If Brett says “Trouble in River City,” we all deploy–jumping up from our stations on the couch, in the kitchen, in the office–and off to find Nella. We usually find her in one of the following situations:
A: Making a bee-line for an open toilet.
B: In a mad dash crawl to mess up a line of crayons Lainey spent forty minutes organizing from lightest to darkest shade.
C: Going for a bottle of rum (yes, this happened. It broke, and now we don’t keep rum in the pantry).
We got trouble in River City a lot these days.
At the bottom left corner of this mirror, you can always find little tiny lip prints.
Sneaking the dogs crackers. She flings them really fast and laughs when the dogs catch them in the air.
I bought our first gallon of apple cider this weekend. I simmered some with mulling spices this afternoon and drank a hot cup while I watched Lainey chalk out palm trees and little people on cement that was equally hot.
I am willing the sun to dial it down a bit while still enjoying the summer that dwells somewhat eternally here.
We are doing exactly what I intended for September. Slowing down a bit, staying in, having people over for dinner and upping our candle usage by a few hundred percent.
Pasta and Wine Saturday night
It’s a cozy mentality, and I like the way it seeps into everything these days. I swear I talk slower–although I’m sure Brett would beg to differ.
Catching bubbles.
Snail Family. Big Daddy, Little Mama, Brother and Baby Sister.
We spent the afternoon at the library this afternoon, and I had knots in my stomach because I felt like all the librarians were looking at me–peering deep into my soul where my late fees fester. Librarians know these things, I am sure. Trouble in River City–they can smell it. I am also sure my fear of cops and librarians says something disturbing about my psyche, but either way, I’ve decided I’m going to clean up my library act and find a responsible way to make harmony in the book borrowing department.
I like it there way too much not to fix this.
And so do my girls.
So we left making wishes in the fountain to be better book-borrowing citizens and were on our way home.
And now, I’m off to pack bags. Brett’s headed to South Beach for work, and we decided to head over with him to spend time with an old friend and explore the city for a couple days. City, culture, colors and no agenda–just the way I love it.
*****
Congratulations to the winner of a new slow cooker, courtesy of Relishrelish.com.
Comment #68, Hazel: Kelle, you crack me up, with your crazy escapades, you must have more than a little of Anne of Green Gables in you! Nice bruise, how talented of you to make it kite-shaped! I always bruise easily and am forever wondering where they came from. Your girls are both growing up so beautifully.
Hazel. Love your name. Love your Anne with an “e” reference. Now get on up and send me your contact info, if you please, so you can be a slow cookin’ champ.
*****
Just Ducky Originals returns as a sponsor this month with their classic children’s clothing, all made in Asheville, North Carolina. You can sign up to host a fall home show here or shop online here. (Check out their beautiful holiday attire!) Just Ducky also allows you to custom design items by selecting patterns and alternating fabrics of your choice.
Lainey’s dress: Contrast Jumper in Rosy Corduroy and Red Snow Dot
Nella’s dress: Contrast Jumper in Vintage Bow and Vintage Rose Dot
The quality is impeccable, and the fit is sublime. Shop Just Ducky HERE and to get your items shipped free use code FREE SHIPPING.
*****
More from South Beach later this week. Happy Monday!
Oh, and your stories from 9-11 were beautiful. I read every one, and it’s amazing the way everyone remembers every single detail from where there were that day. Thank you for sharing.
can’t wait to see and hear your take on south beach. what a great place to people watch. miss the library…used to take the girls there ALL the time. need to get back on that:)
…with a capital “T” and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool. Love those musical tunes. And I break out into that song every now and then when my granddaughter gets into something she’s not supposed to.
Loving the library shots.
As always, gorgeous photos of you and your wonderful family.
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Love it. I am rushing fall here in Seattle with my pumpkin spice candle. I can’t wait to be cozy and fall into,a routine with our newest edition (set to arrive in the early winter). P.S. You look SO skinny in the mirror picture- you are one hot mama:)
Love this post.
Random note: we have that same treat holder thing for our dogs too.
Have fun in South Beach! 🙂
If it makes you feel any better, librarians themselves are usually pretty bad at returning books on time.
