Close-Ups

I haven't been near my camera in a few days (can't even locate it in my mess as I get ready for a blow-out garage sale), so I don't have any TECHNICALLY new pictures. Since I wanted a theme, though, I thought I would post all close-up photos. And they're new to you!

Isn't she CUTE when she's sleeping?

Self portraits are always fun photos (not that that's me - I

wish. Hey, you take a pic with MY camera, it's fair game for posting!)...and Sophie looks like she's enjoying the

photo opp, too!



hmm, was he trying to show me a loose tooth or something? No, he was just being silly! Ain't he cute?!

She looks a little chilly, but clean nonetheless!

ok, these last two aren't quite as "close-up" as the others, but aren't they adorable? And it's a good close-up of Chip's tattoo (I even airbrushed out the blood because it was the day he got it re-touched!), if that counts for something...

Fun Day Continued

After we went to Meijer Gardens on Thursday, we went to a park and had lunch and play time. I had so many pictures that I figured it warranted a whole new entry, so here they are!


impromptu Duck Duck Goose - I love it! Sophie's checking out the goodies in the diaper bag.
Can I have a pop tart, Mommy?
Sean and his teacher.
Sophia's ever-present smile.

Field Trip...Meijer Gardens

I've heard quite a few metaphors for parenting that relate to gardening (I'm hearing the Fantastisk's song...plant a radish, get a radish, maybe you'll get two...), but I've never heard words of wisdom for taking 24 kindergarteners TO a garden and keeping them all in line...luckily I only had to keep an eye on 2 kindergarteners, 1 baby, and 2 cousins (ages 15 and 10), but they were expecting over 900 students at Meijer Gardens on Thursday, so it was a bit busy!

It's a gorgeous place, even if you run through it at a ridiculous pace and spend an hour at the water areas...but I hope someday I can take a leisurely stroll, read the signs, and actually look at a flower or two, and maybe even take a spin around the statue loop!

Here are some pics of the kids enjoying the gardens:

Oh, did I say "enjoying"? I meant "having a fit because the other kids took the other pathway around..." I love my kid, but I hope he outgrows this fit-throwing thing before he's thirty!

And now that the kids decide to do the same maze thingy he wanted to do, he's happy! Hooray!

below (sorry, I still can't figure out exactly how to format this thing!): KING ME!

I think he's currently sailing in Lake Ontario...whichever one of the Great Lakes that's closest to NY...

Sean in awe of the "big horse" statue.

And of course, the big horse statue...

And just to reassure all you parents out there, I did not lose anyone along the way...at least for more than a few seconds.

Watermelon Crawl

Ok, so Sophie's not "sophisticated" enough for Tracy Byrd's Watermelon Crawl, but it IS watermelon season, and just look at her go!

She's been working on this skill for a couple of weeks now, but Sunday she got a couple of tentative knee steps, and yesterday she decided she could take off!! She especially likes crawling with her right leg up and using her right foot to push her forward.

Memorial Day fun

Today we had lots we wanted to accomplish, so we took the kiddies to the fair instead! Sean really wanted to go, and bragged about it to his neighbor friend and she kind of invited herself along. It really was fun to see her having such a good time, too, but it was kind of weird, since she'd never been to a fair before. Here are some fun pictures of our day:

Here are Sean and M* enjoying some of the rides, and each other:

I wish I had gotten a picture of them eating the elephant ear, but alas, I was too busy eating some myself to grab the camera. Sean loved it and got totally sticky. M* tried one tiny bite and declared that she didn't like it. I think that's the real issue with taking her places; I mean, who can trust a kid who doesn't like elephant ears?!?

On a side note, Sophie's making great progress in the crawling area. Yesterday she made two "steps" on her own, and today she's just too cranky to try, but she's at least still getting up on her knees. You can't even try setting her down on her belly now - she goes straight to the "all fours" position! I'll keep you posted (and on the tooth that I'm sure must be making her cranky)...

In the meantime, though, here's my favorite picture of her for today:

Spiderman, where are you comin' from?

