And since we've no place to go......

Let it Snow..... Let it Snow .... Let it Snow

just 20+inches is all
snow fort:
snow angels:

snow cave:
snow bunny:
snow lashes:

snow boy: (30+ bucks and nine snow shoveled drive ways later)

Four

Just completely Full of It!

And we love her for it!

Halloween

Fun, Fun, Fun....

"Alien"

"Merlin"

"Cheetarah"

"Princess"

The "TOO MUCH CANDY" belly!

Eleven

Miss Maddie is Eleven and totally in heaven. She is loving the idea of growing up, and having fun doing it. We love that she has a great group of friends that work hard at school and play hard after school. Madeline is a bright and beautiful girl and I thank god everyday that he sent her to me first. She is a leader and a great example to her younger siblings (niblins) and to her parents.

A few things you should know about Madeline:

She loves her sleep

Was a crazy toddler

Has an infectious laugh

After school we had some friends over for a little birthday celebration.

We crafted....

Look how cute these turned out...It's a Journal Purse! (Thanks Aunt Leslie)

We had a little spa treatment...

And enjoyed a Trifle made with love by Grandma Johnson.

The fifth grader is at it again

The word for 5th graders at Anthony Burns Elementary is HOT!

On my way to church the other morning, Madeline looked at me and said, "Mom your new shirt is so HOT". While doing a craft at her birthday get together, she exclaims,"Mom, these journals are so HOT". And while sitting down for dinner she very slowly with lots of drama removes her sweater and flashes a dashing grin and says, "I am sooo HOT".

I don't remember 5th grade being so fun.

Doing a little catch up!

Smooth (More tales of a fifth grader)

Last night with much excitment Madeline shaved her legs!

In the process she said, "Mom you have GOT to post this on

our blog". She spent the whole night rubbing her, smooth legs.

I love that she is so excited about growing up. It helps

me handle it with out loosing it.

More about the shaving process:

She saved without a razor. We found this awesome little

gadget called Smooth Away. I am telling you I have never seen

anything so AMAZING. You put a piece of fine sand paper on the back

of this rubber hand held device and you rub three times clockwise

and three times counter clockwise in the area you want to remove hair

and voila the hair is gone in that area. The best part is that it is painless,

no razor burn and no sharp edges. It's also suppose to work on you under arm and

bikini line.

You can find this item by the check out stand amongst the small gadgets and tabloids at

Target.

Six

Miss Alexa, what to say, what to say. This kid since the day she was born has only brought excitement and joy. She's funny, creative, a tease, can make the silliest faces, and is warm, thoughtful and snuggly. She often approaches the world as if there was not a care in the world.

Alexa's Birthday wishes:

Dinner at McDonald's

A Cheetah Birthday Party

A a toy called a "YA DA YA DA"

(It's a device that warps your voice so you can sound like one of the chipmunks, only Alexa)

McDonalds

She ordered a Cheetah Cake with a Party hat.

Cheetah Girls

Some best buddies

Pin the Tail on the Cheetah

Drop some spots.

(The spots were chocolate chips which resulted in some very

chocolate noses)

And the" YA DA YA DA" Alexa records her

voice and warps it into chipmunk mode and laughs and flaps so

much that she keeps doing it over and over and over.

This world would not be the same without our Alexa.

Girls just gotta have friends

The MilkyWay

just in case you are wondering....

biting a glow stick + having a child that is a flapper = the milkyway in a child size bedroom in a matter of minutes.

It even will stick to the carpet, comforters, and pajamas.

It was really cool.

Note: Don't leave your child alone with glow sticks!

Tales of the Fifth Grade Nothing...

In Madeline's class when discussing their earth projects a boy, during his presentation, said he had no brown paint, so he stole his grandmother's lipstick to fill in what is now the outer core.

9 and feeling fine

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBB!

