Fun & Rain

It's a perfect day to post about this day back in August. I had to reschedule today's photo shoot because it was 100% chance of rain. When is it ever 100% chance? lol Luckily their schedule will also be good for tomorrow. Cool rainy days are my favorite. I love the chill & gloominess with the sound of soft rain. There is just nothing more calm and homey to me. Grabbing a blanket & a book was the old way to enjoy such days. Now I have the super cuddly Madison who also thoroughly enjoys the fantastic feel of a blanket!

The Con Agra plant that had an explosion this summer is right by us in the town Guy works for. They had a huge picnic for the employees & their families as well as the town employees. We saw some friends there who made great companions to enjoy the meal. We met David when we hosted him in our home for a month while his family was in the process of moving here, and we fell in love with their sweet family. Nicole keeps everyone entertained almost anywhere she goes. She also sweetly brought over some clothes this week to donate to Blake's wardrobe.

While we were out on the playground after eating the rain started spitting at us. To me the clouds didn't look so bad. Luckily, Blake and I were close to the pavilion when the clouds unloaded. Not so much for Guy & Madison! It was a mad scramble for them to make it to dryness. Once again I was wrong when Guy suggested we leave & I thought it would all let up soon. We barely made it into the car when the heavy rain started again! It's a good think I listen to Guy's suggestions most of the time. He's like my mom, usually right...

Busy October - One more way the kids are like puppies

This is definitely the busiest I have ever been in my life. I cannot think of any other time I have had so much to do. Ever. Guy has been a super star too! We only have about three more very busy weeks to get through. Right on. Sometimes my brain has felt fractured lately. Surprisingly it is all manageable.

The kids are learning more every day. They each learned at least 3-4 words today. Madison also learned to play patty cake, and she could climb in and out of some things at Marbles museum she couldn't do the last time we were there. Blake is a spaz. Yep, a total ball of energy with a great big smacky kiss, big hugs & wild antics. They love to be given a task. Take an item to the garbage, put something away or anything else we can dream up will get them to stop anything they were doing just to do what we ask. They even notice what needs to be done. If there is a piece of paper, dirty dish or dirty diaper they will ask to put it where it belongs. Too bad it wont last very long as any more experienced mom is probably thinking right now.

When will I ever stop thinking of Blake as the small twin? I pulled out a pair of pants just as big and long as Madison's knowing they would be too long and big. They fit perfect! lol He definitely still eats more then her.

The next pictures waiting in line to be blogged about just happened to be these little gems. I think they follow the last post about about the kiddos being like puppies rather well.

Why my kids are like puppies...

They chew on things they aren't supposed to.


They greet us like we have been apart forever.


They are completely dependent.


We have to clean up their poo.


They pant when they get really excited.


They scramble to get to where they are going no matter how often they loose their footing, fall, veer sideways or run into something.


They love to cuddle.


They love to be petted.


They love to lick stuff & me.


They like to go for walks.


They howl when they are upset.


They howl when they are happy.


They want what you have.


They want what each other has.


They pin each other down.


They hop on each others backs.


They play together.


They snarl & yap at each other.


They follow each other around.


They follow us around.


They work together to get things done.


They beg for food.


They beg to be picked up.


They love no matter what.


They hate to get in trouble.


They get in trouble often.


They love to nap.


They learn quickly.


They will stop everything to kiss on each other.


They love to stretch.


Did I mention they love! love! love! love! love! each other and us?


They love to get into the bath.


They pee whenever the mood strikes.


They jump and run away whenever you catch them doing something bad.


They scratch themselves.



They sneak around to do stuff they know is bad.


They are curious about everything.


They drool.


They grow too quickly.






Actually our dog was better behaved.
(He Lives in Georgia now)


Hope this post gave you a good giggle! It took me all day to rustle up these photos.

