No filter.

I got a new camera over the weekend, and since I don't really *do* user manuals, I was snapping lots of photos of the kids, playing with the different settings and such.

Ian did not have the ability to create a real smile for me, so right before this shot, I suggested the kids envision their teacher in his/her underpants.

I can't help it. Sometimes stuff like that slips.

But, it worked.

I think that is a true smile multiplied by three!

Halloween's For Kids!



Thanks to my friend, Colleen, for snapping these!

 

Updates on #2 and #3

Again, for the family...

First of all, haircuts. We took the mops as long as we could. Ahhhhh... nice & fresh.


Ian



Isaac

Isaac has had such an awesome, free summer of bike riding, fort making, swimming, neighborhood baseball and kick the can games. But, he is so pumped to start school, he can hardly stand it. In fact, he started 'playing' school with Ian a couple of nights ago. Other than that, we have no soccer... no art lessons... no guitar lessons... nada. With the other two's schedules, we are cool with nothing for #2.

Ian had his first day of soccer last Saturday. The second that they started drills, and he didn't know what was coming next, he cried and sat out, because he "didn't know how to do it".

But once he was able to get out an participate in the game, which was the sweetest thing you could have ever seen with a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds, he did fine. Up until the girls started pushing him. Oh those girls...

Dang! We were supposed to be practicing those drills in the back yard this week... but all he has done is hit golf balls... Ian is really digging golf and is looking pretty good! I am sure the neighbors are flinching everytime the gold balls zoom past their windows!

Ian has his Kindergarten teacher again for First Grade, and while he doesn't seem to care either way, it sure will make our transition easier! I bet she is not going to be happy with us when he has fallen way behind in his math facts and reading this summer.

Open House tonight!  First day of school tomorrow!

One of these days, momma will be sitting poolside, alone,  to celebrate...

Today, I had free range kids

I have officially become the biggest summertime bum. At this moment, I am vaguely aware that it is Monday; however, I have no clue as to the date. I don't need to know that until I head into the office tomorrow, where I will only need to know the date for approximately seven hours.

Today was another day of hoping THE plan for my summer days would happen as scheduled. It did not.

No early morning dog walk. No sleeping kids. No pool. No pool. But, today was another great day.

A perfect summer day. Perfect in that it was the kind that I reminisce about.

The boys and I ran some errands, went to the park, ate lunch, and... they were off!

Gone.

They came, they went. In and out of our house. In and out of other's houses. To the neighborhood park. To the 'real' park. Sometimes alone. Other times not. Most of the time on bikes (gasp! without helmets).

It is now 8:30pm as I am typing this, and Isaac is just coming home to eat dinner, one that is about 3 food groups away from being considered 'well-rounded'.

At some point in the 6 o'clock hour, Isaac ran in and asked if he could go somewhere else from where he just came from in the neighborhood. He was having a blast, and I didn't want to ruin the momentum, so I approved, even though he had been playing since 1:00pm. I told him to be home by 7:00pm.

At 7:00pm, he called, still not hungry, (yeah right!), so I told him to be home at 8:00pm.

At 7:45pm, he called and asked if he could just stay in the kickball game until everyone else went home.

At 8:15pm, he called and asked if he could go to Max's house just until... until whenever.

But, he is now home. Safe. After running 'free' all day long with his friends and neighbors. Creating awesome memories in his little child size brain.

When I think it couldn't get any better, Ian brought this home. Who knew they still made this stuff?

I am pretty confident that this will not lead to dippin'... you know, tobacco chewing... but if it does, it does.

For more information on being a Free-Ranger, click here. You should subscribe. Having some solid facts is way better than watching the scary nightly news.

fyi, I don't really call myself a Free Ranger with Free Range Kids, but today, I was one. If you follow my blog at all, you know that I am not what you would call laid back. Today though, there was nothing in my gut or my head telling me not to be. So, I went with it. And, it felt good. My children are not going to spontaneously combust if I am not with them every second and if they are allowed to just be kids. It is true. I saw it today.