Robb was up at 5:30 ready to celebrate. Unfortunately the rest of us were still very sleeping. So Robb tried to lay still until it was time, finally after a lot of tossing and turning, I whispered, "Go check and see if there are any presents for you!". There wasn't even any response, but he was up and downstairs and back upstairs, before I could say pumpernickle. (Just a little background: Our family tradition is to wake up to presents and a decorated table in honor of the birthday person.) He snuggled back down until Dad and sisters were ready and according to him the rest of the day was.....THE BEST!

We love this boy!~

Just a little shaking to find out what the goods were.

Finally!

Wait I'm not ready

With my complete objection the summer officially came to an end today.

Why does it have to do this?

Our morning started off well, Alexa came and snuggled in bed with me and said she needed lots of squeezes before she went to first grade and of course I savored every moment. Robb was up and watching the news with his Dad thrilled to know that he was getting Toaster Studels for breakfast. Madeline on the other hand gave me guidance the night before that if she wasn't awake before 7:15 to please wake her up so she could be on time for school.

The roll through the house was in full speed by 7:30 even Madeline was up and dressed, I believe she heard some talking about Toaster Studels. (fyi: we NEVER have Toaster Studels) The hustle and bustle caused a tremedous amount of excitment and before I was ready to let my darlings go, we were packed into the van and driving to school.

We parked and quickly walked through the spritzing rain and dropped each child off at class.

Robb was first he seemed confident and happy, but I was given a quick negative head shake when I asked if I could take his picture in class and absolutely no public affection. So I let out a little sigh and hugged him tight in my heart and sent him on his way.

Madeline was next, her teacher was very formal, no monkey buisness, put your stuff away, read the board, and get to work. But a little relief came when her friend Derek, flashed her a gleaming smile and patted the chair next to him. (They were going to be sitting together). She smiled at me and waved good bye... two down.

And then Alexa ... she practically was bouncing down the halls to her classroom, just so anxious she couldn't hardly stand another moment without sitting in her first grade desk, which had a reading book in it. She took me right to her seat, gave me a hug and with giggle was off to coloring.

Kate and I braved the busy hall ways and out the front door a little numb trying to figure out what happened. She wrapped her arms tight around my neck and all I could say was, "Tighter".

And thats how it was.....

Madeline (5th grade) had a great first day, but declared that it was enough and was ready for Summer Break.

Robb (4th grade) was happy and so confident when I picked him up. He beamed and was excited about everything.

Alexa (1st grade) was exhausted, (I'm sure there was a fair amount of flapping), and everything was new, exciting, and wonderful. Not to mention tomorrow they get to bring "The Reading Book" home.

And yes Kate and I survived too. We have started planning what we are going to do with all our time together.

Is "Green Acres" the place for us?

Since we never want for a dull moment of life we overlapped fun when Aunt Kara was visiting, by taking care of a farm. Dwane woke Madeline and Robb up every morning at 5:00 AM to muck stalls and take care of 16 other animals. It really was a lot of fun. The kids had been bit by the farm bug...They would fight about who's turn it was to help Dwane or I with the animals, which needed care both day and night. Dwane came home from one of his turns at the farm and declared that "Green Acres" just might be the place for us. (His farm boy roots were coming back)

The Sullivan's live on a dreamy piece of property in a spacious old farm house with a wrap around porch. Even though only 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the D.C. suburban life style, it is a place where you feel like you are stepping into a whole other world.

Sister Time

Aunt Kara and Baby Myles came to see us from California. It was so fun to have them around. To melt into those adorable brown eyes of baby Myles and to laugh, talk, and watch sappy movies, with Kara just like when we were girls sharing a room.

There is nothing like sisters who are also your best friend.

Hurray there is another boy in the house.

Cousin time.... this face would get Myles laughing everytime.

Aunt Kara smooches

A little site seeing

Marine Corps Museum...Myles was all about the big wheels and airplanes.

Then after 2 1/2 weeks of fun we had to say good bye....... Kara come back soon.. We Love You!