small:

potatoes...

 bugs...

flowers...

clusters...

wormies...

creations...

 and of course dogs...

...these are a few of our favorite things, and I have been asked to photograph and subsequently post them that YOU might enjoy these small things as much as we do.

raindrops are falling on (their) heads*

 *credit to B.J. Thomas for the lyrics

Like father, like son

There's been a lot of acoustic guitar playing going on in our house lately.  A certain Mr. is not only trying to justify a recent purchase (ahem.), he is also involved in church worship and recently has discovered a few new artists on youtube to emulate.  Oh yeah, there was also that Phil Keaggy concert we went to awhile back...

I guess it's no surprise that I walked into the living room a few days ago to find this:

and then a few days after that, this:

all together now, awwww...

PS: yes, I know, we need a new kids' guitar.  Anyone want to donate to the cause?  Guitar must be able to withstand extreme pick work and repeated bashing into doorways.

Benjie and Boo visit (some of) the animals

 *note: all narration provided by the 2yo, several weeks after the fact.*

Benny is feeding the chickens mom! He is dumping some food, it is weally messy and he is in trouble.  Gan' Boo gave him more food. Come here, Chickie, 'mere! Do NOT run away.

 They like it mom! I fwow more.

 He needs a coat, Mom.  Chickens say, "ba ba bawk bawk!"

 I chased them and gave them more food...

 ...but they went inside to lay an egg.  Benny is looking for one egg.

 The sheeps like their food, Mom.

 Benny will give them more food.

 So soft, Mom! Gan' Boo says "move over, Sheep!"

 Sheeps say "BAAAAAA BAAAAAAA!!!!" and I can pet them.

 Right there, sheep.  You need to eat your dinner!

 Benny is petting the so soft sheep.  Boo says "time to go." I like the sheep bewwy much. The blue one likes me.

the end.

decorating the tree

The breakable ornaments are staying in the tote this year, for two reasons.  One: I have 3 boys and 4 cats and one dog (and one husband and one me).  Two: our tree this year is much more "Charlie Brown" than"Clark Griswold."  I love it.

how to manage a year's worth of kids' magazines

 My mother-in-law gifted the boys with a year's subscription to Highlights High Five magazine last year.  We love it! 

This is definitely a magazine worth keeping around so that all 3 boys get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of it.  Just this week I stumbled upon the perfect solution: hole punch each magazine and store them in a binder. 

#3 seems to approve :)

appreciating the mediocre photos

because right now, they're all I have.  Last week my laptop had a midlife crisis and the hard drive committed suicide, taking with it 3 years worth of bookmarks, downloads, and pictures.  For someone who documents the minutiae of life in an attempt to create a virtual memory bank to draw on in old age (seriously.  almost every memory I have of my own childhood is tied to a photo my mom took of that moment.  If she didn't have a camera back then, my memories would be numbered on one hand.), this is devastating.  I have been telling myself that 100 years ago people didn't even have cameras, but it is not helping.  Knowing what I am losing is hard.

                              (last week we also all had the flu.  talk about adding insult to injury. some of us recovered better than others)

people: back up your computers.  It's easy.  It doesn't take long.  You can do it online, or to a separate hard drive.

(one part of the required outfit for an aspiring astronaut: a shirt with the main constellations on it.  self-satisfied smirk not required)

                      (more astronaut gear:
swim vest temperature controlled underlayer,
snowpants space pants,
camo baby mittens and police helmet super special space gloves and helmet. not shown: the backpack full of
water bottles air tanks.)

anyway, here are a few of the pics taken the last few days that would never have made it onto the blog pre-crash.

                      (this particular morning everyone wanted to work at the school table together)

I will not apologize for blur, lack of artistic positioning, or junk in the background.  I will cherish the little memories that each offers, and share them with you.

                                            (we read a lot of books.  we like most of them)

Because really? I bet about 5 people will read this blog, 1 will comment, and nobody will ever nominate me for popular blogger of the month.  So if all I'm doing here is archiving memories for my own personal enjoyment, so be it =)

                                        (mom and baby giraffe. you can pet them if you want.)

Football in the side yard (or: new lense!)

As

"they"

 say,

 It's

all

fun

and

games

until

someone

gets

hurt.

 =)