Tent Camping is not for Sissies...

Notice the cots drying out in the background-
Campfire Memories-
Nana, Dandy and the B's

Yes, 2/3 of them even wear bows camping. I've lost the oldest, darn it!

Here is Ayric fixing the tent. So much fun-
Rain Rain Go Away-
Blaire learns to fish-
Cousins: Libby, Landon, Brooke, Blaire, Whitmore, and Brynlee

We went camping last weekend. There was absolutely no chance of rain when we left but when we woke up that morning to thunder and lightning we decided to take cover. We took the girls in for breakfast at Cracker Barrel and $72.00 later we killed time around Wal-mart until the storm passed. When we got back the tent had given way under the pressure of the water and there was about 2 inches of water in most of our huge tent. I wasn't thinking of a picture at that point so you'll have to imagine that part. We cleaned it up and started over. The girls didn't seem to notice and fun was had by all. The rest of the day was beautiful. We got back home and everything still smells like a campfire but we had a great time so that's what counts right? Oh and I forgot to mention that the night before we got a late start and then sat on the interstate for 2 hours because a truck lost its load. So we (and by we I mostly mean Ayric) set up our tent by a lantern and we finally got to bed around 2am. But stick around, things like this happen to us ALL the time. Our lives are better (or worse)than fiction most times.

Look what I bought...

I ordered the sneaky chef cookbooks and headed to the grocery store. My family has never eaten these things in real life and probably never will. I will have to "sneak" them into foods that they already eat like spaghetti sauce and mac and cheese. As some of you know Brooke is a self made vegetarian. She has NEVER liked meat, chicken, or much else. From the time she was old enough to eat foods she refused any meat and can find the tiniest pieces in soup or spaghetti sauce. She has also given up peanut butter so I am really worried. She will only eat a handful of foods, mac and cheese, spaghetti, pizza, breadsticks, green beans, oatmeal, peanuts, cheese only nachos, and if it is a good day grapes and apples. That's it folks. Well, except for any sort of chocolate cake, candy or cookie. She is lactose intolerant so she drinks soy milk with omega proteins. Oh and she eats waaaay too much ice cream thanks to dad. I am excited to use some recipes but unfortunatley I can't hide too much in the only foods she will eat. But Blaire will eat and try lots of new things but doesn't really like veggies or fruit so it should work great for her and Ayric. I will keep you posted on whether or not my family eats the stuff!

Couldn't resist-

Here are some random pics from the last few days, I couldn't resist posting. These are straight out of the camera (ha ha), that's the only way around here since I really haven't figured out the photo editing software. I did figure out however how to cut Ayric's hair. We bought a clipper set mainly because he always HATES his hair after he gets it cut. He says they mess it up and has been asking me for years to learn how to cut his hair. Well, it looks pretty darn good and think of the money we will save. We just need some more boys around here to take advantage of my skills.

First Day of School

Ready for school-She was sooooo excited!
Ready to go into class-she told me I could drop her off but I asked her if I could take her in the first day. She was fine with that but when I asked for a picture of her with her teacher she had a firm, "No."
Complete with monogrammed backpack and all.

The first day went great. Brooke has probably never in her life gotten up at 7am, especially not on a regular basis. We tried to get her somewhat prepared by getting her up around 8:30-9:00 towards the end of the summer. She has always been a late sleeper, 9:30-10:00 when she can. So this is an adjustment for us all. She was pretty positive about the first day but said it was long and she was ready to be in college! Blaire missed her but I think she enjoyed having more time with Mommy. I took her to the store today and she took over the role of oldest child , she wanted to walk and helped me get things off the shelf. She is getting so big and now that one has gone to school it makes me treasure the time I have at home with the other 2 before they are gone.

Meet the Teacher!

Here she is (my baby!) checking out her desk-(Notice Blaire making herself at home) Blaire wants to go to Kindergarten too-she says she is too little, but she can go with Brookie-"she will let me!" (I don't think Kindergarten is ready for Blaire yet!)
Ahhh-melts my heart
It's official- she's on the roster

Brooke is heading to Kindergarten this year (sniff , sniff) . Actually I have mixed emotions, I am ready but yet I know how this somehow means the next years of school will fly by and she will grow up entirely too fast. I have been so lucky to have been able to stay home with her all these years. I tried not to focus on it too much but realized that today was actually our last real stay at home day before she is officially on the school district's calendar. As you can see, she is in Mrs. Luna's class. We LOVED her and the classroom. I think she will be great for Brooke, we are looking forward to an exciting year!

Blaire

The sisters had a makeup party-blue is her color~
Helping with Dinner- so proud of herself
This is Blaire acting out Fabulous from High School Musical 2. "scuse me"
Sound asleep. Ahhh

Here's a bit about Blaire, the middle child. Ayric, being a middle child reminds to treat her extra special because of this. ;) Anyway, she is a character. She is a cuddlebug most of the time and wants me to rock her and twists my hair around her finger until she falls asleep. She can hardly contain herself when one of her favorite songs comes on in the car, she sings and dances as much as the car seat restraints will allow. She LOVES her Daddy and says the cutest little prayers at night. She is trying to say, "thank you for the boys and girls", (like she has heard in bible class) but most nights it comes across, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for all the boys." Yes, we're
worried. She is lately fascinated with being a "big girl" and was refusing to hold my hand crossing the street at Target, as if we aren't a spectacle enough, this time I was arguing with her the whole way across the street that big girls still hold Mommy's hands. It was all I could manage. Anyway, this is typical Blaire and we love her. The hardest part about her personality right now is that if she wants to do something herself or wanted something a certain way and it doesn't happen, she wants to go back to the scene of the crime and start over. For example, if you forget to let her buckle herself in the carseat, she wants to go back to the house, out the door and start over. It's her kind of therapy I guess, yes, that's what will call it for now. The girl knows what she wants!

Cereal and a Big Girl Bath

Here's what we have been up to lately: Miss Brynlee had cereal for the first time and even got a bath with the big girls. I think they enjoyed it more than her. We are enjoying Brynlee though we are having teething issues and mixed with Blaire's terrible two's it can get a little hairy somedays. I just keep telling myself I will miss this one day!