Now, I am going go have me a good chew. Until next time, mwah!!

I gave birth to poker playing monkeys

After the park, you of course play poker with the boys, like real men.

Are you dizzy from all of the picnik applications I used? Just another day in boredomville.

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Do you LIKE the white words on Facebook yet? Do it here. You know you want to.



What are the boundaries when it comes to posting pictures of children?

For me, the only rule is no nudity. Or anything that could be construed as such.

Example. Here are my handsome boys fresh off of serious haircuts.

No backs of heads. Not restricted to profiles. Maybe I should be, but I am not really in fear of some whacko finding my child(ren), fully clothed, on the internet. I am also not fearful of someone trying to steal their identity.

Maybe it is my medication...or the fact that I literally refuse to watch the local news... or my 'crazy liberal' ways... but, in this area of child safety, I have mellowed.

The way I see it, if some perv wants some pics of partially clothed children - or heck, fully clothed children - they can get those images via their very own camera, in any American city by visiting the local park,  swimming hole, playground or church.  

Today, I went to Ian's kindergarten musical. I took pics of some really cute kids. I almost posted the pictures to this blog (primarily for our family to see), but decided against it because I did not have parental consent. However, I did post them on Facebook, where I have maxed out the security on such pictures. (Even though any of my 'friends' on Facebook could work around those privacy settings.)

Yes, I have posted pictures before of children on here, without parental consent, but today, something told me not to do it. And, I know exactly what that was.

I had just read this post at FreeRangeKids. However, instead of feeling liberated to post the pics, I leaned towards discretion. Because, I have also read things like this, and this.

So, tell me what you think! 

• Do we reveal too much when it comes to our children?
• Or, are we way too paranoid when it comes to posting images of our children?
• What are your boundaries or rules when it comes to your own children?

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We can do it! Click the brown bar (or button) every day, and only with your votes, will I come close to the top #10 on TMB.com. Be sure to check out the other sites in the directory as well. There is something for everyone!

Forever young

I am entirely way too young to have kids this old. I am clearly still nineteen in my mind. I wish I could say in body, too.

Audrey, clearly, is not the only one who is growing up too fast.

Hello? How much does he look like his Dad here?

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Readers, thank you for your visits and your votes!
Now, I want to know where you live and why you keep coming back! There are a good many of you at this point, and I want to know! Stay anonymous... but tell me!  

Will he ever forgive us?

Isaac and his cousin, Grace - Easter 2011

You certainly can't tell by the look on his face in this picture, which was taken earlier today, but I think it is safe to say that this Easter will be a memorable for Isaac, and not in the best way.

Yesterday, my brother and his boys came to our house to begin the 2011 Easter celebration. We went to church together, went out for wings, came home and roasted marshmallows in the fire pit... and then, after a very long day, the kids and I went to bed.

Or so Matt thought.

Matt was putting together the Easter baskets in the laundry room after he thought everyone was asleep. A few minutes later, Audrey came down to let Matt know that Isaac had come down stairs, and unfortunately, he had seen Matt putting the baskets together.

(This year will be the last time we do that task solo. Whose idea was THAT?)

Isaac ended up running into Audrey's room, bawling uncontrollably, because... "Mom and Dad have been lyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying to me...!!!"

He was able to get past it last night, and this morning, this conversation happened:

Isaac: Mom, you know about my discovery, right?

Me Yep, I do.

Isaac: Mom, does that mean that Santa isn't real?

Me: Do you think he is real?

Isaac: Yes (with a head nod). I do.

Me:  Will you be upset if you find out he isn't?

Isaac: BBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 

(insert here: Isaac in fetal position behind my chair with many tears falling from his eyes while he cries uncontrollably)

Me: Isaac, baby, tell me what makes you so upset about knowing that the Easter bunny and Santa aren't real.

