Sam at Mills' Apple Farm

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OK, this is supposed to be Sam posing with his just-picked apples. Compliance is not his style.

Mills' Apple Farm Field Trip

I don't think I knew Mrs. Mills, Sam's preschool teacher, was actually taking my picture. And I am not sure I am learning much every day because I really don't know how to group these pictures into one post. Just be patient with me and my wee techno-brain. I am no Kip Dynamite.

Sam's School

I just found out I can post pictures from his class website directly to Gills-A-GoGo, so here we go. I swear I am learning something new every day!

This is the day Sam was supposed to bring a teddy bear from home since they were studying bears. Sam refused to bring one from home so he had to use his teacher's Rainbow Peace bear. I don't think he was thrilled.

All About My School

by Caroline

I got E+ all the time. Did you know that?....

My teacher is named Mrs. McDaniel.

She is very nice. She is like the greatest teacher in the world.

I have a lot of friends at school. Like 100 friends.

at School

The End

A Caroline Funny

Today we went to Dairy Queen for treats to console our broken hearts (no deal happening on the farm to suit both parties so it's over, sniff, sob, sob), and on the way home, Caroline was overheard from in the back of the van,

"Ooooh, hot fudge, I want to marry you."

You Know, Us Living on a Farm Might Be Scary...

because this is what I grow in a tiny raised bed box in a side yard in suburbia.

From one tomato plant and one day's picking, and at the end of summer, mind you.

With 18 acres and manure-rich dirt, I think it'd be too crazy.

A Decision to be Made

Keep our house and money

OR

live the dream and buy the farm we already affectionately call Rosie.

Hmmmmm.

Cast your vote.

We Had Visitors!

Yesterday this strange vehicle pulled into our driveway/yard. Strange because its owners have only been here two times in 18 months, but who's counting?

So yee-haw!, Karen and Joe stopped by to see us and brought this little lump of lovin' along and we were thrilled to see them all.

Can you say cute, cute, cute?!

This shot taken by Caroline.

Cute, cute,cute, I say!!

There were kids and toys and body parts and tootin' going on all over the place.

And this just in: Pageant results--

Miss Sidney wins Most Photogenic.

Karen wins 1st Place Grandma by Someone Who Looks Nothing like a Grandma but Totally Rocks at Being A Great One.

Isn't this picture just Too Sweet!?

(Um, Joe, gotta ask, did Gary yell at you for parking in the yard? 'Cause he does when I do. Maybe if I had a black powder rifle or something cool like that, he'd overlook it. )

Well, then too quickly the time came that we had to say 'bye and this is the strange vehicle leaving after a fun but short visit, and you probably can't tell from this small image, but I have photographic proof

-- Joe is giving the ok sign-- -- to my question:

Will you guys please come back and see us soon?

Sam's in Pre-K and Turns 5 / 6 / 5 all in One Day

Sam had a little early birthday celebration with the whole family during our fun Clay County weekend (yikes, no pictures!), and since he had a cake with fire on top there, it meant to him that he was 5. So on Tuesday, his actual birthday, he must be turning 6. So he thought... but now he agrees, he is truly only 5.





On his actual birthday, he went to his first day of Mrs. Mill's pre-kindergarten class at the YMCA. He told me all morning long that he did not want to go, but once he got there, he had a good time. He took in ice cream and little cookies as the classroom treat that day and one of his Lego creations for show'n'tell. His best friend from our neighborhood is in his class so school is fun! Meet Sauce-sh, as Sam says, but you can call him Josh.

























They hang out all the time, Sam a little more than Josh, you could say?






















Does anyone see a little Bart Connor maybe?


And does make anyone else out there go Ouch?



































And yes, he actually does have clothes on ...









sometimes.





So, anyway, we had our own party the night of Sam's birthday. The birthday meal was mini corn dogs with Yapollin tots (Caroline speak for Napoleon...as in Dynamite), and, of course, ice cream.






And how 'bout that Batman cake? Not just a Batman cake; it was specified to be: a cake with Batman and his Batmobile killing a Bad Guy. Only took me all morning to create all that ugliness. But he was happy! I will say that it photographed well. The artwork looks much better here than in real life, somehow? And please excuse the redundancy. I wrote the five before I knew Caroline had her 5 candle from 2008 to put on there. Frugal family, what can I say?

This is what you might call a two-tier but not equal tiers and not fully iced two-tier cake--in case you want to order one for your next special occasion.





This was from Josh and his brothers. Josh also gave Sam some other goodies including a put-in-water-and-watch-it-grow stingray. Really very cool, but Sam was not thinking it was cool being in our house. We still have it in a bucket out of sight as it grows during this week, but Sam thinks Daddy threw it away like Sam demanded before he would go to bed that night.







Is it no wonder Caroline thinks her parents lie to her?




Sam was happy also with his new K'Nex that he learned he loved while peeing on himself on vacation at the Henry Ford (a tub from mom and the sibs, a tub from dad for 800 more little pieces of plastic to pick up), 3-pack of new and larger muscle shirts, Batman with a Bat-A-Rang, and a bag of Skittles to add a little nutrition to his corndog/ice cream existence.







































Hey, thanks for the fiver, Aunt Karen and Uncle Joe!!

And cool DQ $ card, Aunt Debra!

And fiver from Aunt Julia and Uncle Neil!

And money and new Legos and cake, Grandma and Grandpa!

Thanks, everybody, and love you!!!

Happy Birthday, Sam, you big guy!

Hey, cool K'Nex!

Going Back to School

Summer vacation's come to an end and it is back to school. Here's Jack on his first day of middle school, 6th grade. He leaves earlier than the others now, before they even get up. And his bus stop isn't on our corner anymore. Big guy!

Here's the rest of the crew on Day 1.

Miss Girl's got a new book bag for big stuff 1st grade. Sam's practicing for Mr. Olympia.


Here's Grant heading off to 4th grade. He has a no-homework teacher this year and I think they are gonna get along just fine.

And how did Sam take it, with all his sibling playmates taking off to spend entire days at school and leaving him behind?

You be the judge. See him pedaling like mad as soon as they are all on the bus, ready to tear into their rooms and mess with their stuff?

Caroline on Day 2.

See these glasses? Now they are in three pieces. New frames coming in a week.

And see the spot on the tip of Diane's nose? After two weeks, the wasp sting wound has finally simmered down. Ouch.