Katelyn's had a lot of firsts lately!

First lost tooth! (July 29)

First new bike!

First day of kindergarten! (Aug. 24)

She is really enjoying school.  The first day, she said, "Mommy, I love school so much!  I had so much fun!"  Each day I enjoy hearing all of her chatter about her new friends, classes, and activities.  She is definitely tired at the end of the day; it comes out in her attitude with Audrey and a bit of oversensitivity.  But all in all, it has been a great first week.

I could elaborate, but I'm a bit tired myself.  :)

It's not that I don't like blogging, because I do.  I blog on my craft blog, www.hoop-dee-doo.blogspot.com.  I Facebook A LOT.

It's just that this spring has been one of the hardest times in my life, personally speaking.  I'm totally off my game.

There have been things to blog about personally, like adorable stuff the kids do, and our awesome trip to New Orleans.  But there's been a lot of coping as well, with Dad's illness in particular.  And I'm doing good to just keep the laundry going.  (Actually, the entry hall is covered in laundry right now.)

Let's not forget the small matter that my computer and Das Blog aren't best friends.  About 5 times this spring I had a post ready to go, pictures and all, and the thing crashed.  Even when I saved it elsewhere beforehand so I could paste it back in, after about 3 crashes, I give up editing and just go do laundry, and never come back to the blog.

I'm going to try to be better this summer.  We are going to have lots of fun around here (I AM DETERMINED TO HAVE FUN, SO HELP ME) and there will be pictures to prove it.

So stay tuned.  Meanwhile, check out the other little blog linked above.  Maybe I will even make some money at it someday.  For now it is saving me money by keeping me out of therapy.

The first room when you walk in the house was also the messiest, with too many instruments and craft stuff in it to function!  But now, thanks to my sweetie and IKEA, I have a gorgeous new office to fuel my creativity.

Before:

UGH!!  That's pretty much what it looked like all the time.

After:

WOW!!!  I love it!!  Two desks, one for computer, and one for sewing.  Lots of storage, and cute too!!   New curtains to freshen it up, and the piano more accessible to the children.

My grandma's antique secretary desk still holds most of my yarn.

Doesn't this just inspire you to make something?  It sure inspires me!!

Thanks to my whole family who devoted a weekend and plenty of dollars to this project!!

The kids had fun too, because IKEA packaging contains lots of big sheets of paper:

This kept them busy for a while, and prevented us from using the table, so we had picnics upstairs at mealtime.  :)

"Welcome to Boxtown."  I didn't actually get a picture of Boxtown, but we build one every time we do something like this, usually after a trip to Costco.

Audrey likes to experiment with her boxes.

Bu was completely unimpressed by the whole thing.

So now that I have a new gorgeous workspace, I just want to hang out in here all day!!

Hello friends and family!  I just wanted to let you know that I am going to be better about blogging this year.  When the blog broke last summer I got out of the habit, and once it was fixed I never got back in.  Paul also had the blog linked to post on his Facebook page, and while I know that this is by no means a private blog, I wasn't comfortable "advertising" our family adventures to all of our casual aquaintances on Facebook.  But now it is not (thanks honey for accommodating me).  So now I need to get back into the swing of things.

I wasn't just lazy, you know.  Last fall I started up yet another venture, making and selling handmade items.  The Christmas rush of orders took up most of my free time and lots of my sleep time.  Now that things are slightly at a lull, it's a good time to rediscover blogging.  More about my business another time.

For now, here's a peek at the First First of 2010: Audrey's First Haircut!  Miss Bug has been getting shaggier as her superfine curly hair got longer...she had grown two loooooong tails on the back that we called her "swallowtails."  It gave her a crazy Einstein kind of vibe that really fit her personality but made her look like a little ragamuffin. 

So, in Hooper family tradition, Mommy sat her on the edge of the master bathtub with a lollipop and cut her hair.  (It didn't take long, hence the lollipop.  For Katelyn's much more involved haircuts, we use a bowl of chocolate chips to keep her still.)

I'd show you the finished product, but Paul didn't get a great picture because Audrey was ready to get back to playing.  She still looks like a wild thing, though!

Testing -- To be deleted

These two crack me up!

(In the car, on the way to meet Daddy for dinner)
Mommy:  Kids, after dinner, I'm going to rehearsal and Daddy will take you shopping.
Katelyn, with disdain:  Mommy, Daddy is not exactly a shopping expert.

(At dinner, Audrey says the blessing.)
Audrey:  Dear God, please help us be sweet and Daddy's the boss.  Amen!!

Is anyone still out there?  Guess I'll find out...just wanted to share a hilarious addition to the family dictionary.  Kate has invented a new term, based on a "teaching moment" we had last night regarding prompt obedience. 

"Mommy, next time I will obey, but I will also do it really really fast.  I'll ALLEGROBEY."