In a flash

Totally random order, but that's okay.

Ava may be three, but she still needs her mama's shoulder every now and then.  As I was rocking her tonight, I was struck by how little she still is & how much I expect out of her since we have a baby.  Gotta hold tight while I let her grow...

Henry came home from the Melsey Vacay sick.  Poor little guy, he was such a trooper.  We were blessed with a good traveller with this one! (He's feeling much better now!)

Sometime since I posted, he found his hands.  Really found them and loves to suck on them & chew on them all the time.  It's precious.  I keep wondering if he's going to make the switch to thumb from pappi but still he prefers the pappi.  I think if he could consistently get that thumb in his mouth when he wanted it, he would be sold!

This is an odd picture, so let me explain.  It's Macy, sleeping on the floor beside my bed on a little self-contained bedroll I made awhile back.  It was the greatest thing I have ever sewn & by that I'm not talking about my skills, just that it's used almost every night by at least one kid.  It's a pillow, cushion, & blanket all sewn together that fits under my bed so that when one of them comes in from bad dreams or a potty accident or can't go back to sleep, I don't have to get up!  They love it, I REALLY LOVE it & I'm getting a few more minutes sleep.  It's been a really good compromise between calming fears but still not having to share our bed.  Although that happens too...the other morning I woke up to Henry snuggled to me on one side, Ava in the hubby's spot, Macy here on the floor (with Brooke laying at her feet) & Jack laying across my legs.  *Tad bit crowded*  Haahaa!

So...we washed the car on a Saturday afternoon and the rain drops started as we were finishing the drying.  Such an irony.

He's also found his little piggies.  

Tea party.  Those girls can put away the Chai tea, I'm telling you!

Macy turned 10 yesterday.  That means I've been a mom for a mere decade.  Funny, I can't remember anything before that.

Per her request, we made a cookie pizza...and topped it with fruit because the girl isn't too fond of frosting.  I took her, her bestie Gracelyn, and another friend to the movie and she got a new bike.

After bath snuggles.

This was the start of the Melsey Vacay 2012.  Last year & this year, we decided to design shirts & order them.  I love this year's!!!  Mine says My Kids Rock, but we all knew that, right?  Heehee!  This trip is fun if for no other reason (but there's lots) than to stop along the way & get all the stares & comments that come with being the only 2 adults supervising 9 children 9 & under.  It's a hoot, we blow people's minds!  No children were lost, no bears were sighted, & no snack was pre-packaged this time around.  We are getting that good at these trips.