Catch-Up

First some pictures, followed by a few funny stories. This will be a long one!

Oh great--here she comes with the camera again. I'll act grumpy to throw her off.

Then I'll make this face to make her laugh.

You're not going to post that pic on your blog are you? Mother! You'll ruin my image!

Cowen is such a good looking boy. The kids have had swim lessons this week and last, and yesterday a lady I chat with while our kids swim asked me if Cowen was in gymnastics. I said no and she said, "Well, does he have that muscular build just naturally?"

Yes. It is genetic. From his Grandpa Rasmussen.

Emeline has started looking less and less like a little kid and more and more like an older kid. I know she's halfway to 5, but I'm still protesting.

I hosted Miriam's book club this month. The girls read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler so our activity was "sculpting." If you haven't ever sculpted using Ivory soap and a butter knife--I recommend it. I also recommend that you do it outside or lay down newspapers.

If I am not super-vigilant, Cowen's starfall.com time usually becomes Miriam's starfall.com time.

Cowen wanted me to post a better pic of his missing tooth.

Lady Harriet has the best smile but it is hard to get a baby to smile and capture it on the camera at the same time. Don't mind the spit-up--she has reflux.

Doesn't she look so big sitting there??!!

Miss Patsy. She's a cutie.

Yes, we are still having numerous issues with Eli's sleeping habits. Why do you ask?

Now for some funny stories.

The other day Miriam did something to Eli that hurt him. It was an accident. Later I heard her talking to him. She said, "I'm sorry Eli, I just wasn't using my head!" I LOVE it when kids say the things you say; like, "Use your head!!!"

Aunt Megan took Miriam on a special outing the other night. Miriam had a marvelous time. Here at home, Cowen was trying to adapt to the vacuum her absence created in his life. After bedtime he came upstairs and said, "Mom, Emeline and Eli are out of their beds. Since Miriam is gone, can I be the boss for awhile?"

Boy howdy, Timothy and I laughed at that one.

In other news, the roofers are officially done. The rain derailed the original finish date. I am so glad they are done because they weren't very careful about opening gates. Plus, we had to leave the gates unlocked so the roofers could get into the backyard. Between those two things, I ended up chasing our dogs too many times. One of the days I found someone to take Patsy so she wouldn't have to be in the travel kennel all day.

On Monday (looooonnnnnnggggg day), I had finally managed to get the children in the van for swim lessons (we'd been frantically looking for Miriam's swimsuit that we finally found--at the swimming pool's lost and found) when the dogs ran out from the back yard into the van (thank you, roofers). I didn't want to leave and possibly have the dogs escape again, so I went and knocked on a neighbor's door to see if we could leave the dogs in her backyard. She opened the door in her bathrobe and I felt pretty silly for arriving unannounced to ask a favor. But, she did let the dogs stay. Mr. Wilson was not impressed (according to the neighbor) and acted sad all day. Timothy said Mr. Wilson was very happy to see him, so maybe he felt deserted.

Today was a better day.

And now you are all caught up.