Getting to It

I have a plan, too many actually.

My Buddy Is 5

Logie Pat! Lo Lo! Lowie! Lo! Bud! Simon!

We never planned on nicknaming our kids-but somehow it just happened. The same way turning 5 seems to be just happening.

Manicures

I'm not proud-the days of daily bathing are out the window, and apparently so is nail grooming. So let me set the stage for you...Addie has two older brothers, by nature she naturally needs to defend herself which equates to biting, hitting and now scratching. This pictures does a poor job of showing her in action (no we are not having another baby and no we are not moving, we did have a camp out the other night though). She is hitting Logan and he is prepared.

In vicious Vanna style she is showing off her hack work. She scratched Logan up pretty good...two fold: my lack of grooming and her ability to self-defend.

 

She means business. And what you can't really see is Hayden snickering at her and her giving him a "your next bub" look!

 

She even tied them down and made them kiss the floor. OK maybe that's an exaggeration...but I'd take bets that she very well may be able to one day.

Who's next-bring it!

Are You There, It's Me...

She insists on being front and center of my lens! And I LOVE it!

Ragamuffin Style

Loswhit over at Ragamuffin Soul had a great thought provoking post today. I can't help but find so many cross references to this article. I swear the more I think about it the more I find. Los asked "what does Ragamuffin Soul mean to you?" and then proceeds to see through me and encourages all the blog stalkers to post a comment.

When I was younger I was given the name Ragamuffin from Maria the hairdresser! The kids now go to her as well and ironically we were just there. Simon, aka Logan, desperately needed to get his haircut.

Funny thing about that is my whole family more so today seem to be ragamuffins. We stayed in our pajamas most of the day until it was time for baths and showers and some fresh pjs. We were productive today and we were able to cram a lot of family time in together, we all shoveled the snow AGAIN, went sleigh riding, had a great dinner together (thanks Mark), and jammed out to Rock Band.

 We all did our fair share of messing up and behaving like a ragamuffin. While we have not perfected the art of forgiveness or exceled at apologies, I am cherishing these moments something fierce. And I'm finally beginning to be on the downside of the uphill race. I'm getting it. Each day I get it more. And I am so grateful of the payoff.

~God is good.

Stuff

Happy New Year!

I'll admit it-I was the first to want to decorate and now I'm the first to want to get it the heck out of here!! So we've been busy doing stuff! Nothing overly exciting, but in some ways just having some good old family time has been really great and really needed too. Mark made it through the holiday madness-he will be rewarded this weekend with what is his first weekend off since before Thanksgiving. We started school back up and I'll be back to work on Monday. The kids have been busy with all their new things with little complaining about being bored. I will say that one kid in particular doesn't seem satisfied with much lately-I'm guessing it is his age or the mohawk, but once one thing is done, he's already itching for the next, and the next and the next. And the next. Big news on the Hayden front-his first tooth is loose-like really loose it should have come out a week ago! Logan is doing really good, it must be because he has mastered being 4 and is getting ready to be 5! Hopefully his "extra lip" will heal by then...he's got the worst red lips from licking them to death!! Addie is doing better-her lip and tooth have just about finally healed (she took a face plant off the kitchen bench onto the floor-face first....busted lip and loose tooth herself) and she is now sporting some really hip blue nail polish. She has gotten better about allowing me to put "piggy" tails in and she gets cuter everyday. One thing I can honestly say-I'm super blessed with such a non-stop, exploring, creative, loving, caring family. I think everyday this week, Addie woke up, came to my side of the bed, rubbed my cheek and told me she loved me-all while the boys made several trips in and out wondering when it was time for "dad" to get up! I tell you-I've got it made!

Compliments to my new camera:

Hayden had a fever and these two became pals-despite their runny noses and differences.

Then it was LP's turn to get sick and HP went to his belt promotion test by himself. He is now a 2nd degree green belt!

I heart this camera!

 The holiday illness and hectic days caught up to the best of them!

 

Check out her feet ! BOKEH ahaah!

Blue! And piggy tails! And her hidden Batgirl shirt!

Some snow, not a lot...enough to make it look pretty. LP and I were inside where you belong!

Mark and Addie had a system...Mark would clear a path and Addie would dump some more his way. You need to look closely to the left of Addie to see her pile in his clean path. And then glance at Mark's face!! I think he's onto her style! Priceless.

Legos...

and more Legos...and mohawk...

 and "Cakes" aka Strawberry Shortcake' pool!

"The" tooth!

 

And my guy-he tells me, he "double" loves me all the time!