Some more hard evidence.

"Your children are so well behaved..."

....says the lady in line at the grocery store and the couple in the booth behind us at the restaurant. Then again at church I overheard those same words, or was it at the movie theatre; or both places? And I believe it, I really do, understanding that it's continually a work in progress. For example, we're at the park and I like taking pictures of my children, especially in winter wearing summer clothing so those enjoying a REAL winter can envy our weather. OH wait, I got off topic...pictures at the park, OK, now I'm back on track. So I'm snapping some shots of the children and it's really sunny out, (remember the summer clothing?) so I can't really see them very well. Now they're quite old enough to smile without me telling them to do so, so I'm just snapping away. In trying to get a closer angle, I step out of the glaring sun and into a nice shady spot where I can actually see my angels faces, you remember the ones that are so well behaved, only to find them NOT smiling at the camera but doing other stuff at the camera. So one goodish one out of five shots isn't too bad, until I download the pics at home and find a few other pictures of my well behaved children. Alright, so we're not looking for stardom here just some memories for the family and friends to enjoy of my darling babies growing up. I'll share some more of their shining moments. Hey, if you dare to flaunt it, then know that it will probably be posted somewhere!

Santa and his elves...

Lions and tigers and bears....

Or I should say, "Snakes and iguana and ducks, Oh My!!" The younger two are in the back yard exploring when they notice our resident snake in 'his' tree. Chace immediately starts plucking BB's from the fence so he can shoot him a snake. He manages to hit it, only to see it and another it slither off into the water, leaving behind yet another snake. UGH Upon returning to the fence to dig some more bullets the two notice an iguana sunning in the back yard. I tried to take a picture of Iggy because I don't mind him visiting us. He's hard to see but if you look really hard you can see his head above the grass line. OK, so I've added the pictures and you really can't see him at all. Can you just imagine with me for a moment?? Anyway, on the top picture he's in the shade now about an inch in front of the white fishing bucket.

In the bottom picture you can see the tools my children have been using to try to make a fire in the backyard. We sat around a fire at mom and dad's for Thanksgiving and my children enjoyed it as much as I always did as a child. I've made their attempts very difficult by not allowing matches or lighters. They've resorted to using mirrors to reflect the sun and a bicycle to warm up a stick. No such luck for them. Maybe some day we'll roast us some marshmallows in our own backyard.

Things I learned while on vacation...

I learned that...

--the elderly cat is a much better traveler than the kitten,
--I also have white hair in the back; not just the front (thanks Laura),
--I don't really like mincemeat pie,
--one of my nephews wants a Rubik's cube for Christmas (just like his cousin Chace),
--my brother can fry a turkey and it tastes yummy,
--it's hard to get red GA dirt out of clothing, but it can be done,
--my children wake much easier at the hands (or voice) of a cousin, than they do for me,
--Chace really does get car sick, even with his head hanging out the window.

And I'm sure there was more but that's all I can remember right now.

Chace's Grand Prix

This is the, 'you spelled my name wrong' face.

Julian's Grand Prix results

Lightning McQueen does it again.

AWANA Grand Prix

Another one under our belt!!! And a good one at that. Julian and Chace were our only racers and were in a field of 62 other racers. In Julian's class she received a trophy for 3rd place in speed. In Chace's class he received a 2nd place trophy for speed and another one for design. He also received a 2nd place trophy for overall best design and another 2nd place trophy for speed. In case you weren't counting, that's 4 second place trophies, can you believe that? And now you're going to ask for pictures, which I am not prepared to share with you yet. Many were taken, I just have to get them into the computer first.

November in the park.

Our attempt at a scene from High School Musical 3.

Notice the shorts in November; South Florida has some perks.

My blue eyed boy.

Chace got a haircut and you can actually see his face and his ears and his eyes and his earring... isn't he sooo handsome!!

Pictures of Julian.

Celebrating Julian!

Tomorrow my baby turns 8. Do you remember what you were doing eight years ago? I sure do. Jessica and Chace were staying with Aunt Cheryl while William and I were at the hospital, so there was some last minute packing going on. Jessica had been 4 for two months and was already a seasoned big sister. Chace was hardly 18 months and had no idea what was about to happen to his world. In fact, I remember him being more interested in the nurse call button and the balloon he brought to the hospital. Eight years ago America voted Bush into the White House. Eight years ago (minus a few days), my husband was flying to Miami (or as Jessica called it "Your Ami") for a job interview that would, in 4 months, take his whole family to Your Ami. Eight years ago we lived in NC, eight years ago I became a mother of three wonderful children.
Eight years later Chace has seasoned his role as a big brother and Jessica is well on to being an excellent babysitter. Eight years later and I'm wondering what I had for dinner last night, yet I can remember what I was doing 8 years ago. I was welcoming a new daughter into the world. Eight years ago I was naming a precious little girl Julian Kelsey. Eight years ago I was calling grandparents and aunts and uncles to announce the arrival of a very sweet little girl.
Eight years later I can recall her first piece of licorice, her first ear of corn and her first Halloween Costume. I can recall a little one that refused a bottle so her formula ran down her chin as she learned to drink from a sippy cup. She's the one that gets all the hand me downs and is thankful. She's the one that is quick with a smile and a running, leaping hug. She's the one that would give her everything if she thought it would make you happy. She's the one that has her daddy's smile and her fingers wrapped around one of his (you know the one) .
Eight years from now, do you know what you'll be doing? Me, I'll have one child left at home, the other two will be off to college. Julian will have her first opportunity to be an only child. Her first opportunity to complete a sentence and a thought without an older sibling trying to one up her unfinished story. She will have her first opportunity to pick whatever seat in the car she wants. And the first opportunity for a hug without being plowed over by an over eager brother or sister. She won't have to brush her teeth in mommy and daddy's bathroom because her sister takes too long. She won't have to say "STOP" because her brother is picking on her. But let's go back to eight years ago, I like that picture better. I can still remember the doctor saying, "It's a girl!" You see Julian was the only one we didn't know the gender of before she was born. How ironic that we had her name picked out way before she was even born! She was going to be Julian Kelsey even if the doctor had said, "It's a boy!" I knew she was a girl, I felt it in my heart right where God had whispered it for me to know, and no one else, until the moment she was born. My Julian Kelsey born on 11/7; weighing 7/11, my Peanut Butter, my baby. My daughter that likes frogs and lizards; and she can catch them too. My daughter that is so kind and compassionate and caring. My Julian, my baby.

And the winner for "Best Overall"...

"It's Jessica as Sarah Palin!"

More pictures of the children

The top picture was taken after Super Hero night at AWANA. Julian was dressed as Cat Woman and Chace was dressed as Indiana Jones. Jessica was/is a Leader in Training.

The bottom picture shows a close up of Julian on Halloween night. She had painted her hair to finish off the costume.

Trick or Treat

Long pumpkins in the pumpkin patch

The pictures came first; the bribery, er pumpkins came later. And boy was it a major decision that had to be made with so many pumpkins to choose from.

Co-op group activity

We're in a co-op, a book club if you will. The book--The Swiss Family Robinson. The children's favorite part of the weekly gathering--group activity time. In this picture Julian has successfully crossed the homemade bridge the children built.

Science

The ole Mentos in Diet Coke project, it always gets the kids to go out in the backyard in their skivies. Well, maybe just Chace. Notice Julian cleared out before the explosion but came back in time to share the leftovers.