Superdad

Well, our whole family is sick once again. It seems that despite my best efforts at germ-control, we have our own little petri dish.

I was to teach the women's class at church today, so I went solo. It was so strange being there by myself. When the girls were barely talking, we started a tradition of saying "Here, We, GO!" anytime we went anywhere in the van. The kids all join in on the "GO!" part and do the "charge" motion with their arms. So when I was driving today I missed that. I didn't have to dress four children or take a diaper bag. I was also able to actually pay attention in the first meeting! It has been getting better and better, but I still don't usually hear much of the service.

Cary fed Lana this morning for me. I decided to snap a photo. And no, I don't know why he's wearing a tie on his head. That's just what dads do, isn't it?

While I was gone, he and the children made a "Welcome Home Mama" sign and hung it in the window. He caught a picture of them on the porch after letting them check out their handiwork:

Gwyn, Lana, Everett, Maddie

He also had lunch waiting for me, dinner in the crockpot, and the house was pretty much the way I left it! I felt really loved, and he scored some major points!

Call for Captions II

Well, I think it's time for another contest. Please submit your idea for a title. I'll choose a winner on Saturday and post the results. Here's the photo (of Maddie, by the way):

The winner will receive a candy bar of their choice. Have fun!

How we get stinky feet, etc.

I had to explain to my normally barefoot son this week that feet will become stinky if they are left in shoes too long--especially without socks. He has been wearing his Lightning McQueen sandals every waking moment since the party Saturday. He has also sported his new hat and binoculars except at mealtimes (even at the park today under the hood of his coat). He is dressing himself now too, so he has made quite an interesting fashion statement this week!

We tried unsuccessfully to fly a kite, but the kids had a great time. Maddie and Lana especially liked the swings.

And the winner is...

Drumroll please: I have chosen a winner for the caption contest. Cary thinks that I chose this one because we share a brain (and perhaps it's true). My mom will receive a candy bar for her "Aqua-footed Gwynny hen" entry, and Cary received one of the rubber gloves for his effort in submitting not one but six captions for the contest. Thanks to everyone who submitted an idea!

(If you'd like to see the entries, just look at the comments under the post "Call for Captions".)

Call for Captions

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to come up with a caption for this photo of Gwyn:

Please post a comment with your idea for a title! Whoever comes up with the best caption will receive one of the rubber gloves as a prize (not really--but maybe a candy bar).

Little Fashionistas

Already, the girls are attempting to influence local fashion trends:

Here we see Lana looking cool and collected in her pink plastic sunglasses,

kerchief scarf, and mardi-gras beads. (Nov. '07)

Next we see Gwyn looking spunky in her flowered summer hat,

and big brother's winter boots. (Jan. '08)

Trick-or-Treat

When we went to look for costumes for the kids, I took one look at the prices and said "I don't think so--not for something they're only going to wear once!" I was just crazy enough that I decided to make costumes that would also serve as winter coats for the girls.

I made a pattern based on one of the girls' jackets, went to JoAnns to get fur, etc., and spent hours cutting out layers and putting everything together. I spent some long nights and still had two zippers to put in when it was time to go, but I figured they were good enough for trick-or-treating! Everett decided he wanted to be a mouse, so here are our three little bears and big brother mouse. (Gwyn is in the brown fur and Maddie is in black.)