this is where I've been...

First of all, let me just say that my internet has been broken all week.  Thanks to at&t finally caring about our problem, it is fixed.

Angie is in China to get Ruthie!

Caryn went to help Angie.

I got to keep Caryn's kids!

we made clay...

 

...& a "welcome home" banner for Caryn...

 

...& swam...

 

...& played with the turtles...

...& looked cute...

...& made fun waffles & pancakes...

 

(this is Shea's concoction: strawberries, chocolate chips, & rainbow sprinkles.  thankful that we were out of grapes, or she surely would've wanted a grape waffle.  ick.)

 

...& painted...

 

...& looked cute some more...

...& played the longest game of Monopoly known to man.  I say this realizing that every game of Monopoly is long.  This one might not have seemed so long if I had won in the end.  But alas, I did not.  :(

Favorite stories of the week:

Shea has been into taking things & hiding them.  Or saying someone gave them to her.  Reed's candy, Julie's silly bands, etc.  So when we got ready to play Monopoly, ALL of the $20s were missing.  Jessie calmly asked Shea if she'd seen them.  Shea: {immediately starts crying} SHE SAYS I STOLE THE MONOPOLY MONEY & AM LYING ABOUT IT & I DIDN'T!!! {& runs off}.  I go to find her & she won't tell me what's wrong because "I willlll beeee maddd at herrrr."  So after about 5 minutes of convincing her to tell me, she admits that she took them but it was a long time ago & she forgot.  When I go upstairs with her to get them, she pulls a little suitcase from the corner of her room & opens it.  It looks like a quick getaway was involved...& contains money from, not just Monopoly, but several games.

Then I overheard this conversation when Julie & Shea were playing dress-up:

Julie: Today I will be crowned queen.  So you better quit sassin' me.  And soon I will die.  And since you're my daughter, you will be queen.
Shea: Ok.  And then I will talk to you in the clouds because God told me so in my heart.