So...Sean's new obsession is Spiderman. Funny, when the 1st and 2nd movie came out, he didn't have any interest, and even seemed to be a bit scared. Now Sean thinks he's COOL when he spins a web at us! I guess that's what happens when the kiddies grow up...

He wants me to tell you that today he got Spiderman undies, jammies, and socks (hey, he needed all those things anyway, so why not fuel the obsession, right?). So now he's really the coolest. Oh, and maybe I should mention the Spidey Cheese Nips and Spidey fruit snacks...or maybe I really shouldn't mention them! :)

Sophia's new obsession? Well, I think it would be the tooth that is trying to come in. She's been coughing, gagging, whining, and feverish all week, and I'm tired out from it...although not as much as her. She's already had two naps today (one of which I took with her, and one we spent garage sale-ing on the way home from errands). And now she is behind me crying for attention again, but I'm determined to get this post done, which has been one of my very few goals every day this week (and yet you see how much I've accomplished!). Ok. I caved. She's now helping me type...and pick out her favorite pictures of herself for me to post.

She thinks these are good, but is really angry that mommy isn't paying attention, so it's time to go. Perhaps another week I'll be able to take the time to get a few more thoughts here...

Having a Field Day with this one!

Sean had field day this week. I was going to go, but since Daddy was home and able to go, I was relegated to staying home. It's ok, because it was the first time in months that I was home alone with Sophia. We got lots of things done...but these photos make it look so fun that I'm sad I missed it.

Sean had fun in the races, the sock throwing contest, and the tug-of-war, but his favorite thing was winning the all-class tug-of-war at the end of the event. Here are a few more pictures...

Tug, tug, tug...hmmm...Sean, you seem to be on an all-girl team, here. What's up with that?

About me, part deux

I don't have any more good pictures of me on this computer, so sorry about that, but here are the responses to the other email (for more info, scroll down to next blog). Enjoy...

1. What is a question that people ask you that always gets on your nerves?
Can't think of any recent ones...maybe "when are you gonna have kids?" about 8 years ago.

2. Name something you have in common with all your siblings.
I'm sure there's something besides the parentage...maybe our off-beat sense of humor?
(the Beret the guy lost!...)

3. What is the greatest amount of physical pain you have ever endured?
Probably recieving the epidural when Sean was refusing to be born...and I was having contractions every 30 seconds

4. What number of alcoholic drinks constitutes your limit? red koolaid - 1/2; actual alcohol...1 or 2

5. Do you fold your underwear? Have to admit that I do...wouldn't fit in the drawer otherwise

6. Who is the last person you wrote a letter to? I think it was either Yolonda or Diane; maybe it was Fred, though...

7. Ever fired a gun before? water variety only

8. What are your favorite flowers? lilies or orchards for their shape and color, lilacs for their scent

9. What was your favorite childhood toy? mandy doll, barbies, and paddington bear

10. Name a sound that disturbs you. I hate hearing my babies cry in pain

11. Name something random that you would never do. Kiss a toad

12. Name a person whose diary you would love to read. Jessica's :)

13. Have you ever had the same dream more than once? sure have

14. Name a song that makes you sentimental. Music Box Dancer and Noah (MW Smith) t name a couple

15. Name something that made you laugh this week. Sean's Saturday response to my question about having a good day and no fits (see May 12 blog)

16. How old were you when you received your first real [*good] kiss? My sophomore year, so I was 15.

17. If you could change lives with any celebrity who would it be? Amy Grant

18. What's your favorite holiday? Christmas season, but more from my growing up years than now

19. What is on your refrigerator door? all kinds of magnets, photos, and pictures Sean has colored (and a treasured Valentine that says I'm the best teacher ever!)

20. Name the closest thing to you that is green. one of Sophie's outfits that I haven't put in her drawer yet

21. If someone who didn't know you had to guess your name, what would they guess? Ruth?

22. Name something you have to do tomorrow. teach Sarah, feed Sophie about 20 times

23. Name a movie you are looking forward to watching. Not much of a movie fanatic, so I don't even know what's coming up. Maybe watching the Fiddler on the Roof DVD I bought 6 months ago finally!

