one two three four, I declare a thumb war!

Friday night I babysat a friend's 3 kids at my place while they had a grown-up night out.
It was a perfect time since Keith would be away at the hospital all night anyway.
We ate lasagna on the floor, decorated sugar cookies, watched a disney super hero movie, bumped heads, finished off all the goldfishies, pushed and shoved our way through the tube, and toped it all off with ice cream sudays as if things weren't hiped-up enough.
As much awesome crazy fun as it was, maybe just one kid isnt so bad after all....






This moment was followed by horrendous screaming. Keith laughs at this clip especially when he moves it in slow motion (at the end). I still cringe.

Our family walk inbetween two 30hr shifts

maybe we should just have people over tonight

more pix from EmilyP's visit

It was so wonderful to have my dear EmilyP stay with me. For those of you who also know her, you'll understand when I say that she truely carries magic with her. She can make a skeptic believe, even if only when she's around. This amazing friend of mine came and cheered me up. She helped me out. She listened to me vent, laugh and cry. My life is rich with her in it.

We had a lot of fun together and it started like this.....
~She flew on a standby flight so when I found out on Sunday that she didnt get on it I figured it wouldnt happen. I found this out just after hearing other bad news and it stimulated a flood of tears. I finally got the message 2 hours before she arrived on Tuesday that she was coming!
Keith was home so we were able to all meet here together.




We took her straight to our little Panera for some dinner and at home the conversation lasted hours past my normal bedtime....







The next morning we went to a local farm and bought fresh apples, cider, muling spices, a pie for home, and a sandwich lunch to enjoy outside by the giant apple.

We hit a couple garage sales (this is my new thing by the way and last weekend I went to over a dozen) where I found a perfect little sled for Dakota for $2 bucks.



We also went to the Meijer Garden where I have a membership and a buddy pass. It's a beautiful place with indoor & outdoor gardens, kid play stuff, sculptures - and it's open year round. In winter I'll check out the xmas light exibit!

Once we visited Keith at work when he called with a hankering for mangos. Nothing's too much to ask for my baby.

One night Emily watched the Kama Sutra (beautiful movie- not what you think) We also did a little Ice Cream splurge. What else am I forgetting Em?
All too soon came Friday when I drove her to Ann Arbor to stay with her cousins. The drive was lovely and I got to hear all sorts of good stories from her time in India. We stopped at a stand for raspberries on the way and said our finale good-byes with a walk in the woods by a green sludge river.

The road home seemed more than twice as long without my sweet company. My wonderful Em.

Emily Potter is visiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is so wonderful having my Em here with me. We've been busy running around town having fun, fun , fun. (in-between nap time)

Here we are in front of a big apple in case you can't tell (she thinks it's not that obvious)

At the Meijer Gardens

Dinner lovn'

dinosaur snuggle

Surprise visit at work for Keith

Taking a little time for herself.... ahhhh

Jungle Girl
(Meijer Gardens)

Lady's day out

Roderick & Saskia sitn' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!!!!!

My awesome brother Roderick has proposed to his beautiful darling Saskia

...and she said YES!!!!!!!!!!!
***HORRAAYY ***
She is wonderful! She is Dutch. She's 3 inches taller than him.
And oh! They just graduated from Oxford together!
(I totally meant to post a big ol' congratulations for that ages ago, so um here it is)
They are now living in Greece together for the next year and Im hoping the wedding happens soon (less time for her to change her mind and all that)
I'm soooooo super duper ultra happy for my big brother!
Yay! a Sister-in-law with a cool accent.
Saskia, welome to the family!!!!!!
Wait, Saskia Saxey? oh no......
What to do......


(best part: He started a blog per my long standing request. click picture)

Daddy & the big three-Oh!

Yesterday was Keith's 3 decade birthday!
We celebrated with a morning balloon surprise and a day with a babysitter!
We saw Bourne Ultimatum and shopped for work clothes all by our grown-up selves. Such freedom.

In the evening we had a little homemade pizza party with another family Complete with organic chocolate cake but unfortunately we were having so much fun that there are no pics of that.

Happy Birthday Darling!

Teeth

This was taken before the four-tooth agony began.
Oh the wonderful days of pleasant two-teeth life, when all went orally unnoticed.


Now there are random bouts of screaming day and night.
The four uppers are swollen white, and taking their sweet ol' time coming in.
This week's milestone: first toothbrush

Oh deer!

Well I finally caught a picture of our backyard deer family. Aren't they wonderful?
If you look closely you'll see four of them. Those are our trees they're eating!

Oh, and of course the bunnies are bouncing around everyday.
They act like they own the place really. But I'm good to them, I chuck them celery and carrots now and then and they love me for it - wouldnt you?

Fun with a cup