daddy-daughter outing

 The girls' excitement for this campout was palpable, and the only person more enthusiastic about it was Robert.

He packed enough supplies to last them a week at least.

I've always said that if anything ever happened to me, I have no worries about my kids.

They will never ever starve.

Robert's love of food is only surpassed by his love of sharing his food and seeing the pure satisfaction someone gets when they enjoy a good meal.

Robert also had them prepared for the cold weather with a new portable heater.

These girls are so lucky they are camping with their dad and not me.

If I was their leader, they would probably end up sleeping in the car, eating ready-to-eat meals, and possibly freezing.

I exaggerate a teeny bit.

I would set up a tent.

But I am pretty lazy when it comes to outdoor food prep.

Who am I kidding - I am pretty lazy when it comes to any kind of food prep.

Anyway, they were exited and I was excited for them.

I am sure they had a super fun time.

 Popped up and ready to roll.

 Quinny was already dirty and  showing some 'tude.
Good luck with that, Robert!

Mia had Papa Bear ready for the campout!

homecoming 2013

Robyn went to homecoming this year with a very nice young man.

Ethan was quite the gentleman.

He told us what their evening plans were, what time he would have her back, and he even brought his homemade step stool for Robyn to gracefully get into the car.

From all reports, Robyn had a wonderful time despite having mono.

She did have a nice long nap the next day.

the mighty unicorn

 The other night I asked Quinny to go brush her teeth.

She said,

"Of courwase I will do that! 

I will use my unicorwn powas!"

Then she pranced around a little bit and made her way into the bathroom and used her mighty unicorn powers to clean her teeth.

We'll see at her next dental appointment how impressive those powers really are.

No kidding, the next night Robert walks into the room with this on his head.

He was talking on the phone and walking around like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Maybe for our family it is, who knows?

If that thing really does have powers, you might find me wearing it soon!

Will it give me brain power?

I could use some of that.

maybe we haven't evolved that much

 While we enjoyed our time at the family reunion, the kids spent a lot of time breaking rock with rocks.

To my knowledge, there was really no purpose to this activity expect to pass the time.

I even found Robyn and Grandma getting in on the action.

It can be quite irresistible after all.

I had to laugh when I was watching the movie Chimpanzee recently.

They too spend a lot of time with rocks.

They use the stones as tools to crack open nuts for food.

Maybe we'll bring some nuts to the reunion next year and give this pastime some purpose.

Update:

Grandma Thomas informed me that she was indeed cracking open Black Walnuts during her turn at the rock smashing bench.

life is weird,

quiet, busy, loud, then quiet again.
Then it gets a little lonely and quiet, then busy and loud.
Things are clean and tidy most of the day, then an explosion happens, and it looks like we never clean around here.
Things have definitely changed around our house.
With Quinny at school for most of the day, the house seems unusually dead and delightfully clean - right up until the time she rings the doorbell.
Yes, she rings the doorbell.
She insists that I greet her like a butler.
And if she thinks I have given Mimi more love upon their arrival home, well, a breakdown happens.
The jealously in her is strong.

Robyn has been sick with a strange virus.
She has a gigantic lymph node that you can see on her neck.
Seriously, you can see it!
She can't move her head without her neck hurting, so it's kind of like having a neck brace on.

Eric played with the high school band last week.
We loved it and were very proud of him.
He wasn't so proud of his drum that he had to bring home from school, and he made me pick him up late so no one would see him walking across campus with a marching band drum.
I think it's cool, but what do I know - I'm just a mom.

On the plus side of things, I have been driving a lot less this year.
Haley's school is only about twelve minutes away.
That is so much better than 25-30 minutes away like last year.
So far college is treating her well and she is adjusting just fine.
She's been practicing her driving skills on the suburban.
We are looking for a smaller car....

Quinny convinced me that she and Allison needed to go to Chick-fil-A last night.
Then they both needed cow pictures.
Why not?