Rocky the Raccoon

Our neighbor has been having some raccoon issues, so Will offered to put out a trap for her. And they managed to catch one! Meet Rocky. He's a raccoon. They aren't as cute as they are in the story books. I was very relieved when Will relocated him to a new home.

Back To School Round Up

Monday night was Back to School Night at Laurie's school. I was so excited to see her room, talk to her teachers, watch her play with her classmates, see her play in this space that is out of my control (on Tues/Thurs). Unfortunately, Laurie was still nursing a little hangover from the weekend and was refusing to wake up from her nap. We had to drag her kicking and screaming out the door, to the car, and into her school. She could have cared less about her teachers, friends, or toys.

Though apparently on the way in, she had spied the cakewalk and was repeating, "Want Cupcake!" as her mantra. Sigh, what do you do? Aunt Lala was gracious to share a cupcake with Laurie, I told her she had to ask nicely. "Please, Aunt Lala, please may I please, have a cupcake, please, please?" Overkill never hurts in a situation like this. She immediately perked up and we could visibly see the sugar pumping life back into her vacant eyes.

On to face painting, train riding, and jumpy land! Laurie was a little hesitant about climbing up this tall slide. It took her ages to make it to the top the first round and about 5 seconds after that. Sweet cousin Charlie was helping her. He was so patiently (dragging) coaxing her up.






















Then, once at the top (not so) sweet Uncle Charles shouted up, "Charlie, just push her down!"
















And he did! Can we talk about how wide her eyes are? I just knew that would be it, but she went back up again and again and again.




































































It can be hard to take a good shot in a jumpy land at a moving target, through thick black netting. But I thought it was pretty funny how full on hard Laurie was enjoying herself.

Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!

When this kid doesn't want to wake up, there is no waking her up. Tickling, jiggling, moving her, tv loud, and still passed out. Why don't I sleep like this? I have a feeling bed time will not go well for me.

Determined

Someone is determined to start chasing after sister.

Blow On It

Anna Fair has oatmeal for breakfast most every morning (and Laurie some too, because, ya know she has to have what sister has). While I was blowing to cool it off this morning, I noticed I was getting a little help. Monkey see, monkey do.

If I didn't see it with my own eyes

Laurie eating salad of her own will. I feel shocked!

Babies with babies

Love my babies loving on babies!

DMV and Other Things

I had to go to the DMV to get my license renewed this week. When I made it to the counter, I asked what form of payment they accepted. Not really bothering to hear Mr DMV's answer, I held out my credit card. With some amount of irritation, he told me again, check or cash. I smiled my best mom smile and said, "I have too many kids and I never listen to anyone anymore." With that, Mr DMV and I are now best friends. I love the two best excuses I know. Even if I am constantly afraid one of them may strangle the other.























A quick video of Anna Fair and I hanging out. We don't get much one on one time, but we do make the most of it. She's such a bubbly, vivacious little chatty thing.

Loved No More

Here is Baby Rose in all her horribleness. Makes me so sad. In the baby bed, all alone, while Baby Chloe is off enjoying the swing and having a ball.


















I will cherish how Laurie loved you, brought you everywhere, slept with you tightly clutched in her arms. She called you Baby Enh Feh until I could convince her to call you Rose. We strolled you in the dog park. You went with us on our vacation. Laurie gave you bubble baths, dressed and undressed you, took you grocery shopping, and refused for anyone else to play with you. Laurie shared meals with you, loved to sit you everywhere Anna Fair sat. I am blown away that you have only been with us since last Christmas. You were her first best friend and I will not forget you.

What a far cry from this:


















Don't worry, Rose, you can come play with me.

New Babies

As you may have heard, poor Baby Rose has met with some unfortunate circumstances. After numerous entreaties to fix her, and Laurie herself giving Rose many baths, Laurie was over it and back to life as usual. But it was breaking my heart to see Laurie walk around with this blue baby doll. OK, I know, I am the only one upset, I had visions of holding onto her first baby love forever. But, ya know, she's blue. We need a new one.

Thanks to Bebe and Grandma Betty, we headed off to Toys R Us to pick out a new baby today. Bebe and I poured over each and every doll, comparing all, being completely weirded out by some of the WAY to lifelike crying, squirming, talking dolls. Laurie was totally enthralled at being surrounded by so many babies and fully intent on purchasing one of each. After convincing her she could only pick out one, she of course picked out a baby with a pacifier. Why didn't I see that coming?

Nothing doing, but Anna Fair needed a baby too. I just picked out the one I liked best. I especially liked a sweet faced baby, and then realized you squeeze its hand and it cries and coos and its facial expression moves around. Cree-py

On our way home, with baby safely ensconced in her arms, we asked Laurie what her new baby's name is. She said, "Cooey." Who? Did you say Chloe? No telling what she really said, but we welcome new Baby Chloe into our family with love. Poor Anna Fair's baby is yet nameless. Rose and Chloe and happily sleeping in Laurie's baby bed. I think nameless is on the floor somewhere.

















It took us about 3 seconds to put Baby Chloe in the bouncy chair to 'swing' her.

Happy Birthday, Bebe!

While we were home this weekend, we celebrated Bebe's...cough, cough...30th birthday! And according to Laurie, you can't celebrate a birthday without some cake and candles. So off to Natchez Market we went. Laurie picked out the cake (with sprinkles), candles (pink, of course), and gifts (bubbles and yoyo, both had to be green) for Bebe. We immediately broke the yoyo and spilled most of the soap down the front of our dress. Hope you enjoyed your birthday, Bebe, Laurie sure did!























The correct way to eat cake is to scrape the icing off with your fork and then throw the cake part away.

WHY?

Bebe sent Laurie and Anna Fair a package of goodies: new dresses, hair bows, books, dvds, stickers, even a watch. All fun and wonderful and much appreciated. And also, apparently a package of magic markers. As I discovered this in Laurie's room:



















On her face, hands, arms, legs, bottoms of her feet, the sheets, books, pjs, even poor Baby Rose. WHY? Why would you do that? Why did I not notice there were markers in the box? Why would someone give a 2 year old magic markers? Why did I not check on her in her room sooner? WHY?
























She is at this moment, whining because the marker is not coming off poor Baby Rose. And I am too, a little bit.