Project 365

I don't think I mentioned it, but Dax and I are doing the project 365 thing. It's where you take pictures and post your favorit every day.


I just wanted to post about it because Dax and I are both doing it and we are really enjoying it. It's also been really great to be doing this together. We each take pictures and each choose one.

Here's our photos for yesterday.

Dax's



and mine



Mine is the reflection of the sunset in the office window last evening.


If you want to check out our other pictures you can go

here to see them or you can click on the Verleye365 over on the right side.


It's only been since the first of the year but already I'm learning to look at the things that I see almost daily in a different way. It's good to see the beauty that surrounds you and learn to appreciate it. It's all too easy to just get used to it and learn to overlook it.


I would recommend this process to anyone.

Paging Dr. Mom to the OR

There's been a tragic accident at our house.





It seems there was a mauling by Kuddles.





Addison brought the maimed victim to me to see if I could do emergency surgery.




Of course I took pictures (because that's what I do) but be warned it's a little grotesque.









It was awful to see Baby Babz with her guts all hanging out.



I told Addison that I would do my best but it wouldn't be pretty.




(I rest my case.)


Addison has had this little bunny (I know it's hard to tell that it ever was a bunny) and slept with it almost since she was born. I think I've convinced her that we'll try once more to wash Baby Babz and then we need to put her away where she can be safe.


Baby Babz has been mauled by dogs twice and she's pulled through. I think she deserves a little time off.

A new look

Kirsten and Addison both got new glasses.


Kirsten was actually going to get the same frames as she had before but since her prescription hasn't changed at all, what's the point in that?


I also cut Kirsten's hair short again.





I don't think Addison really cared what her new glasses looked like, just as long as they WEREN'T ROUND.


It seems that some of her friends told her that she looked like Harry Potter with round glasses.


I'm sure no girl wants to hear that.


She looks more grown up with these though.....and no parent wants to see that.

Schoolin'

There are times that I feel like I live in a circus. Now that we have 4 dogs those times seem to come around more and more often.



The other night the kids were all working on the sit command with their dogs. All of them doing it at the same time and all right there together.




(And, no, that's not a meant-to-be-matching outfit that Addison has on. She put a jacket on over her pajamas.)


We've been to dog training classes that are less chaotic than this was!


Addison seems to think that if she just keeps saying 'sit' louder and more urgently that somehow Kuddles will understand and do it.


It is pretty funny to watch, though.


Even if it craziness right at home.

We have a rule breaker!!

There are not a ton of rules at our house.




Yes, there are rules. Just not a ton of them.




One of those rules is that the dogs are not allowed on the leather furniture.



Makes sense, right?



Hmmm....



Maybe he's trying to explain it to Rocky?



Maybe he's afraid they're going to get caught?




Nope! Neither one seems to be uncomfortable with breaking the rules.

Home builders --- not so much.

I think we've discovered at least one career that may be out of questions for the kids when they grow up.


Construction--at this point--needs to be moved to the bottom of the list.


Grandma gave them a gingerbread house at Christmas time and they put it together while they were on vacation.




This hand is holding the roof on so that I could actually get a picture before it slid off.



Here's some more shots of the finished product.




But at least it's a happy home.......I guess.

I give you Rascal.....

Dax and I have totally lost our minds!!



Kirsten decided that she did indeed want a dog. Since the other three all have their own dogs it was either get her a dog or pay for years of therapy because we wouldn't let her have one.



Up until she decided this, she had been our favorite child. We told them all that now that title is back up for grabs.



I'm just kidding about the favorite thing.



Kinda'



No, really I'm just kidding.



Anyway, we went to the shelter on the 26th and left with Rascal.









As you can see, he photographs as delightfully as Kuddles did.


But, we may still have to pay for therapy.




For Dax & I!!!


What is wrong with us?



Seriously! We must have lost our minds.

I wonder who

Someone has been playing with my camera when I wasn't paying attention.












I won't give any names here but I'm pretty sure her initials are Addison Noel Verleye!

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!


We had a delightful day at our house.


The kids woke up quite early but had mercy on their father and I and waited patiently until around 7-7:30 before they woke us up.

The tree and presents after Santa's visit.

Opening of the presents.

When Abigail first got home from the hospital I made the other children wear masks until Abigail was feeling better. Addison wears hers all the time now.

I hope your Christmas celebration was a joy as well.

An angel's voice

Earlier in the evening on the night that Abigail wound up in the hospital, Kirsten had her choir concert at Emily Ann Theatre. The kids all did a really good job -- but it was COLD out there.

Kirsten is the second from the left in the front row.



I think she's really enjoyed being in the choir and not having her brother or sisters participate. It's been HER thing. And that's good.