This Girl!

This girl has been pretty silly lately.

The other day Audra and Claire were trying to read quietly in their rooms and didn't let Camille come in to bug them. So, Camille went downstairs and put these signs on the bathroom door:

When Ben came home she told him that the sign said, "Camille's Bathroom Only!" and nobody else was allowed to use that bathroom. Now she polices the bathroom to make sure Audra and Claire did not use it, but I got special permission to also be able to use this bathroom.

Then, yesterday Camille got sent to time-out for hitting Claire. She started sobbing. Suddenly in her sobbing she starts screaming, "I want Daddy! When is Daddy coming home from work?" I had to laugh, which maybe wasn't nice. But, really- did she think if Daddy was home that it was somehow OK to hit Claire? Or that she wouldn't get in trouble?

She and Claire were fighting yesterday about who would be the bad guy because neither of them wanted that role. All of a sudden Camille said, "I don't want to be the bad guy- I want to be Satan!" Umm....does that mean we are failing as parents?

Here's some of her pictures- she really is quite the artist, just like her sisters. She loves to sit and draw/color and can do so for hours.

Claire's Philosophy On Life

Claire: Mom, can a person who is not married adopt a baby?

Me: Yes, but they prefer to have babies go to a married couple to provide more stability for the baby. But sometimes it doesn't work out that way. Why?

Claire: Because I don't want to ever get married.

Me: Oh. Why?

Claire: Because I don't want to have to kiss a boy on the lips.

North Pole!

Today was our annual trip to the North Pole! We were all so excited- it has become such a wonderful tradition for us.

This year, we didn't need a stroller, didn't have to worry about naps or diapers- it was wonderful! I feel like we are at such a perfect place in our lives. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for our little family. In years to come, I think I will look back at this time as the best time of our lives- we are so blessed right now. We haven't yet hit the tween attitudes (which we know are coming), and it's just FUN to be with these kids! We have such a great little family- I love our life. I love what we have built, and are continuing to build. What a great season of life we are in!

Now, I'll step off my soap box and post a bajillion pictures!

Elk Meadows

One of my goals for this summer is to get the girls out into nature as much as possible. In order to accomplish this, I came up with a weekly hiking schedule and distributed it among my homeschool and church groups (if anybody wants to join us, let me know and I will get you a copy!). I figured if I had passed out the list, it would actually force me to do it.

Today was our first hike: Elk Meadows. We had never been to this hike, so I was excited to give it a try- and I am so glad we did! It was absolutely beautiful. We are surrounded by so much beauty- we truly are blessed here in Colorado.

One of our homeschooling families joined us, which was great. The kids are all about the same age, and even though we went at a very slow pace, the kids all did great with minimal whining for a 2.5 mile hike- it was a great start to our summer hiking adventures!

Can you see the kids? Their favorite part of the hike was climbing these rocks!

 Here they are looking at a beetle- that's the goal of these hikes, that they notice and enjoy nature!

And the reward: Picnic lunch at the end! Phew!