Wynnie's Haircut

After Wynnie's friend Lacy got her haircut she was willing to let my trim hers so it was even in the back. She apparently also wanted a little off the top. She is very pleased with the results since her bangs are no longer in her eyes. My ever practical daughter doesn't care so much how it looks, it's all about function. When I told her it was just as short as her brothers' hair and threatened to cut it all off as short as theirs' she defiantly looked at me and said: "it's good for boys and girls Mom!" So there you have it. She even loves this picture and says her hair is beautiful. This was the last trim to even it all out from when she had pulled out half of it two years ago too. C'est le vie.

Vote for Kai

As everyone knows, of much more importance than our Presidential Elections is excerising our right to vote on American Idol. This year by far the most important contestant is Kai Kalama. Besides having a heavenly voice and being darling cute, I grew up with him! Go Redlands! His Mama taught me to sing too! He stinkin better get through to the voting round because my fingers are itching and everyone reading this better vote for him or I'm coming after you. I heart Kai.

The Great Flood of 2009

I feel bad that I didn't get out to get the pictures yesterday, but I forgot my camera the one time I had a chance to go outside, so just imagine the water higher.
This is my neighbors yard, the water was all the way to the retaining wall, threatening to go over.

This is my lower pasture, the water was all the way to the gate in the morning, it rained the rest of the day, so it could have gone even higher.

This might give you an idea of how fast the water is moving today. All I can say is that I wouldn't want to be caught up in it. We have been very lucky where we are. It's just pasture that's under water. There are many places that are much worse. Several counties have been declared a state of emergency. Billy's unit has been called up to help and he's away now helping. I'm greatful he can. Of course all this rain means the bus isn't running, and since Billy took the van with him, I have the boys back home with me again. Which is another point in favor of homeschooling as far as I'm concerned.

Total Complete Danner Brag

So, I'm going over the times tables with Tuckerby (whose bored with second grade math so I taught him how to multiply, but this is a Danner brag), and we were just reviewing all the 1's and 2's. Danner was shouting out the answers before Tuck had the chance. I thought, "wow, what a great memory that boy has, but let's really put him to the test so Tuck can really show off." So we start working on the 3's. I give Tuck 3x1. No problem: "3!" Danner got 3x2, which was again pretty easy since they know their 1s and 2s. So, Tuck then got 3x3 which was a bit trickier but he knows how the whole multiplication thing works so he was pretty quick with the 9, and then I thought I had my kindergartner stumped with 3x4. He sat there looking at his hands. He counted his fingers. I have actually never seen him look at his fingers in quite that manner. One minute passed. Tuck was really starting to get impatient, and told me he knew the answer. I wouldn't let him give it. Of course Danner's Look of Death probably helped keep him quiet as well. Close to the end of the second minute and after some serious finger maneuvering, Danner looked up, face about to burst into a rainbow and declared "12." I was flabbergasted. I had no idea I had taught him how to multiply too. Just to be on the safe side, and to make sure it wasn't a fluke, after Tuck's turn 3x5 (which he got wrong, I think Danner intimidated him a bit) I threw him 3x6. After about 15-20 seconds of consulting his fingers in exactly the same way as before he said 18 didn't wait around to hear if was right or not just said that he was bored with the game and walked away. My chin is still on the floor.

Best Christmas Picture Ever

Esme's Birthday

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me!


What's inside?Oooh, it lights up and makes noise, what more could I want?

A horse says "mooo."

And my favorite toy is: the noisiest!

Who doesn't love apple cake? Hey Mom, where's the frosting?

Aren't I pretty in my new dress? Thanks Goblyn!

Kid's Santa Letters

Dear Santa,

This year for Christmas I want a pet fish, and a guitar, and a computer, and a flute, and a violin, and a book about where my mom and dad got my name. I want a Wii for my family. I want a dragon costume. I want my own soda package, my favorite soda is grape. I want my own book about Jesus. I want some chocolate covered almonds. I also want a remote control jumping spider and a remote control airplane and a remote control t-rex. I want a science book. I want Pokemon cards. I want my own strawberry punch. I would like alien math books. I would like my own mirror. I want also my very own tools. I want a Magic Tree House book. I want a digital camera. I want a soccer net because I like playing soccer. I want a CD player for my room so my mom doesn’t have her head getting hurt, and a Jonas Brothers CD, and a Hannah Montana CD. I want a trumpet. I want a chess computer program, and a soccer game on the computer. I like the movies The Golden Compass, WALL-E, Kung-fu Panda, and The Clone Wars. I want a Star Wars calendar. I want a WALL-E alarm clock.
Love Tuckerby

Dear Santa,

This year for Christmas I want new batteries for my toys, a new stocking, an army flashlight, a piano, and a computer that does work. I want a bicycle and a skateboard and a scooter. I want a toy train with its own desk so Esme can’t reach it. That’s all that I want that’s boy stuff. I like dinosaur books and cooking books and scarry books. I want a shell poster for my room. I like Raffi CDs. I would like a new Thomas movie and a puzzle. I also like wickie sticks.

Love,
Danner

Dear Santa,

This year for Christmas I want a dollhouse, a Cinderella computer, a nutcracker, an island princess singing Barbie, a Cinderella Barbie, and a princess Annalisse Barbie with Sarafina. A Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle dress ups with shoes, that I can only wear in the house. The prettiest mermaid that the tail sticks on all by itself, that kind of dress up too, it’s a pink tail. The prettiest, sparkliest, pinkest dress ever. I also want princess hair that’s long so I can be Princess Annalisse. And a Dora, Fancy Nancy Dress. I want a white wedding dress and a crown to get married with at home with my brothers when I’m a kid. I want the yellow Fancy Nancy book, or a book about princesses or mermaids or butterflies or butterfly fairies. I like dancing music, ballet dancing. I really want the prettiest, prettiest, prettiest, prettiest movie ever: Barbie and the Diamond Castle. That is all the stuff I want.

Love,
Eowyn (but today I’m Dorothy)

Dear Santa,

This year for Christmas I want blue worm that doesn’t have a button. Probably a Cinderella costume. I want a baby doll. I would like some toy animals. I like music a lot. I like to make music and I like to listen to music. I like to listen to bluegrass especially, but will listen to almost anything and like to listen to new things. I am very busy and like to move and explore inside and outside. I really like shoes and wear a size four right now. I like to put headbands on and off and say “pretty.” I like to sing and count and learn and push buttons. My favorite food is apples, but I will eat anything you put in front of me. I don’t like to sleep, but I love to cuddle, as long as there’s a bottle in it for me, otherwise it’s just too boring.

Love,
Esme (with help from Mommy, Danner, and Wynnie)