The closest I’m going to get to South Beach this week is if I decide to try the South Beach Diet. Have fun! xo
I love seeing your take on September & the season changes you are gradually welcoming! Here in Australia, we’re saying goodbye to Winter & embracing for the warmth & magic of Spring 🙂 I love that we can be living different seasons from you at the exact same time…..yet reading your blog makes it feel like you are so close by! I took my 3yr old to America last month for a 3 week holiday & now when I show her your blog & photos, she can understand why you’re swimming when we’re snuggled in blankets drinking hot chocolate & we’re taking beach/sun trips whilst you’re bunkering down from the cold 🙂 It’s cool! I like it 🙂
Happy trip away Kelle! Can’t wait to see your blog when you return!
xo
oh man, we can so relate to trouble in river city these days! Lily is OBSESSED with the toilet. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve caught her..scooping a drink for herself:( it wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t have a houseful of boys who can’t remember to flush! argh!
Love those darling jumpers!
p.s. i bet twenty people will ask but…where did you get Nella’s flower shoes??? love them!!
What a lovely post.
I’m relatively new to your blog but am loving looking through your previous posts…
Your girls are beautiful and so is your home! 🙂
Ashley xxx
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who is a horrid book borrower. We’ve taken to calling our library books “rentals” because I’m pretty sure we have fines every time we go!
Now I have tried to comment like 8 times, but blogger hates me, so if they all somehow went through, sorry for being stalkerish.
I don’t go to the library. I feel too guilty, I always always ALWAYS am late. Always. And then I feel awful. So I spend a billion dollars on books. And then, I don’t let Matt give them away, even if they are horrible and have no plot and I hate them. Because really, I am like a hoarder who only hoards books.
So…do you consider homeschooling an option? Just curious because my kids all spent at least four years or more as “homeschool geeks” and I often wonder if they will raise second generation “homeschool geeks”…;-)
I laughed out loud when I read of your fear of the librarians. I regretfully admit I am right there with ya sister. I need to become a better book borrowing citizen. Maybe there is a new wave therapy or medication we can take for our nagging problem…LOL. Have fun in South Beach!
I’ve always assumed people who rack up late fees are the librarians’ favorites. The library can always use more money, right?
You just inspired me to take Chloe to the library more. And I LOL’ed over you and the library late fees.
Candle burning is on the rise in our home too. I can’t get enough of the new fall scents! My favorite these days is from Yankee Candle. It’s called “Pumpkin Buttercream”. It’s heavenly! You MUST get it! You’ll love it! 🙂
Hope you have a great trip with Brett & the girls! Travel safe! xo
~ Katie
I have got to say, cleaning up your “library act” SO worth it. I always had like a bajillion dollars in fees…I always wanted to go but just knew that THEY would *know*. My innocent browsing wasn’t going to fool them.
I payed my dues….And made some vows (I mean privately the Librarians didn’t make me say some thing weird, promise).
I have started hanging the receipts (our library gives paper receipts when you check out) on the side of the refrigerator and circling dates on the calender so I KNOW when books are due. We also set up a special library-book spot in the livingroom: it cuts down on the frantic searching on “library day”.
It’s worth it…Have a nice trip!
I like to think of late fees to the library as donations to a good cause. I love the library; love to read; love to peruse all those books; love it all. But I am terrible about remembering to return books…and I live TWO blocks away from the library. 😐
So glad I’m not the only devot library visitor with late fees! 10 cents here and there can quickly add up to a whole lot of dodging around the book shelves to hide from the little ladies with dagger glares!
It has turned chilly and autumnal here, but I am in denial and persist in wearing my summer sandals! We love the library too – current favourite bedtime read is Lulu Loves The Library, too. Enjoy your holiday – look forward to hearing about it. p.s. Just curious really – what age do children start school in the US? New school year has just started here – can’t believe my eldest will be starting next Sept . (Children go when they are 4 here.)
Kelle can’t wait to hear about what kind of trouble Nella gets into while you are on your trip lol. I love the dresses they look so cute in them. Hope you have a wonderful time.
Your library looks beautiful. I’m glad you’re making use of it. My husband is a librarian and I worked in the field too. We’re really not that scary. (and a lot of us don’t even believe in late fees!)
