And the favorite color is...

Back in August (before we were sure the favorite color would really stick), we got Cora a pair of yellow crocs.  As is evidenced below, she was elated.  The problem then became that the weather got colder and she wouldn't wear anything else on her feet.  We fixed that at her birthday... but that wasn't until mid-December.

She insisted on wearing the new crocs to bed that first night, so here she is (probably dreaming of yellow).

An explanation

You see... the reason I don't get more blogging done is because I am constantly monitoring absolutely every action of each of my three children... as is evidenced by the photo below.

I also want to draw the attention to the fact that there are multiple colors present.  This was not a single incident.  We all learn slowly; maybe the initial punishment wasn't severe enough.  :)

Backblogged: Miriam's 4th birthday

For those of you still gracious enough to be checking our blog, thank you and I'm sorry.  I feel like I'm always apologizing about being behind.  But even if no one ever looks at this, I want to have this record of what has been going on in our lives at this stage.  Thanks to the encouragement of a sweet friend who is catching up her blog, I am less embarrassed about how far behind I really am here.  Anyway... I wanted to document and share a few things about Miriam's 4th birthday back on October 13, 2010.

Miriam picked a treat from our Fairies Cookbook (Thank you Aunt Hannah):

Marshmallow Pops 

(I intentionally left out the additional fairy-esque part of the name)

 Those of you who know me well know that I have basically NO creative ability or artistic tendencies, so this was a big leap for me.  I was really pleased with how they turned out.  While I was making them (during naptime, of course!), God gently reminded me of how when I was pregnant with Miriam I didn't feel like I knew how to be a mommy to a girl.  For some reason, I'd always pictured myself as a mommy of boys.  So, as God always does in his perfect wisdom, he blessed me with two girls before I became a mommy of a boy. And then He showed me that even I - in my uncreativeness and unartisticness - can make Fairy Princess Marshmallow Pops for a 4th birthday party.

Then we used a pie pumpkin from our CSA as a base for four pops holding one candle each.

 Isn't she precious!

 Boring presents from Mommy and Daddy... clothes and shoes!  ;)

 

The next day, Miriam received a special delivery from Grandma and Grandpa - 4 big pink roses complete with a pink polka dot ribbon!

That weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Steele came for a visit and we had a real birthday cake to celebrate.  Those are the birthday girl's four little fingers in the picture - totally by accident!

Sweet pad

Daddy brought a huge, sturdy cardboard box home from work a couple weeks ago, installed a door and a window and the kids have been having a blast with it.  It's big enough that all 5 of us can fit in..... if we're in the mood to cuddle.

 Peering out the door

Picture taken through the window from the outside

Miriam swats away an unwanted potential home invader

Daddy's little helper

Daddy, did you say you needed the 7/16" wrench or the 1/2" wrench?  They put these things in here so tight you have to stand on the whole thing to get a single wrench out!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

Disclaimer: Walker does not have a permanent blemish between his eyes.  It's just that he consistently takes so many tumbles that you can always count on a bruise/scab/mark of some sort either between his eyes or on his forehead at all times. (And for those of you who notice, yes, I realize that 'always' and 'at all times' in the same sentence is redundant but I'm choosing overemphasis instead of proper gramatics.)  ;)

Happy 4th Birthday, Miriam!

We love you, sweetheart!!!

Update

Yes, we're still here... a brief update about what's going on with us:

• Miriam has an ear infection (after a multi-week cold... who doesn't have a runny nose right now?)
• Cora is undergoing a bit of intestinal/digestive 'cleansing' and dealing with some significantly irritating dermatitis/eczema.
• Walker survived a terrible fall down our basement stairs (wooden, steep and narrow with a concrete wall on one side and a concrete floor at the bottom) with no injuries other than some big scrapes which are now scabs on his scalp... ONLY by the grace of God (and I mean that in the most literal way possible).  Praise God for protecting our precious little guy!

Peaches

At the peak of peach season, we had the opportunity to go out to Eckert's Orchard over in Illinois and each of the kids could pick a free bag of peaches (Walker included).  It was one of the hottest days of the summer, but we didn't let that stop us.

Our friend Noah didn't waste any time savoring the sweet rewards of his labor

After some lunch, we [thoroughly] enjoyed some ice cream before we got back in the van to head home. 

We came home with over 17 pounds of free peaches!  Look at that loot!!!  And all it cost was a whole LOT of sweat and one incidence of Miriam stripping off her dress and running around throwing a fit in her underwear and shoes in front of a bunch of strangers.  A small price to pay... :)

StL summer fun

Despite the stifling summer heat, we enjoyed spending time with some of our neighbors during a block party recently. The girls had a TON of fun playing in a sprinkler in the middle of the street since the street was closed off for the evening and Walker sat and dripped sweat like it was his job.  Doesn't he make sweaty look cute?!?

Our third July birthday

Grandma Gwennie's birthday!  (In case you notice that the girls are in their pajamas, I want to provide the disclaimer that it was late at night and not first thing in the morning that they were eating Gooey Butter Cake.  :)  Although I'm pretty sure it would make a delicious breakfast too!)

Another birthday

July is a big month for birthdays... Daddy's birthday... then Grandpa Steve's birthday... then Grandma Gwennie's birthday!!!  And it just so happened that we got to celebrate with each of those three people this July.  (Pictures from Grandma Gwennie's birthday are yet to come.)

Cuddles

Teeth!

Walker cut his first two bottom teeth around 8 months.

Random cuteness

Connect the dots between the second picture and the finger in the bottom of the first picture

Daddy's birthday

Walker's reaction when he found out he didn't get any cake