Done

After a very long and challenging semester, at the end of which contained two very difficult final exams, I am done.

I am glad to be finished and I have learned that even though I was only taking 7 credit hours, three classes was a bit much for both me and my family.  When I started the semester, Duchess L was sleeping through the night.  By the time I finished she was waking up two to three times between midnight and 6 am again.

I have to say that I am very thankful for an understanding professor for my computer class though.  The college switched to a new company to conduct their online computer classes this semester.  There were so many issues with figuring out the new software that my professor wasn't concerned with due dates. By the end, when I emailed to ask about the assignments for a particular section and the final exam, his response was to "not worry about [them]."  I did call to confirm that he was not including those sections in our grades and he said that he was grading on work completed and again told me I did not need to be concerned about those assignments.  That was a weight off my shoulders but I didn't stop stressing until I saw my grade posted last night.

I have maintained my 4.0GPA and I am in the process of figuring out classes for next semester.

Overheard

I made Princess N's lunch this morning. The past two mornings, she has been up early for basketball tryouts. I put in an extra sandwich on those days so she could eat a small breakfast before the tryouts and then have something closer to the beginning of the school day.

This morning, as we got into the truck, Princess N peeked in her lunch box.

She said, "Yay! Two sandwiches! Oh wait... Never mind." Her disappointment  was clear. As I got out of the backseat after putting Duchess L in her car seat, Princess N added, "Thank you anyway."

It may not be the most enthusiastic thank you I have ever received, but it was sweet that she still said thanks, even though she was quite disappointed.

Overheard

After Miss E fell for the third time in about 5 minutes, we had the following conversation.

Me: Are you having trouble staying on your feet?

Miss E: No. I'm having trouble running on them!

It is perfectly logical. If you are running and then fall, surely the problem is in running on your feet.

Birthday!

Lady A turned 9 today.  We had a great time celebrating her and being able to give her a very special surprise.

Michael and I have been plotting for a couple of months now about Lady A's birthday.  The gift I planned to get her for Christmas, he planned to get for her birthday.  Since they are so close and since the weather has been beautiful, we went ahead with his plan.

The actual purchase was supposed to happen yesterday, but a series of events derailed the plan.  This morning, Michael had plans to meet with a friend of ours and so we decided he would make the purchase on his way home.  While he was gone, I decided it would be great if we could give it to her right away, so I took some note cards and the scavenger hunt was created.  

Michael called to let me know he was heading home and we discussed the plan for when he arrived.  I asked Lady A to help me with sorting laundry in my bedroom.  She didn't know that I was hiding the clues to her gift.

After Michael came in, he gave her the first clue.  She was able to read, or sound out, most of the words.  We had to help her a bit, but once she understood, Lady A was off!

Reading the clues

She eventually made her way out to the driveway where the truck and motorcycle were parked.  

 Lady A searched the motorcycle first.  She thought she was getting a motorcycle ride.  I reminded her what the clue said, so she wandered around the truck for a minute.  Finally, I told her the last part again and instead of going to the back like I expected, she opened the side door.  I tried to get a picture of her face when she saw her gift, but it was a bit difficult.

Think she is excited??

She rode for most of the early afternoon before I took her on a shopping trip.  She found a pretty pink skirt, a headband, and a scarf that she liked.  The shirt she liked didn't fit well so we will be trying another store to see if they have one that fits better.  

After the shopping trip, we finished the cupcakes.  They were made to some demanding specifications. Well, maybe not too demanding, but the day was filled with lots of rainbows.

Rainbow cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles added to the colored batter with rainbow swirled icing on top

I think it was a good day.  I know I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Michael asked Lady A several times if she thought we needed to return the bicycle.  Lady A insisted that she would keep it.  It brought a huge smile to her face and had the rest of us laughing and smiling at the pleasure she took from riding up and down the street.

5 months

How on earth is it possible that our sweet little baby is now a chubby, though not according to Aunt Laura's definition of chubby, baby?

We are so blessed to have Duchess L as a part of our family.  Her big sisters adore her and Michael and I enjoy seeing all four of them interact.  A few nights ago, Duchess L looked over at Lady A and just broke out in giggles.  I hope this keeps up!

New pictures to come soon!

Overheard

Miss E: My bones are pushing on my brains!

It took a bit for Lady A and I to figure out what she was saying.  Lady A had been telling me about how she scraped her knee on something and that the bandaid hurt when she bent her knee.  All of us got a laugh out of Miss E's bones pushing on her brains.  Because, you know, she has more than one brain!

All the girls (but mostly the Duchess)

She still fits... mostly

Practicing standing with lots of help from Daddy

Playing outside

Helping big sister with her homework

Lounging around

Naptime.  Homework is exhausting.

At the park. I love their expressions because they didn't pose for the camera.

Our sweet Baby Red as a friend likes to call her.  

Overheard

Miss E: "Mommy. I'm unhappy."

Me: "Why are you unhappy?"

