Big Brother

Sad day for the big girl - Brooks is taller than her. It's been a long time coming, in fact, I am shocked that over the course of their lives, he has never once over taken her, but come close. Since about 3 months old, he's been trying. Since 2010, they've hovered around exactly the same height and weight! Our twins. I thought at any moment he would out grow her, but...it's taken 3 years. He's now about 1/4inch taller, maybe just slightly more than that. I wonder if its the point of no return for her, or if their growth patterns will alter and she'll get taller for another brief moment in time? Time will tell. One thing is for sure, she's always been an itty bitty, there is no hope of her achieving any sort of model heights:-) Much to her dismay.

I love their identical hair colour! And you can kind of see the look of disappointment on her face, can't you?!

My Wiggly Worms - Video

The Wiggle Worm song!

Just Because...

I'm impatient:-) And there is really nothing to show, yet.

We had our family pictures taken this morning. Early morning. Like, I was in the shower at 6am, and out the door by 7:20. Perfect way to spend a Saturday morning, right:-) But honestly, I just adore picture day. Maybe more than Christmas, even!

Ironing our shirts

Brooks got a trim - at a "real" hair place. His had been sooooo long, it was really hard to style and layer, so we had it done for us:-)

 Photo shoot! We love Chani - she is an amazing photographer, and VERY affordable. If you are in my area, call me, I'll hook you up with her. Her only thing...the "best light"...yah...it's at 7:30am. So be prepared for that. Ok, ok, there was an afternoon option too, but that didn't work as well for Brian's work schedule.

So, after we were done - I totally went to Walmart. In heels and fake lashes. At 9am. This has got to be the definition of all dressed up with no place to go:-)

 And Grey. He needed a haircut too. So Brian went to work. With a combo of buzzing and scissors...it's ADORABLE! And the very first time Grey has had his hair this short. Baby, no more.

Memory Lane

Phones these days are very smart - they aren't kidding around when they say smart phone. Last night, I was glancing through my gallery pics - and I noticed all kinds of pictures in there that I didn't take on this phone. Or some of them...on any phone! How they are now stored in my current phone is somewhat of a mystery...BUT...it was a cute walk down memory lane...enjoy!

Baby Grey

Grey & Brooks

All three kids. Look how little!!

Wow.

Grey's "blue steel" stare

Grey, only a few days old!

Remember when this happened?

I thought he'd be ugly for sure, but it's barely a scar

Brooks and "Chee Chee" my childhood stuffed animal

Kenna

Kenna

My cute little Kenna

Brooks, at his 2nd birthday

Brooks

A bald eagle. I need to show this to Grey, who loves "bog geagles", currently:-)

Remember when this happened?

And this? We tore down a wall and closed in a door

Brooks

Meghan, Brian & Lauren

Love this one!

The first time some of my family came to VA

Brian's family. Also known as the time Mom didn't wear black.

Maryn, Lehman, Jillaine & Janessa - my youngest siblings. And wow. So young here...in 2009

Auntie Maryn & Kenna

Kenna and her friend Sarah S

Brooks

Me

My Dad

Davis, a brother of mine:-)

Lauryn, a sister of mine...& Mark. They're married, if you couldn't tell by the pic:-) (2008)

So weird, right? All of these pics were in the same album on my phone. I can't figure out any rhyme or reason to that. But so fun to browse through and see these things again!

Peaceful {and Reading}

I just love fall colours. I really do. I would wear them, and actually - I do wear them...year round. They are just so perfect. To my eye, anyway. My new yard (and the "screamed in" porch, as Grey calls it), provide us with so much beauty. It's just so peaceful here. If I'm having a harried moment -

{I'm telling you all the honest truth - teaching people how to read is the worst! It's gotta be the most patience-inducing thing of.all.time. You just want to fall on your pencil and end it all. No. Start at the first sound. No, the first sound. Is that the first sound you see? Then start at.the.first.sound. So you're telling me that th makes the "ch" sound? Start over. I can't tell you, it's something kindergarteners know. Well we'll be sitting here until you figure it out, so look at the page and concentrate... If you've ever taught a child how to read, you know what I mean. Sometimes they are so absolutely dumb it almost seems unreal. Like they're faking it. Because no one is really that dense. Are they? And these particular idiots are -presumably- related to me. I often wonder if they were switched at birth. Because certainly, I have never been so difficult:-) }...

So anyway, if I'm having a harried moment - which as you can see by the above example - I have often occasion to have...I like to look at the trees. And the water. And the colours. It's really so just peaceful, interesting and calming, all at the same time.

Brian says the ivy will kill the tree. But it's just so pretty!

Leaves falling into the water

The tree in our front yard is so vibrant!

Some roses are still hanging in there! It's hasn't gotten too cold yet, so we've got a good mix of summer and fall

We have lots of raking to do! But the kids love it!

Speaking of kids...:-) My little readers. They are actually good little readers...when they want to be

Vibrant yellows in the backyard.

...Speaking of reading, in order to encourage more of it (and perhaps because I am a glutton for punishment) I instituted a new house-hold rule a few weeks ago. Read me one story, out loud, to earn 1 tv show/episode/movie. If you want a show, you have to read a book first. I believe I've really put a damper on their tv watching excitement:-) Tonight while I was making dinner, they read me a story (altering pages between them), so they could watch something after dinner. After dinner and that show, they said to watch another one, and I said "for another story" and they decided they'd rather not watch tv after all. Haha!