Negotiations with the Toothfairy

Well, how can you say no to that?

Greta keeps on wiggling teeth loose and Jack keeps on going to the bank.   He also asked this question,"When I get big and loose my sweet tooth, will I grow a new one?"

I think he is sweet from the heart!

Sunshine On My Shoulder

The Overland Park Arboretum, with some special friends, is the most beautiful way to spend a summer day.  

We had to celebrate Alicia's birthday with cake pops in the gazebo.

 We found a hidden fairy village in a tree trunk just off of the path.  There were little cotton puffs floating through the air from the trees and they looked just like fairies.  And, there was a salamander watching us, too!

All of the littles found snails, but Greta was the only one that didn't mind the slime.

 Tickets to the train. There was a tiny town built with a train running through and we stopped to have a picnic lunch.  There were Eastern bluebirds everywhere.  Gee says they are lucky.

Friends are precious. We are thankful.

whoops! See ya, July!

I seem to have lost July. It was unintentional and I am very sorry to have no record of whatever we did.  It was all good.

I know there were cooler days.
I know there were friends and ice creams and parks.
I know there were fireflies and late bedtimes.

I know I worked several food styling jobs for AMC, and for Mc Donald's!
I know I have grown in many ways as a mamma this month...and even though I lost July, I just might have found myself....

A big decision was made in our home.

We are going to homeschool our kiddos.

(Loud Record Scratching Noise)

This decision is so right. I felt so good locking it in. And, for the record, it doesn't mean that we think any less of parents and their precious children that are in the public school system, or even private schools.  It means that we are ready and willing to fine tune our kids education to their needs, and this is such a hard thing to do in a class of 20....or more.

I always wanted to be a teacher.

Don't be tardy to the party!

Ev'ry Body Wants to be a Cat

And have a cat nap.

I'd Cross That Path

Little Miss has never been known to miss a photo shoot.  She has skillz.  She has pizzaz.  She has a tail.  She also has a brother.

Greta's dance studio performed a beautiful recital called, "The Elders". I was moved to tears a few times through out...well, dancing and music do that to me...and little babes in tutus.  It was a beautiful story and was so well choreographed.  There are some incredibly talented dancers in this studio and I love seeing them grow each year.  This year Greta was a cat and danced to Everybody Wants to be a Cat.

Grandma and Poppy even flew in from Louisville this year! We stuffed them with BBQ and they showered Greta with flowers. Gee, Caoi and Evie came to clap their hearts out with me at the matinee.

Now, Miss Greta went through some changes this year and was quite certain that we would be retiring her ballet shoes.  We had to switch classes and teachers and Greta fell behind with technique and it was hard for her.  But she practiced.  I found her skipping backwards, and leaping every single day through our house.  She would quietly practice the routine in her room and as the recital drew near, I had a feeling that I would be surprised with Greta's performance.  She was the cat's meow!

A Big Graduate

Little Miss graduated with great enthusiasm.  We are as proud as proud can be and we are quickly realizing that when people say this parent situation flies by fast, it means just that  - poof-  we have a first grader.

The ceremony was very well done. Pomp and Circumstance, beautiful music with each child singing a solo!  It went just like this, "My yittle heart has a great big love, a great big love for Jesus." It was a mamma melter.  Greta has a gift for music.  Her sweet voice rings true to pitch and she keeps the rhythm perfectly.  (Future Music Major? Possibly!) But, each student also got to announce what they wish to be when they are grown.  And, Greta proudly said,"Chef"!  This summer will be for perfecting the mud pie.

Summer time rules.

What About MAY?

I think we lost track of some time! (Big time!)