Monday, November 29, 2010

Randoms...

Laundry basket fun...

This is what I look at all.day.long--Annie staring at me through the window with a guilty pout on her face--we try to keep her as an outside dog, but she doesn't really agree with the decision. She has been the best dog--incredibly affectionate, pretty quiet, athletic, and fun. She's the perfect "chuck the ball and watch her race after it" dog.



I LOVE this picture--Charlie with his "oof" (dog lovey) on one arm, and a pink purse on the other arm, staring at Annie in the window...

Even brothers can borrow shoes from older sisters...


Charlie's first time wearing a tie to church--he'll wear anything if I tell him he'll be "just like daddy."

One lost front tooth...the other one has come out already too...this is one of my most favorite stages--there is nothing cuter than a kid missing both front top teeth--I just want to squeeze Lauren and all her friends when they smile at me without their teeth.

After Charlie's last haircut I had the barber style it into his first real mohawk...


We broke all the rules here--poor Annie had to share her personal space. I've since laid down some ground rules so that the dog has her own few square feet to call her own.

Andy hates these photos, but what he doesn't realize is just how much time Charlie spends dressed like this daily--it just happens!

A good moment--Lauren reading Junie B. and Kate cutting out every cute picture from a magazine--music going in the background. The family room was quiet--ahh....

Thanksgiving

Andy's parents came for Thanksgiving this year and we had a great visit...the kids anticipate their visit for days, and they never disappoint. It's a bit of a withdrawal once Chuck and Karen go, complete with total wailing, howling and tears by Lauren--it happens every time. Can't believe these are the only 5 pictures I took...

They always come loaded with gifts--this hat rocks! A raccoon hat reminiscent of Daniel Boone--Charlie loves it...
I hosted my first holiday dinner ever--I had to climb on a tall chair and dig to the back of the cupboards above Charlie's closet to bring out the china. Most of it was still in its original packaging, complete with gift receipt taped on the box. Now its still sitting on top of the piano, waiting to be packed up again and shoved to the back of the closet. When the kitchen gets remodeled the wall with the little white table will be built in with cupboards, and the china will get a new home...

We always try to take advantage of Chuck's mad building skills and put him to work when he comes--last time it was the massive headache known as our swing set, so this time we went a little easier on him--a gate on the side of the house...

...Charlie was right in on the action, complete with hammer and short pants...I said I'd never be that mom who's son has too-short pants, but alas these are still in his drawer--in my defense, he usually only sleeps in them...

A farewell photo...Lauren is ticked off because Grandpa and Grandma are leaving--she ran away to the back of the house and didn't even want to come for a picture. Once they left, she cried and cried--come back soon!
Charlie turned 2 on October 29th--love this boy! We started the day off with the token pancakes shaped into a "2" which, for some unforgotten reason, ended up on the floor in a tantrum rage...

Two little fingers...


I'm not a big cake fan, so I opted for a birthday cookie...





Yes, this was his favorite gift! The boy loves a good doll baby stroller!

Halloween

In keeping with my blogging schedule of being a full month behind, here are pictures from Halloween! Despite out semi-best efforts, we didn't quite get our pumpkins carved this year, but they sat faithfully on our porch for many weeks, and are now sitting at the back of our driveway waiting to be hauled to the trash...

Lauren's class party--we went trick or treating in the village...no costumes allowed by the elementary school, but we got around that by making 22 custom-made "Red Ribbon Week" posters--every single one of them hand-lettered by yours truly...



Ward trunk or treat--Daphne from Scooby Doo, a turtle, and a cow girl with a real leather vest from Grandpa Hyer that Lauren wore a few years ago...


Lauren wearing the same vest and boots when she was 3 years old...