Too good to be true

 After running errands and going for a walk today, I was explaining to the girls how important it was for me to clean and start dinner once we got home.  I was listing off their options to keep busy, when Talullah volunteered to do the dishes.  Then the big girls started arguing, until finally we all agreed that it sounded like a great idea for Berlyn to do dishes, Talullah to vacuum, and for me to rush around like a mad woman doing the rest.  We were all very excited.  As soon as we got home, I washed all the breakables and filled the two sinks with plastic items that were Berlyn proof.  I showed Talullah how to work the vacuum, and things were going just beautiful.  My mind was reeling in anticipation of a future blog describing how helpful and independent my girls are becoming.  I grabbed the camera for a few quick shots.  You'll notice that Berlyn has a new obsession with posing.  Every photo turns into a succession of shots as she strikes pose after pose. 

Then, I switched to cleaning mode.  I started a load of laundry, put dinner on the stove, stopped the baby from fussing, and started putting new sheets on the bed when Talullah came into my room.  "Mom.  You have GOT to go see Berlyn."  A comment like this warrants no questions.  You drop what you are doing and you hurry yourself to your adventurous daughter.  And there it was.  A completely naked Berlyn sitting inside the sink full of water, a grin from ear to ear.  You might notice that the dishes had not yet been done.  So, maybe I'd been a bit over eager about my new little helpers taking on roles a bit bigger than they can handle.  A mom can dream, can't she?  I guess we'll take the level of expectation down just a notch for the time being.  Berlyn can stick to emptying trash cans, picking up toys, and if she's lucky.... feeding the cat.

 I just have to note that a short time later, I came into the kitchen to find (a still naked) Berlyn, sitting on the floor with the kitchen rag that typically hangs from the oven door.  When I asked her what she was doing, her reply was this: "Mom.  I stepped in chicken poop.  I'm cleaning my foot."  So, next time I pick the up the rag off the floor to hang it up, I'll surely remember this event and quickly throw the towel in the laundry instead. 

***Hear Melts***

She is FOUR months old.  That's one third of a year.  I wouldn't say that I want to stop time, but I surely wouldn't mind slowing it down a bit. 

Found these gems...

Kitties, kitties, EVERYWHERE!

Sarah Sophia and Havanna

We got a kitten not all that long ago (less than a year, I'm guessing), and the girls named her Sarah Sophia.  They have loved on this cat like you wouldn't believe.  As one might guess, Berlyn was always the most attached.  Before we had a chance to take her to the vet, this little lover of a cat got pregnant.  She delivered the cutest 6 kittens you've ever seen.  Three black, three gray.  Since Sarah Sophia is black, the girls have just assumed from day one that all of the black kittens are girls, and all of the gray kittens are boys.  Makes sense.  I love their logic.  There is one special kitten that has truly one our hearts.  The ladies named her Rainbow and she gets much more attention, whether she likes it or not, than any of the other baby cats.  I'm not going to lie, she has kind of won of me over, too.  She has been sleeping on my bed, and twice I've found her curled up on Havanna, as well.  Yesterday Berlyn and Rainbow napped together for the longest time.  She's just so precious.  Today Rainbow is getting picked up by her new family, and I've been trying to prepare my daughters to avoid the devastation that I will surely face this afternoon as they say their goodbyes.  "Berlyn, remember that today is our LAST day with Rainbow?  She is going to love her new family so much."  Berlyn shrugged one shoulder and said. "Ok.  I don't want kittens anymore.  I don't want them ever.  See this scratch mom?  Rainbow did that."
Well now... I guess her love for these kittens doesn't run quite as deep as I had thought.

Artist in the making

There are moments in life when you know, beyond a doubt, that you made a wise decision.  Right before I put the girls outside with globs of finger paint, I decided to remove their clothing.  When I came back out a few moments later, I realized that perhaps they didn't understand that the paint was meant to go on the paper that I actually DID provide for them. 

BFF's

We have been best friends forever.  Literally.  Stephanie and Emily have been friends since Kindergarten, and I joined the trio in 7th grade.  We have seen each other through A. Lot.  Too much, matter of fact.  We have seen the darkest, dirtiest times.  And we have seen the best and brightest.  I can't imagine life without these two by my side.
Emily is due to have twin boys in less than two weeks, and Stephanie and I put on a little shower for her awhile back.  Twins.  Boys!  We are so excited to meet the littles and go on this adventure right along with her.  That's what friends are for!

Six years, one month, five days...

Nick and I try to take our picture in front of this bridge every year for our anniversary.  Six years ago he took me for a walk across the bridge.  We hopped down onto one of the big cement posts that hold up the bridge.  To my complete surprise, he got down on one knee and proposed.  
Our anniversary was July 26th, so we are a little late.  Still, happy anniversary to the man I love now and forever.  Thanks for asking me to be your wife.  You never knew life could be so crazy.

Day dreaming

It's summer time, and oh have we enjoyed every moment of sunshine that's hit Humboldt.  We LOVE to be outside.  Nick filled up the pool and I filled a pail with water balloons.  We drove to Miranda and played with Grandma Downey (Grammy) while the boys went and cut firewood.  It must stem from some book I read long ago, but these warm nights make me want to buy a house in Georgia and sit on my wrap around porch in the evening with a cup of sweet tea (or iced coffee) and just enjoy watching my girls grow up.  Does that sound ideal, or what?  Life is too busy, and it's time to just sit down and ENJOY it all.

Another animal

Wow.  We just keep finding more and more animals around this house.  Nick found a lizard in our backyard.  He grabbed the reptile by it's neck and that little mouth was snapping, ready to bite.  Did Berlyn shy away in fear?  Heck no.  She took the thing flat in her hand despite her dad's warning that it might bite.  And bite it did.  This tough princess took it like a champ.  She didn't even drop the thing when it latched onto her finger momentarily.  She cried out, then laughed.  "It bit me!"  She even kept it overnight, tucked safely into the back of her trike.  The next morning, she went and got it to proudly show her papa before I made her let it go into the grass again.