsicle.  We have big plans for the raspberries that are popping up like crazy on our bushes!

Millie even does her own dishes!

All clean.  Look at those poor knees!

Oh this child...

Apparently she shows Murphy her love 50% of the time through beating him up.  The other half of the time she is as sweet as can be, going so far as to say "I love you Murphy."

That's funny...I thought we had a white Chihuahua!

So fresh and so clean clean...

Camera envy

Enter the fake smile:Going on an animal hunt:

Priest Lake "hiking" and "fishing"