24. Have you ever called 911? a couple of times, actually! The most interesting time was when I had to call because a farmer down our road had his tractor blade thingys up too high and he wrapped our electric wire around them.

25. Name something you've heard about women that tends to be true. We are catty

26. Favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell

27. Name one thing that [made you mad] today. The total ineffectiveness of me in general (see future blog)

28. Do you like riding roller coasters? nah, I'm pretty much a Gemini Jr kind of gal, although the Iron Dragon (wimpy though it is) is one of my all-time favorites

29. What are the next 3 things you're going to purchase? bread, gas, and perhaps some diapers

30. What is your favorite perfume/cologne? Bath and Body Works sprays

31. Where would your Favorite vacation spot be? Somewhere near the water...Silver Lake MI or somewhere on a coast in FL, probably

About me, part one

So, I received two of those nifty little emails recently, and I thought, what they heck? Why don't I share this stuff on my blog (I admit, I stole the idea from a random blogger on Xanga...)

(this picture is from my first year at the lake, and this one is from Sophie's 1st 24 hours...believe it or not, it's pretty much the best recent picture of me)

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? yes. the mean librarian (says Mom) and Grandma Kate (says Dad)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? today, a little...

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? kind of, sometimes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? ham salad from HoneyBaked Ham

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? yep, two adorable here and two adorable elsewhere...

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? maybe

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT? ya think?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yep

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? no way!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? fruity pebbles, oatmeal, and honey bunches of oats

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? shoes still have laces?

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG ? maybe...

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? loaded chocolate brownie

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their gender...usually

15. RED OR PINK? pink roses, red cars

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?many a thing

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? voices of the past

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jean shorts, white sandals

20.WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? cookie dough ice cream

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? noise from the highway and Sean giggling while creating his newest homework masterpiece

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? something blah, maybe beige?

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? bread and yeasty stuff baking, air after the rain, hawaiian-type scents

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Carol, I think

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? very much

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? NASCAR because it helps me sleep and the Olympics - summer or winter, doesn't matter

27. HAIR COLOR? dishwater blah brown

28. EYE COLOR? hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no

30. FAVORITE FOOD? that which I do not have to cook

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy endings!!!

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? 1/2 of Spiderman (I), Monsters Inc.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? red, white, and BLACK

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer

35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs, mostly

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? bread pudding

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? haven't started a new one, but plan to read a Karen Kingsbury series soon, once I have a few free minutes

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? besides our mouse, a picture of Sean (and sometimes Sophie's mouth, because she loves to chew on it!)

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Red Wings Hockey - GO WINGS!

42. FAVORITE SOUND? music, the ocean

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? bach or ac/dc. Depends on the mood.

44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Orlando, FL or Arlington, TX

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? wouldn't you like to know?

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? East GR, MI

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Words of wisdom

[A little aside...for those very few of you who have been reading my blog...I've now made it so you can post comments even if you aren't a blogger yourself. Hope to hear from you!]


This morning, after a very long evening of fighting with Sean, I asked him if we were going to have a good day without any fights. He said, "Maybe just one little fit." I laughed, and he got indignant and said, "I said just ONE!" Yep. Sure.

If you're happy and you know it...

...CLAP YOUR HANDS!

Sophie's new trick...I don't know why it makes me a bit teary to see her do this on her own, but I'm so excited to see her excited and responding to her environment. She has been clapping objects together for a while now, but yesterday she figured out that her hands will make noise when she claps them together. I just think it's SO adorable!

Of course, big brother helped her learn how to clap. He is getting a bit jealous of the attention we give to Sophie when she does something new (rolling back to front and clapping are the two she's learned recently, and she's pulling herself up (well, halfway) and just gaining better control of her body in general), so we've taken out the 6 albums full of pictures from his first year, and I think that helps a little. He's also distracted by the Xbox and playing with the neighbor kids, so that's nice.

The days are already flying by, and I'm mourning the days I've already forgotten, but looking forward with great anticipation to the next days, the next smile, the next milestone...