Our Fourth!

We had a great holiday. It was hot! We started it off with Swim lessons and then off to the parade in the next town over. That was fun for the kids and a bit comical for us. Oh, Small Town! Seriously, what's up with just driving your pickup or tractor in the parade? Didnt quite see the point of that, but they had candy for the kids and that was pretty much all that mattered to them.

Then we just relaxed all day till the evening when we BBQ'd at Darrin and Angela's along with the rest of the Farm Crew and Family (we are neither but still fit in there every year). Then off to the fireworks at the fair grounds. The kids did awesome! They plugged their ears a bit but watched this year. Pip even got into it after a bit of hesitaton.

Here are some of the good pic. Emery wasnt very cooperative so the family photo isnt all that great. (you'll have to click on them to inlarge)

Hope you all had a great holiday as well.

Daddies and their boys:


Grandma's spoiling all the kiddos:


Our "lil Sparklers":

The boys of Summer, Dylan and Mason:

Another Canon Mamma:

And Us:

Swim Lessons

Swim Lessons started yesterday. The kids were a little timid at first, but I think they will get the hang of things soon. The other two kids in the class are fearless, so that might help encourage them. So we have two weeks of lessons every morning. Good thing it is at 9 am so I dont have to fry the whole time. I really want to see my kids become strong swimmers at a young age so I dont have to be so frightened when we are at the pool or river. Maybe I should start Piper now.

(ps:back to the white background. I was tired of that green)

Camera Clean-up

Just downloading all the pics off my camera and wanted to share a few: She's becoming quite the little artist. Loves to color just like her sister.

(both lefty and righty at this point)

He's our little Rhino as Mike promptly corrected me after I called him a Unicorn. Apparently Unicorns are too girly. Um....

That's Em, color coordinated Tongue and Swim Suit.

VBS Fiesta!

Today was the last day of Vacation Bible School for the kids and for me. It was so much fun, although we had to miss a couple of days because of the flu. This was the kids first year, and then loved everything about it. We had over 125 kids in attendance.

When we pulled up on the first day Emery said, "hey look its a party". I said, "its a fiesta". "A Piesta?" she asked, "we've never been to a Piesta, but Dora has."

Ty was so excited to hit the Pinata, he had to wait 3 days, but he got a few good wacks in.

Emery and Justin didn't leave each other's side all week. Such buddies. Today on the way home I asked Emery if Justin was her friend (I already knew the answer, but wanted to hear what she would say). She said, "Yes, and he's ticklish." "Oh really? Did you tickle him?" "Yes, and bonked him on the head, he laughed." She said.

All righty then...little girls.


The pre-school class was so cute. They were supposed to be 4 but a few of us snuck our 3 year olds in. They all looked so small compared to the other kids. Ty couldn't wipe the smile off his face the whole week. He's carrying around all 5 of his bible buddies.


Even Mason and Piper made an appearance. Since Lindsay and I were co-coordinators we were able to bring the babies, unfortunately they both are getting over the flu so they stayed clear of the nursery and stayed close to mommy. (isn't Mason a cute little farmer boy?) You can read more about him on his mommy's blog; The Windy M

Next year Lindsay and I will be taking over the coordination of VBS. "Oh, Man" as Lindsay would say. Should be fun, but I am sure much more work than it was this year.

Piper's Cut

Time to cut off the gangly baby grow out. Daddy wished I had cut her bangs. I just could not go that far. In the last picture she is saying "cheese". She does that everytime she sees my camera.

Sickies

Well, an update on our little hospital ward. The kid woke up this morning ready to run a marathon, Mike on the other hand went to bed last night sick. And Piper, well she's happy happy, but every once in a while just randomly throws up. Strange, not sure what is going on with her. And I have super mommy strength going on because I have yet to get sick. I might eat those words, and then get sick on them. Lovely I know.

I will leave you with some sweet pics of the girls. So you think they are watching Dora or Elmo? Nope; "Singing In The Rain." That's my little ladies!

Puke.

Yeah, I said it.

And lots of it.

3 kids down with the flu.

Good times.

Eat Dirt

Ahh...the joys of discovery.

And the Answer is...

...a close up of a tree trunk. The first person who commented was correct, although I dont know who you are since you didnt sign your name.

I had to laugh at my mom's answer: Ovaries. Too funny!

Also, if you're lost, this is in regards to a picture posted a couple of days ago.

Have a good day, we are off to the pool after lunch. O' joy, swim suit season!

Piper has graduated

Piper had her last physical therapy appointment today. Almost four months later and about 20 sessions and she's done. She went from barely putting any weight on her legs at 12 months old, to sitting up on her knees, pulling up on her knees, crawling, climbing the stairs, pulling up to standing, and now walking all around the furniture and walking on her own behind a walker. You should have seen her today, she kept moving Jody's hand when she was walking behind the walker, as if saying "I can do it on my own." I am very grateful for all of Jody's help and encouragement. Probably just be a few more weeks and our little one will finally be brave enough to step out on her own.

