Camera Q

Our camera has been officially "junked" by Best Buy. I'm excited to get a new one with fun new features (such as that "burst" mode, which sounds like it would enable me to catch more cute expressions from the kids, instead of the open mouth, wide eyed expression that follows every "cheese"). I need to do some research on what to buy. But I don't really enjoy researching electronics.

So, I figured I would just ask you all. Do you have a camera that you like? Which one is it? Should I buy one, too?

Thanks!

New Toy

How does the saying go? Boys never grow up, their toys just get more expensive?


Actually, this is Bryan's solution to the rising price of gasoline and his hour-long commute to work every day (anyone want to buy a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe?). He's just learning how to ride, but he's good enough that I wasn't *too* scared to ride with him around the block his first night out :)

It is kind of fun...! My only problem is where to put the carseats...?

Gently

Now that Chase is actually crawling, like, hands and knees room-to-room crawling, he is into EVERYTHING. The diaper basket. The pantry. The bunny cage. The cat food. The magazine basket. Every single one of Ian's toys.

So I'm trying to teach Ian the art of gently taking the offending item away from Chase and replacing it with a more appropriate toy. I'm also trying to teach him not to scream and yank things away from him (which is apparently the way you do it in toddler-speak).

This morning Chase got his hands on a pair of Ian's sunglasses. I told Ian to go get take them away from Chase before he broke them. My exact words were, "Go tell Chase gently, 'No, no!'"

Ian walks over, takes the glasses, leans in and says, "Gently. No NO!"

Birthday Bash (and Second Not-PC Challenge)

Happy birthday to our neighbors, Kenna and Andy! We had a blast at their party today:)

They set up a huge inflatable waterslide in their front yard, and the kids all wore themselves out on it. The weather was perfect (if not a smidge too sunny for my fair skinned baby...) and there were corndogs and pudding pops. Who could ask for anything more?

I have a bunch of pics, but you can go to the Little Larsens and see all the fun there. What I really want to do is leave you with my Second Not-PC Challenge:

Find the Extra Chromosome

Is it here?

Or here?

Poo Story. Beware.

Ian was in the bathroom. #2.

During the act he yells to me: "Mommy! Do you remember last year when I had a spikey poop and it hurt?"

After the act, before the flush: "See? It is a spikey one like last time! Just like a cactus!"

It may just be the writing teacher in me, but I'm so happy he used a simile!

Lindsay and Chase

We visited with Chase's BFF Lindsay and her family this past weekend. Here are those pictures I promised :)

All the kids- Alex, Lindsay, Chase, Ian (who is really REALLY brown!!)
I just LOVE what you've done with your hair since I saw you last!
I think this is the only one with both Chase and Lindsay almost smiling.
How big are Chase and Lindsay?!?
Lindsay gives Chase a reproachful stare. When we first got there, I set him in front of her and he yelled at her and she got scared. She hasn't trusted him completley since...

Nature

Lots of sunflowers now!


Too bad they were all blown over in the storm from hell last night. Yeah, the one that blew over our tree.
Not that it was some big, hulking behemoth of an oak, but still...