Is it dry yet?

Sadie has recently developed quite the opinion on what clothes she should wear each day.

One day last week she shot down everything I offered her to wear. After much debating and lots of "NO!" coming at me, I finally had had enough and found myself tossing a bunch of clothes in her direction and stating (possibly in a not-so-nice tone and at a loud volume) "Fine - you find something to wear. I am going to Wal-Mart and I hope you have clothes on so you can come with me."

Not my best parenting moment ever.

Somehow I never imagined those words coming out of my mouth.

And if they did, it would be when she was 13.

Not 3.

And I am not sure exactly how I thought that threat was going to work.

It's not like I could leave her at home.

Though I was smart enough not to threaten to take her in her underwear if she didn't get dressed, since we all know that is her preferred attire and would gladly take me up on it.

But anyway - her latest obsession has been a giraffe t-shirt that my brother and sister-in-law brought her from Africa.

(Of course, it has to be the one clothing item in her closet that there is no possible way I could get multiples of - because if I could, I would go buy 20 of them right now.)

And by obsession, I mean that she wants to wear it every day.

Every day.

For example, the first words out of her mouth this morning weren't "Good morning" or "Can I wake up yet?" but rather "I want my giraffe shirt."

Sometimes it's not available when she wants it, due to the fact that she is an extremely messy eater and it requires frequent washing.

When that happens, she goes on a stakeout.

Pictures with Papa

Aren't we cute?

Pharaoh, pharaoh!

One of Sam's favorite toys is his Hot Wheels racetrack. You connect all these different pieces and each section is loaded with a car that is released when the previous car hits some sort of trigger thingee.

(Great description, I know.)
If you look closely you'll see the cars weren't cutting it - there were some Bible action figures attempted in various launches. That's Daniel up above and Moses down below the track.

(Would never guess I'm a pastor's kid, huh?)
Apparently Pharaoh is much more effective.

Water Warriors

Modeling for Lala

Alissa - since you rarely get to see the kids in the fashions you provide for them - here are a few pictures for you.


Sam wouldn't model the clothes - just the Batman game....can you tell it is a hit?

Goodbye Emerson Hough

On our way home from Cedar Falls, we made a stop in Newton . Joe and I lived there from 2000-2004, and it is where I did my one and only stint as a classroom teacher at Emerson Hough Elementary.

The school district in Newton voted to reduce the number of elementary buildings for next year, and EH is the one that was chosen to be closed. It's very sad, as it is a beautiful building with wonderful teachers.

I was blessed to spend my five years teaching there - so many neat kids, a supportive staff, and I got to teach across the hall from Melissa, who became one of my best friends.

We took our kids to the end-of-the-year party and got in one last picture together in the gym.

No trip to grandma's would be complete without these two things

Milkshakes
Squirt guns in the bathtub

Papa goes to the park

My dad and I took the kids to the "tree house park." It's Papa's favorite. Can you tell?

Oh yeah - he seems to have remembered he's supposed to be helping the kids.

Hmmmm...where did Papa go?
There he is! Again?!

Happy Belated Birthday!

Since we were in Tasmania in January, Aunt 'Lissa and Uncle Carl still had birthday presents for the kids. It was quite a treat to get to open them, since between Christmas and their birthdays their present-opening occasions are all over within a month.

Sadie was delighted with the load of clothes, and Sam was ecstatic about the new Batman game and legos (and the couple packages with clothes in them weren't too bad, either.)

Sadie has already put on one new dress so she can open the rest of them in style.
Batman! Just what I wanted!
New shoes! I can't wait to wear them!
Sadie thought she needed to model some of her haul. I think maybe Alissa didn't really intend for them all these tiems to be worn at the same time.
Lala - you're the best!

It doesn't get much better than this!

Carl + Mario on the Wii = Sam's perfect day

More fun with Anna and Ethan

After lots of fun at Anna's house, we headed back to Grandma and Papa's for some push-ups.
The moms wisely decided they were best eaten without any shirts to drip on.
Papa had just installed a golf course for the kids around the perimeter of his yard. The big kids were off to play - Ethan can't quite seem to keep up. Being the littlest is rough sometimes!
But once he found a basket of balls, he didn't really seem to care what the big kids were doing anymore.
Later, Sam and Anna built a fort in the basement and entertained themselves for at least 30 minutes pretending to be asleep while I took pictures of them.
"We're asleep. Really. Can't you tell by the big grins on our faces?"
I am sure they will love me when they are teenagers for the 30 or so pictures I took.

Hide and Seek

Next came a game of hide and seek.

Pool fun with Anna (and Ethan)

It was even warm enough to have a little fun in the wading pool.

Maybe it should be called the "jumping pool" instead.

You really want us to smile at you?
How about some funny faces instead?

Anna and Ethan

My best friend from elementary school (and junior high and high school and beyond) lives in Cedar Falls and we always love getting to spend time with them when we are in town. Here are a couple fun pictures of them.

Princess Anna
Ethan was hamming it up for me and my camera!