Isaac: Because you and Dad have been  lyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying to me...!!!

Ugh. The kid's sensitivity will be something I will be stand in awe of when he is older and is tending to the every need of the special woman in his life... but right now, it is killing me! 

He isn't worrying that since he "is in the know" with all things legendary in childhood, that the magic will be gone and maybe he won't be allowed or want to participate...  He is upset because we lied to him.

(For the record, we have never lied to him about E.B. or Santa. When he has asked the question, we turn around and ask him another question, so not to have to answer his question. Purposely ingenious. Yet, he doesn't remember THAT part.)

Isaac & Audrey and cousins Seth & Grace - Easter 2011

Come on dood, really? You find out the Easter bunny isn't real, but you STILL hold on to the thread of hope that Santa is?

Oh my sweet, sensitive, believing boy...

I do hope he can put two and two together the next time he loses a tooth. Because that may save us a few bucks.

So, tell me, what story do you have from when your child(ren) found out the truth?

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Readers and visitors, you never cease to amaze me! Today, what a wonderful surprise it was to see 'the white words' sitting at #20 on TMB.com!  Hey, and don't forget that if you'd like, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter! Those are great ways to get my posts immediately after I hit "PUBLISH" - either click on the links in the paragraph, or click the round buttons to the top right! As always, thanks for stopping by!

Egged

There is one thing I dislike more than decorating for Christmas... and that is coloring eggs for Easter. Weird, huh? My kids, well, Ian and Isaac, get so much joy out of it. I don't get it.

Kids these days

Isaac and Ian's brotherly play date yesterday. Isaac on his iTouch. Ian on the iPad. Both playing the same game. Just side by side. Not together.

We used to play wilderness. Or school. Or jump out of trees into the leaves. Or watch soap operas. Maybe copy pages and pages from the encyclopedias. Ride mini-motorcycles in the boulevard. Sometimes see who could get further in reciting the ABCs while laying in the middle of the street before a car would come barrelling over the hill. Explore abandoned buildings. Go to the library.

But this? This is just crazy play.

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Thanks so much for all of the love! Not at #25 YET, but I am making my way! Mwah!

I'll have what he's having

I was tense all day today. I had a few things on my plate, but not enough to fill my day. And that made me tense.

Seriously. It is an illness of some sort. I figure I need to DVR more good TV.

Today, I knew I had to try to get a blog post out on the internets. One that actually said something.

I searched high and low for some sort of inspiration beyond the "I am on the phone and you are getting on my last nerve" moment I had late in the day with my two oldest angels.

And then, I saw this photo... tweeted out by The Pioneer Woman. Go ahead. Click on 'this photo' to see it. I will wait for you to return. (I cannot post the actual picture since it is copywritten - boo-hiss).

No. 4 and No. 6 are brothers, and No. 6 just hit his first home run. Look at No. 4's arms stretched out wide to welcome his brother to home plate. Awwww... the look on No. 4's face is priceless.

And, it simply reminds me of a moment we had in the car tonight.

We had just picked Audrey up from school after a track meet. It was 8pm and she hadn't had dinner... she was jonesing for some Wendy's. Wendy's we went.

Whenever we head towards fast food, the Type A in me wants to be prepared when we get to the ordering mic. God forbid the drive-thru girl think that I am unorganized. So, I want everyone to decide on orders before we get to the fast food joint. (I was a drive thru girl, and indecisive people are just whack!).

Ian (age 5) was stoked that I would allow him to get a Coke float from Wendy's. At eight o'clock at night.

But, then, Isaac (a fresh age 9) decided that he would like a Frosty, straight up. On the rocks.

We got to Wendy's and as we pulled up to the ordering mic, I say one last time, "Do we all know what we want?"

Ian caves, denies himself what he REALLY wants, and says, "I want whatever Isaac wants."

