A Spasperiment

So. You are super proud of your experiment that turned into your first recipe of fruit salad. 

You decided it was "so good" that you should save some for dad. 

Two days later you were having your own little "Julia Childs" cooking demonstration for the neighbors...including orders on how thin to slice the bananas and all! 

Super moon

Our "super" day in pictures

7:58 

minutes before the bus arrives

Thanks for being so super and getting ready in the morning! 

8:04 

I love it when you want to play nice with your sister! She laughs the whole time...it's a super start to the day

2:30 

waiting for dad to finish physical therapy...song of the week "we go together"

Spending time with you and listening to you share your thoughts lately has been beyond super.

3:50

Waiting for Jacob to get off the bus and you decided to be an alligator trainer. You have a super imagination. 

5:12

My happy place. Making dinner and giving thanks for another day full of life with my family. This will never get old. 

6:45 

not so super moon...but a super time In our life where we can slow down with both of you at night. 

Nothing crazy about our day. I'm super tired and going to bed. Sometimes super mom just has to call it a night...a lot earlier than normal! 

Happy

Happiness is making others around you happy! Our kitchen is a great source of happiness. It's filled with all sorts of ingredients to make someone feel loved or cared for. After we made your birthday doll cake last year, we wanted to do it again! Finding someone to make us for took us almost a whole year. Our neighbors make most days a little more fun for everyone...so why not make one of them a cake! 

Now we just need to remember to do this for our cake walk at our backyard carnival this summer.

 

Now we need to bake something for dad to make his shoulder feel better. 

My 2 little Pokemon

Who knew these little cards would be the "thing" to do?  I can't believe how many kids you have managed to trade with on the bus, and how many kids in the neighborhood come down excited to trade cards. 

I can't believe my parents let me spend my money on Garbage Pail kids 30 years ago. So I guess this is why I'm ok with it. I just wish they weren't so expensive. Of course if they were cheap, they wouldn't be as much fun! 

We are looking forward to a couple surprises this Holiday season...but I have a feeling a good "pull" will trump any gift we buy!

Not to worry, I'll make sure we have money for underwear. (It might even be the perfect pack of Pokemon underwear!)

The day your sister's packs were better than yours and she pulled a break! 

You took it pretty well. 

It's nice when I get to use my money for necessities, while the grandparents get to support this expensive social hobby! 

A picture perfect neighborhood

Our little adventure wasn't just what we needed, it was more than that. Now that football is done we haven't had our morning time together with just us. With neighborhood kids all around its hard to get our family time in. So we gathered our nets and "forest" clothes and set out for a hike with full bellies...or so I thought.

We said our hellos to our dam owners and headed up the hill to ask permission to cut through a short cut to our friend, Terrie's house. 

It was just too easy and met yet another friendly person. 

Why did we wait to do this? (Poison ivy phobia sorry!) 

So with a hop skip and a jump we were in another remarkable spot near our new house. 

These horses will definitely get to know you, breath and all! They even took grass from you, not to mention let you brush them the other day. 

It was fun to experience it with dad, because he really had no idea how close we were and had no idea what was in store for him.

Next stop..."forest" trails leading up to these beauties! 

Train coming! Just kidding. 

You guys picked your weight in stakes or railroad pins. We even had to distribute the weight in the bucket because they were a little bit too heavy. 

We found our way home and crossed the creek, so Julia could get her toes wet. 

And then...our little petunia hit the wall and showed signs that she might not have allergies but a cold that won't go away. Nothing that a little nap on the couch with dad couldn't help you get rebooted. 

And just like that we were home and off to the next thing. 

It was a great day and I don't really care how much stuff we didn't get done...because we really needed that.

Halloween 2016

We tested out the waters of Halloween at our house and I think it will only get better or at least perfected in the next five years. 

Thanks to family, friends and new neighbors, it was a good one! 

We didn't get to see you trick or treat Jacob. However, Julia, you sure we're sweet. 

A little fall stroll

We just happened to be out and about looking for a place for you to model your new clothes ...and you requested a tree at the end of the street. Surprise, surprise. Just like Mary would have done when she was your age. Thanks for helping me figure out my new camera lens. Now we just need a little play space around one of our trees to help you get lost in your world, while enjoying the great outdoors. I love my time with you...even if you make me work a little harder.

Old Traditions (improved)

 I think Halloween is still one of your dad's favorite holidays. It's hard to tell because he makes all of the holidays a little more special. This year the weather and the new house worked out well for our grad student event. All of our celebrations we had in October will be even better next year. Let's cross our fingers for perfect weather for all of them!

I love your independence with the pumpkins! You did the whole thing and managed to lift and carry it without breaking your toes!

 Julia, you were just what Taylor needed. A little purpose to the carving. It worked out for me because I was able to finish up dinner without an audience...