Dali!

It's "M" week at Vale's school. Ms. Stacey gave them mustaches yesterday. Vale is channeling her inner Salvador Dali.

Climbing Dome!

We* worked hard this morning to put the dome together!  I'm not sure which was more difficult - tightening a ba-jillion bolts or keeping the kids off of it until it was good and secure.  We were so thankful for the gorgeous day. We spent about five hours building the dome and playing on it.  The Brooks even came down to join us for about an hour.  It's certainly going to be a fun neighborhood attraction!

It didn't take her long to get the hang of it. Ha ha.

Even Beck tried his hand at climbing with a little help from Daddy.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Happy & Pops!! What a wonderful Christmas present to both them and me.  You've given my furniture and cabinets another 10 years of life.

I'll post a video a bit later today.

*And by "we," I really mean Thomas. I helped a tiny bit.

Some Christmas Eve Pictures

These are pretty much the only pictures I took all weekend. If anyone else got some good ones, do share!

Halloween Video

Thought you might like to see a snippet of our Halloween in motion.  Check out how small Beck's outfit really is and how fast that Buzz can move to get some candy...

Up next, some videos from Beck's last dance creative movement class.  Nothing super exciting, but cute nonetheless.

Oh, and there's a certain little monkey that we're all dying to see pictures of.

Vale versus Cricket

Don't worry, neither Vale nor the cricket were harmed in the making of this video.  Sorry that I am just now posting this. It's so funny!

Vale v Cricket from MNR on Vimeo.

Beck is really walking

Beck woke up from his morning nap yesterday and decided that he wanted to walk. He has been walking, as you know, but all of a sudden he started walking about 75% of the time.  It's cute watching him try to keep up with Vale.  This video isn't a great example of his walking, but it's a wonderful picture of our daily lives.  Please note Vale's new bathing suit we got yesterday for the beach. 

What's the official countdown, Katie?? How many weeks?  Days?

Vale = Ellen Davis?

Here's what Vale's hair looks like freshly washed these days.

Look how long it is!

And, I'm really only posting these pictures because there's just something about these two that remind me of Ellen.  Does anyone else see it?

I knew I married into a bi-racial family,

but I had no idea my husband was half African-American.

This is by far the funniest comment I've had on my blog.  Thank you, Anonymous, whoever you may be. Thank you.

"Your biracial daughter is beautiful. My daughter has hair like your daughters and my husband is biracial like your husband (half african american) and in order to control my daughters hair I have to use this stuff I get from target called blue magic. Gorgeous photos." 

Speaking of the B-word

Look at these cute little booties!

There were plenty more naked ones to be seen at the party last night, but I'm afraid the photos are not internet-appropriate.  Here are a few more shots of Benjamin and Katie's visit. I really, really don't know what I would have done without her here.  She was a lifesaver!

One of three baths Benjamin took yesterday...my kids had two each :)  Summer time = dirt.

A few party details and some out takes. More will follow on The Richie Four blog...

This was Beck's opinion of the cake and his party in general. He was much happier when we got him out of his chair and let him crawl around all by himself in the yard. Like father, like son.

Below is best family picture we got all night. Oh, our children. They make us laugh and pull our hair out at the same time. Beck was dazed because of the torture he underwent "eating" his cake. Vale was pouting and said that she had soap in her eyes? Whaaaa? So funny!

"What the hell just happened to me?"

"Seriously, yo. Not cool. And mom, would you mind holding me, er, differently? For real!?"

"Yeah, mom and dad, you're chipper. YOU got to drink a beer."

We love you guys and wish the rest of you were there!!

We Love Blueberries

A What??

(Vale on her way to Georgia's "Princess" birthday party. 
She wouldn't wear a dress, but boy did she love to accessorize!)

Tonight, Vale was running around in nothing but her panties.  We asked her to pick something up (and she was obeying!) when all of a sudden she stopped, started grabbing at her undies, and said

"Hold on! I've got a Yankee."

Excuse me?

"Vale," Thomas said, "what did you say?"

"I've got a Yankee!"

"What's a Yankee?

"Stuff up in my bottom." (still picking at her panties.)

"Do you mean a wedgie?"

"Yes! Hold on! I got a wedgie."