Stashoe of Libery...

Mr. B came home one day dressed as the Statue of Liberty - complete with an ice cream cone torch.

He told me all about the "Stashoe of Libery" and all the amazing facts he had learned. (he got his stories crossed on a few of the facts!) Even better was he came home singing America the Beautiful (complete with sign language). He belted that song at the top of his lungs and he only got about half the words right but he sang with confidence and the most animated sign language you can imagine.

He's got spirit that's for sure!

Daily life...

We've been in school a month and this is what after school looks like:


Straight off the bus the kids are ready for a snack - which this day happened to be Fruit Loops and Hunter meticulously arranged his stack by color.

We talk about the day - who they sat by at lunch, who got hurt at recess, funny things their friends said.

We do the teacher recommended homework; spelling words, flash cards, reading and vocab.

Then it's practicing piano, cleaning rooms (that didn't get done before school) and doing chores.

Somedays everything gets done quickly and it's friend time - other days it drags and drags and even after dinner they're trying to finish things up.

By the end of the night, we gather everything and make sure their backpacks are complete, homework is signed and they have everything they need for the next day.

The next morning wake up, go to school and repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Motherhood is often like Groundhog's day!

School swim party...

We buy each kid two swimsuits at the beginning of the swim season - we get our money's worth and then some out of those suckers! Hunter's are seeing the most wear at this point and one of them is bound to give out at the seams at any moment. (By the way - we've owned a lot of brands of swimsuits over the years and hands down Lands End is the best in quality and lasts the longest.) But really, we've got weeks left before those suits head to the closet for semi-retirement. There will be a few instances where they get pulled out over the year and chances are they won't fit by next year.

This week we've used those suits a lot. Swimming in our pool, friends' pools, water parks and the PTO swim party. All but one of those swim events was cut short due to our wonderful monsoon season and our beautiful lightning shows we're seeing most afternoons/evenings.

Monday was the school party. We've been in the school now 4 years, starting our 5th year. Time changes everything. I remember first attending this event when Hallie was in Kindergarten. We were new to the area, we didn't know anyone and it seemed like everyone else was connected. Now we recognize a good majority of people for some reason or another and our kids are running from friend to friend. One of the many reasons I enjoy neighborhood schools.



Steve was on Bennett duty and I was on Cannon duty. My job might have been a little easier:

He was as chill as can be and never wandered around. He came alive when he spotted one of his siblings and it made his day when they sat and played with him for a minute (with their friends!)



Hunter was a blur as he was constantly moving the whole night. He breezed by me with a wave as he ran through the water to catch his friend playing tag. He only approached me one other time when he was looking for a friend, other than that, I just watched him from afar in all his 6 year old glory and delight.

The night ended early with a beautiful display of lightning and with the way the kids were disappointed you would think they rarely get a chance to be in the water!

First day of school...part 2...

Here's just a few more outtakes from yesterday's first day of school shoot:








First day of school means we usually have a few visitors to join in the fun.











It looks like its going to be a good year for all! I'm just grateful that Steve isn't in there holding a back-to-school sign!

First day of school...

I'm not sure how summer came and went so fast, but here we are the first day of school yet again. Cannon and Bennett were up at 5:45, Hallie and Hunter were both awake by 6. School doesn't start until 8:20. There might have been some excitement bubbling throughout everyone this morning.

I experienced a photographer mom's worst nightmare - a dead camera battery. Can I tell you in all my years of shooting photos, not once have I ever had my battery go dead!? But today of all days was when it was going to happen. I had plugged my camera in last night to clear my memory card (my disc reader wasn't working) and I forgot to unplug it and turn it off.

I realized it 10 minutes before we were walking out the door to take the kids to school. I hurried and plugged in the battery, charged it for 5 minutes and then shot the two oldest photos for 5 minutes with a blinking battery light and then ran out the door. I think Hunter was relieved that his photo session was cut short - he had his two minutes of fame and was just fine calling it quits.







Hallie has gobs of girlfriends in her class this year and she's over the moon.

