POOR SOPHI! She has to use a makeshift sleeping bag!

posted by Melissa 9:23 PM

I had to interrupt the pics of the farm by posting the girls party pics! Tonight Aunt Sara, who is visiting from MD, watched the girls while Mike and I helped Jen pick out a dress to wear to a wedding tomorrow. Anyway, they had ice cream and then wanted to camp out in their room. Camp out pics will be posted above.

posted by Melissa 9:13 PM

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Now that's a cowgirl! Sike. I was so afraid of falling off! I didn't realize how hard I would have to hold on since there was no saddle. My legs were a little sore the next day, it was a good workout and I can't wait to ride him again. Maybe I'll try a saddle...I didn't want to look like a wuss!

posted by Melissa 8:46 PM

Now that's a big butt!

posted by Melissa 8:37 PM

Em was not too sure about getting up on the horse. We practically had to throw her up. Once she saw Paige was going up willingly she took a turn too. She usually loves the pony rides at fairs but I guess she loves the chicks more because she didn't want to leave them!

posted by Melissa 8:30 PM

Giddy YUP!!! For all the fun this looks like, she still enjoyed the mower more!

posted by Melissa 8:22 PM

Sunday we went to Chase's farm. He is Katie's cousin Jennifer's fiance. He is a reeeally nice guy who helped us move into our house w/ his big truck. Anyway, he invited the girls over to see his farm animals. He is the one that originally gave the girls those chicks last spring. He has cows, horses, chicks, rabbits and a good old farm dog and a chihuahua on his farm. I will post more horse riding pics later. I can only sit at this computer for so long! The girls had a blast of course. I want to take Loki back to see if he will chase the cows and play w/ Biscuit, the farm dog!

posted by Melissa 4:36 PM

Why does that cow have on ear muffs?? Seriously, what is wrong w/ that cow? These cows were kind of new to the farm, they had just been "swapped out" for older, meatier cows so they didn't really come to me when I called for them!

posted by Melissa 4:29 PM

The horses were pretty relaxed and didn't pay us much attention. We forgot to bring the apples and sugarcubes to butter them up!

posted by Melissa 3:58 PM

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Go Hawks! Sike! Eagles rule! Hawks drool!

posted by Melissa 7:08 PM

Em saw this butterfly outside and ran to get her dad to take a pic.

posted by Melissa 7:04 PM

Boda relaxing...FINALLY!

posted by Melissa 4:48 PM

This pic is a few weeks old but I wanted to post it cauz Em looked so cute.

posted by Melissa 4:44 PM

Knock knock no one is home!

posted by Melissa 4:37 PM

I have been trying to post this pic forever. I forget what Em is doing in it so I can't think of a creative line!!

posted by Melissa 2:27 PM

All work days makes no time for blogging! Broken internet connections and husbands in California don't help either!!! Well, I finally fixed it with help from the helpdesk in Reston....

posted by Melissa 2:01 PM

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Thanks Grandad for all the cute gifts! The girls loved the socks most of all...

posted by Melissa 9:56 PM

Friday, September 22, 2006

Edna and the Rock Star

First of all, let me clear something up. I don't know where Paige got the idea to draw me in a dress, but I didn't model for that picture. She's a koo-koo head, to use one of her favorite insults!

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures I just snapped of Ms. Edna. Or Emma. I can't tell them apart. She is wearing her "teacher" glasses. And then there is Jem. Or Paige. I get them confused as well...

posted by Michael 5:57 PM

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

We have had this model clay for a long time....I am so mean I never let them use it!! I finally decided Em was responsible enough and her and her dad made some clever little guys while I was at the dog beach. She took the pics herself. She set the timer on the one that she is in...smart gal...

posted by Melissa 9:13 PM

We got rid of the diaper basket and turned it into a book basket! We set Soph up with a nice little reading corner. Em took this pic. She is pretty jealous that she doesn't have her own reading corner! Don't ask me about Sophi's face. I ask the girl to smile and this is what I get...

