Almost laughing...

...but not quite.

Happy Reminders

I love finding Jed's latest artwork on my daily list. I'm not sure why, but the list is a VERY coveted art spot for both children. Perhaps because they know it will get a full day's worth of appreciation by Mom. Often I can't even get the list written before the clipboard has been snatched from my hands and filled with the latest Stanfill Masterpiece.

You can see me, in my love cottage. I am smiling at the door. A gift waits for me outside on the steps. A flower grows near the basement window. Hearts float around me, the sun shines above, and kisses and hugs fill my little home up to the rafters. Pretty accurate, I'd say.
Jed liked that particular picture so well that he drew me another, but this time in full color and cut out.

The other day, after witnessing one of Jed's latest creations, his dad said "Well, Jed, you're becoming quite the little artist!" I added, "Just like your Daddy!" (After all, Michael does have a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.) "NO," Jed corrected us, "not like Dad, like Annie. She is a real artist." Michael didn't appreciate that much but I had a good giggle over it. Like that, Auntie Annie?

Several days later, Jed found a post-it note pad left out loose and unguarded. Crowing with excitement, he informed me that he was going to post smiling notes all over the house to remind us to be happy. And he did. Here is a small sampling.
This happy face lives sideways in the hallway.

This one lives a little farther down the hall.  In case you can't tell, it is a heart.  Hearts (also often called "flowers" by mistake) have been tricky for Jed and he has only just started to get the hang of them.  Now that I look closely the left figure may be a heart-flower because you can see it has a stem.

Walk into Jed's bedroom, and you will see this fantastic adornment.

Most of the dresser pictures are of race cars, monster trucks, or dragsters. Here is my particular favorite:

Jaunt across the hallway and into my bedroom. Close the door and you'll find this joyful little beauty staring back at you.

(That's me, in case you aren't adept at Jed-Art-Character-Identification. People with sticky-up hair are male. People with "flat" hair are female. Big females are Mom, small females Zoe. Naturally.)
I've saved my favorite for last. A portrait of happy Mom and Dad, together, right smack in the middle of our closet doors.

Jed was right -- I've had these little pictures up for a week now, and every time I see them I can't help but smile.

Pink Princess

Today Zoe wore the little pink princess dress her Great-Grandma Janete and Aunt Teresa gave her. I thought they'd like to see how cute it is on her. Also, how unbelievably silly and cute she is while wearing it.

Brothers

"Mom, will you take a picture of us? Look how cute the brothers are!"

Silly big brother...

Polka Dots

Sad.

Happy!

A visit to the fire station

Our Friday FunDay group took a tour of the little local fire station this past week. The kids toured the engine, saw a firefighter in all his gear, and toured through their living quarters. The best part was when we were standing in the firefighter's living room and the fire alarm went off! The three firefighters ran out of the room and put on their gear. One peeked his head in and said "We'll be back in 10 or 15 minutes! Make yourselves at home! Stay around if you can to finish the tour!" and then they jumped on the engine and headed out with the siren wailing. And there we sat, twenty or so moms and running, squealing kids, all one in the fire station. Ha! We stayed and they came back later, tearing into the station with lights and siren flashing, flag waving. It was totally sweet. I loved it.

I love this shot!

Zoe felt a tad shy, but not enough to stop her from taking a tour of the engine.

Still keeping a close eye on him...

I had to drag Jed over but he lit right up when he got to spray the firehose!

A bunch of good friends

Kids and firefighters.  Notice Jed's skeptical gaze.  He was, um, shall we say a bit "standoffish" towards the firefighters, as in "stand on the far side of the room-ish" , but by the end he was willing to stand within ten feet of them, so we considered that progress.

We love Friday FunDay!

Cranky Day

Zany at 3 months

Lest we forget...

.... how goofy my children are...