It's 8:30 am

It's 8:30 in the morning, the older two are on the bus on their way to school. Everyone has had breakfast, watched a Dora show, and have now decided to color. Still in jammies, still in slippers, playing so quietly, and sharing the color wonder markers. I love mornings like this.

Pirates of the Toy Room

I spotted Camdyn playing in the toy room today with a pair of my sunglasses on. Broken sunglasses that is, thanks to Shewhowillnotbenamed.

When she spotted me, I asked her what she was doing.

"I'm a pirate, Mom!"
On a cell phone?
"I calling for help, Rowyn is trying to get my glasses!"

Not Rowyn, she would never!

Swinging in the Rain

Camdyn will now demonstrate how to properly get on a swing.

Mud boots didn't help, as you can imagine, she was covered in wet wood chips and mud. She had fun and wore off some energy...and that's all that matters.

The Box

A big box came today from UPS and as any mother knows, empty boxes are all the rage with wee folk. It kept mine busy for quite awhile, so much so, that I'm thinking of ordering some empty boxes with my next order.

Lumpy eating Rowyn's hair, Rowyn eating the toys hair. I may need to reevaluate their nutrition.

Lumpy demonstrates how to get in the box...jump off the shopping cart and pray like hell.

Rowyn still sucking on that poor baby, not impressed by the box.

Camdyn in the box, yelling "You can't find me, Mom!"
Nope, nope, no idea Lump.

Clearly losing interest, Lumpy resorts to attempting head stands instead.

1st Day of School 2009

Cooper Flynn -- 1st grader

Riley Breck -- 2nd grader

Watching them leave on the bus this morning was bittersweet. I imagine it won't get any easier, especially as I watch Camdyn and then Rowyn start the next phase of their lives. Things have certainly been quiet here this morning, well, except for Lumpy wrapping her watermelon Dubble Bubble gum around her legs. I think I took half the hair off her thigh trying to get that crap off.

I can't wait until the kids are home, so I can hear all about their first day!

The Joker

Apparently, Rowyn has been watching the kids play Lego Batman, because I caught her in the act of applying her Joker makeup.

After calling her out on it, she promptly started putting lids back on, albeit not the right one, but whatever. Thank you, Crayola, for washable markers!

Foosball...Barbie Style

Designer Chloe Ruchon, designed the first Barbie Foosball table.

Riley thinks it is a must have.

I wonder how Barbie feels about her hair getting greasy.

Just a summer day

Another hot summer day. I'm not complaining though, because really it doesn't feel like there has been many of them this year. The kids and their friends decided to all bring their lunches here for a picnic. The girls sat out on the front porch, because apparently, the boys had already called the deck. Cue the bees. Next thing I know, there are 13 kids in my kitchen. Damn those bees.

Later on, I took Rowyn out on the deck. That little playhouse has been around since my sisters and brother were little. It's just the perfect size for Rowyn right now.

Such a busybody.

Lumpy trying to stay cool with the hose.

The Salon

I decided to cut Cooper's faux hawk off today. He's had his "dragon hair" since he was two, but he rarely wants it spiked anymore. so it was time to come off. While cutting his hair, Lumpy apparently decided she needed a cut as well. She snuck the scissors out to the mirror in the other room and gave herself a trim.

She was very upset when I explained we had to go to the salon to get her whack job fixed. I was in tears initially, so that probably didn't help.

The after shots. Once the initial shock wore off, I'm actually really liking the new style. It suits her, I think.

Thank you, John Hughes

I grew up watching John Hughes films; Sixteen Candles, National Lampoon's Vacation, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink, and of course, Breakfast Club . He was a master writer, producer, director. Whether you were a criminal, a princess, a jock, a basket case, or a brain, you could identify with his films.

A friend shared this link with me and really, it's one of those stories that restores your faith in human nature. I wanted to pass it on.

Lazy Afternoon

About a dozen Japanese Beetles were doing laps in our big pool and since I was too lazy to clean it, I broke out a Rubbermaid replacement pool for Rowyn this afternoon instead. I gave her some spoons, measuring cups, and a pitcher...life was good for the wee one.

More laziness, finding a swim diaper required much too much energy and besides, I like to see just how much those Pampers can hold before all the nasty beady crap blows out of the top.

R & R

Sissy secrets. ♥

City Museum

We just got back from visiting Brendan, Christina, and their new fur baby, Oz (no, not from the Wizard, they're big Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans). Oz wasn't real sure about us, but if your house was just taken over by 3 kids and a Lumpy, you'd be a little apprehensive yourself. Anyway, they just bought a house in the Shaw district of St. Louis, it's adorable and even has a great little fenced in yard for Oz.

On Saturday, they took us to the City Museum in downtown St. Louis and it is quite possibly the coolest place I've been to...EVER! The pictures I took don't do it justice and only show about a quarter of the things to do there. There are caves to explore, tunnels that go underground, a ferris wheel, a 5-story slide, a skateless skatepark,...seriously, this place was sic!

Meghan and Camdyn off to their first adventure with Papa watching on.


Brendan and Cooper in one of the many tubes across the ceiling.
Meghan takes a turn.


Rowyn wanted out of the stroller in the worst way. The museum was tough to do with a stroller, there was a Toddlerland which she enjoyed, but aside from that, the museum is best suited for kids Camdyn's age and older.
Cooper goes down a tree slide.

Clyde and Camdyn climb up into the ceiling and the unknown!

Up in the ceiling peeking out...looks like they're in a hampster cage! The ceiling had strips of white fabric and Christmas lights all over, the effect was really neat!

A view of the outside museum, more hamster tubes and an airplane!

Riley and Christina headed for the airplane!


Brendan, Riley, and Cooper heading up, up, up!



The school bus you can go in on the roof!



There were nooks and crannies everywhere, you could literally explore that place all day for several days and still not see everything. Thank you Brendan and Christina for taking us, we had a blast!!