Do These Pictures Make my Kids look Stupid?

Every year it's the same ol deal. Finding a picture friendly shirt, hair cut for everyone, perhaps a hair accessory for Raegan: all for Fall pictures. This year was particularly challenging because I have been running a good 10-15 minutes late every morning. You'd think that extra 15 minutes would be because I am creating some whimsical, yet fantastic hairdo for Rae. Instead she gets a ponytail, and I get heat flashes while trying to do a song and dance for the baby. Oh, and let's not forget Grant, he does his own hair. So you can guess how I felt about the outcome of Fall pictures this year. Raegan and I spent a good 20 seconds practicing an appropriate smile technique so she didn't look like she was going to the dentist in her picture.

Exhibit A: Raegan


Hair is just the right amount of curl, bangs are a mess. Yes, we are currently trying to grow them out. She has this slight cowlick in the front that makes any product laden swoop of the bangs sweep to the other side on its own.

Exhibit B: Grant


This is a clear example of pictures being taken after recess. I see a slight tousle of the hair and a bit of the "fuzzy" look beginning, which happens when the hairspray wears off. Despite the crooked teeth, I still think that kid has an amazing smile.

Exhibit C: Addison


I brought Addie to school with me to have her picture taken before school started. You should see her I.D. card. Too stinkin' cute. I was hoping she and I could get a picture together for my I.D. card, but they wouldn't do it because it's for the yearbook, blah, blah, blah. I take full responsibility for this pic due to my constant state of tardiness. The weather was cold so I had to dig something out of the dresser drawer that would keep her warm because she didn't have a jacket at the time. So she is wearing one of Raegan's old outfits. I love lavender on her (and Raegan) but probably would have chosen something else for her to wear had I given it some thought. But I don't have time to think anymore. Plus there was no way she was going to smile. All she would do was stare and study. Would you believe this is her first studio picture. I'm a bad mommy. 6 months and only one professional picture to show for it.

I think they turned out fair enough. They are going to be forever impressed upon the pages of the McParland yearbook for many years to come. I think we've escaped the ridicule of the "worst yearbook" picture for one more year.

September Gone By

How did it happen again?!? Another month slipped away without warning. This is a good sign that Christmas break will soon be here.

Raegan is 10 everyone! Let prepubescence begin.



This year was a "slumber party". Yay! Nothing like pizza, ice cream and Hannah Montana to make a party happen. Oh, there was also some game of tag in the dark. We abide by the saying "It's all fun and games until someone gets their eye poked out." It didn't last long. There was in impromptu talent show. And a quick lesson in Chinese Jumprope. Can't believe they'd never played Chinese Jumprope.


Here are Raegan's friends from school. Only two of them ended up staying the night. Which was fine by me. Except for those two stayed up until 2:00am. What? the floor isn't comfortable enough for you?

See Grant in the bottom right corner. Raegan gave strict instructions that he was to stay upstairs. He couldn't stay away from the fun.



Just after this pic, he said "This is the best party I've been to!"



ANd now for the Addison update. She has a tooth! Just one and she loves to rub her tongue on it. Here she is attempting to precrawl. She's got the aviator arms ready to go. Nowadays she gets up on her knees and then flops on her belly. I noticed she had bruises on both knees this week. I think it's from trying to crawl. Poor baby.



I love to point out little things about her that may not be obvious to others. When she sits, she curls her toes. It's near impossible to get shoes on because her toes are curled. She also felt grass for the first time this week. Not a warm reception with that experience.



One last tidbit. She has a birthmark in the small of her back. We call it her "tramp stamp". ANd we shouldn't call it that because the big kids are using that terminology also. Oops. She has a birthmark on the back of her neck also. That one has faded a bit, but the stamp hasn't. It seems to get brighter and brighter red.

A photo wrap-up

Just thought I'd post a few pics from this past summer. Addison had so much fun doing stuff with Raegan and Grant she can't stop laughing.



Grant loves climbing on the rocks in Monterey. It was sunny one day, the day we got there.


Raegan likes climbing trees. But hates posing for pictures.



Raegan and Grant spent most of their summer climbing the walls. They were a bit bored most of the summer and were happy to have a mini-vacay in Monterey.




Raegan and Grant LOVE their Crocs, so when we saw some Addison's size, we snatched them up. Of course she's only worn them once. The best $5 I've ever wasted.



