My baby girl turns 4!

Callie had her 4th birthday this past week, and I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she is no longer our "baby girl"! (Chuck still calls her baby & most likely will forever! ) I felt bad, the day of her birthday, it was business as usual. The boys had school, Chuck worked, we had errands to run, I had to run off to Church activities in the evening, it was just a busy day. Being four, she didn't quite understand that even though it was her birthday, we were not having her big party. I tried to explain as best I could, but she wanted nothing to do with that nonsense! During Ava's morning nap, I was doing my usual clean up routine. Callie proudly announced that I needed to come see her room, it was a surprise. So I got to her room for the surprise, and she had "made" her bed, "cleaned" up her toys (piled then all on her little table), and stacked her books on the floor in front of the shelf! She then told me her friends were going "love her clean room when they come to my party!" So we had to have round two of the party explanation, and I think it finally clicked! Plus a trip to Target to get and icee and pick out a special birthday toy always seems to help. We did bake and decorate cupcakes that afternoon for us to have during our small family party after dinner, and that seemed to brighten her day. Sing Happy Birthday, blow out 4 candels, and open a few gifts, and you've got yourself a birthday party after all!

Tonight we had our family October birthday party for my Dad (66), My Grandfather (93), my Grandmother (90), my niece Sarah (10), and Callie. It's way easier with 5 birthdays to just celebrate them together. We did have a 90th birthday party for my Grandma Kline last weekend with all our extended family. She has the energy of a 70 year old!

Callie is so excited to have her Dora party this Saturday with all her friends. Everyone is wearing a costume, so it should be really fun! This is her first friends party, and I swear she has been talking about it since January! I pray it lives up to her expectations!

I can't believe your 4 Callie Ruth! Please don't grow to fast, and promise you'll always be my little girl! I love you sissy Lou!

"Mom, a Real Live Princess!

Last weekend we went to the Como Zoo to get our family pictures taken by our good friend Melissa. Yes, I know what you're thinking...a Zoo, how perfect, the Palmers will blend right in! Actually, the Zoo has amazing gardens, and we thought is would be a beautiful backdrop for our pictures. (By the way, can't wait to get the pictures in a week and post some. Melissa is a very gifted photographer!) The kids were great and everything went off with out a hitch! (I'm still shocked!) So now for the princess part of the story... Callie needed to use the potty, so we needed to go through the Zoo entrance. Well that morning the Zoo was having a screening of the newly released Sleeping Beauty movie. So to kick it off they had "real live princesses" there giving girls royal princess hair dos, and painting their faces. Imagine what Callie wanted? So she sits down, gets her hair pulled and pinned up, sprayed with hair spray, and then the "Princess" shakes like 10 shakes of silver glitter all over the top of her head, and then sprays some more! This all took place in like 45 seconds flat! (I still can't believe I didn't have my camera!) So she gets up and there is a plum of silver glitter wafting off her little head! Her smile was HUGE, and she knew she looked adorable! I took these pictures when we got home minus about half the original glitter, but you get the point. Today, a week after the "attack of the real live princess" I am still finding glitter in this child's hair!!! I guess that's just the price you pay for beauty! (Now that I've posted the photos, I realize you can hardly see the glitter, you'll just have to take my word for it!)

Dallin the Science Guy!

Last week Grant brought home from school a Bill Nye the Science Guy book that his teacher was giving away. He was so excited to present it to Dallin, because he had picked it out for him knowing how much he liked the Bill Nye videos we had gotten from the library in the past. Dallin kind of played it off cool and acted like he could care less. Poor Grant:( Well low and behold the next morning before school Dallin was asking me if we had any balloons and vinegar. What in the world could he possibly want with balloons and vinegar? He happened to find an experiment called the CO2 Balloon in the book he wanted to try. You fill a balloon with baking soda and attach it to a water bottle that has been filled with vinegar, empty the baking soda into the bottle and the chemical reaction fills the balloon! Such a thrill! So he repeated the experiment at least 5 times probably using 3 cups of vinegar and half my box of baking soda! To be honest it was so fun to see them both so excited about science. Yea for learning!

