Oh but the dirt is such fun!

My daughter has a new outdoor hobby. Today I found her in the dirt, behind our garage (where I uprooted a tree last fall and transplanted it to the front yard ... hence the big mound of dirt) looking rather adorable with a dirt-smeared face. She just LOVES playin' in the dirt. I think she's on her way to being a true gardener, like mommy!

Girl Time

My entire family was up for a visit this week for a funeral. Aside from being an obviously sad time for all of us, it was a rare chance to get some pictures of the girls together. My sister's daughter, Sydney, is only three months younger than Rhy -- and since the odds of Rhylah having a sister are pretty much nill, it's always fun to watch the two of them play together!


Papa watches the girls play with the busy ball popper. They dragged him upstairs by both hands.


Playin' together is so much fun!




At one point, they took most of Rhy's books off her shelves and loaded them onto the bed so they could read together. Now that's my idea of a good time!


My sweet baby girl.


Rhy shows Sydney her freshly painted toes.


Playin' chicken with their daddies.


Leon takes a "kick" to the nose. :)

Flowers In a Jar

My daughter might be the "Lord High Executioner of Daffodils," but when she manages to snap a few off well below the blooms (and I can get them into water fast enough) they make a sunny addition to our kitchen table. After all, is there anything that says spring better than flowers in a mason jar??

Smiley Rhy Photos

These photos I took of Rhylah the other day, were just too cute -- I had to post 'em!

Easter Photos

Gabe smiles EARLY this morning after finding his basket.


Ash finds his basket hidden under the couch cushions.


Rhy digs into her candy right away.


The kids with their baskets.


Rhylah in her Easter dress with flowers in her hair.


Gabe, looking very grown up on Easter Sunday!


My smiley Asher!


Three of the best kiddos ever!


Brothers ...


A rare moment of brotherly affection ... right before the tackle!


Rhy wore her Christmas dress for Easter this year, because it worked so well! She calls it her "Cinderella" dress. She proceeded to wear it ALL day long!


My darling girl.

Visit from Friends

We had a visit from some great friends this past weekend ... my high school friend Heather and her adorable daughter Olivia.
We had a fabulous time, and in the process -- I learned a little something about my darling daughter.
She's mortally terrified of carousels.
Yes. You heard me right. Carousels.
What? They're packed with colorful creatures, you say? Ponies and bears and fun-loving porpoises? And they spin in delightful circles and go up and down? What American girl wouldn't love that???
Mine.
She settled onto the pony okay ... but her cooperation quickly degraded from there. She began to look nervous ... then whimper ... once the thing started actually MOVING, Rhy was practically in hysterics, and quickly put me in a choke hold from which I am still recovering.
Ow.
Enjoy the photos.


Sippy cup girls in their nighties. Is there anything cuter?


Breakfast on a girls' weekend (the boys were in Milwaukee) includes princess dresses, jewelry, crowns and Dora the Explorer.


Olivia sits on her carousel horse with no problems.


Rhy looks up in abject terror at the thing she is sitting on, as if it is about to explode.


This is blurry, I know, but check out the vulcan deathgrip she has on my neck!!


Heather and Olivia!


The girls have fun tickling each other before bed.


More laughs.


Two cutie pies, who are destined to be buds, whether they like it or not. :)

60 Today, 30 Tomorrow ... ugh!

Rhy, Ash and I walked to the park this morning.
I was busy trying not to be depressed by the thought that while today's high temp is 60, tomorrow's is 33. ICK.
You'll have to pardon the sheer number of smiley Rhylah photos. She was grinning at everything and I couldn't help myself. Asher's shots, on the other hand, are all action shots -- Asher swinging, Asher jumping, Asher hanging on for dear life etc. Such a boy!