Basket case

I have always loved what a great mix of girlie girl and tomboy Pantera can be. She has been way into littlest pet shop toys (which she begged me not to tell her guy friends about) and catching toads. The other day she was in a cute dress and her high heels, catching toads. She is very loving with her creatures, unless they jump out of her hands, then she threatens to feed them to various animals. She even talks like an adult, you know that thing we do when we are trying to scare a kid into doing what they should and we ask questions like they aren't there, for example "Mom, what kind of bird would eat a really bad toad? Just wondering because I might have to feed this little guy to something if he jumps away again."
As for Ezekiel, he carries his cars around EVERYWHERE he goes. They are always lined up and looking at him as he sleeps. He is talking more. Today at lunch Pantera asked him if he wanted to see a magic trick, he replied "No, eat."

Speaking of the word "no" it's Amari's favorite. Yesterday she walked into the kitchen where Zeke and I were. She looks at him with her death glare and says "no!" This caused a huge fight, which made her pretty happy. She has been into picking out her own clothes, sometimes from other people's drawers. Tonight she picked a buzz lightyear shirt with a tutu. Besides fighting her current favorite activity is carrying around this little basket and getting "Guck" or stuck over and over again. She is one funny little girl.

Amy Winehouse

I'm not a big follower of celebrities, but I must admit I was sad to see the headline about Amy Winehouse's death. I didn't listen to her music or know much about her other than that she was an out of control drug addict. For some reason I always felt we were kindred spirits...ok maybe it was just her big hair, layers of eyeliner and Jewish nose. But I will miss those things about her and I may just spray my poof one extra time today in her memory.

Pantera was so kind to model for me today. I think I love my new lens.

Captain Sparrow

I walked into Pantera's room on Saturday night and ran out laughing. On her wall was a note that reads "Dear mom. I really need rest. Please allow me to sleep in." Honestly, what pregnant mother of 3, is going to wake their kids up earlier then needed on any given day?


Jess was out of town for 10 days. In that time I completed 3 paintings for a friend. This is my favorite one-although it's a little overexposed in the pic, it's so humid my camera keeps fogging up.

If I was a fan of the movie, I would keep this for my house, I really love the way it turned out. I tried some new techniques and am really excited to do more.

Dutchess Amari

I just don't know how to tell her the royal wedding is over...

The trouble with bubbles

Have you ever noticed that when you dump an entire bottle of bubbles down your shirt, they are really hard to blow afterwards? Amari sat with her empty bottle of bubbles for about 15 minutes, trying so hard to make bubbles, poor thing. But life gets better if you put on a tutu! I put this on her today and she was struttin' her stuff! It's so funny how even at this age, they can tell if they are looking good.


Speaking of looking good, Pantera approached me last night asking if I could cut her hair short again. I told her that she would really regret it and she replied "I just need a new look, you know what I mean?" If anyone "knows what she means", it's me. So I asked what else we could do. She suggested coloring it all red...yikes, so we came up with a compromise. Red tips that she can have until school starts. She is planning on telling Jess that she is growing red hair like him, cuz it grows like that from the ends you know.

The above picture is of Zeke's toes. At nighttime-scratch that-all the time, Zeke is incredibly LOUD. It's hard to tell after I put him to bed if he is playing or whining for me. So he has ever so cleverly come up with a signal for "Mom, I need you!" Which is, toes under the door. I don't know why he chose this, but I must say I love it.

And here is a new pic of my expanding waistline. Still no name, although I am leaning towards Katurah and calling her Kat. I am also leaning towards switching doctors to deliver at the hospital I liked better. The only thing that stinks is my current doc is less then a mile from my house, slightly convienient. You don't think they would mind if I just switched right before delivery do you?

As good as it gets...

I built a frame for my backdrops and got a new backdrop, so my kiddos got to model.
I was dancing like a monkey behind a tripod, I really hope no one was looking through the window.

Ezekiel is making progress in his speech. He says "I pity the foo" whenever he sees Mr.T. Your next question is how often does he see Mr.T, daily my friend, daily.

Pantera is hoping for a certain teacher next year because she "speaks Spanish, French, and Germany!" She went to Nicholas's birthday party yesterday. I'm glad that after their rocky breakup and session with the school counselor, they are on speaking terms again. He did warn her to stay away from his grandpa because he would tease them.

Amari's attitude seems to grow with her pigtails. She is starting fights with Zeke left and right. She likes to ball up her chubby fist and knock on your head if you make her mad. Move over Jordan, there's a new tough Hammond in town! She turned 16 months on Fiday, the countdown for nursery begins!!!

Mario

Two weeks ago the kids and I took a trip to the humane society. We seriously just went to look, for something to do. After running from the incredibly noisy dog area we were face to face with what seemed like a million adorable kittens. As my kids were going crazy, my heart strings were tugged (it doesn't take much) and I put in the phone call to the boss. After getting the ok from Jess, we brought home Mario. Now we have 2 fierce hunters protecting our abode, I sleep much better at night. Poor thing probably had no clue what he was in for. The kids LOVE him. Zeke and Amari even pulled him into the tub with them the other night. His life will never be boring at least.

Butterflies

As I mentioned in a previous post, Meredith sent Pantera a caterpillar to butterfly kit. The whole process was amazing. They were in their cocoons within 4 days of arriving. About a week later we checked on them around noon and nothing had happened. I checked again around 2pm and 3 had emerged! Within 24 hours we had 5 butterflies. Pantera was so proud. She kept talking about how she "raised them from larvae and now look at them!" She was also very proud to teach them how to fly. The very best part for her was carefully handling them as she set them free, a bittersweet learning moment.

You know that old wives tale about if a butterfly lands on you stomach while you are pregnant, then you will have a redheaded baby? Well, good news! See the picture of the red with black polka dots? That's my belly!!! I'll take 1 out of 4.

"Baby you're a firework!"

We went to our old stomping grounds last night to see fireworks. It is so amazing to me that an area with about 700 people goes all out for every holiday. I have honestly never seen a better firework show. Pantera was so happy to watch and even happier to catch fireflies while we watched. Ezekiel was hilarious, his face was priceless, grinning from ear to ear and asking "Donna be moe?" (Gonna be more?). Amari was just tired and didn't really care either way. I was thrilled to have my camera out and try some night shooting. Family, friends, my camera...life is good! Happy 4th of July!

Clean up

Zeke is going to make some girl very happy some day...
He woke up the other morning with the "clean up" song stuck in his head and was singing it throughout the day. That night he got into the dish towels and a cupboard and went to work. He was so cute mumbling his song and then pausing to give an evil laugh every so often "Clean up, clean up, HAHAHAHAHA!!!" So I am assuming he was being the worlds worst super villian.

Oh no evil Zeke, anything but the dishes!!!

I was, oh what's the word....stupid and showed him how to use the stepstool in the bathroom. Now if we want to wash our hands we must first clear the sink of whatever he has been washing.

Zeke has been super cooperative in his speech therapy. Mrs. Kristi points to her mouth to get him to look at what she is doing alot. So whenever he talks to her he does the same thing, I love it.