45, 46 Weeks

Last Thursday, at 45 weeks. It's getting harder and harder to take these pictures. She wants less and less to do with looking and me with that black box in front of my face, and more and more of exploring the grass, rocks, bark, leaves, anything else.... My assistant, Lauren, even has a hard time these days when we're outside. ;)


Hee hee--we let the headband fall off at lunch. Pongo saw his chance and started batting it on the floor. I forgot about it, with lunch and naps, and later found he'd chewed part of a feather off! Stinker. At least it's not too noticeable. No more playing with baby headbands for Kitty.

Peek-a-boo... Watching Austin's T-ball game from the stroller.

And yesterday, 46 weeks. She is looking too grown up here! Like a little toddler girl! Where's my little baby?!

Julia's 9-Year Pictures

On Monday, Memorial Day, we pretty much just hung around the house. We finally got two hook boards hung in our master bedroom closet. My dad made them in October. I painted them in January (I think...), and now they're finally up. It just seemed we were always running around or someone was sleeping or something, that we didn't do it earlier. We hung up the frame with the four pictures of each baby in the washtub, taken at Sears, too.. Brian has been so busy at work lately that he brought some home and worked on it that day. He grilled turkey burgers for supper. We had turkey burgers with pesto at Lauren's friend Gracie's party, and have made them twice at home. Yummy!

I also took Julia's nine-year pictures. Last week I was searching through Etsy to get some ideas for crocheted baby hats. I love Etsy! There is so much inspiration on there, lots of neat things! And I have to admit, I get some satisfaction out of seeing something cute and knowing that I can recreate it, and for lots less $$. I know it takes my time, but I enjoy figuring out how to do that stuff. The actual making usually doesn't take as long as the planning/figuring. Usually. Hee hee.

I've been wanting to knit hats, but I only am a little familiar with it. I can do it, but it's a challenge because I haven't practiced much. However, I do know how to crochet, though I was pretty rusty. The last time I made anything, other than crocheting beads on baby socks, was an afghan when I was pregnant with Austin! I wanted a project to take along to pass the time driving to Yosemite. Does this sound familiar? You might remember I took along my Project 365 album to work on to pass the time on our drive to Yosemite in April. LOL I don't like to waste that driving time just sitting there! :D

Anyway, I got the bright idea that I could crochet baby hats. Sure enough, I found all sorts of cute ideas and fun (free) patterns here and there online. It wasn't long before my baby hat idea turned into ideas to make all the kids hats! Ha ha. That's how it goes around here. I like projects. I only wish I'd thought of this back in February/March, because these would have been the perfect projects to take to T-Ball practices!! Oh well. I got out my old crochet book to refresh myself on the crochet lingo/stitches, practiced a bit, then started this skull cap for Julia. She loves it! She's worn it to school (minus the big flower, which I pinned on for pictures) most days this week. She also wears it around the house. It's kind of funny/cute to see her doing homework or reading or whatever, wearing that little cap the whole time. Anyway, it didn't take long at all, and now I'm making one for Lauren, different pattern though.

The chair in the picture, Brian's mom gave us. It was his Grandma's, and I think it came from Holland, I think over 50 years ago. The trunk sits on a shelf in our living room. I don't usually like to buy props that I'm just going to use for a picture and then what? So I try to be resourceful.

Share the Toys, Girls

The other day I was thinking about how we have sort of toy stations set up all over the house. There are various assortments of toys in most rooms of the house: the family and living rooms, outside both bathrooms, in the office and in the master bedroom. The kids' rooms have toys just because they are kids rooms. Hee hee. Caroline can play with toys while the rest of do what we have to do: play, fold clothes, vacuum, work on the computer, go potty, do hair, what have you.

I'd sat Caroline on the floor to play while I was in our bedroom. Lauren came in and said, "You should take a picture of me and Tawrowine." So I ran and got the camera.



Caroline has figured out this pop-up toy.

She did not like it when Lauren stole it.

I told Lauren to give it back, and I don't think she was too happy about that. She was clapping for Caroline pushing all the heads down, yet Lauren wanted to play with the toy herself!

And, just a couple of cute ones of the baby. Because she has such great expressions!

Strawberry Festival, Beads

Every year Arroyo Grande has its Strawberry Festival over Memorial Day Weekend. We've lived here almost 11 years and have never been to it! Other people go; most people we know go, at least some years. What's up with us, anyway? Ha ha. Some years we've been out of town, but not always. Anyway, we decided to go this year. The kids were so excited. So, so excited! They had a few little rides, like these airplanes, which Austin and Lauren chose for their first ride.