I like the fact that Nella already loves herself (kisses on the mirror!). And when the librarian gives me “the look” for the late fees, I just say, “Hey, we built this library and are working towards another! Job security for you, right??!!” Try THAT one on her! Shuts em right up!
Kelle, I love your clothes and style, if you ever clean your closets out this Seattle girl will take your old clothes, I’ll even pay for shipping : )
3 cheers for style!
Thank you Kelle for being down-right awesome. Honestly, because of you I picked up a camera, started a blog, and am looking forward to rereading my life post by post as I fall in love, start a family and build a life. You are one amazing woman with a beautiful family. When my days are grey I truthfully turn to your blog just to see a picture of Nella laughing. Thank you for all that you do.
Elizabeth
aphotographicyesterday.com
Wow, I’ve just started reading your blog and was quite surprised to see Just Ducky as a sponsor. I live in Asheville, but I wasn’t aware that the brand was well-known elsewhere. Small world!
I just tell our libraians its my way of supporting the library-they get to buy more books because I am always late…just not good if hubby returns it by mistake-he obsesses about the 15 cent fine…I’ve paid up to–well, we just won’t say! ; ) Blessings, Sharon ps/LOVE the trouble in river city! Too cute!
I’m totally a rule followers too and find myself mega-paranoid in situations like library fees…oh man you should see how guilty I feel going through airport security….seriously. Remind me some time to tell you about being in Italy at the airport going thru customs and a drug-bomb-whatever-sniffing beagle sniffed out a forgotten orage in my bag! I was mortified and am still afraid it’s on my passport record somewhere–illegal fruit smuggling! The girls r more beautiful than ever! Enjoy So Beach. xo
Love Lainey’s smile whilst she’s writing with the crayons (safely above Nella messing up height!)
We love our library too.
Thanks Kelle for the slow cooker, a nice surprise to find when I opened this post- I’ve just sent you an email.
we are the worst book borrowers too. i only let us take out 1 at a time now so the fees don’t get too steep! good luck on your resolution – hoping it will rub off on us too!
Oh, I wish I was at my condo in So. Beach..I am a great gramma helper. Not to be a Debbie downer but are you aware of the air pollution from candles? Goggle danger of indoor burning..
I love the library too….I need to make it there’d more often.
Ha! I too, am a horrible book borrower. I never don’t have fines due at the library.
We have 5 people in our family and everyone but the baby has a library card so that way we can use the card with the smallest fine. Maybe you should try it but beware if you give the librarian the card with the 28 dollars in fines by accident they give you the stink eye.
I just paid $20 to buy a new copy of a grossly overdue Winnie-the-Pooh book that I can’t find anywhere. I can’t believe how much better I feel. And now I can take the boys to story time tomorrow without feeling like a criminal.
I would pay my hard-earned cash to watch Nella wing those dog crackers into the air, laughing with glee, as the dogs snap ’em up!!
Please consider a video? ::grins::
I’ve been real curious about Lainey and school. My 4 year old goes to a Mother’s Day Out and will start Kindergarten next year.sniff..sniff..
I’d love to hear what your current plans are and if Lainey attends any preschool type programs.
The picture of Nella simply took my breath away. I always love looking at your pictures, but the way the lines of cobblestones fade – her beautiful blue eyes letting in the sunshine just right. I think it might be the most perfect picture out of all your perfect pictures I’ve seen. She’s absolutely beautiful, and your love for your babies keeps me checking my blog dashboard just to see if you’ve posted more pictures. I miss Florida tremendously, and it’s nice to find a little connection to heaven on the internet.
Could I be any more jealous that you are headed to South Beach?????
Hello!! I have just been recommended by a treader to pop over and check out your bloggy!! Gorgeous images – gorgeous family !!
