Flashback Friday

I thought this one was cute. Exactly 5 years ago we stayed with Ryan's dad and step-mom while we were building our house. Ainsley looks exactly the same, but Brandon? Hardly!

Naughty Girl!

So the other day Ainsley asked if she could have a roll of toilet paper. Thinking she needed for the usual duty, I said sure. Later that night, the entire front yard was COVERED in toilet paper, ripped to shreds. Big Mess. Of course, I made her (and her friends)clean it.

A couple days later I found these pictures on the camera...




Playing mummy?

Here's another good one.

Remember the days of prank calling? We all did it. "Hello, is your refrigerator running? Then go catch it!"

Well, life is not as fun now that we have a world full of caller ID. Really! Ainsley and her friends called MANY numbers, but they called back later and got mad at Rebecca's mom. Here's the clincher.

A few minutes later, a police officer comes walking up our driveway. hmmm. That's never a good sign.

Turns out they prank called 911 while they were at it. Brilliant! Hope they've learned their lesson!

I don't know what I am going to do when this 7 year old turns 12. ahhhhhh!!!!!

Daddy Daughter Bonding - by Ryan

I have been meaning to have a little daddy-daughter bonding time with Ainsley for a while now, so I took advantage of the Veterans Day bank holiday and took her on a hike. I learned about this hike when I took the scouts there. The boy scouts whined and complained the whole time. All I had to do to get Ainsley's competitive juices flowing was to tell her that the big, tough boyscouts complained. She never said a word of complaint the whole day. We hiked for about 4 straight hours, up and back, and the girl never slowed down. We stopped for lunch for a few minutes at the top, and I treated a blister on her foot, but other than that, she was going the whole time.

After we got back, I was pretty sore (and the next day, I still am). I collapsed onto my bed...and she ran across the street to play with her friends. I guess that's what playing soccer three times a week and going to gymnastics will do for you. I learned that this girl is going to be even harder to handle than I thought she was. Heaven help her future husband. Nothing really stands in her way. On the trail, we encountered some desk sized boulders, with the path going around to the left and to the right. She had to make a choice as to which way to go. Her choice was to go straight forward, up and over the top of the boulder. That's the kind of kid she is.

I also learned that I seriously need to get my lazy butt in better shape. It was great to spend so much time with her away from friends, just talking about whatever she wanted to talk about. She really loved having that much undivided attention.

More...

 

 

 

 

Some of those didn't show up. Here are a few more.

Family Pics

 

 

 

 

Here are a few of the family pictures we just had taken. Any thoughts?

Flashback Friday

I was thinking this shot was about the same time of year. Hannah, Lydia and Ainsley colored all over themselves while we were having dinner. We asked Ainsley, "Who colored on Hannah?" "ME." "Who colored on Lydia?" "ME." "Who colored on you?" "ME."

We should have known she would be the mastermind of all trouble!

And I love situations where you have to act stern and mad, when in reality you are laughing so hard.

Family Elections

Being Election Day, we held our family elections this morning.





I wonder if the kids will be surprised at what won:
Smoothie
Pizza
tie for asparagus/corn
oranges
tie for chips/salsa and rolls
Root Beer Floats

We don't usually have smoothies and root beer floats in the same meal, but what the heck. It's election day and full of surprises!

Thanks for the idea, Tiffany!!!