(Madeline) "Ready Mommy? I'm ready to write my song, how do you spell crack-a-lackin?"
(Amy to Noah Baker) "SIGH...stop licking your sister's hair/shoe/plate/ear/hat/spoon/book!"
(Sam to Madeline) "That was so inappropriate Madeline, I'm totally telling Mommy & she is going to tell you that was not a good choice!"
*After Madeline said in the van recently, "Holy shit!" and the van nearly drove off the rode and angry eyes & serious words were exchanged between mother & daughter (meanwhile Sam is having a near anxiety attack at the thought that she ACTUALLY said it out loud!) this is what she had to say: Mommy, I did not mean to say shit. I won't say shit ever again. Shit is a really bad word. Shit is not something that I should say. If anyone says shit they should probably go in time-out. Shit is a really naughty word." Now readers you have to understand the girl did not seem sorry at all, and was very aware that I was buckled up & in traffic while she was calming explaining to me her reasoning. Sigh. So I finally say, "That's right Madeline, we DO NOT say shit. Ever." Sam says, "Now Mommy I'm about to say some bad words, because they really go with this conversation, okay? Okay? (Amy is busy praying Noah some how fell asleep) Madeline, you also can't say, "Shit, Hell, Damn, or really really really not (in a whispered voice) God Damnit." SIGH. I say, "Yes Sam that is absolutley right, we do not say any of those words...ever (the ever was hissed)." Luckily this conversation does not happen daily. So I focus on the funny ones.
When Sam was 3 & I was very pregnant with Madeline Sam/I were on an elevator (of course we were) with a pretty, young, black woman. This young woman happened to have a very tall crazy wild hair-do. I notice the hair & Sam's reaction to her right-away. Sam pulls on my maternity shirt & whispers in the loudest whisper voice that sounds like a small roar bouncing off the elevator walls, "Mommy-why does that lady have scary-bad-guy-hair?" I say something like, "She must like it that way, let's say hi instead?" Sam is glued to my leg with wide eyes, the elevator took about 587 minutes to go down 2 floors that afternoon. Finally, Sam says as we are leaving (luckily this gal is smiling at the power of his cuteness) "Well, WHY does she like scary-bad-guy hair?" That was the beginning of "Let's talk about this when we get back to the van". Has been great for all three kids; and they do remember to mention it once we get back out of ear-shot. It has saved many an uncomfortable situation. Although there is an occasional, "Mommy (loud whisper with wide eyed stare/glare at subject) when we get back to the van, I want to talk to you about something!"(finger pointing @ subject).
Smiling? Me too!
Here 
She loads, she points, she aims...she fires! So long says the can in the pasture. 
Time for some baseball, Madeline ponders while waiting her turn to bat...
Noah in the outfield.
Knocked off they were indeed. Sam said he had his moment of clarity...he wants his own base guitar, with his own amp. A future Scientist no-longer he says; I reminded him that being a mad-scientist could totally be a hobby...he has his whole life to decide. He wanted none of that; only an amp.
So now we hunt through the classifieds for a used base guitar...and amp.
Meanwhile Noah is just enjoying the show...
Then it was off to Savannah! The amount of fun that was had over Saturday/Sunday was so plentiful I don't think I would be giving it justice to sum up the amount of 'awesomeness' . There was ice-cream, swimming, giggles, memories, and life-long bonds were made, seeds for the future & hope of a reunion next summer were born.
Noah Baker
The 1st grader, 2nd grader & Kindergartener...calculating the most extreme jump that would ever be jumped by these plotting cousins.
Madeline jumps....
It's a 
Now off to the football/soccer field for Sam's first game of the season. Madeline practicing her soccer moves.
Meanwhile Rob comes over & chats with Sam while he awaits his turn to jump in...
The kiddos started on the journey down, down, down...
Madeline started out, but then some poke-y plants poked her...and up, up, up she came!
Now it was off to explore a few different places in the country on our Sunday drive.
We found a great patch of wild flowers...
He checked out this spot; coast was clear, we were on our way.
Ended up going to 
Madeline scores the first pumpkin @ 
Which brings us to the end of last weekend. My favorite thing to see these days- is Sam in the recliner nose in a comic book. It has just occurred to him (almost over night) that he can read! Such empowerment, now he's off & running. He reads me the online comic strip in the mornings before school...it's really really really great to have a 2