Margie August 21, 2011

26 years old.

Margie August 20, 2011

Heading out for his first solo drive after getting his license a few hours earlier.

Margie August 17, 2011

When we got up this morning, this little guy was looking in at us. He got stuck between the big door and the screen door.

Margie August 16, 2011

The kids & I were taking a stroll through our "Natureland" when we saw this bee taking a drink from the butterfly feeder that they made.

Margie August 12, 2011

I took the child care kids to a cool playground in Gurnee. They have 4 different play areas with really cool equipment, and this huge sandbox with 2 water stations. Super fun place to spend the day - and it's free!

Margie August 11, 2011

Nikki, Madi, Lilli and I decided to take a walk in a local forest preserve after dinner. But, the killer mosquitos turned our stroll into a super speedy power walk. We could barely stand still to take this picture. We decided to come back in the fall.

Margie August 9, 2011

Madi and I have a secret pact. Whenever she sees her mom cleaning, she comes and whispers to me. Then, when Nikki takes the bags of "garbage" out to the street, I sneak out later and bring them back into the house. This is a picture of what was in one of the bags, plus 69 cents (into the vacation fund you go!) There were two other bags full of similar "garbage." I still have 2 bags in the garage that I rescued a couple of months ago when she cleaned the bathroom. At least I know where to go when I need a full bottle of shampoo!

Margie August 8, 2011

Jesse & I have been trying to save money for a vacation for 4 years. One of our saving strategies is to save all of our change. We were wondering how much we had, so we took it to the bank today. It seems like every time I get a bit of money saved, something comes up and I need to use the money. So, when I got the money for this change, Jesse & I decided to freeze it in a ziplock bag in a container of water. Then maybe we won't be able to use it so easily for an emergency. Any guesss how much is there? It is hard to tell from the picture, but it is in a diaper box, and it is about 2 inches deep.

Margie July 15, 2011

Sitting in the ER soaking her hands after a very unfortunate mishap with hot glue.
All is well now.

Margie July 14, 2011

A rare occassion - all of my kids are home at the same time......and, they are cooking dinner.

Margie July 13, 2011

I gave the kids cans of shaving cream and they went wild!

Margie July 11, 2011

Playing with the dress up clothes.

Margie July 10, 2011

Lilli is wearing shoes for the first time in her life. She did not like them at all. She just stood there and did not know what to do. Later I took her hand and tried to walk with her. She was picking her feet up high in the air and clomping them down like a horse. So funny!

Margie July 9, 2011

I took Madi to a nature center in Crystal Lake where she earned a Brownie badge on animals. Those are bees that she is looking at - a LOT of bees!

Margie July 7, 2011

Cold popsicle on a hot day.

Margie July 6, 2011

The child care kids decided to spend the entire day outside. They even cooked and ate their lunch outside. They were out there for 8 hours!

Margie July 5, 2011

We went to the library. Madi's artwork from school was chosen to be displayed there for the summer. It is the flower picture with the purple border.

I still get sad when we go to the library and see this drawing of Becca & Steven.

Margie June 29, 2011

First time in the swimming pool for Zoey.

Margie June 26, 2011

Zoey is wearing the barrette that Gabby was wearing the first day that we met her.

Margie June 25, 2011

First time in a kayak. At Girl Scout Camp Dean.