Love the “Trouble in River City!” We have SO much of that going on here with our little 19mo girl. She kept pulling out the drawers today and smiling at me after I said no. In…. out…. smiling…. in….. out….. smiling…. reaching her hand in while staring right at me. she didn’t even look at what she was pulling out, just whipping out the items 100 mph, all while staring at me smiling. She’s my 4th and it’s really hard to not laugh about such naughty behavior. But oh man, is there trouble in River City over here. : )
I love the baby’s dress. Oh my gosh. SO ADORABLE. Adorable to the max. : )
You look super skinny. Have a fun trip!
those little girl dresses are so damn cute – i want to have a girl just so I can buy one! My 13 month old’s apparent goals in life are to eat the dog food, mess up his brother’s trains and splash in the toilet like it is the freaking swimming pool. We call it a “Code Scrunch” because he always scrunches his face up in this devious way as he is making a beeline to the forbidden activity. It’s amazing how fast we jump up and drop everything to try to reach him in time!
Gorgeous pics of you and Lainey at the end! So sweet:)
I can sooo relate to being a library delinquent! I had a novel from my junior year of high school that I returned the night before I left for college. On a separate occasion I racked up a $64 late fee! How does a person even do that?! It’s so weird, too, because I’m totally a Type A personality in every other area of my life! Hmph. My secret shame!
I love your “code word” One of the families I nanny for had one.. but it was when they were moving, and when I yelled it we all ran around like maniacs trying to get the place “presettable” for whoever was coming by to take a look. I am sure for an onlooker it would have been just about hilarious.
Those are just about the cutest dresses ever. I can’t wait till I have children of my own and I can own a few of those!
I seriously love how colorful your life is. Have I already said that? Well, I am sorry.
Kelle, I am a librarian and get some of my best “soul moments” by talking to the children who come in and visit us. Please don’t worry… we love having you there! (We don’t have cop badges either!:) Keep fueling those little girls’ imaginations!
September slowdown= relaxing preparation for a season of incredible memory making and celebration of tradition in the near future! Trouble in River City seems like a whole lotta’ laughs! Makes me giggle!
Swear. Nella and Lucy are bosom buddies. She LOVES her some open toilet! We call her the destroyer.
Wow. Fancy library! Our library has a new system that has saved us (so far!) from further overdue books and accumulating late fees: an email reminder two days before they’re due! Love it, and worth checking into!
I love to peek in a read your words- you are such a wonderful writer. Just as others inquired curious where you find you adorable shoes for the girls; tried to find Nella’s red one, but no luck. You’re family is B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!!!!!! Loving all the pics!
My library has a system I signed up for that links to my library account that notifies me a few days ahead of when my books are due AND lets me renew them from home! i love it….still i cant deny that i havent been racking up the late fees much too frquently these last few months, but luckily the ladies at the checkout counter always drop them down to something not to scary so i can keep happily taking books out 🙂 see if they can cut you some slack for being a frequent visitor!
Ok, now you are just taunting me with those Salt Water sandals! So cute. Guess I’ll have to just google them!
They do reach that age where they are always getting into trouble- but they are so cute when they do it it is hard to be mad.
Beautiful pictures
Wow, Kelle…long time reader, first time writer (hehe) but I just had to comment. My mama (who lives at the bottom of lil ole New Zealand) says ‘Big trouble in River City” when something is happenin’ <3 reminds me of her!
I’m an SLP in NZ and I work with lots of children who have an extra chromosome (which is how I found your blog), and Nella is just the cutest little button…and Lainey the cutest big button! You are also a VERY talented photographer. What a lucky lady you are!! Take care 🙂 Beth
Oh the beauty of being a stay at home mom….getting to go with Daddy on a business trip, love it!
Have a wonderful time in SB! Love this blog…you inspire me in many ways:).
LOVE the dresses on your girls!
Our trips to the library turned into trips to the bookstore .. bad bad bad..
Have a great vaca!
I totally noticed your girl’s dresses in the library photos. Love them. We LOVE our libraries…we go to a couple of different ones and they have totally different feels.
Library Elf. It’s my secret to reducing fees. I get an email and a text reminding me a few days before books are due, every day until they are due. My library also emails us, and so I very rarely have those fees any longer. It makes the library experience a lot less guilt inducing.
Library fines should not be looked at as bad. You most likely are one of its top contributors. At least that’s how I think of it. 🙂 we are building better libraries one late fee at a time!
