My Big Fat Great Idea

These pictures loaded backwards, but this is the last shot I took of Abbey. Right before she smiled she asked "Mom, are you sure there is nothing on my face?" (click on image for full glory)

Andrew decided to go for the super sour cherry ice cream. I think he did this to ensure that every picture from this point forward would showcase his red mouth.
My two kids have always been very affectionate with each other. There's also a chance that Abbey is so afraid of mommy, that she's clinging to her brother. It could really go either way.

Honestly, who could she possibly be waving at?!

One of my most frequent comments are as follows, "I bet you have so many great pictures of your kids!" My response varies, but always follow a sarcastic laugh. My kids run for the covers when they see the camera come out. No! Not more pictures! They have been my Guinea pigs for every new piece of equipment I've purchased. They that posed and reposed more than any other child in their class.

Sunday I decided that I wanted to take the kids out to the park and get some "formal" shots of Ab's. I actually brushed her hair and made an effort to get rid of the mid-afternoon blahs. Honestly, I don't know how a kid can get so dirty and disheveled in a 3 or 4 hour time frame. Every day I drop off my kids to school dressed well, hair done and socks clean. By the time they get out of school they are sweaty and smell like the school cafeteria. Their clothes look like they have been running laps around the playground, rolled in sand, and dipped in finger paint! Oh, hello, are you still there? I digress.

As soon as we got to the park my flash stopped working. I decide to let them play on the equipment and I would get some cute candids. Well, they immediately split up and I lost them both instantly. My next great idea was to move and look for the train tunnel. Well, all good and fine until they decided to scale the rocks next to the tunnel. Now I can't reach them and I'm shooting right up Abbey skort. Normally, have so much patience with other children that I photograph. But after Sunday I realized it's easy to have patience with a child when you have someone else there to threaten, excuse me, parent and discipline. I decided the natives won this battle and agreed to let them have ice cream. Somehow, I got a really cool shot as the sun went down. I came home exhausted and sporting a migraine.

Skippyjon Jones

While I was out taking picutes this morning of the hot air balloons, I noticed my traditionaly camera shy kid posing with her new book. Skippyjon Jones, Skippyjon Jones that's all I've heard since the overpriced book fair came to town. How great could this book really be, I thought. All kid books are the same. Cute little character saves the day or falls off to a peaceful sleep. Right?

Last night I crawled up in Abbey's bed to read this story to her. I needed to read it, she had my curiosity going. Simply put, it was the best book I've ever read. I got to use my Spanish accent and everything!! It was hilarious and fun to read. I think every parent should go find this book and read it to their kids. It's awesome.

On a separate note, the book is now but a memory. Apparently shortly after these pictures, Skippyjon Jones got mixed up with the water bottle in Abbey's backpack. Mrs. Molitor called and needed me to talk Abbey out of a full on melt down. I could hear the puffy eyes and red nose over the phone. I promised to look for a replacement, and she agreed to go back to carpet time. All is well.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Around this time every year I remember why I love this place. The weather is so good I can taste it. It feels better outside than inside, and the windows rarely close. This goes on through April. Another bonus is the hot air balloons. They are simply beautiful and as faithful as the sunrise. Every morning around 7:30 they start to pop out. As we were leaving for school, Abbey stopped mid tantrum to run out to see the nine balloons passing over. The top two photos were taken from my doorstep. I could hear the people talking about how peaceful everything seemed. Apparently they did not hear inside the Weems home where fights about knee highs and dresses were in high gear.

Following Dad's Schedule

These are age 7 photos of Andrew and Ross
I also found this picture of Ross at 8 years 10 months. Andrew also happens to be 8 years and 10 months. This is getting freaky!!

Well, today is the day we have been waiting for. Glasses! He is so excited and keeps asking me if I think he is cute. He is so proud and excited of these things. I hope the kids are kind tomorrow at school.

Really?

Today we were out to pick up Andrew's glasses when I saw the funniest thing. The longer I studied this logo the more I found funny about it. I totally get the bee reference. It's the dog that I find humorous. Are they telling me that they "take care of" problem dogs? The dog looks so happy and clueless that he is about to be exterminated. Has this company been using this dog for 35 years? No one in 35 years has questioned the dog?

Entrepreneur's At Work

Andrew, Tatum, Abbey & Lily
Aggressive sales at it's best. Abbey did not know these people from Adam.
More neighborhood kids trying to earn a dollar
More satisfied customers. Most people parked and walked over. Some, like these, stayed for the conversation.

My kids have been asking for literally years for me to assemble the lemonade stand in the garage. Mema bought this a while back, but I've never really had the desire, excuse me, time to put this monster together, let alone store the thing.
Tomorrow we are going to participate in the community garage sale, and I persuaded the kids to get rid of some toys by offering to assemble the lemonade stand. It worked. I started around 2pm to start, and about two hours later and several "derogatory" comments regarding the manufacturing of this product, we had a real live lemonade stand.
The kids were ready to put it to work, and they were hilarious. Andrew realized the mailbox location had dollar signs all over it. People were getting off work, getting their mail, and not to mention the stop sign facing the mailbox. They yelled and screamed as if they were on fire...."Lemonade!!! Get Your Lemonade!!" The first car pulled up to the stop sign and watched the spectacle and then turned in the opposite direction. I heard Abbey yell, "Yes, he's going home to get lots of money!" At long last, a man pulled over and parked. They had their first customer. Again I heard Abbey, "He's coming, He's really comin'!"
At the end of the day, they earned $15 and used 3 cans of lemonade. We are officially ready for tomorrow's garage sale.

One Down, One To Go

This week is proving a bit difficult. To sum it up with two words, teacher conferences. This is the time of year when I have to stop pretending that my kids are the best behaved kids in the class. Until now I get to live the delusional life and pretend that my kids leave my car little hellions and enter the classroom an angel and a joy to the classroom. This is the week we all know the truth.

As Ab's teachers so kindly put it, "Abbey's not a wall flower." I've always known this. She can work a room like a politician. She has one ear and eye on her assignment and the other set scoping out the room. Who's playing with whom and what. When I try to get her to work on her home workbooks she often suggest, "Mom, let's just play." The act of learning often comes in second to pretty much anything. Her teachers reassured me that she is learning at a great pace. It all seems to be sinking in somehow.

Tomorrow will be a whole different conference experience. As if the 5 or 6 conferences with Andrew's teacher weren't enough, it's now time for our first official conference. Please pray for Andrew's safety and well being tomorrow afternoon. It could be a long drive home.