Little pictures

Gap tooth gum chewer. This is a new shirt for KidV. The girls got into the summer box one day when I was still on surgery, so I couldn't micromanage the outpouring or use of new-to-us summer clothes. They've integrated the items into their wardrobe fabulously - and with no help from R or me. The girls wear the same size so they divided the clothing according to complementariness with their skin tones. Nice job, girls!

About to chew gum. Gum is a big deal around our house. It's like cigarettes in prison: currency. Our kids get paid in gum and sometimes I get into their gum stash and have to pay them back double.

Best Baby Doll Ever: "Elisia." KidM had another version of Elisia when when she was under two, but she left that Baby Doll at a hotel. Its name was just Baby Doll. She cried so much that we called Grandma and asked her to send another Baby Doll, and that's how we got Elisia. KidM says she loves how Elisia is always looking to the left - so alert.

Fun times with friends...so fun! The five kids in this photo were cracking each other up at the dinner table the moment before I took this. My friend (the other mom) and I just relaxed into a moment of mutual joy to see them have so much giggly fun.

Teacher appreciation week has come and gone. Here are three mixed kid-collected / parent-purchased flower arrangements for our class's three staff members. They turned out pretty!