Miss E: " Duchess L is crying that she wants to be in the kitchen."

It's Raining Squirrels: Part 2

I don't know if you remember the Great Squirrel Invasion of 2011.  To briefly recap, Princess N came running inside to inform us that a mouse fell out of the tree in our front yard.  She had been outside doing her homework when it nearly landed on her.  A couple of days later, I spotted an unfamiliar cat wandering our yard, stalking something.  I went outside and saw it dip its head into the grass and run off with something in its mouth.  I noticed a baby squirrel in the grass and assumed that the cat had run off with a second baby squirrel.  I chased the cat but it got away.  The two squirrels we did rescue took a trip to a wildlife rescue center on the other side of town.  (two separate trips) 

And that brings us to this afternoon.  Princess N was outside working on homework while Lady A and Miss E were next door playing with our neighbor.  Princess N stood up to keep an eye on the younger girls and saw something fall out of the tree.  You guessed it... another squirrel!  Princess N ran inside to tell me while the boy from down the street ran to tell the other girls.  Then the adults had to come take a peek as well.  I kept telling everyone to back off and leave it alone so the mama squirrel could come take her little one back to the nest.  She came down briefly, but the children were loud and close.  After about an hour, almost all of the children had left and the adults had returned to their respective homes.  The boy from down the street came and knocked on the door to let us know that his sister had picked up the squirrel when it began crying.  The mama squirrel quickly returned and with the crowds dispersed, she was able to return her little one to the nest.

I, of course, did what I do best in a situation like this...  I grabbed my camera and took a couple of quick snapshots.

Baby squirrel right after he landed on the ground

Mama squirrel on the left, baby on the right and slightly out of focus

Blending in

Beginning to move (almost 45 minutes later)

Catching his breath

Camouflage

Trying to climb the tree

Nifty little app and website

One early morning, while feeding Duchess L and looking up something else on my phone, I stumbled across this neat app called Instructables.  They also have a website which is just as fun.

On this app, people post (occasionally) complete "How To's."  They include things like "How to maintain your lawnmower" and "How to easily use key rings."  The app has several categories including food... which is quickly becoming my favorite for new desserts to try for our Bible study group.

I have tried the Independence Day Surprise Cake, known here as the "Captain America" cake.  I made a few slight decor changes to these Rainbow Cupcakes for Miss E's birthday.  I made Slider Cakes for our group last week and this week I am trying the Summertime Cheesecake.

Here are a few pictures for you to drool over enjoy!

Slider Cakes

Rainbow Cupcakes (ready to bake)

Rainbow Cupcakes (finished - on left) and "Captain America Cake" (on right)

Warrior Challenge

Princess N is involved in a class at her school called Leadership Development Corps.  On Saturday, she participated in what they call the Warrior Challenge.  It is consisted of a 1/4 mile run, a hill climb, hurdles, a rope crawl, a tire flip, box jumps, sit ups and pushups, carrying weights, and a final run to the finish.

Michael had agreed to participate with Princess N but Lady A really want to join in too.  We got them all signed in and in line to wait their turn to start.  They went in groups of four, starting with the run.

Michael gave them two rules.  Don't walk and don't give up.

Lady A took that to heart.

She started out with the rest of them, but soon was in the lead.  

 She waved briefly for the camera, but quickly turned her attention back to the task at hand.

Princess N was a little more relaxed about the run.

She smiled and waved until I reminded her to pay attention to where she was going.

She put her head down and focused on her running.

 I'm not sure if you can see, but in the photo below, Lady A is exiting the photo while Princess N is just barely coming into the right-hand side. (You can click the photo to make it larger)

At this point, I would guess that Lady A had a 20-25 yard lead on Michael and about a 30-35 yard lead on Princess N.

Then came the hill climb.  Lady A just didn't stop!

I wanted to get a photo of Princess N as well but Miss E decided to walk away from the long jump pit with another child's toy.  Plus, I wanted her to move quickly so she decided to walk slower.

 Both of the girls thought tire flipping was fun.

Of course, Michael thought it was easy.

 I am glad our girls are enjoying being active.

It was so much fun to watch them.

Then came the box jumps, sit ups, and pushups.  Each of the girls was determined to complete the challenges.

Princess N actually had fairly good form for her pushups.  I believe they had to do 10 sit ups and 10 pushups.

Lady A struggled through hers, but she made it!

Princess N was getting tired, but she ran while carrying two 10 pound weights around a cone and back to the start.  I'd guess it was about 20 yards total distance.

Lady A was carrying 15 pounds.  She was NOT going to give up! I love the determined look on her face.

Finally finished!  Princess N was exhausted and it shows!

Lady A was ready to go through it again. She made all of us laugh with her loud proclamation that she "wanted to do that workout EVERYDAY!"

All three of my "Warriors" and the three of them with a little girl who wanted to be in every photo. (If you look closely, you can see the corner of the hat Miss E is wearing in the bottom left corner of the first photo here)