1) confession – i still have an outstanding library fine from my childhood home in the north. (reason: i sent a library book to my boyfriend 3 states away when i was 15 & never got it back…why did i do that???) I am now 31 & fearful to go back to that library. oh dear…
2) well, you just became cooler in my book with loving Anne of Green Gables. i’m 99% confident I can quote all 3 of those movies straight through. my dream vacation? prince edward island. someday i will get there.
I just want to tell you that I found your blog last night via a facebook friend. I am finding myself wanting to read every entry, straight through. Unfortunately, laundry and household chores are calling, so your blog will be my “little treat” to myself.
I live in Naples also, and am adoring every beautiful photo. Being 8 months pregnant with a very unexpected fourth child right now, I cried for 30 minutes over Nella’s birth story last night. Your raw honesty and beautiful words ripped my heart out and then put it back in its rightful place all within that one post. Your family is beautiful. Thank you for sharing them.
I have read your blog for a while and this is the first time for me to post a comment. I totally related to Trouble in River City. It made me smile. The toilet bowl has been a place of facination for my boy who also has Down syndrome. We simply just say loudly that Ethan is on the move, so that we can all jump into action. Love your blog.
You’re heading on over to my neck of the woods this week 🙂 If L & N need some playdates, I have 2 little girls that would love to join them for some fun! Maybe a zoo date? Let me know!!!
Also, we just moved down from VA and I’m totally craving Fall (and for all this daily afternoon raining to be over). Ya never know how much you miss 60 degrees and long sleeve shirts ’til their not an option.
Anyway, hope you have fun this week!!
they’re* not their
When you pay your late fees give them a big ole smile and say “you’re welcome” – because the people who borrow books and return them on time are doing nothing to help the library raise money to buy the books we all love so much!! Without people like you (and me, let’s be honest) the library would be a lesser place!! At least that’s what I tell myself when I hand over my late fee money once a year. haha
Loved your post. I am off to buy apple cider and pumpkin donuts………. Cooler weather should hit Florida around the end of November just as we are starting to freeze up here. susan
Really, Kelle, as a children’s librarian, let me assure you, we
don’t really care about your fines.
We have fines ourselves. We just want you to use our books and teach
your children to love us.
“little tiny lip prints”…..Oooohhh, my favorite part of this post! I can imagine Nella perfectly; the little sounds she probably makes with her mouth as she kisses and the way her fingers do a little tap, tap, tap….or a SLAP, SLAP, SLAP against the mirror 🙂 Nora just discovered herself in the mirror a few weeks ago; like REALLY thinks there’s another baby she’s talking to and touching….sweetest thing. I posted a new album on FB called Family Camp, where I have a series of Nora in the mirror pics if you want to see. (not great quality, but soooo glad I captured it :).
Have fun on your trip….Aaah, “culture”….now that would be nice on a more regular basis. I’m always craving a little culture in our “stuck in a rut” town, so I’m again reminded to be thankful for our little Civic Theater (that has red shag carpet lining the stairs :)less than 1/2 a block away from our home. Next up: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory coming in November 🙂
OH! And their jumpers and Nella’s floral shoes!!!!! LOVE!
Blessings to you sweet girl,
Kelly
xoxo, Bug & Ruby’s Gram
I always burn with shame at the checkout station when I’m at the library. I just KNOW that the librarians look at me and think “There’s that lady who owes $3.41! Do you know how many books have to be late for how long to owe $3.41?!?”. Yeah…
Kelle, I knew we had something deeper in common; AnnE of Green Gables… the books and movies are my favorite of all time. I read a comment above about Prince Edward Island being a dream vacation spot, I feel the same way! They were so magical!!
Oh my goodness… the joy this brings me to know she is into everything is comparable to little.
I love little explorers:)
she needs a safari hat.
Oh, dear Kelle! 🙂
Since I am your faithful admirer and a library manager I _must_ ask what this librarian-thing is?
;-D
Many people think that libraries of 2011 is like their childhood school libraries were in the seventies or eighties. Which they aren’t.
Public libraries, these days, are meeting places, places for culture, having fun, seeing something unexpected and maybe discovering something that changes your life.
My belief – and what I get up and work for every day- is the idea that libraries can change lives, for the better.
