W.W.

My Work-out Partner

The kids don't exercise with me very often.  But they have seen me do my DVDs enough, and they have picked up some moves.


Ready for an early morning work-out.


I haven't seen this move before.


I sometimes feel this way about exercising, too.


Build those biceps!

Backwards Day???

Shirt on inside-out: check.  Pants on backwards: check.  Shoes on the wrong feet: check.
She's ready to go!

80's Murder Mystery Party

Jared and I went to an 80's reunion style murder mystery party a few weeks ago.  Here are a few pictures of our radical outfits.




My little side kicks (only one pictured) were having fun putting bows in their hair and other stuff to make themselves look silly.  They thought it was funny that Momma and Daddy were getting dressed up, and they really wanted to come with us.  I think they like the dramatic look because they kept telling me how pretty I looked.  Sweet girls.

My Little Helper

Chess can be a very good helper.  She helps clean up toys, fold wash cloths, and helps me in the kitchen from time to time.



The other day, the girls were cutting construction paper up into tiny pieces.  Of course it all ended up on the floor.  I was about to get the broom and clean it up, but luckily I realized it was a great opportunity to teach Chess how to sweep.  She did a great job and was so proud of herself.



On another day, the dishwasher had finished running, and it was sitting open.  Chess pulled up a chair, and began putting the dishes up in the cabinet all on her own.  I was so impressed, of course I had her pose for a picture.

Lera's ER Visit

This is not a milestone I ever planned to document.  I did not include the word "first" in the title, because I am not planning on subsequent visits to the ER.

The day after Halloween, the girls were watching a show downstairs, while I was upstairs checking my email.  After a few minutes I heard Lera crying and Chess saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"  I ran down to see blood dripping from Lera's forehead.  Apparently, she was standing in front of the TV, not moving, so Chess pushed her away.  Lera hit her head on the fireplace.

I wiped her head to get a look at it, and saw it was a pretty deep gash.  I called the doctor's office and they said to take her to the ER.

So there we were, on our way to the hospital, at 8:30 in the morning, still in our pajamas, not having eaten breakfast yet.


Not to worry: I grabbed a loaf of bread on our way out of the house, which you can see Lera eating in this picture.  Not to worry again: I took this picture while stopped at a red light.


The gash was trickling down, but thankfully not gushing blood.  Lera only cried a few minutes after it happened, the rest of the time she was extremely composed and brave.


Thankfully, we got to watch cartoons, and the girls got crackers and juice.


Changing positions.  We had to wait in between applications of numbling gel to Lera's wound.  Although the ER wasn't busy, we were there for about three hours.  And interestingly, I counted 10 people that I talked to while we were there.  Crazy.


Lera was completely fine while getting stitched up.  She had a couple of suckers (I stuck those in my purse on the way out the door, too) and the TV to keep her entertained.


Chess took this picture.  I think I am telling Lera to hold still.  She is such a wiggly little thing.  Do you like the Crocs over her footed PJ pants?  It was the best we could do in a hurry!


All done.  Just waiting around to fill out papers and talk to a couple more people.


She had one deep stitch, to pull the skin so it would lay even and flat, and 5 stitches up top.


Close-up!  She left them alone, we had them out five days later, and now she is healing very nicely.  Now, I hope to never see the inside of an ER again.

Halloween 2012

The night before Halloween, we carved our pumpkin.



Chess picked out the cat with wings from our little carving book.



She did a great job of scooping most of the guts out of the pumpkin.  Lera wanted nothing to do with that stuff, just like last year.





On Halloween night, Andrea, Mikel and Raven came over to trick-or-treat with us.









Chess did not want her picture taken with the family.  Can you tell?



Nor did she want one with Mimi and Poppy.



We gave away glow bracelets this year.



Jared said the girls loved them, the boys, not so much.



Our trick-or-treaters were very excited.



My girls were moving quickly from house to house.



The Super Mario Saxton family.



Happy Halloween!

Halloween Fall Festival

I had the cutest little cowgirl and Indian for Halloween!


I made Chess's skirt and vest, the hat was found at a thrift store, the boots were given to us, and the rest we already had.


I bought an old purse at the thrift store and made Lera's headband and fringed arm-bands and waist-band.  I made her tutu, and the rest we had.


Lera said this is her Indian pose.


Chess really got into posing for me.




They know cowgirls and Indians do not get along.


The stare-down.


It's hard to say who's tougher.


This cowgirl and Indian really love each other, though.


The girls with their football player Momma, at the church fall festival.


Chess with Darby and Evie.


The girls with Elise.


Chess, playing a balloon-popping game (Lera almost poked someone's eye out on that one).


Doing the ring-toss.


Enjoying some yummy popcorn.


Chess and Daddy.


We did some trunk-or-treating and called it a night.  A great time was had by all.