Pictures: No thinking required

It has been snowing for days. But, it is the kind of snow that takes two days to cover all the grass. A dusting I guess. Kind of like sprinkling powdered sugar on top of brownies.

The nice thing about the first snow fall is the birds and other small forest creatures start emerging finding alternative sources of food.

So, with a little patience, and a whole lot of avoiding work... I got a few shots to share.

I have a fondness for birds. We have talked about this before.

I however, do not have a fondness for winter. The grey skies are what kill me. I can deal with the SNOW and cold, it is the lack of sunshine that hurts. you can see the grey in the background. The next 4 months are always so long.


Update:
We are done with birthdays for awhile (finally) we have sooo many in the Fall it is crazy.
(Last party will be tonight when 7 yr old has his 'kid' party).
We now have a 10, 8 3/4, 7, and 5 year old running and arguing around our house.
I think next time I am at the store I will buy a pack of earplugs. Or, maybe I will just put a new battery in my MP3 player ;)

Fiery One

It is hard for me to believe that this little man is 7 years old today (Monday). When he was born he was going to be our last child. He was baby number 3 in three years. That was it, we were done. For a year and some he was treated as the last child. Until the real last child (baby #4) made a surprise visit in my womb and eventually the world.

(sometimes unplanned things turn out to be the best kind of surprise)

The first two babes came so quickly (17 months apart) and there was such a flurry of craziness in that short time that truly enjoying each moment was not something I focused on. Survival was the name of the game with them. But, I knew this was it. This was the last baby I would nurse, rock, change diapers, watch as he learned to sit/crawl/walk/and grow, I just knew to appreciate it because it wasn't going to last and it would be my last opportunity. (or so I thought)


I am so happy I was able to have that time with this child - my now official middle child. We have two oldests in our family really since one is a boy and one a girl and they are so close in age. We have a youngest too. Which leaves this boy pulling up the middle child role. OH, he has this role down pat.

His name means 'fiery one' . It is of the Celtic background and it couldn't be more accurate. I love this little boy and all of his complexities. He makes me laugh everyday and he makes me pull my hair (usually in the same moment).

So, Happy Happy Birthday to my little man. I can not wait to know you as an adult because you are going to be even more amazing.

You will always be younger than me- Happy Birthday Anyway

Happy Birthday to my best friend Amy.

I like you even though you will
always be
younger than me!!!!!!

It's My Birthday and I Will Pout if I Want To

When you are five (today)
You decide it is time to start pushing your weight around.

Notice the clenched fists? Can you see the locked (right) leg?
That leg just finished stomping on the ground in defiance.

Yep, when you are five you can pout at your party if you want to.
(Your mom just won't listen to you.)

Butterflies and Flowers

A recipe for quickly pulling together a birthday party for an 8 year old girl --->

Start with a complete lack of time due to Emergency hospitalizationAdd 9 yards of tulle in varying colors of choice (I chose bright pink, orange, and lime green)

Cover party tables with 2 plastic table clothes and paperware from dollar store.
Next quickly make gerber daisy and pinwheel flower pot/name tag holders for girly guests to bring home.
(4 flower pots/$1, floral foam and a rock in bottom of pot so they stop tipping over, fake gerber daisies and mini pin wheels - all from the dollar store wrap tulle around floral foam for finishing touch)

Decoration on the food table consisted of more fake flowers (and the two left over pin-wheels) added to a spide plant silk plant found at Wal-Mart.
Mix in these great butterflies found at Jo-Ann Fabrics. They are made out of feathers - my big splurg.
Note the little butterflies clipped onto the tulle- so sweet! Girly girl said it was like they were flying in a rainbow.
Finally - stop by your local Wal-Mart store and pick up food from their bakery section and produce department (luckily located side by side here) The breakfast menu for the party was a fruit tray, mini blueberry muffins, powdered mini donuts, and itty bitty cupcakes with bright frosting and sparkling grape juice.

You may top of the party with activities (since "8 year olds are too old to play baby games mom"
The girls made book marks and coffee filter butterflies. (supplies from Jo-Anns and Wal-Mart)
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I'm thrilled because I pulled it all off in a day. Planning, buying and decoratine - phewww! I'm glad I workwell under pressure.
Girly is the one with pink wings and her back turned toward the camera....
Happy birthday my little survivor. She is a strong will, stubborn, literal, straight forward, tell it as it is, fiery girly girl.