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There is a new commodity in our house.  As of June the Silly Bandz phenomenon has hit our house big time.  From the get go I have liked Silly Bandz or Silly Bracelets or Googly Bands…any brand will do, as they are inexpensive and easy to get (now, they are) and just plain fun.

I cannot tell you how many times a check out person has looked at my Silly Bandz purchase and said something negative about them!  Number one, why are you giving me your opinion on my purchases? Why do they do this with me?  Number two…what is wrong with fun?  Good cheap fun, that does not need to be plugged in the wall or cost $59.99.

In our house if I have an undesirable extra chore I need done, I offer a Silly Bandz.  If the girls have friends over and they need something to do, Silly Bandz trading time!  In the car on the way to Lake Erie, Silly Bandz trading time!  I have a bag I have with many different types of Bandz and I just reach in and grab them or trade with them.

Enu is my one child who can take Silly Bandz or leave them.  She does take them though and use them to bribe give to others when she is not wanting to do something.

Mita loves the rings and has conned her sisters out of most of their rings.

Meg broke down and spent her own money to buy Harry Potter Bandz.  This is a big deal for her as she does not spend her money on anything…she is saving for college.

Elle has piles of bandz all over the place.  She cannot find them usually, but when she does she is so happy it is as if I had just bought them for her!

Me?  I have a few Bandz in my permanent collection that are not up for trade.  The pirate theme, Toy Story and Harry Potter ones are my faves.  I do not wear them out and about or stare at them daily, but  I got them and I like them!

Meg's hand turning blue... I made her take them off!My favorite!

What is your favorite Silly Bandz design or do  you hate them so much you want to scream?

Photo Credit:  Mandy W. 2010

A tornado hit my father and mother-in-law’s home almost two weeks ago.  I remember  when the storm came through as I was running around getting ready for BlogHer and the girls were worried about a tornado hitting us. I told them that we were fine and to leave me be. 

We were fine. A few extra sticks to pick up in the yard was all we had to do post storm.  A few hours later though, I learned that a tornado had touched down at my in-laws and the damage to their property was terrible.  The entire hillside behind the house that was filled with trees is now gone. It covered their porch and a few trees went through their roof.  Trees were in the pond.  The pond that my kids had had such a great time in a few weeks ago is black and lifeless, the fish aren’t coming up to be fed.  The place where Hubby proposed to me is now dirt as the trees are being dragged out to be burned or cut into firewood.

I saw it a week after it happened and cried. I saw it after a lot of the clean up had been done, but it was still so different that I immediately felt empty.  Their  home was so much more than a house. The place had a magical ambiance to it that made you feel warm and fuzzy just being there.

We are thankful my in-laws were not hurt.  That the house is still standing and the roof can be replaced.  The downed trees will be taken care of and new trees will be planted.  Nature moves on and it will once again be beautiful to us.

My mother-in-law was  worried that the kids would be upset and not like coming out to her house anymore. When we brought the kids out they rushed to her and I think made her realize that they come to her house for her and Grampy, the trees and pond are just bonus.  Enu even told her she liked it better this way (!)  In truth there is more sunlight in the house now.  The changes are not  bad, just different.

I guess the moral of my meandering story is that things change.  Love adjusts. 

Here are some pictures of the kids helping clean up last weekend. They worked hard to picked up three wagon-loads of sticks and limbs.  Thank you babies.

Photo Credits PSM 2010 and Mandy W. 2010

We had a great weekend:  Parades, a Firemen’s Festival, a bike ride, creeking and more!  Here are some family shots to share with you!

I gave the girls Silly Bandz to remind them of a few things: Meg was not to break any bones, Mita needed to make sure she didn't rot out her teeth with junk food and Enu and Elle needed to use their ears to listen!

Meg selling things for Girl Scouts.

Enu coloring up a storm at the Firemen's Festival.

 

Elle was in her first Parade!

Handsome Hubby on his bike.

 

Mita and Elle washing my car! It so needed it.

I recently won $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer on the question of the day!  I was so tickled, I immediately entered the other $100 questions of the day, as I became very greedy

Today Jenna at StopDropandBlog has the question of the day. Of course it is about pictures (!) as she is a photography among other things.

Meg in a Fire Truck

So here it is.  My favorite picture.  I took it last year at the local FireMan’s Festival (which fits in with Jenna’s theme well LOL!) and didn’t try to take it the way it turned out, it just happened. I love it.  I also won a $5 gift card to our local coffee hangout with it.  Wow am I lucky! 

So click on over to BlogHer and enter the question of the day…it is a real contest that you can win.   Enu wants to know why I won’t buy her ice cream with my winnings…I’m just stingy that way!

Photo Credit Mandy W. 2009

This has been a bit of a busy week.  Most of our weeks entail me running around, mind you, but we had some major events this week.  Major for us, anyway, the world didn’t stop spinning and CNN didn’t call.  We did however, have two girls Fly Up from Brownies to Junior Girl Scouts and it was Elle’s last day of pre-school today.  Definitely a time for pictures!

Meg later helped Enu get into her new Junior (green sash).

Mita wouldn't put on her sash, but liked the flowers!

The Flying Upceremony in Girl Scouts can be a simple affair or a major ceremony. The leaders for Mita and Enu planned this ceremony perfectly. There was food, goodie bags, some official ceremony of the pledge, the promise and a song and of course the girls walking across the stage (pretend bridge) receiving their badges and pins they earned over the last year.

Elle attended her last day of pre-school. Last day EVER!  She starts Kindergarten in August and will be a full-time student for about two decades.  She is excited of course, but I will miss our days at home with just the two of us.  Don’t tell the other girls, but sometimes Elle and I would just watch TV or eat popcorn after the kids went to school. It was like having our own little Neverland, where she didn’t have to share with her sisters and I didn’t have to make her share! Here Elle is after I picked her up today.  They did clown face-painting as a last day of school activity.

Not to leave Meg out…she had to decorate a potato as a book character this week.  She choose to make a Hermione Grainger  potato (big surprise there!).  Hermione Potato Head was dressed in purple netting for the Yule Ball.  I failed as a mother and didn’t get a picture taking of said potato before Meg took it to school. No big deal you say?  Just take one when she brings it home from school?  I would if some potato mashing bully hadn’t wrecked poor Potato Hermione at school!  Ruffians.  Anyway, Meg is confident she can repair her creation, so I may have a photo in the next few days!

How was your week?

Photo Credits Mandy W. 2010

Hubby getting rid of the winter-damaged limbs.

Spring makes for great photo opportunities.  Every day is full of like and color, even if it is rainy colors.  We have had such a great time getting back outside again. The kids are happier, more content and love to run, run, run.  How great is that?  I have even played a few rounds of  tether-ball recently.  you have no idea how much energy that game takes until you play it.

For more You Capture check out I should Be Folding Laundry .  Happy Spring everyone!

Two baby birds

Elle climbing a tree. She doesn't need help this year!

Enu with some barn kittens the kids found.

Check out more Wordless Wednsdays!

For more Wordless Wednesdays…

The fact is that my two week hiatus from blogging is turning into a month or so.  I’d apologize, but I know that any mom would understand!  Here are some pictures from Disney. We had a great time. I hope to re-enter the blogosphere soon…

The New Toy Story Ride Was The Best!

We Had Princess Overload!

We Ate In Cinderella's Castle And Were Joined By Sleeping Beauty!

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