There's no denying it...

Is there ever a wonder how despite our best efforts, whether or not we like it, we end up so much like our parents?
...Genes: Just embrace it.

Back to Preschool

Isabella just started back up at preschool a few (5) weeks ago.
This year we are doing something a little different, we are involved in a neighborhood group preschool. There are Six moms and six kids, three boys and three girls. Each mother gets the kids two times a week every six weeks. I have already taken my turn for the first go-round, and I really enjoyed being the teacher! I look forward to playing a bigger part of her schooling this year.
This time of year I recall one of my favorite things growing up to do from year to year was to take my current school pictures home and hold it up to my previous years pic. and compare and make note of the growing changes I had made in the past years time: The year my nose grew a few inches, the first year my blond hair looked drab and dark , then the following year it was bright blond again thanks to a personal friend of mine we'll just call El' Bleach-o. I had always delighted seeing my changes and knowing that I was growing up.
So this year I thought I would make such a comparison to my Issy. This years first day to last years first day:



















It seems more than just Isabell has made some changes.

I guess Being on the mom end of this whole yearly comparison process is a little more bittersweet than TOTALLY satisfying.


Now If I could only do some intervening comparisons with Issy with what it looks like when I dress her and when she dresses herself.



But alas, i suppose I get a pretty big kick out of seeing what she can come up with!

Vacation Schmorgesborg

Seeing how I'm quite behind on my blog, and this past few months have had some fun getaways that deserve some postage; I've decided to put them in Uno post. Yes, one post with three trips, so get ready for some pic's...

WARNING: emphasis on lots 'o' pic's...
are ya ready...
I said there's lots, and I mean what I say...
you best be sitting in a comfy chair for this next bit...



Trip the first: Cabin with Buntjers


The People:
(Note to self: A member or two from each family is represented in these next pic's to represent the whole family unit.)

Mom and Buntjer


Annie


Kelly, Ben and kids


Jesse, Mandy and kids


...and our family.


Lest we forget the pack of schnauzers.
Yes, each family owns one; and yes, we were crazy to bring them all!


The Activities:

Scooter Rides




Golf Cart Cruising


and playing around the cabin (i.e. tire swing, trampoline, and tree house)


The guys even managed to sneak off for some quality man time.




Tradition in the making:

The past few years that we've brought up the Buntjers, on the Eve of our trip home,
we gather the fam, scoot back the furniture, crank up the tunes, turn out the lights and..


bust out the glow sticks! This is the highlight of the trip, Good 'ol wholesome Buntjer Raving!


Trip the second: Cabin/Yellowstone with the Tafts

The people:

Myself + kids, Abigail and Patrick + Kids, Bekah and kid, and...


the father of us all (us sisters that is), my dad. As viewed in this photo supervising my girls B.B.Q. hog riding.


And by that picture, I meant this picture: He is viewed in the background of THIS picture.



And lastly but not leastly Odie, the dog. Who was sent with us by my stepsister with the promise that he was to be taken care of as if he was my own...child.
Here he is thoughtfully looking out over Yellowstones beauty.


Now that you've all been introduced to the fam, suppose we take a look-see as to what we were up to this trip...

Yellowstone



























All in all we had a rip-roar'n good time. Enough hiking and outhouses to last me through the next year, or five. But the family togetherness will be forever cherished.



Trip the Third: Buntjer Annual Campout

Each summer the whole Buntjer Clan will get together for at least one campout.

Here Isabella has had a fresh coat of makeup applied by her big 7-year-old cousin, Addy. She went from a 4-year-old to a teen with a tude in minutes.





This four day, three night get-together was chuck full of laughter, lolly-gagging, and plenty of...
dirt.



Alyza's older sister, and cousin Lucy enjoyed bathing her in dirt. I think Alyza enjoyed having it poured on her as much as they enjoyed pouring it.



The last morning we woke up to three meese just outside our tent trailor. (ok, so I know moose plural is still moose, but it really SHOULD be meese.)
.

So there you have it, my summer trips. We had a ton of fun!
And I think I just barely got caught back up on my laundry from it all too- oh,yes!

Is somebody there?

Ever since we decided to clean out the laundry room with the plan of turning into a big walk-in pantry, I've felt a sense of uneasiness when I go in there...




...I can't help but get the feeling that I'm being watched.

...Priceless

Red, white and blue striped swim suit: 12 dollars.



Plastic swimming pool: 10 dollars



Water toys: 8 dollars



Snuggling up to Grandpa to get warm:

PRICELESS!

Little Grown-Up

Growing up one of four girls there was one thing I left behind when I had moved out,

sharing clothing...

...or so I thought.

Isabella has had a thing lately for raiding our closet and coming up with mommy and daddy outfits.



She must see her dad as somewhat of a thug. While dressed in her dad get-up, she has a walk and a talk like that of a "G". She bobs her arms and head rythmatically all-the-while chantting "Suga, Suga". Which translated into my almost embarassingly obvious whiteness means "Sugar, sugar". Perhaps she is an aspiring rapper.




Thug love.




Now while dressed as mommy, she'll play a part for that too. She shakes her little shoulders and hips.




So apparently (in the eyes of a 4-year-old) Daddy's a want-to-be-"G", and mommy's very wiggly. None the less, we get a kick out of the interpretations!




Alyza has also had the pleasure of dress-ups.




Yes, even Koda has fallen victim to the mercy of the 4-year-old's hand.
He lay ever so still, as if hoping to blend into the wall behind him and out of sight of our harrassing laughter!

Bow-wow Birthday

"Whens my birthday?" Are the three words I have heard weekly from Isabella's lips since the Christmas season was over. Needless to say, this 4Th birthday has been much anticipated by the little lady for months.
Issy wanted to do a "puppy party". So,with that theme in mind, we made collars for each of the children, gave them a puppy nose, and put the little party-goers through puppy training where the practiced sitting, speaking, rolling over, & playing dead.



After training we did relay races. Each team had to crawl across the floor and eat "people-puppy-food" out of their dog bowl. Isabella (totally into dog role playing) made an off color comment that she "would go sniff the other dogs butts." I couldn't hold back my laughter, only encouraging her more I'm sure.

Then in entered Jake to help the pups get their dance on. And what more appropriate dance tunes for the occasion than "Who let the dogs out."



It was definitely the highlight of the party


Isabella had some mad dance skills!


This little cuttie had the air guitar down


Owens hyper-hop moves


Issy's shy side only made one appearance during the party, and it was when all the attention was on her for the birthday song.

Latter that evening we made her favorite dinner, she took a scooter ride with Jake, we roasted marshmallows in the fire pit, and finished the birthday event with a sleepover and movie in our tent in the backyard.

Totally content with the days events Isabella laid in her sleeping bag grinning and said "this day was a dream come true." That little comment alone made it all worth it.