So I am not Ansel Adams but...

...thought I'd share a funky photo I took. (yes I realize Ansel took landscapes, not macro, at least I dont think he did?) I made it look like a photography poster in Photo shop. I just recieved "The Photoshop CS2 book for Digital Photographers" so I was practicing one of the steps. Okay I think I have bored you all to death now.

Any guesses on what this photo is?

Family Photos Are Up

I edited and uploaded an album of my favorites from our 2006 family photo shoot.

Here is the link.

Fun Family Times

We did our annual family picnic and photo-shoot yesterday. We do it every year on Father's Day. Good times. I really want to sit around and edit all the pictures and post them today, however I have two weddings to finish today. {insert scream}. So I will leave you with just one picture, and I'll post more maybe tomorrow.

Piper Piggies

First set of wonky little pig tails. So Sweet.

Ant Party

Just sharing another one. I am really not sure where the kids got the term "Ant Party" when they see a swarm of red ants. They love them. Gross.

Capture Emotion

I love to scrapbook, did you know that? For many reasons. But I think the biggest reason is that I am able to capture on paper and in picture my emotions, my hopes, my memories (since they fade fast) and really who I am. These layouts are perfect examples of that. They are not of a specific event, just random pictures. But the pictures mean so much to me. They capture the emotion in my children, and therefore in me. Those are the kind of memories I want to capture, to journal about, to look back in years to come when I am missing their little innocence. I especially want my children to look back and be able to read my feelings about them. Enjoy. Glee Journaling: "Glee and pure joy. When we see it on your face we cant help but feel it too. We love you Ty. Mom and Dad.
In 10 Years Journaling: "In ten years, will you love each other like on this day? Will you giggle like on this day? Will you show your affection towards each other like on this day? In Ten Years Emery will almost be 15 and Piper will be 11. I expect some drama, but I hope for the same giggles and hugs. I twenty years I just know you will be best friends."

Fresh Air

After two days of straight rain we got a break and the kids got out for a little stroll. What is up with our summer?

Sweet Ballerina Girl

I had to share some of the pictures of our little dancer girl. She was so pretty, so happy, so in her element. She did so good. Afterwards, she asked: "can I do this every Saturday?"

What a sweetie.

Summer at our house means...

messy, naked kids.













Yes, that would be my kids eating dinner with no clothes on. And we wonder how normal, well-adjusted kids grow up to be nudist.

Girlfriends

Love this picture, love these girls. The Katie in the middle is moving away tomorrow morning. Sad, we will miss them.

One Year Blog Anniversary!

I just realized that a year ago yesterday was my very first blog entry. Wow how time flies. I have really enjoyed it, and hope anyone out there reading this has enjoyed it too. In honor of my anniversary I thought I would change my banner. I will probably change it again soon, since it is not my favorite picture.
So let's try something fun. I know I have quite a few regular readers, but not quite as many regulars who comment. That's okay, but lets be brave for this post and say hello so I can know who is out there.

Happy bloggin!

Shannon

Birds

Thought I would share a few more pictures from our vacation. Here we are in a bird haven at the zoo. The kids were a little hesitant at first, but then got into in once Daddy had a bird land on his hand. The birds were flying everywhere, I would freak out a bit when they would swoop down at my head. I love the first picture of Emery, she was so excited, but acting a bit shy with bird. Too cute.

{Ali}

My weekend pretty much was all about Ali. Had a great time at the Daisy Bucket crop on Friday night, where Ali was there signing her book and just haning out with all of us. These pictures where taken that night. I stole them from Misty's blog since she still hasnt emailed them to me, Hint Hint!! Saturday morning I took a class from Ali at the "Bucket". The class was called perspectives. Very cool class, I'll share my album once it is done. And tomorrow I will be going to lunch with the Daisy Bucket girls and Ali before she heads out of town.
Fun times. For those of you who dont know who she is, (which would only be those of you who dont scrapbook) here's a link to Blog. She is an Editor for Creating Keepsakes Magazine, an author and a life artist. Oh, and a very cool chick.

I pasted below Ali's Manifesto about being a LIFE ARTIST.

So, life artist it is.
So who is a life artist? Do you take photos of your family, yourself, your environment, your world? Do you tell stories? Do you bring them all together onto paper, into your computer, onto a canvas (or some other cool concoction)? Do you create art journals with all kinds of wonderfully interesting pieces of your life and thoughts and emotions? Do you celebrate your life through your art?
You are a life artist.
I am a life artist.
(writen by Ali Edwards on her blog March 20th)

Good times Ali, thanks again!