Independence Day, the beginning, the middle, and the end.

It started with

a party

presents

and patriotism.

Then there was an interlude

of playing

with pals

peeking

and posing

in the pool.

About that time we ran out of 'p's,
and switched to 's'es

for sparklers

and staying up way past our bedtimes.

Sounds Superb

(and it was)

Red, White, and Blue

I think that covers it.

Sung to the tune of...

Waking up knowing that Jesus has saved us

Swingsets set up while we sleep to surprise us



Playing outside just before we get dressed

These are a few of the things we like best!

__________________________

Girls in pink dresses with white grosgrain hairties

Egg hunts at house church before the rain drenches

Boys in white pants paired with argyle vests

These are a few of the things I like best!

Halloween 2010 - The Farmer's Daughters

This year the girls dressed up as farmer's daughters for Halloween.

I don't think we'll be winning any contests, like we did last year, but I shore do think they made the cutest little bunch of freckle-faced rednecks I ever did see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being a farm girl is such hard work

There are crops

to be gathered

fields to be mowed

fences to be climbed

the farmhouse to tend

trees to be pruned

and, of course,

our down-home,

sweet and wholesome,

corn-cakes and apple pie,

aw shucks good looks

to be maintained.

Labor Day

Labor day gave us the opportunity

to take the girls on a little nature walk

through peaceful estuary waterways

and freaky swamps.

We gazed at the view from wooden bridges, and marveled at oddly shaped trees; many of which were covered with these. (care for a closeup?) We saw countless cute little lizards, and Theia didn't want to leave; even after we came across this and these.

(That really is my hand, in case you wondered. And no, no trick photography here. That spider really was that big, and I really have lost my mind.)

Family Night

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...everywhere you go.

Vote for Pedro Holly

I was really going to get around to doing a Halloween post, honestly, but I'm getting around to it sooner than later since there is now a competition that is forcing me out of hiding. Who could pass that up?

I sent a picture of the Girls over to Jen at 4tunate when I saw she was having a little costume contest on her blog (Wonderful blog by the way. Jen is a very godly and sincere woman, and her boys look like more fun than a barrel of monkeys). Their picture was among the 5 finalists so I am now unashamedly asking you to go over to 4tunate and vote for Bo Peep! It only takes one click, and I would get free personalized jewelry out of the deal!

We had so much fun putting costumes together this year. I borrowed this dress for Theia from my sister Robin. Our own mother made this dress for Robin when she was Theia's age, over thirty years ago (sorry, Robin). I should mention that my mom never taught me to sew and I now have an irrational fear of sewing machines.

Isn't this a sweet dress? Mothers, if you know how to sew, teach your daughters! They will thank you some day (at least, they should).

Jessie and I made Eliza and Ingrid's sheep costumes out of white sweater dresses that we've had since Eliza's first Christmas. We fashioned lamb ears with pink lining out of old cloth diapers and a pink onesie, then sewed black felt "hooves" on the inside of their cuffs. Finally, we sacrificed the arms of an old (unfortunate) white teddy bear for tails. The girls LOVED their costumes. Ingrid pranced around like she just knew she was the cutest thing in 4 counties the whole time she had it on.

Unfortunately she did a lot more prancing than standing still, so this was the best we could do for a group shot.

I love this picture of Theia and Eliza. Mostly because of Eliza's expression. This is a very typical Eliza expression. She always throws her head back and laughs over just about anything. Its also the only picture that shows a lamb's tail.

And while we're on the subject of costumes, take a gander at Jessie and me too. We had the bright idea of having Jessie dress as Billy Mays when we saw how many people were doing Michael Jackson tribute costumes. We thought Billy Mays deserved a tribute too, and how much easier does a costume get? It only took Jessie five days of growth to turn out quite a respectable beard. With a little help from some mascara and an Elvis wig with a hack job he turned out to look rather more like Billy Mays than I even wanted. And since we went as a couple, he had a little arm candy in the form of a devoted insomniac senior citizen who is addicted to the Home Shopping Network. I had "As Seen On TV" stickers on my checkbook, telephone, and slippers.

Doesn't he look frighteningly like Billy Mays? And don't I look ...just... frightening?