Ava VS a Biter Biscuit

Ava has been doing great with cheerios and graham crackers lately, so we thought (especially with her never ending teething) that she would do well with biter biscuits. Well I think I forgot what a HUGE mess they are! After she slobbered and sucked and gnawed on it for 15 minutes during breakfast this morning, it was clear who the winner was.....the biscuit won, no questions asked! Chuck said, "Uhh, I think she's gonna need a bath!" Well you were right honey, and straight into the sink she went! She has outgrown her infant bath, and still isn't sitting up (she's 7 1/2 mos) so that means I need to use the bath ring. Our bathtub has textured bumps all over the bottom so you won't slip....which is all fine and good unless you need to use suction cups! So we have moved tubby time to the kitchen sink which actually works great! I save my back, get to use the pull out faucet for rinsing her off, and the older kids think it is great fun. Callie even asked if she could take her tub in the sink....I don't think so sister! So my lesson learned is NEVER give Ava a biter biscuit unless a bath is in her immediate future!

September is Back!

I Love September! I love the weather, the changing leaves, and I love school! I do enjoy the summer, but after the first 2 months of summer, it seems we are all ready to have the schedule and routine that the school year brings. Dallin started 4th grade, and Grant started 1st. Callie also began preschool, and loves every minute of it! Here are a few shots of the first day:)

With the fall, comes the fall activities as well. Dallin started scouts again, and at their last pack meeting he participated in the Rain Gutter Regatta. He was disappointed with his performance, and says he likes the Pinewood Derby better!

Callie has been patiently waiting to start "ballerina class" since last year! She is taking it through our local parks and rec, and she has the same teacher that I had as a little girl! She loves it! All of the parents got a good laugh at their little girls slipping all over the floor in their tap shoes. I'm just happy her first class didn't disappoint her!

The boys are deciding between wrestling and basketball at the moment, so we'll update on what they get involved in:)

Our sweet Ava has been teething for 3 weeks! I'm this close to giving her a nail file to chew on to get those little teeth to break the skin! She is now coming down with a cold:( Although their is lots to love about the fall, I'm not looking forward to all the colds and flu crud! Despite her discomfort, she is still sweet as ever!

Okay, is it really worth it?

Taking the kids to the fair that is. This year, I just don't know if it was. Chucks vote is that we leave them home next year, and make the fair a date night next year. We'll see... part of me feels like it's a tradition, and I'm sure that our parents had to hear all the same complaints our kids rattled off during our four hour adventure. Do any of these sound familiar...

I'm tired.

I'm hot.

My feet hurt.

Why can't I ride in the stroller? (Because you're 9!)

There's too many people.

I don't want to share the lemonade, I want my own!

The barn stinks!

What we can only do ONE ride!

Why does Callie get to ride in the stroller? (Because she's 3!)

Can we get more food?

I'm still hungry!

My stomach hurts.

When can we go?

Are we almost to the car?

I have to pee!

So you get the point! Don't get me wrong, I do think they did enjoy most to the fair, but the MN State Fair is HUGE! One of the largest in the USA in fact. I have a lot of great memories of going as a child, and I hope by taking pictures of the stuff they did enjoy that when they (& Chuck & I too) look back we will remember the fun stuff from the fair! Here is some of what we did enjoy...

Deep fried cheese curds! Pure yummyness! Oh & the ice cream was great!

Dallin, Grant, and Callie all really loved the animals.

This was the best shot taken as we rode down the GIANT SLIDE! This is definitely a highlight!

The butter sculptures! Strange, but soo Minnesotian!

Ava. Didn't complain once, the only ride she got was in the stroller, and her only "treat" was a bottle!

The kids chose the tilt-a-whirl, and to be honest I would have been mad too, their car barely whirled!

So the big question...will we do it again next year? I don't know. I guess I'll tell myself what I tell the kids...We'll see!

"Holy Crap, That Was Fun!!!"

My good friend Sonya invited myself and the kids to her family cabin last Friday for an afternoon of swimming (and adult conversation:). The kids had a party jumping off the dock, snorkeling, and catching sun fish with nets. They used all the snacks I intended for the kids to eat to bait the fish into their nets (Dora cracker, fish crackers, and cookies). Oh well, they were having fun!

Dallin spotted a small trampoline in the garage and asked Sonya if he could bring it down to the end of the dock to jump into the lake. I was surprised she let him, and I was just waiting for the injuries to start! But they actually remained unharmed (I'm shocked) and had a grand old time. Grant ran down the dock, jumped a few times on the tramp, and jumped into the lake! When he surfaced, he yelled at the top of his not so little lungs, "Holy crap, that was fun!" Sonya and I had a really good laugh! Ava was an angel, and allowed me to chat with Sonya, and all the kids got along well. That was a fun way to say good bye to summer! Thanks again Sonya!