In which mama has too much fun with photoshop and Autumn just has fun

We've had a rather interesting week. It's been just ridiculously warm here. I'm not complaining but I am rather sad that we didn't get any big snows. Although...this is Memphis so we could get a huge snow, like, next week and then it'll be 80 degrees. Anyway, I learned how to make our bushes round! I'm super proud of myself, you just have no idea. They are a touch wonky and the one on the left is downright awful because it's bald on one side but I took off what must have been several years of growth so I'm pretty pleased. I'll keep working on them now that I kind of know what to do! I just have to get around to all the other round bushes now!

I also got my hair cut! It's really fun and cute. My mom did a fantastic job but I completely forgot to take a picture before I went to this new aikido class today--it's basically a black belt preparation class and it was super fun. My various incisions didn't care for it, though. :( And my hair didn't quite survive all the rolling and falling. Next week!


The weather was so nice we got to go to My Big Backyard with Autumn's friend Josh, his mom Mimi, and his sister Aurora. We had a blast. I love all the different play areas. The kids built things for a while. They built fortresses first.


Then they played store. So funny. They almost look like they ought to be in the old west. Hang on...


Ha! I win at photoshop.


Autumn got brave for a bit and ventured to the loft of this little playhouse. I was pretty surprised she stuck her head out for my to get a photo. It didn't last very long.


She got kind of scared and Josh's mom helped her down. I'm not really sure how it came about but Autumn somehow or another decided to be brave and went back up. She did a great job! Way to face your fears!


She still doesn't look overly sure about all this...


Before lunch, Autumn and Josh discovered a hill to roll down. They were pretty funny and covered in hay by the time they were done. Autumn also lost a ponytail holder and wasn't happy about it but stuff like that just happens sometimes when you're having so much fun!


I don't know why but I really love this photo. She's got such a great look on her face and her eyes are so neat. I wish I had color change eyes like Mike and Autumn, haha!


Aaaaand, now we're happy.


I got some really cute photos of the two of them together. I posted this one to facebook and Will made the observation that Josh looks like Naruto.


And yes, yes he does.

I should stop with the photoshop, shouldn't I? Yes. Yes, I should.


Of course, they had to entertain the baby. However...


That rapidly turned into entertaining themselves.


For once I actually remembered to bring fish and bird food. It was SO FUNNY. Autumn was just standing there with this piece of bread and this goose swam right up to her and snatched it out of her hand! It nibbled her finger a bit in the process. She stood there in shock for a moment and then turned around all big-eyed, "MAMA THAT GOOSE JUST BIT MY FINGER." She recovered pretty well, much better than I might have suspected.


The pretty swan might have had something to do with it. She actually tried to get the swan to eat from her hand but the swan was a bit too smart for that.


By the time they were done feeding and chasing the geese and ducks (and fish--man, the fish were kind of crazy looking, fighting over the bread), they were all tired out. None more than Miss Aurora who just passed right out. I would, too! Sunshine, a breeze, getting strolled in a soft chair. Now that is the life.


Oh, yeah! Here's me and Autumn. This is pre-haircut. :) As you can see, IT WAS TIME.

(ps, don't forget to visit my other blog! This week I wrote about cinnamon rolls. MMmmm.)

The Kind and Beautiful Princess: A Happy Story

Once upon a time, there was a kind and beautiful princess who never liked the flashbulbs of her nation's paparazzi.


She didn't want attention, she only wanted to nurture and care for her subjects. The princess loved to pamper, making sure that each citizen had a lovey and a blanket, no matter how small...


Or large and disturbing.


There was nothing the beautiful princess loved more than inviting friends over and dressing them in her favorite finery


And serving them delicious foods


at her grand table.


But our princess doesn't do any of this for attention or glory so we will leave her...


And let her care for her little friends in peace.


The End.

Mobile Moments

This weekend was a mama and Autumn weekend! Mike and the community group guys went on a trip to Petit Jean State Park for their retreat so Autumn and I got to hang out Friday through Sunday. Now, I was expecting Mike to send us photos of the mountains, the cabin, streams...you know, something outdoorsy? But no. He sent me two photos. Here they are along with the emails in their entirety.

