Silver

Since Meggan will likely never brag on herself, I will happily do it for her.  A video she created was nominated for an award at a national education conference.  The competition was this week and as the kids and I expected, and prepared for with cards and flowers, her entry did very, very well...so well, in fact, that it was awarded the silver medal!  Since I'm not in education, I wasn't able to watch the awards ceremony.  However, I'm guessing Meggan's video made people laugh, weep, question all they thought they knew, change careers, convert religions, give away all their worldly possessions, and generally devote their lives to higher thinking.  Again, that's just my guess. While I can't share Meggan's video here because of privacy issues, I figured I'd just reshare one of my favorite videos of all time instead...

Sweater Weather

 Looks like somebody has found Amelia's new sweater/blanket...and they like it. Why do I feel like soon, both my kids will just be little piles of fuzzy cotton shuffling around the house? 

Waiting Game

I'd like to say I wonder what Lucy is waiting for on my pillow...

Except when you wake up in the mornings with her as the "big spoon", you already know she's waiting on you...

To the Nines

 My little man hit the final year of single digits yesterday.  In some ways, it seems like he was born last week. In other ways, I can't remember life before him.  While I'm certainly starting to miss the younger days of my "Peanut", I couldn't be more proud of the person he is growing into.  He's so smart, has the brightest outlook on life, and I makes grown adults laugh out loud on a daily basis.  If the first 9 years are any indication, I can't wait to see what the next 9 have in store...

On a positive and related note, while Ev has grown into a big 'ol nasty 9 year-old, at least I still have my sweet, little 6 year-old girl....

Classic Siblings

 You know these two are perfecting their roles as siblings when I go to take a picture of Amelia's lounging hair and without even bothering to look up from his game, Ev tries to reach up and drop some bunny ears...

Brrrrr

Winter has shown its ugly face this week, so I had to get a new black jacket for my baby girl...

....of course, I'm talking about this girl....

Reporting for Duty

 I don't mean to brag, but I have a certain 6th grader who didn't let the unpredictability and chaos of this year stand in her way...

Signs

 This is the sign of a fun day at recess .... or a terrible day at recess. 

Luckily, no Everetts were harmed during, or preceding, the taking of this photo...

Mr. Clean

 We sent Everett up to clean his room.  Apparently, when he hears the word "clean", he thinks it means "no need to actually put anything away, just make sure everything is perfectly lined up"...

Winding Down

 As our break is beginning to wrap up, I think we're all starting to realize going back to work/school is going to be an adjustment.  That said, nobody is in for as big of an adjustment as my girl.  She's reallllly settled into this staycation thing...

Wearable blanket, stuffed animal, living animal, sunglasses for no reason ....check