Happy One Year Gotcha Anniversary!

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we first met Lily. Since I am having foot surgery tomorrow and we are moving in two weeks, many of the special events I had thought about doing on this day will have to wait for another day. But I do have two special blog additions. One is a movie I've been working on for months that captures Lily's first year with us (see below). The other is the following list of 10 things we love about Lily!

1. You say mom mom instead of mama or mommy.
2. You insist, no matter what it is, on doing the same thing your brothers are doing—like walking out into the deep part of the lake, or pounding on the vending machine reminding me to get a drink for you too!
3. You are compassionate—you immediately start to cry when you see Sammy cry.
4. You squeal when you see food coming to the table!
5. When you wave hello, or goodbye, you only move the middle two fingers on your hand. It’s a tiny little wave for a tiny little girl!
6. When you say one of the few words you know, it is a small, quiet and breathy voice. It is such a refreshing change of pace from your loud, boisterous brothers!
7. You twirl my hair while I’m rocking you to sleep! (Sometimes, it almost puts ME to sleep!)
8. You hum all day long to yourself as you go about your business. And the really cute thing is that you hum right on key! Twinkle, twinkle is your favorite.
9. You not only kiss your stuffed animals, but you put their little snout right in your mouth and walk around with it in your mouth.
10. You bop and rock and chair dance in your car seat when Cold Play’s Viva la Vida comes on the radio! (It’s my favorite right now too, Lily!)

Blueberry picking makes me blue...

Well not really. By the time the kids and I got to the Blueberry farm, the kids were hungry...it was well past noon. But instead of feeding them (as any normal person would have done), I thought we should press forward and start picking. After all, they had snacked during the 1 1/2 hour car drive there, and we had future smoothies to supply.

All three kids popped EVERY blueberry they picked straight into their mouths. I never even heard that satisfying little "plink" as the berry hits the bottom of the can. I explained to them that eating berries straight from the bush is stealing, but they just didn't get that.

Lily didn't even care if the berries were BLUE! She ate every berry--green ones, blue ones--stems and all. (Yes, I'm aware of the choking hazard hanging around her neck.) Finally, I chucked the whole day and BOUGHT several pounds of berries!

It was a real nail biter!

The American League Championship game on Sunday was a real nail biter! Actually, Joey picked the book "Casey at the Bat" for his bed time story last night and we noticed that the story of Casey and the story of the Rangers was very similar.

It was the final inning. 9 to 8 in favor of the other team. They were home, so they had last bats. Our first player steps up to the plate and pops one up in the infield...caught. Second player gets up to bat and pops it up as well...caught. TWO OUTS. The kids start chanting..."two out rally, two out rally!"

One of our best hitters steps up to the plate...hits it way into the outfield. He gets on base. Next player gets a single, as well as the next. The bases are loaded and our BEST hitter steps up to the plate. The day before he had hit TWO home runs. We're thinking...he'll at least get the kids on 2nd and 3rd home which would score the tying run. He hits it right to the pitcher who throws it right to the first baseman for an easy out.

I was standing next to first base and I could see the tears in our batter's eyes as he ran down the baseline. It broke my heart! He is the guy on the team who LIVES for baseball and in my eyes, would be our MVP! So we lost by one measly little run. But secretly, I was relieved...Joey was up next.

Congratulations Rangers! What a great season!

The race for the "pennant" begins!

Joeys little league team, the Texas Rangers, won their second play-off game today. That means that tommorrow, they play for the American League championship! Good luck boys and girls!

Kid shots

Just a few summer shots!

Lily in a 'kini.

Cowboy Sammy ready for rodeo day at camp.

Note the cowboy hat that is WAY too small for his monster melon!

"Is my belly button still there?"

"Whew, there it is!"

Okay, I'll admit it.

This is not a summer shot of Joey,

but he's always moving and it's hard to get a shot of him!

Fourth of July In Baileys Harbor!