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Learn more about the 'my own words' series here. I am looking for contributors now! We would love to hear from you even if you don't think you are a writer/blogger. We ALL have a story, and your story could change someone's life. You may also email me at anne.liasophia@gmail.com.

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You can't get away without voting!
I write. YOU VOTE! AND YOU COMMENT! Right?
You have done some serious AWESOME-NESS for my TMB.com numbers and I love you for the authentic votes! If you like, you vote. If you don't like, pass on the opportunity and spend your time more wisely (although, it only takes a click! Like a millisecond. No lie. Click and see.)

Birthday golf

One day, he will appreciate being able to golf on his birthday. Today, however, Isaac was not thrilled to learn the life lesson of patience.

This was his first time on a golf course where he was actually golfing. He hasn't been old enough to play on a public course, but they were able to play at the club this afternoon. Since he is a newbie, he and Matt were playing a bit slower and had to let others play through. He didn't like the wait.

But, he looks very handsome, doesn't he? Now that we bought him pants that are not jeans or sweats to meet the club dress code, we may need to move along in the shoe department. As you can see, he wore his chucks on the course. It was that or the royal blue ones he got for his birthday.

And so, now we begin our tenth year. 

Butt crack{ed}

Happy birthday to my Isaac! We have been celebrating him all day long today, and he is loving every minute of it!

One important thing that I forgot to mention in the story of Isaac's grand entrance into the world was that he broke my coccyx, or better known as my tailbone, on the way out with his big ol' noggin'. (I like saying the word 'coccyx'. Coccyx. Coccyx. Coccyx.)  The six months that followed were incredibly painful. And, I will never let him forget it.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

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I am at #42 today - moving on up! Keep the votes coming! I will eventually stop pestering you. Maybe.

The story of Isaac

Nine years ago today, I was on my way to work, nine+ months pregnant.

While I already gave birth to Audrey three years earlier, I didn't know what it felt like to 'go into' labor because she had been induced and I was perfectly medicated.

So there I am, driving 45 minutes into work, and I had to call my older sister to ask what the inital pangs of labor felt like. Needless to say, I had to turn around and head the 45 minutes back home because we were pretty sure it was the real deal.

And then, I sat. And sat. And slept. Watched some TV. Showered. Played with Audrey. Rinse and repeat for about 12 more hours.

At about 10 o'clock that evening, I called my doctor. He told me if I could talk during a contraction without crying, don't bother heading to the hospital. That just pissed me off after sitting there waiting for so long in pain, that during the next contraction, I cried while talking. By this time, my Mom was at our house, and she cried, too.

(I would give anything to see a man in labor. Anything.)

To the hospital we went. I was so mean on the way, screaming at Matt to stop hitting the bumps in the road. I do believe I possessed the strength to kill anyone and anything in those minutes. Ugh. It was awful.

Zoom ahead to about 4:30am on April 9, 2002, and I was sleeping, contracting, sleeping, contracting.

Here is where I should tell you that at my last appointment with my OB/Gyn, I had suggested that maybe Isaac was a tad large. Nah, my doctor said... if I had to guess, he will be about 6 lbs. 15 ounces.

5am comes around, and the monitor was flat-lining quite often, but I would just reposition and all would stabilize. And, then, all hell broke loose.

A team of clinicians ran in, Matt passed out and had to be tended to, oxygen was put on me... baby was a crownin', heart rate was a droppin', and they were going to suck Isaac out. And, they eventually did when the nurse figured out how to get the sucker thing on... yet, she didn't know how to turn it off... and the doctor had to end up cutting the tube with the scissors from the episiotomy. Fun times while giving birth.

But, I had my baby boy, Isaac, who weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces. 6 lbs. 15 ounces my butt!

Happy birthday { tomorrow } bud!  We love you and are so proud of you!

He still sleeps like this.

They don't call him 'Casper' for nothin'!

Can you spot the trusty Barbie to the left of the picture?