A long one...

So as most of you know by now... I am a SAHM!! HOORAY!! We just decided it wasn't worth the commute anymore being that one of my checks went just to gas. sad day. The corporate office has been couponing like crazy, so I went from making comission to making hourly for the last few months with no end in sight. So to say the least, wasn't worth it even if I didn't have to commute so far. And partly because Ben didn't want to have to drive from Washington to Santa clara. He said it was too far. No, really? Try Washington to SC to Bloomington and back again when the shift ended. So I get 3 hours of my life back every week!!

Well, my last day was going pretty well until the last, oh, about 20 minutes. Most of you have already heard about this, if not, well, I am not posting it on here:) So I was frustrated and didn't get much sleep that night, but one thing I did decide was I wanted to go take some pictures of Jack while Abs was at kindergarten. Why? Because taking pictures just makes me so happy:)


THIS is what he wanted to do... didn't fly with me. So I told him Lightning McQueen wanted to take his picture, so I had to hold the car over my finger that was taking the picture (because he KNOWS what finger takes the picture and insisted on it:) and did manage to get a few good ones. I personally like pictures even if they arent looking straight into the camera, but it is nice to get a few where they look too:)

So comes this picture. I LOVE this one. I am blowing it up and putting it on my wall. Ben made fun of his expression, but I love it.

Want to see the rest? check out Facebook!

Oh, they are so cute:) Grandma helped make these masks. And by helped I am thinking she probably did most of it, or they wouldn't have turned out so cute. They are owls, by the way. So they spent the night wearing them and "flying" and hooting. good times. Thanks Grandma:)

A day with Jack...

Okay, are you sure you are ready for this?? Because it is all kinds of fun living with my sweet boy I like to call trouble... I mean Jack... And yes, this ALL happened in the course of ONE day!


So he decided cereal wasn't enough for him this morning, maybe because he watched me make eggs that weren't given to him. So I came out of drying my bangs (like two minutes) to this:


At least he tried to make it in the pan this time. Usually he will either crush them in his hands, throw them at the wall/floor or just drop the entire package on the floor, usually crushing most of them.


Then... I did Abby's hair but not his. This kid LOVES to have his hair done. So I walk in the front room while he went in my bedroom without me seeing and came out like this:

For all my Fantastic Sams girls out there, yes, this is molding mud. And you know what that crap does! If you aren't a FS girl, molding mud is like a really strong pomade. and it needs to be rubbed in your hands until the color disappears, so it isn't grey like this in your hair. And it is a PAIN to get out!

Well, later in the day Abby came running out of her room so excited to show me the surprise she and Jack had made for me:

Now obviously, this wasn't entirely Jack's fault... but yeah, I had to include it:)

Reunion time!

We had a Laidlaw reunion yesterday up on the mountain near Kanarraville, at Uncle Jeff's property. Food, family and fun!
Before he got filthy:)

Grandpa Laidlaw playing while we... er... Marie sang. we didn't know the words:)

We brought the broken arm machine-- I mean, the merry-go-round. We planned on bringing it, and almost didn't at the last minute, thank goodness we did! I dont think that it stopped the entire day! Everyone took a turn on it, I swear Jack was on it for at least an hour, if not two. All the other kids switched in an out, but Jack was always on it!

See? I said everyone:)

There was a cool fort down in the gulley.

Oh, he ate so many cookies! Every time I looked at him he had a new one in his hand

Abby and Ashley. They had so much fun together, I think they were super glued at the hip. In fact, the only reason she didn't want to go home was because she would miss smash.

Had to get a cool shot of him shooting:) They did a lot of shooting!

I thought this was so cute, all the dads with their kids. And no lie, they didn't know each other had done it. Ben put Jack up first, then Brian and Ivy, then Jona and Kiley. so it was like they all had a unique idea... but they didnt... but it made a cute picture. I just wasn't fast enough to get Jona more in the frame... oh well! you can kinda see them:)

First day of school!!

Abby had her first official day of school yesterday... that lasted for 30 minutes! She was sooo excited, the night before she kept telling me she wouldn't be able to sleep because she was just so excited for all the fun she was going to have. cute. She had her outfit planned out for at least a week. haha. (then she tried to wear the same thing again today:)

Yeah. I was one of those moms that took the camera to school. In fact, the only one. So I only snapped this one of her filling out her scavanger hunt. She was so funny, she told me yesterday she wanted to start going to bed at seven so she could be the smartest kid in class. I guess sleep=smart?

So lame, she went to school yesterday for 30 minutes, today for the full time, then friday for the regular short day, which is an hour and a half. Then she wont go back until friday, ( they are out for kindergarten assesment tests)... so she started school, kinda. :)

Something you don't see everyday...

Rain! It has rained here a bit in the last week, but has literally just hit around us ( like within 1/4 mile) but it finally got us! and the kids had a blast.


I like the reflection in this one:)

He biffed it sooo many times running up and down in the ditch! sooo funny!

Their favorite part was laying in the ditch... and drinking the water. Although, she claims she never swallowed it, not so sure about Jack.

She kept asking if she could just go inside and watch "Pure Country" with daddy. I said no. I forced her to have fun. And she liked it. Or so I say.

But then friends joined them and she wanted to stay out.

No, she isn't licking his ear. Ben pointed that out later, but it was the only cute/them looking at the camera at the same time of them.

oh baby!

Booties, that is;) So I know... eight preggos right now? I dont think I missed anyone... Unless of course, someone is keeping it a secret, haha. So I figure it is time to get stitchin' some baby stuff! I think they would be so cute with a coordinating dress or an appliqued onesie! So anywho, here they are:

one for a boy

and one for a girl

Oh, and if anyone wants to buy a little material, I am willing to make you some; just know I work for Dr. Pepper;)