What is that glowing orange orb?!

 Last week we had some glorious sunshine. My parents were visiting too so we spent some quality time outside.

I can't wait for summer!

Spring Fair

 Madilyn's science fair project was chosen as one of the representatives from her school to attend the district science fair at the Puyallup Spring Fair. She was extremely nervous because she had to talk with the judges but she felt good about it afterwards. She did a great experiment on the number of organisms found in water samples from different locations.

Not to be out done, Emma had a picture that was chosen from her class to be on display in the Cultural Celebrations display. She had to stand with her picture and answer questions for an hour...but we only stuck around for about 30 minutes.

Close up of Emma's picture. It includes a hula dancer, mom relaxing in the sun, palm trees, and a pineapple.

Proud of my sweet girls.

20 sheep and a donkey

Our neighborhood sheep

One morning we're all sitting on the couch at 6 am and Emma says, "There's a fluffy sheep in the neighbors yard."

Now, Emma has an active imagination and I was certain she was playing around or was calling a bush a 'sheep', or something. She kept saying it so Jeremy leaned over and looked into the neighbors yard and behold two sheep. I must clarify that we don't live in farm country. We live in hobby farm country so while seeing a sheep or two in a pen isn't unusual seeing 20 of them in the yard is not normal.

Ten minutes later they, the sheep not the kids, started running across our front yard. All TWENTY of them annnnnd a donkey. I half expected to see a pig, sheep, and cow after that.

It was all good fun and the owner came wandering down the road with a bucket of grain an hour later.

One year older and wiser too!

 My baby turned 9. I used to be excited for her to get a little older but I find with Madilyn each year it makes me a little sad. Each birthday brings me another day closer to when she'll be leaving home. (Its like 10 years away but I know, I KNOW, it will go fast).

Jeremy made that jewelry box for her. MADE it. Please be impressed because I am.

 I am so proud of her. She has become so responsible. I don't know what I would do without her help. Many times when I am trying to make dinner or do dishes and Grant is crying at my feet, she'll pick him up and take him in another room to play with him without my asking. She and Garrett are two peas in a pod. They like to wrestle and chase each other to the point that I want to pull my hair out but they love it. And my heart melts when I hear her and Emma giggling in their room together after lights out.

Madilyn is a fantastic reader. Right now she's making her way through everything Rick Riordan has written. She enjoys science. Her science fair project was chosen to be 1 of 15 to represent her school at the district science fair this year.

I took Madilyn and 3 of her friends to a movie in lieu of a birthday party. The last time I did that was for her 6th birthday when she was in Kindergarten. The conversation between the friends has changed dramatically. In kindergarten she invited 2 boys and 1 girl and they laughed over nonsense jokes they each made up. Now at 9, there are definitely no boys. I listened with a smile as the four of them relived the drama of their school day and tried to make sense of the boys that sag their pants. (Good luck girls. I haven't figured out the appeal either.)

Madilyn has a biting sarcastic wit that often catches me off guard. I have to laugh and remember she's only 8... no 9! I love the independence she has gained this year but she still wants to be with me and do stuff together. I know that won't last much longer and hope that I can remember to enjoy and cherish it.

Love you Madilyn.

You've Had a Birthday!

Madilyn decorated the cake.

Grant turned 1 in March. The changes children make in their first year are absolutely astounding. He's gone from being a little lump of crying goo to a walking, talking, person with an opinion and an attitude all in one year.

 I have decided that it is good to be the youngest. (I already thought that since I am the youngest in my family.) But being the youngest of 4 kids is really awesome. He not only has mom and dad taking care of him but two sisters and a brother. They pander to him. Lucky. I have to remind them that he is capable of doing things himself.

 Grant is a daddy's boy. In fact he really prefers men in general - dad, grandpa, uncles, other old guys at church.... He adores Madilyn too. When she comes home from school he runs (walks slightly more awkwardly) to the door where she picks him up and he lays his head on her shoulder. He tries to keep up with Garrett but I'm glad he can't because Garrett isn't exactly gentle. Grant started walking at around 10 months and gratefully he's picked up a handful of words that have started to let us in on what he's thinking. And he got his first tooth right before his birthday. Woohoo!

He is a snugly, teasing, smiley little boy that has brought much joy and laughter to our family.