In my country public libraries are the only public places where you can go and “just be”, just sit, read a magazine or do whatever you want without opening a wallet or having an excuse!
…. sorry – didn’t mean to give a lecture!
But please, do tell, what this library-thing is!!!!!!
GREAT that you raise the topic, I love every opportunity to modify people’s (often wrong) ideas of what a library is and does.
Have a wonderful time with Brett and the girls and your friend!
This one cracked me up. When my little guy is out of sight, we know it will most likely lead to trouble too – he LOVES to splash in the toilet bowl (if we forget to put the seat down, loves to pull all my “stuff” off every shelf & out of every drawer, and many other things which I shall not name. 🙂 Keeps us young and on our toes, right?! 🙂
so, what does it say about us that my husband is considered adding a line in the family budget for “parking tickets”…hmmmmm…
and, oh shoot! you reminded me I need to renew our borrowing of a blues clues dvd…
Oh man, a code word is a great idea! I need to think of one for our house. Arya is 13 months and into everything that is not hers. I love that Nella throws the dog crackers for the dog. I’m pretty sure Arya would just eat them. I bet the baby giggles that come from that adventure are just heart melting. 🙂
Hi Kelle! I’m a librarian myself and I assure you, we’re not scary! In fact, the fine you’re so worried about is probably not a big deal at all. We see patrons every day with HUNDREDS of dollars in fines…so I’m sure any damage you’ve done will not be anything near that! Anyways, talk to the librarian and tell her/him you want to take care of your fine. If the patron (you in this case) is nice, I always make a deal with them. I’ll waive half if you pay half, etc. And stop fearing the librarians! We’re nice, I swear!!!
The picture of Nella with her hand in the dog treat jar made me laugh so hard! I can just see my two year old doing the same thing. Great post.
So, I’ve been following your blog since a friend of mine posted Nella’s births story. (I’m not creepy I swear :)) I have just never left a comment, until now. After reading her story I fell {in love} with your blog! I love every single post. I love how you capture every day {simple} moments. You have such an amazing way of capturing them. I’m in the midst of saving up for a camera, and hope to be able to capture moments like you do as well. I know I won’t come close to how beautifully you do it, but I’ll try. Thanks for letting me read your blog 🙂
Brittney
Så fine jentene dine er —> Sweet girl you have!
GIRLS
I too, get in trouble with librarians. We love going to the library but whenever we want to check out a book I have to sheepishly walk up to the counter and ask them not to be mad at me! I’ve decided that librarians should LOVE people like us because we keep them in business!
Dear Kelle –
Ok – I have to fess up. I have been reading your blog religiously for the past couple of months. And I must admit how much I love it. You bring me to tears, make me laugh out loud and just generally brighten my day with each post you write. But at the same time this anexity has been creeping up on me…like I am reading someone’s private journal or standing outside someone’s home looking through their window while they eat dinner with their family. You are so honest and open and just seem to make the reader feel like they know you. Even though you don’t know them.
My anxeity has gotten so great – I even had a dream last night that I ran into you and your girls (even though this could never happen as I am 3,000 miles away in California – i promise – not a stalker)
Anyway – dream me was so excited to see dream you that I ran over to say hi – dream you promptly and rightly ran away protecting yourself and your girls from the crazy lady who you didn’t know.
Ahh- I know – what a weirdo right?
Anyway just wanted to thank you for your writing and photography. You really are amazing at putting words together and your photos really capture that je ne sais quoi. The little posts inspire me to capture that each day!
Thanks again!
Pamela
I wanted to let you know that my boyfriend and I are planning an unplugged date on Saturday! Money is a little tight and we wanted something special to do – thanks for the inspiration!
Great blog, and I, too, have a library fee issue. I wish I could pay it online via credit card and avoid the awkward look from the checker (ummm…hmmmm…are you aware you have a fee of $42? Do you want to see a list?) Gosh no, and I pay happily, realizing it’s the deal of the century for three months worth of entertainment. Yeah, we lose books, and while I wish I had all my ducks in a row in that area…I don’t. But you should see me shine in my GOOD areas! I’d blow you away! And you blow me away Kelle. It’s all good, let it go, enjoy the library, find the nice checkers, and hold your head high. Enjoy!
