Elizabeth

She's SO funny. And, she likes to show off that she can walk. Enjoy her burgeoning skills and "so proud" face... I can't get her to stay back until I start the video -- of course, so she may seem REALLY close. :)

I Lost the Blogging Bug... it's back

I haven't posted in an embarrassingly long time, especially considering how many holidays we've skipped. Here's some of the more recent fun you've missed!




(As you may or may not have guessed, Wendi was the impetus for this "parade".)

Benjamin wore his first tie.

(No, he's not flipping me off under the glove. He's showing the glove... at least I think he's not...he is a Goldthorpe boy...)

Elizabeth is SO grown up! (She walks, too.)

That was at a high school basketball game where Wendi and Hailie were "Mini-Warden Cheerleaders"! I have videos and I'll post 'em soon. They're hilarious!

What About Halloween?!

It's hard to get Benjamin to want to be anything for Halloween, let alone wear said costume when the holiday rolls around. But, he knew what he wanted to be this year and he was so good about putting it on and taking it off when asked. What a hero!



This is Wendi and a friend, Chloe. (Wendi is the tooth fairy, by the way.)


Here is Hailie and Chloe's little brother. (Hailie didn't want her glow in the dark face paint that night. It doesn't translate well in pictures anyway.)


Love holidays where candy is so important! :)

Birthday -- Friends Edition

First, there are the cakes. I am at a HUGE disadvantage because I have to make them myself and with the creativity that Wendi and Hailie possess, they want cool things. Not that I blame them... I just wish I could DO as well as they VISUALIZE.

*sigh*

But, the cakes ended up pretty well. Here is Wendi's -- she was happy with hers.


Hailie's...before the face...


and after.


(I think I liked it better before I put the face on.) I'm pretty sure Hailie liked hers. She didn't say anything, though, just smiled. Usually when she doesn't like something, she'll say it.

It was a costume birthday party (it being Halloween morning and all). We had lots of friends (some of mine came to help, too -- no, she's not hiding. She was running the fishing game.)

and some great costumes (gangster and ninja here)!


Hailie really, really loved that fishing game. I think this was about the tenth time -- she claims she was "helping" Aidan this time. Right...

One of the games we played was to see who could pop their balloon first. Wendi got frustrated because she couldn't get hers to pop. So, she got creative. And friends helped.
(See the scissors?)
Thanks a bunch to Kelly, Laurel, and Cassi for getting things rolling and keeping it going!

...and a couple other pics...

from the big Seventh Birthday Bash, family edition. (Friends edition coming on Saturday.)





For the record, they do NOT generally share birthday cakes. I made adorable (albeit amateur) cupcakes for Wendi's class (see the last post) and (huge) peanut butter cookies for Hailie's class. I will be making Wendi and teddy bear cake and Hailie a jack-o-lantern cake for their party on Saturday (per their wishes on design and date), so I REFUSED to make two cakes for this evening. No how, no way. Just one. And you friends here in Deer Lodge - yeah, expect cake on your doorstep tomorrow!



(My, that was a lot of parentheses...)

Happy Birthday Hailie and Wendi!!

They are seven, so smart, getting taller every day, and the funniest girls EVER!




Benjamin is happy for them.















So is Elizabeth.















P.S. I made these. My attempt at creativity. Can you even tell what/who they are supposed to be?

The Wonderfulness of My Wendi

(I actually wrote this a week and a half ago, but forgot it was a "draft"... better late than never!)



My very first baby. She was only five and a half pounds when I first saw her beautiful face. She was tiny! And had a cone head. She was so quiet and patient with her new world that the nurses thought something MUST be wrong - she wasn't crying at all; just looking around.

The first to crawl, second to walk. Broke her arm at 16 months old. Again at 5 years old. (Easily the two worst days of my life.) Loves princesses and all things beautiful - especially flowers. Has that little bump on her lip. Still lisps a little. Twinkling eyes. Adored by all who know her, especially friends at school.

But, that's only the easily understood stuff. She's like me in some ways - forgets things easily, laughs easily, and finds people watching highly entertaining. Like Brent in some ways - very affectionate, wants the best for everyone, and a hard worker. Her own person in many ways - wears her heart on her sleeve, plans ahead (in tricky ways!) and SO artistic!

Last night, it was a tough one. Benjamin was having a hard time getting along with everyone. Elizabeth was getting into everything she shouldn't. Hailie was throwing up. What did Wendi do? Beg for attention and pick fights with her brother? No way! Wendi jumped into action, giving Benjamin hugs and jobs to do to help him feel wanted, then holding Elizabeth to keep her out of the "danger zone" where Hailie and her yucky-ness were. Then she wants to be held and assured all is well? No way! "Dad, I'll go with you to the store to buy stuff. You will need me." He did need her.

She is a peacemaker, helping Ben and Hailie play in harmony. She is tough stuff, putting our dog in her place. She is a love, hugging and kissing and showing all that they are needed. She is SILLY, putting stuffed animals on the ceiling fan so when I turn it on, they fly everywhere and it makes me laugh. She is beautiful, taking good care of herself and liking to look her best. She is my priceless, precious, Wendi Joan! :o)