Kind of calls into question all the other times he comes crying to me that he is being picked on (though, I'm not denying it does happen!)!

It is hard to believe Chloe is nearly 6 months old!  She is one busy little lady and is working really hard to keep up with her older brothers and sister.  She has been crawling and sitting up for a couple of weeks now and is a much happier baby being able to see all the action.  She usually stays a safe enough distance away from the chaos, but in recent days has become much braver and ventured right into the middle of it all!  Here are some of her favorite things:

• Sitting outside and watching her siblings play
• Looking at books - both on her own and in our laps
• Eating cereal and vegetables.  She has tried green beans, peas, and sweet potatoes.
• Pulling her bows and headbands off her head - I thought this would start much later!
• Giving REALLY slobbery kisses and then laughing about it

The greatest (for me at least!) is that she has finally decided to take longer than 20 minute cat naps throughout the day!  She now will take two pretty good naps - and by pretty good I mean at least an hour! :)

We love you Miss Chloe!

McGuire is going on his first field trip tomorrow and is supposed to bring a sack lunch.  As I was asking him tonight what he would like me to include, Kennedy piped up and said, "McGuire do you want a note?  Mom writes notes and puts it in your lunch.  Do you want one too?"  McGuire jumped out of his seat and said, "I DEFINITELY want a note!  Make sure you put a note in there, mom!"

This was a tender reminder to me that it is the little things that mean so much to my kids.  When I take the time to sit and read a book with them, play a game, or write a note THAT is what leaves an impression.  Not, that the dishes were done, clothes were folded, or the menu was planned.

My heart is overflowing with love for my sweet children and the opportunity I have to be their mom.  I am truly blessed!

I might just have the most sanitized toy room now.  Everything that could go through the washer did. Everything that could go into a bleach bath did.  And everything that was left was wiped down with sanitizing wipes.  

The best news of it all is that Zach and Chloe both stayed healthy through it all!

If you are in question about whether or not to get the H1N1 vaccine for you or your kids when it comes available, I would whole-heartedly tell you DO IT!  The kids are absolutely miserable.  They will go from being and acting just fine to tears of pain because they ache so badly and their fevers have spiked.  McGuire was able to be prescribed medication because of past breathing problems, but the supply is so low that Kennedy was not able to receive a prescription. 

The crazy thing about this is that the only public place we have been during the last week is to the park.  It's not like we have knowingly been around anyone affected.  We have been told Kennedy and McGuire have to be away from the general public for seven days from onset or until they are fever free for 24 hrs - whichever is longer. So don't worry, you will not be getting this from us as we plan to follow the doctor's orders completely!

Zach is doing great and we are praying he does not catch what the others have!

And no I didn't grab my camera to take a picture of this one! :)

Fast Shutter Speed Open Aperture (I think my ISO is too high on this...waiting for feedback from the instructor)

Manual 

I'm determined to get a good one of Zach with this week's lesson! 

We ended up with 42 quarts of pears, 14 quarts of peaches, and 17 pints of applesauce - not bad for our first time.  We also did it all in 3 days in between helping in Kennedy's classroom, attending parent teacher conference, dentist appointments, and a t-ball game.  I was exhausted!