We are slowing down too – love this time of year. Cider sounds yummy & I just may have to run out & grab some tomorrow!
Okay – you need to have at least ONE token response from a living, breathing librarian! I am one, and please, everyone – admit that I’m not scary! Also (in response to you, Kelle, and several other posters): 1. Librarians are normally looking with glee at people bringing their kids in to look at books but are just too shy to show it. 2. We normally have more late fines than anyone else in the place (true story!) – most libraries still charge their staff fees, and because we’re always there and always bringing stuff home to look at, it’s impossible to keep it all straight.
Don’t feel badly about fines, any of you! Be grateful that you have the chance to get them – and aren’t spending the money on buying all the books instead. Save it for college funds or what-have-you – and think of the fines as donations for the fun you had with the book. ;o)
Okay. “nuf being preachy. Your girls are beautiful, Kelle, and thanks (as always!) for sharing.
I read this post right before I went to sleep last night. I ended up having a dream about chasing Nella all over the place keeping her out of harm’s way! At one point ( in my dream). She wriggles out of her car seat (while I was inside getting a forgotten item) and put the car in gear and rolled down the driveway…. I was able to stop the car before any damage was done! Hahaha! She just sat there making ‘o’s” with her mouth and giggling a very cute little giggle…. I’m going to read your posts in the morning from now on!
Little lip prints in the lower left hand corner- LOOOOVVEE her.
Kelle,
Your blog always brings smiles! … I laughed when I read your “trouble in river city” episodes because although our “quick! trouble at hand” events take place on the other side of the world they are remarkably similiar!! We have a 1 yr 10 month old boy with down syndrome and his mischieviousness is increasing daily too! (His beehive for open toilets took a turn for more danger when he learned to open bathroom doors this month… bottles of soy sauce or vinegar in my pantry are never safe and it has taken days to get odors out of the kitchen after whole bottles have been poured out and I have found an excited boy spashing in the proudly created puddles… his older brothers would never spend such a long time lining up crayons but are equally intense and protective as our little one attacks lego creations)
Hope that you have a wonderful trip!
Angela from Asahikawa, Japan
I LOVE how you get so into the seasons! Cant wait to hear all about South Beach. I know I am a few days late, but I wasnt near a computer when you posted about 9/11 and asked readers to share. So I wanted to share, if it is ok, Kelle. I loved reading about where you were on that day, ten yrs ago. My dtrs were aruond your age back then, 18 and 21, but they were living 700 miles away from me. One in college, the other working and just trying to get over a rather serious kidney infection. I so wanted to go to her but, of course, the country was shut down. Me- I had taken the day off work, so I was at home. I was driving, to do some errands. I heard on the radio and I just couldnt make sense of it. I had to find the nearest parking lot for a store and just park the car. Just STOP and listen. I sat in my car alone, and sobbed. Like most, I was in shock. I think most of us will always rmemeber where we were at that very moment. Love from the Blog Mama~
Your photos are so full of light and love. Your words feel as though they come from my heart and say the things I want to say but am just not quite as eloquent. Thank you, as always, for sharing.
My Elliott has the duck dress that your littlest is wearing in the earlier shots. I just love it on her at playtime as I do yours.
I use to be the BAD library borrower. But now I have a system. All of the kids library books go on a table in one of their bedrooms and my books go on a certain bookshelf. Since we are at the library every week or every other week they are always getting returned on time. Also I am HUGE on the online library card – see if your libarary has it. I get emails when books are almost due, I can go online and renew them and I can also go online and request books and they call me once they get them.
I love that phrase “trouble in river city!” I have a deep love for the secret language of the family. It’s something anthropologists might never understand in the future.
Anna
http://lassothemoon.typepad.com
I’ve been meaning to leave a comment for a while. Anyway, I have to say that you have the best name and I LOVE how you spell it. My name is Kelle as well 🙂
I’ve enjoyed reading about you and your family. Your little girl Nella is the same age as my little guy…so I can totally relate to the stories of her escapades!
Another fabulous post. We take our grandchildren to he library they love to check out books. HugsP.S>I’m having my very first blog hop today Please stop by and link up your lovely blog.