Addison enjoys her gourmet baby food made by Chef-mom-ar-dee in her Bumbo seat. So far we haven't discovered a food she doesn't like. Except formula, but that would be in the milk group. I think her fav is a yummy blend of bland steamed carrots and breast milk. Yummo-O!



The next three pics are a glimpse into Addison's future. This is her serious boss pose. She's an intimidating one ain't she?



We wanted to see what Addison would look like with hair. This is what she'd look like with a nasty brunette comb-over.



Or maybe she'll be blonde! Sadly she's our entertainment on a slow moving Sunday night.



Addison's newest accomplishment is rolling over. She's a happy roller. It has taken her some time to get used to sleeping on her stomach. She almost immediately rolls over onto her stomach then screams and creeps her way to the corner of the crib and cries some more. It's fun to watch folks!



The next best thing to eating steamed carrots is freshly cleaned toes. Always a favorite! She also like to suck on my hair. GROSS!!!

Supervision is Necessary

So yesterday I took Grant to a Dr. appointment and left Addison in the care of Jeff and Raegan. This is what I came home to.



Her once matching pink shirt is replaced with an unmatching heart onesie.




And... they thought it would be funny to put ALL of her bows on her headband. She looks like she's wearing a flower lei on her head. Just another confirmation of my nick name "Sick in the Mud". I just don't know how to party like the kids (kids and parental unit)do.

Yes, she's in good hands!!!!

Sewing 101

It all started with this:


Raegan's Grandma made her that apron when she was a toddler. It's a bit small now.


We (meaning I) went to the fabric store and bought cute fabric and a pattern.



Not that I consider Raegan a dummy in any way, but it seemed to be simple and just perfect for a beginner.

Then we embarked on the great sewing lesson. I taught her how to read a pattern and cut it out.

She learned to use the serger.




Iron the seams open.



And use the sewing machine. Making sure to stop at the pins so as not to bust a needle because I hate changing needles.



End result, a beautiful and stylish new apron partially sewn by Raegan and mostly sewn by me.



Will she ever want to make another project? Probably not. She's just not that into sewing. She said, "This is a lot of work for such a simple thing."

Lucky Number 7

It's been 7 years since Grant was born. Can't imagine life without him. He just has that something that brings a little laughter and fun into any situation.

We actually celebrated his birthday a day early because we had two other birthdays to go to on his actual birthday. I like that other people can supply the birthday fun.

Grant shared popsicles with his classmates at school. Then off to Macaroni Grill for his favorite cheese pizza with fried mozzarella sticks to share.



Mike and Amy joined us for the birthday fun.



Addison enjoyed a knuckle sandwich.



and shared chocolate cake with Michael



Then back to the house for cake and presents.

This is Grant's birthday cake. Crazy kid doesn't like cake, he likes donuts. So I did what any mother would do. I slapped a bunch of donuts together and topped it with some candles. It tasted soooo good with rainbow sherbet ice cream. I can taste the deliciousness now. We should have just eaten a bowl of sugar and a cube of butter instead.



Presents included, a power wing (some sort of death trap on wheels)

And no birthday would be complete without Legos, Miner version. He built some sort of digger. Yay!



Happy b-day sweet baby boy!

All About Addison

Now after 9 weeks, Addison is letting us learn a little more about her. Since birth she has gained almost 3 pounds. She currently weighs 10 pounds 6 ounces. And she's grown 4 whole inches. Currently 22 inches.

First important fact about Addison. She has Jeff's toes. The second toe is bent just like her daddy's. Lovely. No amount of pedicures and nail polish will make that thing look good in sandals. Poor baby.




Second, most of the time she "studies" things with a scowl on her face.



Third, she has started smiling. Mostly in the morning or just after she's eaten. This is a genuine smile not just luck of the picture. Out of 167 pics, only 1 had a smile. (I tried and tried to get this pic to go the right way, but it just wouldn't, sorry)



Fourth, when she's not scowling, she may be pouting, a trait I hear she inherited from me. We better watch out because once she learns to use that bottom lip for evil we're all doomed. I can't even look at her when I put her down for a nap because I won't be able to let her cry herself to sleep.



Fifth, she sleeps through the night, but doesn't take great naps.



Sixth, she has a pair of polka dot pajamas that reminds me of the animal in Dr. Seuss's "If They Put Me in the Zoo"



Seventh, she does tricks. Like making spit bubbles while she sleeps. What a cute little spittlebug.