My Happy Happy Family

I thought I would post a few more photos of my cutie-pies. Elias and Jillian both jibber-jabber so much nowadays. Like all kids, they say the most surprising, funny, profound, hilarious things sometimes. What I hear them say is especially endearing because I am their Mama. I can't think of any of their latest quotes right now.

If you look close, they are holding hands--I make them hold hands a lot and sometimes they do it on their own.

I love this one of Georgia. She's got the Hovde down-turned eyes, too. My cousin calls them "Precious Moments" eyes--don't know if I would go so far as to call them that, but it helps me to embrace the shape-o'-my eyes.

In this shot, I was trying to imitate a studio photoshoot. Not so much.

The Happy Toe-Heads (is that how you spell that?)

Elias and our beloved "Pogo". Pogo puts up with a lot of man-handling these days, especially since her counterpart, Lola, got eaten by a coyote a couple months ago.

I am discovering something new about autumn this year. I can grow things to eat during this season up here in the Northwest. Yes, it is true. In my west garden (I say that a little fecetiously) I have beets, spinach, corn salad, Alaskan Bush peas, fava beans and brussel sprouts growing. They are growing very slowly, but growing, they are. Also, my rosemary plant that Dustin got me for Christmas last year is still going strong.

This afternoon, the kids and I were out with the animals and we heard the hoot of an owl...likely the same owl that Elias and I discovered perched atop our chicken tractor about a month ago. It is a little ironic because, since before he could walk, Elias has been enamored with birds--particularly owls (he's a little freaked out about crows). So we trekked along the perimeter of our goat fence toward the back of our property and an owl flew out of the Sequoia tree and into a fir that graces our neighbor's pond.

Yesterday, the kids and I painted during most of our free time throughout the day. We painted on paper, cardboard, old popsicle sticks, and the like. It was really fun. I prefer watercolors, but Elias likes to paint with glitter glue and Jillian likes to paint with poster paint.

---------ORGANIZATION RESOLUTION UPDATE-----------

Since, in my last post, I resolved to organize something small every day, I thought I would document an update.

I have fixed a small shelf I bought for $2 @ the Salvation Army and spray painted it--looks great as a sofa side table (toy bins fit in it)

I have spray painted a furnace vent cover to better match our bathroom.

I have cleaned the kitchen every night!

I have put away clothes right after I folded them

I'm working on making this ORGANIZATION RESOLUTION a LIFESTYLE! Whoo hoo!