More vids! - Dancing & laughing

Guy took some videos when I was out shooting all day Saturday. Then we looked at a few before those only to find some funny stuff! Yes, the first is long at 1 1/2 minutes, but the rest are all pretty short . After so many great comments on the last videos you now get some more. Hope you enjoy them.

This first video is us trying to get them both dancing. I think what ends up happening is way better. Blake is definitely a mover and shaker! Madison loves to do whatever Blake does, and she isn't quite as coordinated as he is.



This next one is 30ish seconds. Madison cracks me up. Even though she is getting abused by Blake she just wants to dance. This is completely typical of how they are each and every day.


Number three is 22 seconds long since we kept having to break for drama & discipline. It is probably my favorite of Maddy though. How she does things is so funny. She loves the big Ooooo face right now too.


#4 is 16 seconds. Do you think Blake's dream in life is to be a pro wrestler? I'm leaning towards a big YES.


How many giggles can fit into 11 seconds? Guy said the kids ran around doing this for at least 10 minutes before he pulled out the camera. Round and round the coffee table they go.


The last second of these 17 is my favorite. Blake definitely knows he didn't do what he was supposed to...

Our neices first professional shots!

Guy's sister, Ngaire, and her husband, Brian, had a baby girl back on September 16th. Her due date is actually next Saturday! Despite being four weeks early she weighed in at 6pds 8 oz! She also was able to room with them & come home right away. She is gaining weight well too. Ngaire & Brian tried to get pregnant for 14 years when this little miracle happened. We are so happy for them and hope that parenthood is all they hoped and dreamed it would be.

We all live in a small place

Tonight I've realized I'm in my own little world.

It's amazing how interconnected we are. It's also amazing at how out of touch we are {can be}.

Back in the day as a newly married couple we visited several places in Guy's native country of Australia. When we stopped in Sydney we stayed with a marvelous couple who are called Aunt & Uncle though there is no actual relationship. I remember not thinking anything of settling into the room we stayed in only to find out as we laid down for the night it was the master bedroom. Even today this still is an amazing gift I find hard to believe a couple with grown children would bestow on a young married couple. I also still remember vividly how disappointed everyone was when we arrived to sight see at the most amazing mountain lookout {Australia's version of the Grand Canyon} completely shrouded in fog. I almost couldn't contain my excitement and wonder at the misty wonders appearing before my camera lens. Who cared about the vast view hidden from me when there were so many cool shapes & images all around me. For a girl from Phoenix Arizona, the fog is a super rare and wondrous site. I'm still not sure everyone believed my excitement. It really was sooooo cool.

With all the news being so repetitive, months ago I just stopped watching and reading it. Tonight Guy mentioned some people thought Survivor shouldn't air this week. What? Why? He looked at me with an incredulous look then told me a bad tsunami hit Somoa killing many people. Not good. I thought of all the Tongan and Samoan people we both knew over the years. None of them lived there, but being a descendant from such a small chain of islands they have to be related and know many of the victims.

Guy's mum called late this evening to check in for the first time since arriving in Australia almost two weeks ago. She mentioned Chris & Kessa, who so graciously gave us their master bedroom, were trying to contact the relatives they still kept in contact with in Samoa. So far they don't know much, but there will be a massive group burial for the dead and missing. How sad.

Isn't it strange how we are so interconnected. Maybe many people only know or care about the small area they were born to and still live by. I think most of us, though, have a much bigger and often a global imprint in our connections.

Johnny Lingo was a very popular video in my generation & further back. It is a teaching video by my church (I think - At least that's where many of us saw it) which teaches the value of self worth. If you have ever heard someone say something about a '10 cow wife' it comes from this movie. Here is part one of three showing the movie. You can just click to watch it on YouTube, then after it finishes you will see Part two then Part three. It's a classic! Keep in mind it was created in 1969 so it is a bit poor on the quality & totally campy. Love it. It should make you laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-PLyy0XM3Y&feature=player_embedded


Johnny Lingo land, I sure hope you recover quickly!!!