The Youngs come to town

A few days after we said fond farewells to the Huffords, the Youngs came up for a quick visit. Jen Young and I go WAY back. Ethan and Lyndee were our only babies when we met. They have been friends ever since and still love to hang out and talk about animals and farms. Over the years, Jen and I have had babies around the same time and they have all matched up and love to play together. Meg and Katelyn, Laney and Brooklyn, and now Joseph and Anna. The only one that doesn't have a compadre is poor Mathew. He manages to have fun with Ethan and Lyndee and if that doesn't pan out, he gets to play a few extra turns on the laptop.

While they were here, we went downtown and did a quick session at Kaleidoscope.

Meg and Katelyn in their matching outfits. Great moms shop alike!

Laney making a rainbow hat:

A cool hand washing station in the watercolor room:


Ethan and Lyndee at the puzzle station:


As usual, someone was hiding behind the stroller for the group photo. That's Mathew's hand.


We were a little late, so the time flew by and we were on our way to the Crown Center to get some chow.

Even though the food is TERRIBLE, we decided on Fritz's because the train comes around the track and delivers your food. The kids love that kind of stuff.



I spent the whole time wrestling with Anna and wishing I had brought her either something to eat or a blanket so that I could nurse her. Instead, I ended up leaving poor Jen with EIGHT kids while I went to nurse Anna in a bathroom stall. I hate doing that. It's so grody. The rest of the time I let Anna dig around in my ice water with her chubby little arms. She definitely has a thing for the cold.


It was a fun day and the kids loved catching up with each other.

We are so lucky to have such good friends!

Hey, Soul Sister

Mark has a passion for guitar. He used to be in a band and still has alot of recording/audio gear left from those days (when we were younger and the kids weren't around to destroy all of our possessions that cost more than 2.99...think I'm exaggerating? Just ask my ipod).

Anyway.

Mark has tried many many times to get me to sing into the microphone and record songs with him. I feel stupid. So I usually mumble something about needing to switch the laundry and high-tail it outta there. Except for that one time around Christmas when he talked me into singing "Blue Christmas". Even then, I made him leave the room and go on the other side of the house so he couldn't hear me with his own ears. Maybe I should have had him drive around the block.

Megan does not feel this way.

She loves the limelight, baby.

A visit from the Huffords

The last week of June we were thrilled to receive a visit from Mark's eldest brother, Jim, and his fabulous wife, Ameli.

We did some cool stuff and we ate yummy food, but my favorite part was just sitting around and talking. It was nice to have an opportunity to get to know them better. And we also cooked up some plans to do some type of extreme racing event in the coming year.

I learned a new word: RAGNAR. It sounds like something I'd love to help with by handing people their water bottles. There was also some discussion of doing a race called "Tough Mudder". There is electrocution involved. Sounds perfect for those Hufford boys.

Events of the weekend included the Cubs/Royals game. The Cubbies took the win and Mathew consumed much stadium food. It was one of those "natural consequences" situations.
I don't think he ate again until 24 hours later.


He got to go alone with Dad to make up for not going to the Kentucky Derby in May. He likes to remind us that the Cubs game didn't FULLY count because there was no air travel involved. I think air travel is like naps and Mexican food. Kids have got it all backwards. I would trade a plane trip for a nap and an enchilada any day of the week.


Aunt Ameli, Mathew, Jim and Mark. Not as outnumbered by Royals fans as you might think in Kansas City. What is it about the Cubs and their loyal minions?


The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out at the house. Ameli was awakened daily by crazy children jumping on her air mattress. Poor things had to sleep in the living room. Not a whole lot of extra real estate to be had around here. We've got kids in every space with a door.


The boys introduced Jim to the joys of Beyblades. He was an excellent sport and even did the obligatory Beyblade war cry: "1...2...3....Let 'er RIP!"


Oh...we also went canoeing at Kilcreek Park. It was fun, but humid. At least I thought that is was humid. Now I laugh (HA!) at how ridiculous I was because that was nothing compared to how humid it is now. That humidity was child's play. Anyway, when I think I'm feeling humid, I only manage to take one photo of canoeing trips. It's one of my shortcomings.

Come again, Jim and Am! Or maybe we'll meet you out west for a crazy race. I'll bring the first aid kit.

Please hold.

Something weirdo is happening with my bliggety bloggety blog.

Please feel free to go about your business while I figure out what in tarnation is the problem with my layout. I estimate it will take approximately 5 hours and 37 minutes....

that's when Mark gets home.

What have you done with my babies?

One the things we've been doing this summer is having the kids take turns helping to cook the meals. I know good mothers already do this, but I've resisted it in the past because I'm lazier than your average mother. I don't care what you say, it's just plain faster to do it yourself. And probably cleaner and safer and more sanitary. And less aggravating.

But I'm trying to be awesomer lately. And that takes work.

So I've started letting them into the kitchen and I've been giving them knives and peelers.

That all sounds just wonderful and uplifting, but it struck me the other day that my children are CUTTING THINGS.

With KNIVES.

SHARP KNIVES.

I mean even the cheese grater can do a wicked number on a knuckle. Blood can be spilt.

So the thing that I would like to know is.....

When did this:


Turn into this:


And this:


turn into this:


And who gave her:

And her:


Razor sharp utensils and told them to "get crackin" on those carrots?:


It's starting to feel like the Twilight Zone around here.

Oh.

And while we're on the subject, I don't recall giving her:



Permission to turn into her:


Seriously. I miss all those sets of sweet cheeks.

But I suppose I can see the beauty in additional help in the kitchen as well. I kind of like the company.