Plans

As the beginning of summer I had big plans,

plans to relax, 

plans to convince Greg that he should paint the kitchen cabinets, 

plans to workout every day,

and I was going to post on the blog every single day..

even if it was only a new picture,

it was going to happen every day.

Well as plans go, 

none of them happened 

except for the relaxing...

So, as we get ready to begin the next school year, 

I thought it would be fun to recap the last 4 months 

and share what we actually did!

First up, 

a baseball lesson from big sister.

Ready

Eyes on the ball

Another try

Next ones going to Waveland Ave.

Eyes on the ball

Where's my eyes?

Maybe I should try it the other way?

Almost got it

This should really help

Maybe we'll just try it out here

Much better.

Christmas Card Planning

Me: What do you think of doing something like this for our Christmas card this year?

 

via

He: Um, we don't really look like these people...

Me: I know, I'm talking about using the letters, the word Joy.

He: I like that, let's do it...

you just can't wear that thing on your head...

it would drive your dad crazy.  

If he doesn't like it on babies, I don't know that he'd like it on you.

Me: So true, so true.

 Look, they even have a donkey.

He: What? No, no, we can't do that.

That's something Bobby and Lauren would do...

wait a minute,

is that Bobby and Lauren?

What they say...

 Lily: Oskar say Mama!

Oskar: Dada?

Lily: Oskar say Lily!

Oskar: Dada?

Lily: Oskar say Hannah!

Oskar: Dada?

Lily: Oskar say yoguhrt!

Oskar: Dada?

Lily: Oskar say Dada!

Oskar: Ball?

Lily : Mama, it's amazing!  

It's almost like he understands English!

He just doesn't speak it yet.

 Me: It's time for bed, I love you girls and good night.

Hannah Grace: But, Mama, But, Mama

Me: Hannah Grace, I'm leaving now, good night.

Hannah Grace: But, Mama, But Mama,

Sometimes I , Sometimes I

Me: Hannah Grace, good night.

Hannah Grace: But, Mama, sometimes I...

Sometimes I just don't know what I'm doing 

or what I'm talking about.

Me: I know sweetheart, I know.

I love you an good night.

 After pulling new-to-me clothes out of a bin of Lily's old clothes...

Hannah Grace: Mama, there is something wrong with the neck on my shirt.

Me: I know Hannah Grace, it's a long neck.

That's why it's called a turtle neck.

{tears running down her face}

Hannah Grace: But, I don't want to look like a turtle.

Where is Baby Jesus?

Linnea gave this sweet nativity set to Lily on her first birthday...

The kids have spent many fun years playing with all of the pieces...

 One night, after getting all the kids to bed,
I came out into the living room and noticed that someone
had been playing with the set and had put them in a particular arrangement...

They were now, no longer surrounding the manager,
but in lined up in single file order led by the angel

followed by Joseph, Mary,
and Sankta Lucia

 the wise men, a Madame Alexander doll

 and of course all the animals in the stable.

As I studied the scene,
I realized the reason for the parade

 Baby Jesus had gone missing

He was gone for 2 days

 until a little Bubba walked into his room
and came out five minutes later
with Baby Jesus
held tightly in his little fist

and then, Greg straightened out our tree.

Christmas Card Picture

This is what happens when I try to corral the three kids to take a picture for 

our Christmas card 2011

Not too bad, but not true smiles from the girls...

Oskar takes a break in the next few pictures...

 Everyone on break...

bribed to come back with cookies...

all three with a mouthful of cookie...

and, we're done...

Not sure which will make the cut....

Just a quick post...

I thought this was a beautiful picture of my mom and Oskar

taken by Nela

and posted on facebook

Still Trying

While I am still not able to download new pictures to my computer

I do know what the problem is,

I need a new picture reader thingy....

maybe it will be in my stocking this Christmas!

But, until then I thought I would use Greg's computer real quickly

to post some new pictures.

No story to tell here, but I was fooling around 

with the settings on our camera one early fall day and got some 

pretty pictures of the girls while Oskar napped.