Willow's 5th Birthday

Willow is 5 Today!

 

July 1, 2003

3 months

1 year

 

2 years

3 years

4 years



A couple of weeks ago...

Her party will be on July 13, so as to fit everyone's schedule better than another holiday event.

Blueberries

Today's mission: The kids dove right in and got to work...they're all so serious! Sweetness. Sharing. Pride. This is what 17 lbs (or approximately $40, or two hours of picking) of blueberries looks like... Yummy. So far I've been busy getting them frozen.  Who knew an actual process was involved (more on that later).  I've only made one actual dish; otherwise we've been eating them fresh. Blueberry Crisp (adapted from an apple crisp recipe) blueberries (enough to fill a pie plate or whatever at least 3/4 full) 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup flour (unbleached, whole wheat, whatever; it doesn't effect the texture much) 1/3 cup butter, softened 1 cup oats 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon This recipe is ridiculously easy.  Put the blueberries in the dish.  Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl with a fork.  Crumble mixture over berries.  Bake for 30 minuets at 375 degrees.

Branson "Vacation"

Last week we went on vacation to...Branson.

Here's our "view" lol



Yes, it was in fact very loud, starting at 7am and lasting until dark.

But there were pretty things too; these were the first things we saw each time we arrived, and the last thing we saw when we left.





We took the kids to The Butterfly Palace, which is actually nowhere near as grand as it sounds...but they loved it anyway.

First they show an educational video...in 3D.



Ember never did get the hang of the glasses.



Then we wandered about and looked at all the pretty butterflies and random things





This butterfly liked my bandana.



And this one liked my bag.



Hey look!  Someone even liked Dale's fugly hat!

First Book

Ryvre is reading his first book by himself!  Green Eggs and Ham, naturally, and he's doing it all alone!  I'm very very very proud!  *uncoordinated happy dance!*

Snow and a Condo

Ryvre and Willow have been sick this week.  Sore throats and headaches.  We were also iced in for a few days; we spent that time at the resort where Dale works as it's off the highway (much easier to get out in case of emergency) and they have a generator in case the power goes out.

The view from our condo was nice



And i brought the camera



So any excuse to pose...



Is a good one.



I'll leave you with a lesson the kids taught me. 

I was folding laundry a few days ago, brooding over one thing or another, when Willow and Ryvre came running down the hallway, yelling. They proceeded to shout at me, and each claim that the other had started a fight. I looked up at them and saw that they each still held an incriminating toy sword. I said to them: "I really don't know what happened, but you both have weapons." A look of understanding washed over Ryvre's face, and he said sagely:

"When we both have swords, it's hard to say who started it."

Something we should all keep in mind perhaps.

More Snow

	Of course  i had to take more pics of the kids playing in the snow...by tomorrow it will be but a distant memory... Ryvre, being weird Willow, being cute Rolling the giant snowball Pretty Snowball Yummy Snowball! Mmm! Us and our Snowman Finishing Touches Done.

Snow

	Our yard, this morning The Girls Ember, *not* eating snow Very obviously eating snow Willow, the every-posing. Posing some more. The driveway is *that* way kid... Ryvre Angel Willow Angel