it's just not fair

okay, if i were wearing this outfit, would anyone think it was adorable that the buttons are about to pop and the horizontal stripes are only emphasizing belly roundness? i don't think so.

p.s. that gave me an idea: a challenge! who can top this photographic evidence of an outfit that is so incredibly endearing on a baby/toddler, but would be horrific on an adult? sort your photos, people! let's see those pix!

mr. sleeping beauty

i took the boys to the park this morning and now both are sleeping like rocks. i'd really love to get some crafting done, but i just know that the moment i sit down at the sewing machine, some little person would be peeking over my shoulder. so, i'll just settle for watching a movie of my own choosing. that is a beautiful thing in itself.

p.s. kalei is wearing the primary colors today. and, no, nothing matches. c'e la vie!

creative license

lately, kalei has really been enjoying dressing herself. at times, i attempt a suggestion for an alternative outfit or accessory, but mostly i've been biting my lip and letting her have free reign. (well, almost free - i have veto power on sundays - heavenly father might not care what she wears, but i can't allow major clashes in the chapel.) my mom let me dress myself when i was little, and, apparently, i looked like a bag lady 100% of the time, but, as my mom says, clothes are really not that big a deal in the big picture, and she's loving making these choices on her own. win, win! here's kalei's outfit for school today:

she called it her stripey outfit. what can i say? it could be a new classic.

koa loves to go out to wait for the bus with kalei each morning, and he, too, feels the need to accessorize. he requires a jacket (if kalei has one) and a backpack (since kalei needs one) and a snack bag (just like kalei's). are we sensing a theme here? good thing kalei doesn't wear high heels and miniskirts. (and, of course, never will!)

(this is the picture of koa with the least blurring. stillness is not the way of the koa.)

super saturday

this weekend has been one for the record books. thank goodness sunday is a day of rest! thank you, heavenly father! friday night kalei, koa, and james camped out in the back yard. they had planned it out a few days ahead of time and the kids were very excited. it all went down really well (no kids freaking out in the middle of the night or anything like that). it was a little chilly that night, but kalei and koa were so excited that they didn't even notice... and james woke up to find them curled tightly into little balls in the morning, despite multiple blankets. silly kidlets! we woke them up early to get a head start on traveling to dinosaur world. dinosaur world is an attraction about 40 minutes north of us that we've passed on the interstate, but never stopped at. saturday was $1 day, so of course we went. it was totally worth $4!!! (not sure it would be worth the $40 it would normally cost, though....) the kids had a great time and enjoyed digging for fossils and bones and going on the dinosaur trail. the weather was perfect and we missed the huge crowds and we even saw everything and made it back in time for kalei's soccer game! sometimes the stars align just right, and yesterday was definitely one of those times. by the end of the day, after camping, dinosaur world, soccer, and two birthday parties, we were all filthy and pooped, but in a good way. james and i even got in a few games of "pass the pigs" after everyone was in bed! perfection!

full of hot air and donuts

last saturday, we got up early to go watch the hot air balloons fly in for a local festival. the most we saw at one time was 15! i guess it was some sort of landing contest, and that makes absolutely no sense to me. how can you have that with hot air balloons? you can't have them all land in a certain spot, so they must just have to... land? is that like one of those "competitions" where everyone's a winner? what's the fun in that? they should have to fly low and catch things shot from a hot dog cannon! i should be in charge of that next year - they apparently need some fresh ideas. anyhoo, the balloons were fun to spot and the kids got donuts afterwards, so, in our family as well as the hot air balloon "contest," everyone really was a winner.

koa quotes

koa (to mama): i picked my booger, but i put it back in my nose.
mama: there's probably a better place for that. would you like a tissue?
koa: no, i just put it back in my nose.
mama: okay, then.

weekend getaway

this past weekend i got to jet out to colorado springs for my cousin, kaitlyn's, wedding!

and it was all kid-free! (i had to stop myself from moving breakable items up out of kawelo's range - habit!)

some friends from purdue, travis and allison, met me for lunch in denver. allie has three boys - i think that sums up this picture:

here they are being their adorable selves. thanks for meeting me, guys!! it was SO fun to catch up!

here are some highlights from the wedding day. everyone looked gorgeous (especially kaitlyn, of course) and the reception was fabulous!!

apparently, grandma doesn't like her picture taken (look closely at her snapshot). i must get that from her. also, she used to hide candy in her underwear drawer (sherri was unclear on why they were snooping in there), so i get my sweet tooth from her, too. thanks a lot, grandma. on the other hand, i get my love of quilts from her, and koa has her beautiful eyes, so i guess it evens out. it was SO wonderful to see all the fam in colorado!! thanks, everyone, for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend!! our house is always open - feel free to visit!!