GIVE ME MORE!!!

She found my salami and cheese.

Here she is with Berlyn's chocolate milk.

And again, she made her way to the girl's mac n cheese lunch.

Obviously, my baby girl is ready for the big meal.  She's wanting more than just nursing, and more than the baby moosh that I have been offering now and again at the dinner table.  A couple days ago she was napping on the bed while I sat eating salami and cheese, reading my book.  I set the food down and went to the kitchen for a second.  When I came back, not only was she NOT sleeping, she was shoving slices of meat in her mouth as fast as she could.  Having the time of her life.  This morning I was especially tired after two nights in a row of very little sleep.  I gave Berlyn and Talullah chocolate milk and let them stay snuggled in my bed in their pj's, even putting cartoons on as a plea to keep them quiet and still for a little while longer.  I sat at the computer and browsed Netflix looking for something appropriate, and by the time I stepped back to the bed I found Berlyn sucking on the babies binkie.  And there was little Havanna, happy as a clam sucking down her big sister's chocolate milk.  Later today I had the girls sit next to me eating their macaroni and cheese for lunch while I had my scrapbook supplied scattered around me.  Havanna was sitting right next to me playing with her toys and rolling around.  I look over to see that she has scooted herself to the tray of food, knocked down the bowl, and is chomping down those noodles like a pro.

Goop

Another Pinterest adventure.  The girls have been sick for days and we have been confined inside this house for way too long.  I finally got around to pulling up the "Craft for kids" board on my Pinterest page and making some Goop.  It turned out great and the girls absolutely loved it.  Talullah sat at the kitchen table for at least an hour with her purple, melty mess.  I call this: success.

Apple Pickin'

Our first 'real' CHE adventure: We joined the rest of the Christian Home Educators group for a trip to the Upton's Farm for some apple pickin' time.  It was such a wonderful experience.  There were dozen of kids running around the field searching for apples.  Mr.and Mrs. Upton were so gracious, giving of their time and resources for a great teaching experience for the children.  There were already hundreds of pounds of picked apples being cut and squished for delicious cider.  Mr. Upton told us about the process of pruning the trees and what different things can make apples undesirable for selling.  We were then set free to walk around the orchard and get as many apples as we could possibly carry.  I came straight home and turned our freshly picked fruit into a warm apple crisp.  How amazing to to teach our children the benefit of hard work by showing them how God made the trees to produce fruit, and we have to tend to the fields and work together to keep the trees growing healthy and keeping the weeds and bugs away.  It's hard work to get out in the hot sunshine and find fruit that is ripe and unblemished.  But at the end of the day, our efforts provided us with good food to fill our bellies.  I've said it before, I'll say it again.  It really is a beautiful life.

Under Sea Adventures

Our last stop for our weekend get away was to the Undersea Adventures in Crescent City.  Half way home, it was the perfect spot to get out of the car for a bit and stretch our legs.  My brave little girls had no fear reaching their arms in to pet the sharks or to pick up starfish. ("They're SEA STARS, mom!", corrects Talullah)  Even Havanna got a kick out of the fancy tricks by the seals and sea lion.  All in all, we had an absolutely fabulous trip.  I am so happy that we had a few days away, as a family, to spend quality time together laughing and making memories.  Isn't that what life is all about?

Look, mom! No hands!

Nighty Night.

                           Annabelle is obviously craving attention.  Will someone please hold me?!

Foggy day at the beach

To prove that Havanna was there, too.

Sisters so sweet.

The Downey's

LOVE!

My sweet, big girl.

I squatted low to get a good shot.  She misunderstood and copied my squat.

Daddy loves his girls!

Love father, like daughter.

Posing pretty.

I'm a bird.  Say I'm a bird!

I love those fingers clutching daddy's hand.

We had to climb ALL those stairs to get to the beach.

This is Face Rock.  Can you see the face?

It's cold out there!

It was beautiful, even through the fog.

On the 2nd day of our vacation in Bandon, Oregon, we spent hours on the beautiful beach.  Our hotel was across the street from the beach, and it was awesome to hear the crashing waves each morning as we walked to breakfast.  The weather reports had declared rain all weekend, but we were blessed with dry skies.  We didn't mind the cool temperature or the incredible fog, not one bit.