Moments

For the grandmas mostly, here's a quick photo album of everyday moments from August and September that haven't made it to the blog yet--I don't want them to be left behind! They're mostly of Amber, who is my marvelous companion all day everyday, but the other kids did slip into a few of the pictures.

SUNRISE!!! 

Bedheaded little one-armed alien. Good morning, Amby!

Driving to school is so much faster than walking! 

  Amber and her pink blanket, at my knee: a classic everyday scene.

Same headband, then and now. Sniff.

Jay is getting pretty good at tying his shoes!

Amber is such a natural little techie. She has a sixth sense for finding misplaced electronic devices. and her little thumbs know just what to do when she finds them! 

When I pick Amber up, she wraps her little hand around my neck in the most endearing fashion.

A few weeks ago, Rose suddenly decided that she was ready to ride a bike without training wheels. She's been able to do it all summer, but she lacked confidence and would have major temper tantrums when things went wrong on her bike. But then one day she picked up Jay's old bike (a smaller frame than hers) and just rode off on it! That girl and her willpower!

 Walking to school// fancy hairdos

Rose did my hair with her prettiest/favorite hair bows and when I asked her if she wanted to use her favorite bows in her own hair, she replied "No, I want YOU to be the prettiest right now, Mommy!" 

I usually have an audience when I cook. 

I sent this picture to my sister Em with the caption: "Lazy chicken puffs"--instead of filling and rolling 16 individual chicken puffs, I made two giant ones, using an entire roll of Pillsbury Crescent rolls for each one. We decided they were more like chicken cushions than chicken puffs. We sliced them into wedges and poured cream of mushroom gravy on top. High weeknight cuisine right there.

Post nap snuggles 

Location run with my Amby by the Columbia River

Last week when the fun big kids were both sick, Amber was teasing them and poking them so I took her out to the trampoline for a little quality, much-needed playtime. 

Jay had this whole big plan to tape paper to the wall and make a tree with leaf rubbings as leaves. Everyone got involved. 

Morning artwork with Amber in her little yellow corner of the kitchen is one of my favorites. I gave her a tiny teacup full of goldfish, a cup of water, and her art supplies. She went to town, scribbling industriously in her notebook with her perfect pencil grip.