Laura Vegas

first, a layout i did this afternoon. made faster by the fact that i had printed these photos ages ago … and just never got around to using them.

the "good" photo on the top … i have that framed as a 18×24 hanging in the playroom. the bottom photos are normally ones that i would delete. but i'm glad i kept them … i just find them funny. in both of them, i was taking photos of alyssa … and sarah had to come and make her way into the shot. she's goofy like that! making memories pattern paper, flowers, brads, chipboard accents … lil davis chipboard letters … and hero art jounaling stamp.

and here's some random stuff about the kids … just like i promised.

• alyssa. in the midst of working on her country report … she got singapore. she's so good about keeping on track and getting parts of it done everyday. i don't even have to ask her. she told me today that she's going to sketch out her project part of the report … so that i can help her with it. have i ever told you how much i hate doing school projects? i'm crafty … but not when it comes to school stuff. she has tons of homework on top of this report … 6th grade is hard stuff. luckily, it comes super easy to her … so even though it's a lot she doesn't have to work to hard to get it done.
• sarah. just started softball this week … under 10's this year which should make for a much more exciting game to watch. we'll see how practices and all go. right now joe can take her … but once he starts umpiring for the high schools i'm going to have to start packing up kids to take her. she did get her animal report done last week … and did good on her presentation. she's got a huge field trip coming up that she's really excited about … pioneer days. where they go and experience what it was like to go to school in the old days … including dressing in the clothes. think "little house on the prarie".
• amanda. she's doing softball for the first time this year … has her first meeting tonight. she actually asked me "what is a "practice"" today. lol! she also joined awana and choir with the girls … which is the kids night at the church. she loves it. and she appreciates that "grammie" is willing to drive her there with the girls too!
• haley. the girlie is crazy lately … but i mean that as "crazy-funny". love this age … 15 months. still having her moments of sticking close to me … but also playing more on her own too. runs all over the place. loves any stuffed animal she sees and has to have it … even if it's one of sarah's that she likes to bring down here each morning. got off the bottle this past week … and doing good on her sippy cup … except when she decides to toss it on the floor and then we can't find it.
• nikolas. such a cutie at 7 months! he's working on the sitting still. but he's officially a crawler … and makes his way all over the place. he even crawls after me now when i walk away. he can get into sitting position from crawling … just has to work on staying up. lol! he has been a little of a stinker lately when i feed him his food … as soon as i put the spoon in his mouth he likes to blow it back out … splattering food all over me. he makes the most noise when he sits in the exercauser … bounces like crazy in that thing and babbles away.
• ariana. that girl is hilarious! she comes up with the craziest comments. when it's time to walk to school to get the kids … she asks me "why do we have so many babies here" .. because she knows she has to walk and can't catch a free ride in the stroller. she'll tell me that haley has to stay away from her because "i have to learn to play by myself more". lol! and she gives me these looks all the time … and tells me "laura, don't be funny"!

that's our main kids. i have a few straglers that love to stop by every now and then … but this is our group on most days. we have a new kid coming next week … a 15 month old just like haley. hopefully, they'll all mess together nicely!

off to make the most fabulous dinner. i havn't eaten all day just waiting for it. chicken drumsticks and thighs … roasted with EVOO, lemons, olives, and tons of garlic … and then tasty gravy added to it. rice made with onions and chicken stock … super good. i think i'll toss in some broccoli and fresh green beans roasted with EVOO and seasoning. and some fresh bread that i'll drizzle with EVOO and toast under the broiler … and then rub garlic on it. omg … i can hardly wait! and all this will take me 40 minutes!