experiencing technical difficulties

our computer has been erasing large quantities of pictures for no apparent reason and with no identifiable trace!  (just today, i called stover dad in tears after ending up with 5 of 79 uploaded pics.)   we're now backing up photos like mad, troubleshooting, and avoiding all edits.  therefore, in the meantime, we will be posting lame (aka sacrificial) and unedited (red-eyed, uncropped) leftovers-- ENJOY!

new family, new tradition

you may remember my post last summer about our family's end of the day, beat the heat, together time tradition.  this year, with a new family makeup, our activity is this....

(stover girl asks to lead the way, stover boy races to keep up, and stover baby tags along in the bjorn)

ps. the 4:00 pm dip in the kiddie pool still stands!

the greatest show on earth

our first circus outing delivered a mixed review:

- stover boy was immediately disgruntled by the volume and sat with his hands covering his ears for at least the first 30 minutes.  he also reported to dad that he wanted to go again but it was 'long'. 

- stover girl came equipped with a circus vocabulary of 'ringmaster' and 'acrobats' and wondered every 3 minutes about their whereabouts.  she also insisted in a rather smug manner that she should be a clown cause she 'has lots of tricks'. 
(see smug face below) (see 'tricks' below)

- mom enjoyed it the most- sitting on the edge of her seat with an obnoxious mouth-open smile!

pictures speak 7 words

these three sequential photos perfectly speak a thousand words.  here's just 7 of them:

• bond
• curiosity
• flattery
• playful
• pasttime
• contentment
• imitation 

my dad is my superhero because...

… he sold his beloved motorcycle for us

…upon arrival home, he drops everything to find a hiding child

... he gives formal goodbyes every morning

... he ensures his free time doesn’t interfere with the family schedule

... he passed on his intellectual prowess to the kids

... his nickname is ‘dad the silly’ but everyone else got dumb names

... he asks for so little

... he goes to work every day with very little complaint

first swim

stover kids were thrilled to find out that stover baby has a swimsuit!   

...stover baby was only mildly thrilled!

getting to know you

a few more things we know about stover baby: i'm guaranteed at least one smile as soon as she finishes her 6 oz. bottle, she is exceptional at avoiding eye contact when overstimulated, naps well only with her arms UNswaddled and only in the afternoon, is a very loud belcher, she enjoys her pacifier but spits it out like a rotten piece of gum when done with it, is currently experimenting with drooling and bubble blowing, she disappoints her scrapbooking mother by evading almost all flash photos (see proof below), and is instantaneously cheered by getting buckled in her carseat.

(the best of 72 photos!)

unfounded trepidation

stover kids began (rigorous, fast-paced, and tough) swimming lessons this week.  stover girl has been dying for class to begin; she loved swimming lessons last year and seems to have a natural ability to swim.  today she told me that she wants to be a swim teacher when she grows up.

i was a bit worried about stover boy's swim lessons.  last year, we took a mommy and me class and he spent the entire session (minus the last two days) screaming with resultant nightmares.  so, worries intact, i left stover baby with a friend for the first day of class.  (i imagined a scenario in which i'd be asked to pack up a newborn and sit outside the class due to tantrums.  or a scenario which had us hanging out in the 100 degree heat long after class was over due to noncompliance.)  day one and day two were a breeze.  he loved it and had model student behavior.  but i still had my doubts!  and on day three it looked like my fears would come true.  he began and ended class sobbing with a chorus of 'i want mommy' cries repeated throughout the hour; however, he composed himself long enough to complete what was asked of him.  day four (today) was predicated by 'i don't want to go' and some tears of anticipation;  however, his crying was quickly reduced to a whine and he ended class with a smile.  i am so proud of stover boy for discrediting my apprehension.

ps. stover baby doesn't seem to mind waiting for 2 hours with mom- perhaps a future swimmer!?

 

bite my tongue

while rushing to get to church on time, i paused my blowdryer to check on the kids' progress.  as is typical, stover girl was excitedly ready with as much done as she can independently do while stover boy was actively asserting his free agency to disobey.  ready to scold a bit-- i stumbled upon this...

how could i possibly be upset?

muddie buddies

the kids couldn't be any happier that work on our backyard was halted due to the downturn in the housing market--- they love to play in all the unintentioned dirt.  now that it's hot- water is almost always involved as well!  there are times i can't stand the muddy mess they track in the house, leave on their clothing, and spill on the porch.  and there are times stover dad can't bear to see the erosion of his beloved backyard project.  but overall... we can't resist letting them enjoy the hours and hours of entertainment the mud provides.

thank you miralax

stover baby is a bit of a stinker (no pun intended) when it comes to getting a decent picture.  a small window of alertness, a short tolerance for camera flash, and a preference of looking to the right all interact to prevent the perfect kodak moment.  but today, after 'restoring her body's natural rhythm', stover baby was quite accomodating and i was able to catch a smile!