Su-weeet!

Cool, huh! Jared decided that Pearl's hand me down computer needed a little flair...

So, one free travel mouse from an old Intel promotion, a can of teal spray paint and some glitter spray paint later... wa la!
Again with the taking apart of this computer - I think it's been done about 7 times, like the time he fixed the screen he stepped on, the time he replaced the power receiver, and the USB port, you get the idea. I've seen it come apart and together enough times now that I trust him... mostly. (there was the time he snapped my cell phone in two when he was putting a new color cover on...)
He did get the kids to help put it together for at least a few minutes... Seriously, if you were 7 wouldn't you want a sparkly teal computer?
And, of course, the final garish touch, stickers strategically placed by the girl herself:)

Skills

Max has some new skills...

He is in LOVE with his fingers! He gets them in any chance he can. I love his funny slurping noises.
Love my sweet baby!
This is creating a large drool spot continuously on his neck, but he doesn't seem to mind!

Pearl is 7!

So, for her actual birthday, she began the day a bit disappointed in the lack of party decorations (I know, bad mom...). She had requested McDonald's for lunch (gag) and Sizzler for dinner (hopefully her taste will improve with age...). So, while she and Sam and Dad were at McDonalds, I toddled off to the barn to get the dolly and wheel her VERY heavy birthday desk into the house all by myself. I put the legs on, and got the hutch connected and her vanity moved before she got home. I also set up a two generation old computer to be her very own to play Starfall and Webkinz on. Talk about a happy girl! I made her cover her eyes and we all yelled surprise - she loved it!

She fits perfectly in the pink office chair with the chair set all the way up:) Sam was thrilled that they will be playing more starfall (he likes to give her directions to follow...) and I am thrilled to have a computer set up dedicated to computer games for the kids. Don't tell Pearl, but I'm sure Sam will use it for his little preschool games when she's at school:)

The desk is big - big enough for the computer and ample space to do homework or other necessary art projects. This is her coloring in the fairy I drew from her new "how to draw a fairy" book (thanks, Tegan!). She promises she'll try the next one.

We got all her new colored pencils set up on the pegboard in an accessible place for her, and I gave her a stack of thank you cards. I've never seen her so motivated to write so many cards! She even made one for me:) She told me tonight that tomorrow she's planning on hanging out at her desk, playing starfall or writing things, and she is DEFINITELY doing her homework there from now on. Looks like it was a big hit, she feels very grown up in her new desk!

Her real present from me was her baby book, which I slaved over for months. I think it kind of took a back burner to all the webkinz, the cool charm set from Grandma Weir, and, of course, the hand-me-down computer that Daddy says he will paint pink for her. However, once we got a quiet moment, she really did enjoy looking at herself as a baby and reading everyone's memories of her. She has it set up in a prominent place on her desk, and later on she did say it was one of her favorite presents. Can't believe she's a gap toothed 7 year old, where does the time go! I love this little girl!

Hairy Tale

We have hair issues. I mean, Jared is pretty much the hairiest man I've ever met (well, now not so much on his head) and in combination with my Weir genetics it makes for an altogether hairy family.

On his business trip, he decided to grow a beard. I firmly object to the beard on the grounds that it's not that much fun to kiss. So, he figures, he's not going to see me for a week, why shave?
Pearl was quite fascinated with it. They had a great father/daughter bonding moment.

So, as Jared was getting de-haired and had the buzzer out, I decided it was time for Max to get rid of his "tuft."

Here it is in all it's glory. His womb hair just kept growing and growing and sticking straight up. Adorable, right? Yeah, until it's like 4 inches long and tickles your nose every time he's in the baby bijorn. It was time - yup, we buzzed the three month old!
This is the first pass - I know, it looks terrible. He looks a little bit like a badly shorn sheep.
This is after I evened it out with scissors a bit. I don't know what it is about little boys, but haircuts ALWAYS make them look older (sniff sniff) apparently even when they are babies!

Seriously, in this picture, can you even tell it's Max? Looks like Sam to me...

Funny Sam

Me: Sam, come here and put your sweatshirt on. It's cold!

Sam: No Mom! I'm running wild and free! (takes off...)

Pearl's 7th Birthday Party

Every year Pearl wants a party, and every year I say "let's just do a date with one friend..." Apparently, we are working from an every-other-year pattern (instigated by Pearl) of parties. However, this year (a party year, exhausting and expensive if you ask me...) I talked her into picking just 3 friends to see the EDMT production of the Wizard of Oz. What really convinced her was that our neighbor, Lindsay, (whom Pearl idolizes, I mean, come on, she's a 4th grader and very kind to Pearl) was going to be in it. Yeah for me! Easy party!

So, she invited Sophie, Makayla, and Tegan, and all the girls seemed to enjoy the show. The production was fabulous, and I loved that my Mom had my boys!
This is Lindsay and her neighborhood fans:) Afterwards, we went to the lunch buffet at Round Table (though Pearl and Makayla don't eat pizza, Pearl LOVES salad bars...). She had a fruit tart from the grocery store as her birthday cake (I know, bad mom, nothing homemade...but she doesn't like FROSTING!!!! How am I supposed to work with that?) and really enjoyed her gifts. I must say, having a small party is awesome for presents. Three (well four, Tegan's sister brought one too) gifts not only takes little time to unwrap but assimilates well into a room already too full of toys! She loved all of her gifts, these girls know her well!

We had a fun time on our girl's day - how grateful I am that I got at least one girl! Love you, Pearl!

Daddy's gone...:(

Since Jared has been gone, the following things have happened...

1. His side of the bed has been taken over by a permanent monument to partially folded laundry.

2. Sam is pretty sure I need a boy to sleep with me and is happy to take the job.

3. Max slept 8 hours! (bless him!)

4. Pearl got the amazing discovery that when we Skype daddy in the morning, it's NIGHT! And when we Skype him at night it's DAY!

5. I actually took the trash out. (It was trash day. I had no choice)

6. One frozen meal, one leftover baby shower meal, and one real meal at my Mom's house.

7. As I am boycotting cooking, he, apparently, is boycotting shaving!

8. I can turn the heat up to like 65 and nobody complains.

9. Pearl has a new wiggly tooth.

10. Max latched on to his own arm and gave himself a hickey. Ouch!

11. The older kids have to take like 1 1/2 hour baths so I can clean the kitchen and get the baby to bed - they don't seem to mind, but the bathroom floor gets awfully wet.

We miss you, Daddy! Come home soon!