Cousins!

Today I stole Ezra (my nephew) for a few hours

Mac is always looking for an excuse to play with Ezra

We went to the mall playground

We took a sack lunch to the food court and rode "the ride"

A Wonderful Fall Saturday

Today is Saturday and Jason had to work. I decided to have a good day instead of having a ho-hum day. Sometimes you have to make that decision for yourself!

So I decided to pack a picnic and take the kids to the park.After the kids played for two hours, we ate our picnic

and then headed over to the creek to explore.Mac gives two fist pumps because he made it to "the other side"Then there was a mud incident.

Mollee and Daegan took off along the edge of the creek and they found a patch of mud. Daegan was crying, Mollee wasn't sure if it was funny or if she was in trouble (her new white sneakers) and I was laughing so hard I almost wet my pants Julie, you'd be proud but I did manage to get some pictures. They pretty much ran out of their shoes. So we had to go back to the scene of the crime and dig out their shoes.

We got cleaned up as best we could and played a little longer. It was a great three-and-a-half hours outside and I was feeling like a 'Fun Mom'!!!

So we decided to go get some ice cream too!Three vanillas, two cotton candies, and I got Pumpkin Spice! (notice Mollee muddy and barfoot)We were also given the major treat of someone else paying. There was a couple there that said they had nine kids and understood how hard it was, so they wanted us to enjoy our ice cream on them!!! How wonderful is that?

I just love Fun Fall Saturdays!!!

Happy 9th Birthday, Tavis!

Friday night at the Brown's. This boy only likes Cookie Cake and Oreos (see below):He got his whole name = giant pieceHe is obsessed with rocks, so this was the perfect gift. He also got a subscription to National Geographic for kids!Last week he went shopping with Mimi and got a new bikeSunday at the Caines (Eleanor birthday too!) Got more books (which he loves) and hockey sticks!

And celebrating at home - we bought him rocks (and he wanted them): He has been saving his allowance for months to get a guitar, but we surprised him with one today, love the picture to prove his surprise!

Now to find someone that knows how to play that can teach him?

One of these kids is not like the other

I loved that song on Sesame Street when I was little!

I took this picture with a smile on my face, but I think the question is unfair.

Is the freak different kid, Mac because he is still wearing his Halloween costume (best $1 at the thrift store I ever spent) or Capps because he is holding on to Summer?
When I took this picture it was 45 degrees outside and the kids were playing "bad guys" outside. To make this picture better I should have had all the kids line up in their coats and hats, with Capps mixed in.

The Dot System

Laundry has been giving me a headache lately, among other things - if you've been around me lately you know I've struggled with some migraine issues lately.

I have three boys that are almost the same size, ages 8, 7, and 6. They all have their different style and they all like their clothes to fit different ways.

Enter Jean-Wearin'-Weather!

I can't keep straight which jeans belong to whom. It's crazy! Tavis will come to the breakfast table with jeans way too short, but that doesn't bother him because he likes his clothes to fit snug. Capps is oblivious. After school the other day I noticed he was keeping his hands in his pocket. Then I noticed that his jeans seemed a little long. When I lifted his shirt (while he had his hands in his pocket), I saw that his waist band was WAY too big. He said it was ok because he could hold his pants up with his hands in his pocket. Which, apparently, he had been doing all day.

Oh, brother! Not sure what that says about my mothering?

Enter The Dot System!

I heard about this somewhere and decided it was the only way to stay sane. I've dotted the labels in their jeans. I put one dot for Tavis, two dots for Daeg, and three dots for Capps. That is in order of size for now (I'm afraid Capps is about to pass up Daeg and that will throw my system off). Now, when Tavis is done with a pair of jeans and they need to be passed down (if the knees haven't been worn out) I just add a few dots depending on who needs them next.

Now to get all the jeans dotted properly, still working on that?

and may be moving on to underwear next.

Transportation

Daegan had a project due today. The assignment simply was to make something used for transportation. Thankfully, Daddy took over this project this weekend.

they made a submarineAnd, along the transportation lines

When I went to eat with Mollee for her birthday for lunch yesterday, I saw this hanging in the hall. Tavis had won 2nd place for his transportation drawing in Art Class.

This picture says it all

in regards to our weekend.

Mac doesn't nap anymore, but after our weekend, he fell asleep in the car on the way home from carpool. I couldn't bring myself to wake him up so I unbuckled him and left the car doors open. He slept for two hours.

I had two neighbors (one being my mom) call and tell me the kids had left the van door open, glad to know people are looking out for us!