no photos

If I was a good mamma, this post would be full of photos of our venture to the Children's Museum yesterday. Alas, no photos. But we really did go to the Children's Museum - which we have a yearlong pass to {complements of my parents} - and we had a great time. I love a place that can keep all three of my girls {ages 4, 7, and 9} busy. We even got to chill and read a few books together on the book-reading mat. Good times.

Daddy-Daughter Date Night

Last night Mitch took Jaci and Chandler to a Youth Center-sponsored date night. They had a nice dinner, made a craft or two and danced the night away....well for a couple hours anyway. Robin and I fell asleep on the couch watching Man vs. Wild!

A couple photos of the lovely threesome....

the pigeon is a hoot

If you want to read some great, fun, fluffy, no lessons-learned books to your kids - I recommend any of THESE books by Mo Willems. I was introduced to the 'pigeon' last year when my middle baby was in Kindergarten. Since then, we've added several of Mo's pigeon books to our little library. And I've laughed with my kiddos a little bit more. Well, maybe a lot more.

birthday bab-ay

Happy Birthday, Chandler Hope! My middle princess turns 7 today! Chandler (Andi, for the first few years of life) is truly a 'light of hope'. She was born at the beginning of the roughest year of our lives. (church remodel, {extended} family trouble....) She brought joy in the midst of pain.

She still is our little joy bringer, the nuttiest of our girls. She makes us laugh constantly but is also the biggest snuggle-bug of the house. She's definitely 'daddy's girl'. Not only does she love on him constantly, her personality is practically identical to Mitch's.

A willing helper. A giver of MANY cards and gifts. A brilliant reader, writer and illustrator. Often the highlight of my day is reading her journal page from school - with illustrations at the top. A couple of examples....

"On Sunday my little sister pict (puked) on me. On Thursday my grandma came over. On Friday I went to a resepshen (reception)."

I'm sure the teacher loved this one. The illustration was, of course, of the puking sister.

"I need many things. I need air so I can live. I need a home so I don't get cold. I need a cat so I am not lonly."

This one was written at a time when we were contemplating getting rid of the cat. I wanted to throw up when I read this - as opposed to a good mamma who would be brought to tears. The illustration on this one? Her saying to the cat "I love you" and the cat purring back. Puh-leez. :)

She's a collector of turtles so that was our theme this birthday....