Happy Birthday to The Banana!  We've had a marathon two-day celebration for our stout little tyke's second birthday.  Last night we were fortunate to be able throw the main birthday party on the eve of The Banana's actual birthday, and we were able to celebrate with Grandma Kathy, who was…

To celebrate the start of first grade, Grandma Robbie sent Sarah some special money to go shopping for a new outfit.  The only thing she asked in return was that I take a picture of the first grader in her new clothes.  Sarah had her heart set on this stripey…

Mr. Sneaky Pants was happily working on an art project yesterday morning while his big sister was at school.  I asked if he wanted me to take a photograph of his masterpiece and put it on my blog so that some of his grandmas could see it on the computer.…

We've been up at the crack of dawn getting ready for school the last two days.  Sarah's jumped out of bed before her alarm clock both days, nearly giddy with excitement about getting to school.  She likes her teacher.  The bus rides are going well.  She met a new friend…

There are a few more pictures of our Labor Day Weekend that I can't resist sharing.  On Friday at sunset we took a quick trip down to the rocky beach, where of course, all the non-adults climbed rocks, jumped off rocks, and swam in the frigid water until they were…

While my nieces were visiting, we tromped down one of my favorite hiking trails.  As the last waterfall cascades down the craggely rock, there is a shallow pool.  It didn't the exploring crew long to discover a crayfish scooting along the broken rocks under the water.  They called my brother-in-law…

My nieces took an instant liking to the crab apple tree, which is now loaded with completely ripe mini-fruits that plonk down to the ground at unsuspecting moments.  They spent a considerable amount of time shaking the tree, pulling down its branches, and whacking it with a broomstick all in…

My three nieces and their parents came to visit for the weekend.  The main purpose of the visit was for them to extract the hot tub out of its little gazebo enclosure that's not really a gazebo at all, and cart it off to Iowa.  You see, a hot tub…