best memories of summer so far---long post!!

Our summer has been ridiculously busy! Seriously, it is rare that I even go on the computer (thanks to one of those fancy phones that goes on the internet, I really haven't been without--other than not updating the blog often enough!! Okay, time to say something about the kids!!

So glad this guy decided it was time for a haircut! : ) After months of wishing for Tom Brady's hair (blech!!!) he decided to get it buzzed. Good choice, I think!!! He spent his summer playing lots of baseball. Most of our nights are spent watching it. Which is okay by me!! He's learned alot this year, and I know he really enjoyed playing it.

This gal got a box of new hats from a new friend in Boston. Our new friend is a 3yr old gal who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. (She is doing great now, by the way, recently read news of clear scans for her!! yay!!) Anyhow, these hats are adorable. Just Kaycey's style. She wears them alot. Except when we went to Chicago. Why you ask?? Because she had to wear a Brewers hat to show those Sox and Cub fans who the real team is.



Poor Maddie. Broke her wrist a day before the last day of school. But no worries, it didn't stop her from having a blast this summer. They put on a fully waterproof cast (I didn't even know such a thing existed). And she got to pick the color (twice!!). Just in time for the dance recital--perfect match!! She even played t-ball with her cast!!

And this lil stinker. She is so funny. The kids call her "Abe", short for "Babe", we suppose. They've made songs, rhymes, chants, etc. involoving the word "Abe". She doesn't say a whole lot (hi, bye, Mama, Dada, Grampa, Papa, Emma, uh-oh, and backpack. She has said alot of other things once, but I haven't heard them again, yet!) She points and says, "Hmm?" to whatever it is she wants. She is as cute as can be, and has the curliest of curls ever. She loves to dance, she claps after every song, and she sings along to that "Tonight, tonight" song (la, la, la....la,la, la). She loves to be outside, she loves to swing, she goes down the slide by herself, and she makes everyone smile.

first pigtail attempt

Happy summer, all!!

Before and after: school papers organization

I have a bookshelf on the end of the kitchen island which spent most of the school year overflowing with school papers (in this photo, the papers aren't so overflowing!)

We also have a lovely giant drawer in the island that would be great for lots of things--pots, pans, etc. I choose to fill it with papers. Yeah, not so organized.

BUT...school papers: meet three-ring-binder (or perhaps the garbage...) and VOILA--I have a three ring binder for each child just for "school" themed stuff. I incorporate the school things with any 12x12 school layouts I've done and put it all in order. Using different sized page protectors (many 8 1/2x11), and I put it all together. Here are some pages from Maddie's book.

It's nothing fancy really, just a place to tuck things in. I haven't saved a whole lot this and last year; and of course, the older they get, the less there is to save.

I wish I could say I did this all along, but I didn't. I have this year and last year up to date with all 3 kids (though I do have more layouts to do) so to say. Sigh. There's alot of years before that to get workin' on!!