Luke Sleeps

Last Saturday we had all finished our lunch and Luke was slowly finishing his. He seemed a little on the tired side and we noticed this a few minutes later:

I can't even imagine falling asleep like that, but then again I used to be able to sleep comfortably on the ground.

Just Some Cute Pictures

Horsetown or Paradetown

Norco has her fair share of parades, and we've enjoyed a number of them. They're very close to home and are not crowded and usually filled with horses-- three big things in their favor. If you ask the kids, their favorite part is the throwing of candy and chasing after it.

It is Horseweek here in Norco. Parades, horse obstacle courses, chili cookoff, a quarter dip, rodeos, a pancake breakfast and various other 'small town' treasures abound. We're enjoying a few of them. Here are some pictures of the parade on Saturday:


Beginning of the parade, after the firetruck and police car went by.

One of the many animal entries. This cute little girl got all dressed up for the event.

You can't see it very well, but a few parade folks walked their Miniatures or Shetlands over for the kids to pet-- they loved it. They're petting one here.

Bad picture, but Derek and I have both commented on how funny it is to see a rider going along on their cell phone or texting as they go along the trails. This lady was on the phone during the parade!

If you like this kind of stuff, come on May 30 for the Annual Ranch Tour where you can tour 6 or 8 of Norco's newer ranches and see demonstrations and eat yummy food. Anna's looking forward to it!

How could I??

I almost cut Luke's hair the other day but Derek discouraged me. I have really not wanted to cut it because the curls are so adorable and they'll be gone after his first 'big boy' hair cut but I was starting to wonder if it was too long and straggly for a little boy. I'm glad Derek encouraged me to wait, how could I cut those adorable curls off of my babies head (yet)? I'm sure the moment of truth won't be too long from now anyhow.

Final Then & Now

Then

Now

More Then and Now

More comparisons from the last year (see the post below).


Then

Now

Then

Now

The Days Are Long...

There are many times that I've thought back to something my Grandma Krebs used to say. We'd be playing cards at the kitchen table and talking about something and she'd make some comment about time going by so quickly. I used to think that was crazy-- I thought I'd never make it out of third grade or fifth grade or whatever grade I was in, how could time be going by quickly?

Wisdom comes with age, at least a measure of it in most cases. I see now so clearly what she meant. My days can sometimes feel so long, running and doing, caring for and cleaning, helping and training from the crack of dawn until well past when the sun sets and I wonder sometimes if the day will ever end so I can sit for awhile and just rest. Those long, long days though suddenly seem to go by so quickly when I remember that a year ago we were packing up our lives and getting ready to move once again. Could it be almost a year already? Where has that time gone? These long, long days are so, so rich and will be gone way too soon.


Luke last May.

This April-- his hair finally grew in!

Progress

Grass is a pretty boring topic for a blog, and this is the second time it has been a topic (front yard last fall), but it is a big event for us in our exciting lives. The green is sprouting, most heavily in the wettest and lowest areas where there was less blow-away but it is slowly spreading around the yard. It's been about a week and a half. I hope the next picture is really, really green.

Bed Head

This is what Leah's hair looks like in the morning. It is really wild, but it is so cute that I often don't want her to brush it straight... unless we're going out in public, that is!

Can you see that?

Look closely... it's grass!

How the grow...

Luke is growing out of his size two things and I was reminded of how fast time has flown in the last years as I was getting him dressed this morning. This picture is the day we brought Luke home from the hospital over 2 1/2 years ago and now he fits into that shirt that Jack is wearing in this picture. Where has the time gone? They are all getting so big, so fast and having them has made our lives so much richer!


August, 2007

An Update to My Family (from Addie)

(note from Sandy: Since Addie can't really type, she dictated the following to me...)



Things are going well here at the Pool house. I've been here a week now and it feels pretty comfortable. I'm a little bummed that I have to be on the tie out, but I understand there will be lots of new grass to run in soon and I can be patient and wait. One time, though, I lost my patience and took a romp around Derek's freshly seeded lawn... a few romps, actually. It wasn't much and I'm sure the grass will be fine but I have noticed that Sandy is more careful when she attaches the hook on my tie out, now.

I was a little confused at first when you left me here at night, but I've adjusted to sleeping in the other bedroom. I tried to sleep with the girls and the boys but for some reason they didn't want my climbing up on their beds with them so I have been given nice quarters in the adult bedroom-- with the door shut. That hasn't stopped me from sleeping on the daybed from time to time.

I haven't escaped and have been very good, except I really like that black mat right outside the back door for going potty on... but Sandy doesn't seem too fond of that idea. And for some reason I wet my bed a little last night, but Sandy washed the cover and gave me some towels until it was clean again. She loves doing laundry for another person... or animal, I guess.

Those little people sure are loud and busy. They are always taking me for walks and climbing on me and running from room to room. Just when I get settled snoozing next to them somewhere they either run off and I have to follow to see what is going on or they decide to come hook the leash on me again. I've been very good, again, and let them do it willingly. And I've only jumped on them a few times, but they just got me so worked up to play I lost my head! I went to Jack's Tball game and made a few new doggie friends. One violent little thing attacked and I had to retreat, but otherwise it was a lot of fun. (note from Sandy: A chihuaua charged her and she was obviously frightened... it was kinda funny since she's three times the size of that little thing!)

I've been taking lots of naps on whatever they leave lying around:


And I've become quite educated during school time (although I usually sleep by the window, or watch out it for interesting passers-by):

And although they're running me ragged, this is the best place to get seconds that I've ever been!

(note from Sandy: the floor after a meal.... Addie has learned to hang out in the kitchen, smart dog that she is.)

Have a nice time in Wisconsin. I miss you, but can manage to hang on here for awhile longer. Give that baby a lick, I mean kiss, for me!

Love,

Addie

Watching the Grass Grow

Derek and Kenny got all of the fertilizer, seed and topper down on Friday and pressed it all in with the final roller. I know it hasn't been a year yet, but it seemed at times that this day would never come-- grass in the back yard! Well, grass seed. Now we're literally sitting back and watching the grass grow. In a couple of weeks we should see some green haze and in a couple of months it should be in all the way and ready for some summer play!


Leah had a lot of fun helping Kenny and Derek. She really liked to be where the action was and helping as best she could.

Kenny is rolling on the topper.

View from upstairs with some of the topper on. The seed and fertilizer are on the left side and Kenny is rolling the topper (darker colored dirt) on top of it all.

The Topper

Friday morning the topper (dirt) for our backyard arrived along with the seed. The kids enjoyed watching it get dumped in the side of the yard.

Nine Years

Derek and I went to Disneyland to celebrate our 9 Year Anniversary last week. Kenny and Kathy graciously came down to stay with the kids so that we could enjoy some time by ourselves at the parks. It was relaxing to move through the park without the kids and stuff in tow, but after riding all the rides (that we can't do with the kids), I felt a little sick for awhile. Our real anniversary is still to come- on Tax Day- but it was fun to spend time at Dland-- one of the places we went over 9 years ago together for the Disney Christmas Party right before we got engaged.


At the Blue Bayou