Christmas Sunday

LYTM,

Sarah

UNDER THE KNIFE/warning: contains graphic photos

Well, at the age of 5 Merrody has already had her first plastic surgery. Everything went pretty well and they were very accommodating at the hospital. Merrody brought a stuffed horse with her. By the time everything was over, that horse had on a gown, booties, a hospital bracelet, an eye patch, gauze and had been administered anesthesia through a tiny breathing mask. We wheeled Merr out of the hospital in a little red wagon. She has been pretty tough and hasn't complained too much and is even pretty good about keeping the ice and ointment on. She

won't be able to return to school until Monday, but it doesn't matter because there's an enormous snow storm today and school is cancelled! Please send the homemade bread and stew.

Love,

Sarah

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Like Father Like Sons?

I'm afraid Joel and Jack watched a Caillou episode about a marching band. They've been marching in circles around my house ever since. Tonight they insisted that I make them some sort of drums for marching. Some cake pans, a little painters tape, and voila! I tried my hardest to explain that band is for nerds. It was completely lost on them.

Rough and Tumble

Items of clothing he won't wear:
coats, shoes, socks, long sleeves, basically anything but pajama bottoms and t-shirts.
Developmental milestones: not potty trained, still attached to his cup, completely disobedient and non-compliant. Face: covered in dirt. Clothes: filthy. Eyes: sapphire blue, melt your heart, make you love him no matter what. A mothers love: unconditional.

Malone Halloween

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THE PUMPKIN PATCH

We took the kids to the pumpkin patch yesterday. It was an awesome place complete with corn maze, firetruck slide, a 100 foot slide down a big hill that you rode a gunny sack down, and this 160 lb pumpkin. The kids had a great time!

Blacked Eye Boy

Poor Joely. He was playing on the floor with Matt and he was getting ready to jump on Matt's stomach when Matt pulled his knees up to protect himself and kneed him in the eye.

This One's For You, Ash

Ash wanted some pictures of the baby Jack. Here he is.

The Sad Story About My Hair

I'm afraid there was an unfortunate incident at the salon yesterday. The "professional" who I paid an arm and a leg to darken my hair and cut an inch off of it, did this. That's about 2 1/2 inches, Sweetheart, and not darker. Anyway, besides the incredible waste of money, it's not that big of a deal I guess. We're doing fine around here. We've been really busy with Merrody in school and Joel's very involved schedule. It goes like this: Monday is cleaning day. Tuesday Joel (and sometimes Jack) goes to his Grandma Malone's house. Wednesday Joel has preschool. Wednesday night Merrody has gymnastics. Thursday I take the boys to the Rec Center swimming. Friday morning Joel has gymnastics. It sounds involved, but the house actually stays a lot cleaner and the kids are a lot happier this way. Joel is really learning to listen and follow instructions and is slowly progressing toward being potty trained. Merrody is a good girl and loves Kindergarten. She just figured out what lower case letters are and she feels very big. Jack is so cute and sings the "To You" part of the Happy Birthday song all day long. Matt is working hard, as usual. His first part of the boards is on October 6th, so we are gearing up for that. Today we started the no treats or toys in church thing. It went okay. We're anxiously anticipating the fall visits from Joel and Austin's families. Should be exciting!

Labor Day Weekend

We went on a fun hike to some beautiful waterfalls today. The kids were good and the weather was perfect! We're really trying to enjoy the east coast while we can...

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Highlights from the Flake Family Reunion. August 2007

Cousin Power

Merrody sure loves her cousins! It was really fun for them to get together in Idaho last month. She's been going through withdrawals, which might the naughty behavior...or did she act like that before?

Joel Cut Merrody's Hair

We hired a babysitter to watch the kids while I went to the dentist yesterday. While I was gone, Joel cut Merrody's hair! Here are a few of the before and afters.

Profoundly Beautiful

Justin and I have this running joke that his kids are cute, but mine are "profoundly beautiful". I mean, whatever, I'm not trying to brag, but aren't they? Jack especially! He's such a cute kid.

Isn't Merrody so cute? She is just hitting the age where she'll just sit there and let me take her picture. That is much easier than what I have to do with the other two! I took about 20 great shots of Merrody the other morning in about 4 minutes. What a sweetheart!