Breakfast!


Meat!


By the way, Autumn is watching me type and she said about the meat picture, "well, THAT is just GROSS." Ha! Although we were pretty busy while Mike was gone, I didn't take many photos but I did realize I haven't done a mobile photo post in a while. A lot of times, the most entertaining pictures I get are the ones I send to friends and family. Like this one,


That's a kid happy to go to school! And lately, Autumn's been helping me shop. First she just pushed the cart. She calls this stretch of floor at Kroger the "gentle floor" because it is next to tile that's really bumpy. :)


But last week Autumn graduated to "being a mama." She brought her bag with a cell phone, notepad and pen and she made a list. Every time we put something in the cart, she'd circle it on her list. And once in a while, she'd get her phone out to send an email or make a call. She called Lula to see if she needed oranges.


I just thought this was sweet.


Poor Molly. Autumn is always trying to do things for her. Molly's quite a bit more patient than anyone expected, though. She stayed while Autumn put together a cat picnic.


And actually spent some time in the cat tent Autumn built for her.


Oh, haha, this is Autumn after school. I can't remember why she was grumpy (other than that she doesn't nap at school) but she rode with her face like this the whole 20 minutes home.


Some of you guys saw this on facebook, but here is Autumn cleaning the toilets. She likes to help clean the bathroom which is an interest I'm hoping to cultivate. :D


But here's the funny thing: she was wearing four hats.


The whole time.


Until, of course, she changed into her cape and got her magic star that sends out a zapper that kills all the bad germs. My friend Will has dubbed Autumn THE PORCELANCER.


Here we are being slightly more normal. Autumn's sticker chart has evolved into every night she goes without an accident. After January, she got to use the gift card Uncle Donnie and Aunt Liz gave her at Paint A Piece.


She actually did a remarkably good job with minimal help from me. Do you see the smiley face on the cone part?


Awww, and to end on a cute note...here's Biscuit. Autumn put Biscuit to sleep inside a pair of her sweatpants and said that the striped sock is Biscuit's lovey. So sweet.


And those are glimpses of our silly every day life!

Foof, birthdays, and imaginary boats!

I was on the news last night! For like, 2 seconds, but still. It was kind of fun. :) You can, of course, read about what I was doing and see the clip at Passing Pinwheels!

The rest of the week has been pretty normal, haha. I was sick a good chunk of it so I don't have all that many photos but I have a few that I haven't posted since I've been doing vacation recap. I don't know if I really mentioned it here, but Mike turned 35 this month! Awwww, we're getting so grown up! The weird thing is that, in many ways, neither of us feels particularly grown up in the sense that...well, we don't have everything as in hand and under control as we imagined we'd be back when we were kids.


Here's Autumn with Lainey at Mike's birthday dinner. Autumn was hamming it up big time so this is the best we could do.


She loved her dress. I think Santa Lainey got it for her for Christmas. Although it wasn't quite Valentine's Day, I couldn't resist putting Autumn in it. I had her hair all braided but it just didn't survive.


For some reason, I feel really, really nostalgic when I see this photo. I don't know, like I'm going to blink my eyes and that's going to be a wedding dress or something, you know?


Now, something funny before WE ALL GET SAD:


This is Autumn's boat. Sometimes it's a rocket. But lately it's a boat. The day we took these pictures, the boat was Lula powered. So. Funny. My mom would put her feet on the back of the box and give it a big shove and then pull it back to her and do it all over again, Autumn cackling the whole time. We couldn't quite figure out how she got herself all scrunched up in the box. Look at her, her head is in the middle of the box.


This month, Autumn also got to go to a birthday party. They had a pinata, the real kind that you hit, not just one you pull strings out of! It took foreeevvvverrrr for them to break it open but, guess what? Autumn's the one who did it! I didn't get a photo of it, but here she is gathering her spoils.


Then she celebrated her victory with some drums.


And CAKE.


:) And that's it for tonight! Now I am off to soak myself in tylenol and muscle rub, ha!