Hunter admitted that although he wasn't nearly as nervous as last year, he still had some nerves. However, seeing him with his friends in line and on the playground - the nerves seemed non-existent.

Bennett marched right into his class and took his seat, he's a veteran in the class and he knows it.

We shot his pictures once he came home and he was all sorts of funny and giggly.




The kids rode the bus home and were tired and sweaty walking in the door. They told of new playground equipment and nice teachers. Lunch with friends and new assignments. They were happy and excited for their classes. Every parent's hope. Hopefully day 2 goes just as well as day 1.

Back to School Dinner...

School is back in session tomorrow which meant we had an our annual back to school dinner this evening. Steve and I decided on our theme for the school year: The more you read, the more you know. We've got an early reader and a budding reader and one that can read well and doesn't fancy it. We keep reminding them that reading is power and there's endless books to enjoy and to go on an adventure with. We went around the table talking about our favorite books and things we learned from those books.

Although I'm not headed back to school it was still a good reminder for me to pick up a book. I used to love to read and made time for reading. I haven't done so in years. So while we were making reading goals for the kids, I added a few reading goals for myself - perhaps reading more than the instruction manuals for my tools!


I called several bakeries to find school themed cookies and no one had any! I asked Hallie if we should make cookies or make some brownies. She insisted on cookies. I can't remember the last time I made a sugar cookie. In fact, I didn't even have a recipe for sugar cookies. The worldwide web did not let me down and I found dough and frosting recipes that were great. They were easier than I thought they would be but definitely not something I'm going to be making on a regular basis. I'll have to start calling around earlier next year for school themed cookies! (can you see a couple fingerprints in one of this cookies - hence the blog name!)





Dinner was a family favorite - bacon wrapped chicken kabobs with fresh pineapple from the grill. It was a little slice of heaven and the kids came back for seconds and more. The only meal catastrophe was the half bottle of teriyaki sauce that ended up on Mr. B's plate as he so carefully tried to pour just a little on his rice. Cannon could've finished off more than his fare share of jello if given the chance and there wasn't a single drink spilled using the fancy glasses. A success on all accounts.


The cookies were so large each kid only got through half the cookie. I see baggies on the counter with half-eaten cookies with names written in marker. I'm sure they're saving them for their first day of school lunches, a special treat from mom.

See our previous back to school dinners here and here.

Class of 2015...

We had a family night dinner and celebration in honor of the graduates just before graduation.

The family graduation banner - that I made way back when, is still in use. We made several different numbers for the last flag so we could use if for years to come and it's been well loved and used!



We had all the graduates on a panel and asked them questions and they gave advice. Steve wasn't loving that he was on a panel with high school seniors (because he'd much rather be in the audience) but I loved seeing him up there. I love that it was an example to every niece and nephew in that room to always keep learning. Even when you've been out of school for years and you have a family - always keep learning.

I loved what one nephew shared - advice he had received when one of our older nephews graduated - be kind. Go through school and be nice to as many people as you can. It doesn't matter how old you are that is always the best advice.


And even though we convinced him to sit on the panel - he didn't want to jump in this shot with his cap and gown.

Congrats graduates!

Last day of school party...

Our last day of school party was a hit. I'm a fan of fun themed parties with decorations and themed food. And yet, I love this party every year because it is none of that. It's a neighborhood potluck with hot dogs on the bbq. Families pool together and rent a bounce house and the pool is the main attraction. The moms sit around, talking about next year's teachers and summer plans. Dad's seem to roll in for some food after work.

It's the epitome of summer. Sizzling BBQ. Water splashing. Joyfully screaming kids. It's what summer's are made of.








And because it was the last day of school it was a late night. We let them bounce and bounce until the rental company kicked them out to tear it down. They had cheeto stained fingers and ketchup stained shirts. Food littered the yard. And even though I knew I was going to pay for it the next day with tired kids - in that moment, I was happy and was willing to do whatever it took to make the night extend as long as possible.

And if you're wondering...I did pay for it the next day with children that had a hard time handling any situation because of their exhaustion. And in that moment, I wasn't happy!