Julia chose this jumping/bouncing ride (1st picture). Fun! The weight limit for the little rides was 80 lbs., which she is not even close to, but she said those rides looked like fun, but she didn't see any kids her age riding them. Which was true, we didn't until later on when the festival got busier. Before we left all the kids went on the little swing ride there. Basically the same as the airplanes, except you sat in a little chair and went around in circles instead of sitting on an airplane. ;) Caroline got all sorts of comments on her little strawberry hat being perfect for the strawberry festival. Ha! That's why I chose this outfit for her, of course!

They also had bounce houses, inflatable slide, pony rides, and more. There were lots of booths set up on the main street through the village. Vendors were selling all kinds of things: tie-dyed clothes, jewelry, homemade soaps, hair bows, puppets, doll dresses, pillow pets, lots of stuff. We didn't buy anything, though. I thought some of the hair bows would be cute, but have a hard time paying those prices when I think I can make them myself (and in fact, have plans in the works to do just that ;) ) for less than a dollar each, probably more like 50 cents each, depending on the ribbon used.

There were lots of food places set up. The kids all got corn dogs for lunch and Brian and I both got Chinese combo plates with grilled chicken skewers, an eggroll, rice and chow mein noodles. We thought about getting a strawberry treat--shortcake or sundae or something--but we are Dutch, and when we considered paying $7 for a (big) bowl of strawberry shortcake or the fact that we could buy 4 lbs of local strawberries at Costco for $4.99 and I could make a shortcake at home for pennies, and add a little whipped cream, for all of us, plus have leftovers for probably about the same price, we decided to go with the second option. That night I made us our own shortcake at home. :)

The other day Lauren hauled out Julia's box of beads and has been making necklaces and bracelets ever since. Austin got in on the fun too. He made a bead necklace for his friend Kana at school, using appropriate boy colors like blue and green. He brought it to Kana yesterday. Today when I picked Austin up from school he said Kana had given him a turkey feather today. And he was so pleased about that turkey feather, waving it all over. Here Austin is contemplating beading while eating his snack of apples and peanut butter. This is after he had his first snack of string cheese, wheat thins, and strawberries, plus a glass of milk! He's been hungry lately!! Must be growing! Lauren on the other hand, was finishing up her lunch (said she was too full at lunch...) of a tuna sandwich and grapes, plus her eggs from breakfast.

Lauren with some of her beaded jewelry.

Open House

Last Thursday night was Open House at Julia and Austin's school. It was also Austin's last T-ball game, which ended at 6:30, and Open House started at 7:00. Since it was the last game, the team got pizza. I'd picked up Subway for the rest of us, and we ate at the park, then went straight to the school when Austin was done.

First we went to Austin's classroom. His teacher had made a list of things for the kids to show their families, then they could check off what they'd done. Things like: Read a book to your family, Show your family the calendar, Show your caterpillar and butterfly, Make a pattern with the cubes and tell what kind of pattern it is, etc... Here Austin is showing us some of his work.


One of the things to check off the list was to draw a picture on a whiteboard and write a sentence about it. In the second picture he's showing how they do calendar. His larger-than-life paper Austin is behind the calendar. I got a kick out of seeing all the kids' cutouts of themselves. Cute!

We didn't have time to finish everything on Austin's checklist because we had to go see Julia's class, too. She had three portfolios of work to show us with artwork, math, writing, her American Symbols book...

Julia at her desk, and by the Benchmark Stars. Part of their math time is spent is taking timed tests with just math facts. As soon as they pass addition they move up to subraction. When they pass subtraction they go to multiplication, then on to division. When they pass division they have to take tests with mixed problems (where Julia is :) ).

It was fun having the kids show us their classes. They were so proud and excited to show their rooms and the work they've done. Austin was so excited he was getting pretty silly showing us his stuff. After Open House we went out for ice cream at T&T's, a local shop. Of course that went over well with everyone!!

Red Balloon..., Wake Up, Baby!

I was outside watering some flowers, and Lauren came out with me, with her big balloon. Out of the blue she told me, "Take a picture of me with my red balloon." The camera wasn't even out there. But she loves that balloon and must have thought it seemed like a really good idea!


She's so funny; she'll ask to take a picture, then after one or two, say, "Okay, we're done, we're done." Then proceed to walk away. Or else she'll quick smile, and before I've even had a chance to focus, let alone snap the shot, she'll say, "Let me see!" Ha ha. She likes to look at the pictures on the display.

We went to Marie Callender's for lunch after church Sunday, and all the kids got balloons afterwards. The second picture was taken today. Lauren has my dimple, her hair parts on the right like mine (most people's part on the left, but hey, someone's got to be different, right?!), and she has my overbite. Not sure that one's such a good trait to pass on.


Could she be any sweeter?

