Kids and Dogs in Hats

Super Happy Brownie Girl

 

 

All Prettied Up

 

Christmas Carol bound with Mema and Papa

Christmas with the Dolezaleks

 



 

 

Santa Visit

 

 

Ava - serious and sincere.

and then there is Luca, goofball. Classic.

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving - Wallden Style

 

 

Belle

maybe I'm a little too hard on Belle.

I tease her about her weight, 

complain about how stubborn she is, 

how she smells terrible from sitting in the ginkgo fruit, 

how gross she is to bring dead animals inside (sticking by that one)

and get frustrated that she has to sit in the absolute

middle of a busy kitchen...refusing to move her big behind. 

But, I sort of like her. Ok, a lot. 

She is sort of gross and stubborn, 

but she's also calm and tolerant, sweet and smart - 

maybe too smart. 

We made it through her hunger strike, 

her garbage eating, her compost eating,

and probably lots of other negative things that I've forgotten

but big Belle is a member of the family - good and bad. 

She's a best friend to Ruby and the kids adore her. 

Just an old big girl in need of some love. 

A Pretty Nice Little Saturday

Pre kids I never would have imagined how much I

would savor a stay at home Saturday. 

No plans, no obligations, sweatpants. 

I'm not saying it's all perfect - surely not.

But sometimes cleaning the house, watching the

kids and the dogs play and a husband putting in

a solid day of tree house building makes a 

pretty perfect weekend. 

Dustin and I laughed on one of our runs to Menards 

remembering an Old School quote that seemed fitting...

Frank: I told my wife I wouldn't drink tonight. 

Besides, I got a big day tomorrow. 

College Student: A big day? Doing what?

Frank: Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, 

we're going to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, 

maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. 

Maybe Bed, Bath & Beyond, I don't know,

I don't know if we'll have enough time. 

Halloween

cool costumes, hyper kids

way to score a bunch of candy for your pregnant mama. 

Grim Reaper, Flash, Black Widow

Growing

it's been so long since I've uploaded pictures and now

I have no clue when exactly any of these fall pictures

actually occurred - doesn't really matter I guess

it was a warm fall day and we wore shorts to pick raspberries. 

the great thing about raspberry picking is that you

can eat as many as you'd like while picking. 

we totally got our moneys' worth. 

Ruby is not a fan of posing for picture. 

Sweet tolerant pup.

Back to School

It blows my mind that i have both a 

second grader and a kid in kindergarten. 

I really don't feel like I am old enough to 

be a responsible parent of two kids in school. 

Ava was super excited. 

Excited to see old friends and meet new ones. 

Ready to learn the routine of Mr Cooper's class,

see her locker, go to art class...be a big kid. 

She came home and talked for an hour straight. 

Luca was nervous. 

He was quiet at drop off

but stood in line and wore a brave face,

marching off with his Batman backpack.

He didn't share too many details but 

said there were some cool kids and 

wants to go back tomorrow. 

For now, that's enough. 

Me, I'm a proud mama. 

Four months at home without kids

until we start this crazy chaos all over

with diapers and daycare and little sleep. 

I say I am going to organize my house, my photos, my life...

get my s**t together before the next one comes,

but we all know me...

Maybe some take out, daytime tv and a nap. 

my SEVEN year old. 

kind, curious, independent

a fabulous big sister, 

ready to be a teenage.
slow down girl.