I’ve been trying to compose a big post about all the cool things we did when Mom & Dad were here, and it’s just not working. Someone’s very mobile now and likes to grab buttons and cords and everything else she can get her hands on, so my computer time is limited. So here is me, catching up.

I asked Katie what kind of birthday cake she wanted, and she said she wanted a Kitty cake. So I made a big chocolate sheet cake, and drew a cat face on it and let her help decorate, and she thought it was the very best cake ever.

She mixed food coloring with the frosting.

And then we decorated.

Betcha can’t guess which side was hers.

She helped Grammy peel corn.

Opened presents.

And she was so thrilled by the whole singing and blowing out candles process. Can’t you tell? She flat out refused to blow them out herself, but she thought it was terribly funny when I did it for her.

Somebody got sleepy.

Daddy snuggling with two sleepy girls.

It got hot and we played in the yard. There’s actually a sprinkler just outside this shot.

Abby stayed up in the shade.

Somebody messy has decided that she really likes to eat food. So far, her favorites are butternut squash, roasted sweet potato, roast beef and blueberries. She thinks that carrots are appalling. Frankly, so do I.

I took my little crazyhair,

and got her the haircut she’s been asking for for months.

And it is ever so cute, and she looks so grown up now.

There’s a lot of conspiring going on in our house. I think we’re in for it.

What has this dog gotten into?

Hmmm. Maybe it wasn’t the dog.

Yes, that’s right. She colored the dog with sidewalk chalk. And the dog loved every minute of it. Well, except for the part where I made them stop for pictures.

We’ve been bubble blowing.

And TaDa-ing.

And having a grand old time.

And, in case you were interested, we do still have chickens. 4 girls and 2 boys.

Lucy on the left and Fergus on the right, having some scraps.

Ophelia, Agnes and Dolly. On the perch that people told me was too high for chickens to reach.

Felix (and Lucy’s head). Felix is the extra rooster around here. Fergus has much more the personality we’re looking for, so Felix will either go live with someone else, or he’ll become soup. He’s going to be a beautiful bird when his feathers come in, so I’m hoping I can sell him or trade him for another hen.