posted by Melissa 9:04 PM

OK so I have been trying to update for four days and sometimes BLOGGER lets me and sometimes it doesn't! So frustrating! So here is a recap of my days since Sunday...
Sunday: We wanted to swim. We are counting down the days that we will be able to swim in warm waters. Only another month or so...don't be jealous! We had made plans the night before to meet Katie and Dara over there around 1030am. Jen called at the last second and all the Schraders joined us. We had one great big pool party. Everyone was in the water, even Chris and Mike, who spent the entire morning pegging water balls at each other. I have to admit, Jen, Katie and I got a little chilly so we fired up the spa and warmed up. We had such a great time! After that we went home and ate lunch and put the girls down for nap. Then I got to finally go to the dog beach!!!! Katie, Jenna and I took my dogs and Gibbs and met cousin Jennifer, her bro and sis and her FIANCE Chase. Chase had just proposed Friday night with a gigantic ring! Yeah! We had so much fun. We had a part of the beach that was kind of secluded so I just spent the time throwing the ball for Loki and trying to get Boda to loosen up around all those "strangers." She barely left my side. They swam forever and were very happy at the end of it all. That night ended with meatball subs and Redskins. BOO Dallas. Although I am kind of rooting for Emmet Smith in Dancing With The Stars.
Monday: DEIBLS testing again. This time at Em's school, her class too. She did a great job of course. Esp since I had been practing my stopwatch usage on her! I finished testing in time to eat lunch with her, Katie joined us. Then Katie and I went back to Mom's house to enjoy the rest of the morning/afternoon by ourselves. We laid by the pool. I swam a bunch with the dogs and then I cut and whacked Mom's lawn. After school Katie took the girls for 3 HOURS!!!! So that I could do some studying for my upcoming test. Katie and Stef have been a big help since my Mom ditched me for MD. I can't wait for her to get here on SUNDAY!!!!
Tuesday: Got up at 545am to walk with the dogs. Pitch black. Lots of critters, night critters, tried to scare us. I felt very refreshed the whole day after my morning walk. I wish I could wake up that early every day! After that I got to sub first grade, Ethan Schrader's class. They were so stinking smart and cute. I had a great day and I think I got a passing grade from Ethan! I was planning on taking Wednesday off to study but while at school on Tuesday, the Vice Principle of the school said she wanted me to come in on Wednesday to train for her job so I could sub for her on Friday and Monday!!! How cool is that??? OK, so I don't get to do most of the stuff that she does, I don't even know what most of the stuff she does is but still. She picked me! I hope I wasn't her second choice! After school Katie came over AGAIN to distract the girls so I could finish a section of my studying! You're AWESOME! Thanks! Yummy, then we had some awesome fish for dinner!
That brings me to Wednesday: I started my day off subbing for an hour then working with the Vice Principle, Mrs. White. She is really nice, smart and funny. I like her, so I was happy to follow her around and learn more about what she does. Well, here is what I learned. Mrs. White LOVES Jennifer Schrader. We started talking about my taking the K-6 test and she said that as long as I have Jennifer I will pass it! She went on and told me how wonderful and smart Mrs. Schrader is. I totally agree!!!!! That is why she is my BFF!!!
Well, my day is almost over. I have some pics to post as well. They will end up above this little writing segment! I hope I didn't bore you all too much...

posted by Melissa 7:55 PM

Desparate for sprinkles...Em hoists her sissy up after I told them if they wanted sprinkles on their ice cream they would have to get them themselves.

posted by Melissa 7:47 PM

This is a drawing by Miss Paige. She says it is her dad being silly, wearing a dress.

posted by Melissa 1:34 PM

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Such a busy week! I had to work EVERY day, yes that's right! OK, so some of the days weren't full 8 hour days. But still. I'm pretty proud of myself. It is hard to be away from my babies all day every day. I know you guys think I'm tough, but I'm soft underneath. Anyway...Saturday Em went to her first B-day party of a new friend at school. The girl, Becky, only had about 6 girls there and they ALL new each other and the moms all hung out together so Em and I were total outsiders. But, that also means that the girls must really like Em to have invited her. And she wasn't even in the CIRCLE OF TRUST!!! The b-day party was from 2-4 at a park but then was supposed to turn into a slumber party. I had said no to that, because, well, you all know me. No need to explain...But Em was having such a good time at the party, she came over to me and said that ALL the other girls were sleeping over at Becky's. She said she really wanted to go and thought she would be able to get along w/ the girls and not be super shy. So I let her go. And had a racing heartbeat all freaking night long!!! I didn't even know the parents!!!!! What was I thinking???? I spent the entire party getting to know all the mothers. Yes I was very social. They were pretty nice. The mother of the birthday girl was very friendly and kept including me in the conversation, which I thought was considerate. She is a nurse and her husband is Fire and Rescue so I figured Em would be safe. Needless to say, she had a great time and didn't want to leave. She said she got along with everyone, except for Sierra, who is the one that is tall with really dark hair and light colored eyes. She told Em she could not be her friend because she did not know her. That's all I have time to type for now.....I'll try to do more tomorrow! peace out.

posted by Melissa 8:23 PM

Friday, September 15, 2006

Pool time!

I talked Melissa into letting me spend $8 on a cheapo disposable underwater camera, since I didn't think she'll let me get the sweet underwater housing for my good camera that costs about $1100. Anyway, we took the girls over to the pool and these are some of the pictures we ended up with...

Underwater Em


Paige talking below the surface


Nose bubbles


Just after they had jumped in to the deep end


Grabbing a dive stick


Paige shark!


Davey Junes Locker


Wave it like you just don't care


Mo-maid


Sneak attack from the Great White Paige

posted by Michael 1:01 PM