She went from that to this in a matter of minutes. It's so hard to wake up!! As soon as she wakes up, she wants to nurse. She's getting better about being patient though.

After Caroline's morning nap I had to go vote in the special election. There were a bunch of sweet little old ladies running the polling place, which happens to be the senior center for us. I was the only voter in there at that time, and those little ladies liked seeing the little girls. One said, "You brought the whole family, huh?"

"Half of them."

"How many children do you have?", another asked.

"Four--two are at school."

"Four?! Bless your heart!"

Ha ha :)

I told Julia and Austin at home that I'd had to vote today, not even mentioning the above conversation, and Julia very matter-of-factly said, "Those old ladies always like to see the kids!" LOL She's been there a few times and gotten attention. Every time the ladies comment about bringing future voters. And they always give the kids an "I Voted" sticker. They certainly do like seeing the kids.

Muddy Buddy

Today was warm, so Brian set up Lauren's new Slip-N-Slide. Julia had to go to a book-finishers Awana party at church. While I brought her, Brian watched Austin and Lauren play in the yard. Later on I was making cole slaw for dinner, and I saw Lauren digging in the dirt with her hands [no shovel]. She had a sand bucket about half-full of water. So, she'd get her hands dirty and sandy, then go to 'wash' them in the bucket. Over and over and over again! She wanted me to come out there to see what she was doing, and I was quite interested, I have to say. She was getting so dirty! Good thing it was bath night. Though Austin said he didn't need a bath; that he'd already had a bath outside (on the Slip-N-Slide)!

Lauren's dirty, dirty hands


Time to wash them clean... And time to drop balls in the washing water...

When Lauren was done playing, she dumped all the muddy water out, leaving a thick, probably 2-inch thick layer of mud in the bucket. She proceeded to shake that out as well. And deposited a handfull of it in the trunk of the Little Tykes car. Stinker. She also stamped around in the little puddle her muddy water made in the grass. Fun, fun!

44 Weeks, Stroller Rides

Thursday my breakfast group met at my friend Anita's house. Usually we get together on Tuesdays, but it didn't work out this week. We always have such a good time together! When we first started meeting (well, when I joined the group), 6 1/2 years ago, everyone had little kids that came along and played. Now I'm the only one with any little kids that come. Lauren is always so quiet and plays nicely while my friends and I talk. Sometimes she'll tell them a little story. And usually she eats breakfast right along with us, quiet as a mouse. Such a big girl. Anita had four baby chicks in a box on her counter, and Lauren really liked petting them. They were very cute.

Here she is before we left. Silly girl--she plunked herself down in Caroline's car seat, and said, "Take my picture!" Giggle giggle... And Caroline's 44th Thursday picture (or maybe it's her 45th, if you count her actual birthday--her 0 week picture. Hee hee She's 44 weeks, anyway.).


I felt her second little tooth poking through, this afternoon!

Taken today: It makes me laugh, how she hooks her toes underneath her highchair tray. I guess they just nicely fit there.

Life is much more fun when your silly big sister comes to visit!

Austin has made several projects with Perler beads at the Rec program he goes to after school. They are little plastic beads that you use to make designs on sort of peg boards. Then you iron the design, and the beads fuse together. Yesterday he wanted to make projects using Julia's Perler beads. We looked online and found lots and lots of Perler bead patterns and printed out a bunch. He has had so much fun yesterday and today making bead designs!! He has plans to make more projects tomorrow.

Julia got in on the action and made a cat. Lauren has also made a lot of designs. But she doesn't understand how to follow the pattern, count the dots, or count and space the beads. So her designs are all the shape of one of the pegboards, just filled in with a jumble of beads, no rhyme or reason to color placement. Oh well. She has fun too.

This afternoon I was hanging up clothes in Lauren's bedroom, with Caroline on the floor, and Lauren asked if she could give Caroline a ride in the doll stroller. I strapped Caroline in, and away they went, strolling down the hallway. Lauren was extremely proud, that she thought of this idea, and went ahead and strolled, maybe sauntering a bit, right into the family room where Julia and Austin were. Of course they each wanted a turn pushing the baby, then.

Caroline thought all this attention and new activity was great! She chirped away and waved her arms and kicked her legs the whole time the big kids pushed her around. What fun! They weren't actually moving toooo fast. But too fast for my shutter. :)

Can you see Austin, in the background? Checking out what Lauren was up to--following her around!! Julia got a chance to push after Lauren, but Lauren and Austin stayed close by waiting for their turns. I think our 'doll' is a little big for the stroller!

On a side note, I made Lauren's dress. I sewed it for Julia about 6 years ago, when she was three. Kind of fun to see it being worn again.