When I was young...

I wanted to join the circus.  

I don't know where that idea came from.  

I don't even think I really believed it myself, but I said it enough.  

(Goodness, I wouldn't even go inside a building to get my picture taken by a live tiger when I was in elementary school.  I stayed shaking, and probably crying, in the car with my Mom while my Dad and little sis went in.  I know, I'm lame.)

But sitting next to a live tiger for fun 

and working my way up the circus ladder are two different things.

I figured I'd be on elephant poop duty at first, then concessions, ticket sales, stage makeup and costumes, then maybe a little clowning around.  But eventually I would become Ring Master!  

How else does that happen?

It even went as far as making a deal with my Mom near the end of high school.

When I came to her with dowloaded applications for the circus, she said I needed to apply to at least 2 reasonable colleges.  IF I didn't get in, then I could run away to whatever circus I desired.

She never questioned me, or belittled my ideas.  I'm sure she knew me well though that I would just argue and decide not to listen to her input if she did that.

Or maybe, just maybe she knew I would be Ring Master of my own circus sooner than I planned.

Yes, I was (and still am) on poop duty, concessions (that consist of 3 meals a day, plus snacks in between), I pay the bills, organize and am in charge of all wardrobes, and of course there are times when we all act like clowns. 

Welcome! Welcome! One and All to the Stouffer Family Circus!

All his idea.

Yes, those are cuccumbers.

On a Popsicle stick.

I guess it must make veggies taste better.

The little dude is getting some muscles.

I noticed his biceps in one of his many pauses at dinner where he rolls up his sleeves to show us.

I love that he thinks every bite of healthy food immediately gets stored in his arms.

Maggie Moo

 This precious little baby.

Even though Ginnie tries to claim her as one of her own dolls, she is all mine.

Troy has a minority share, when I'm feeling generous.

I want her to stay little.

I wonder if I keep her in her current clothing size, it will keep her from growing, just like Asian women did back in the day with their feet.  (Would that make her all disfigured and gross?)

Maggie is sitting up by herself, but so help me  if she tries to stand I will knock her down!

I'm starting to see myself as the crazy cat lady, except I end up with 33 babies instead of kitties.

But let's just be honest.  

When you see that pudgy little hand holding on, and those fat cheeks that are just so round, there is no going back to normal.  Baby crazy you become.

I'm going to embrace it.

They begged for a Cowboy dinner

It was the only night we had together that wasn't raining, and it was COLD.

 This little baby fire pit is fun, but it doesn't exactly create warmth.

 Troy was just trying to be manly and not wear a coat, but let me tell you..... Brrrrr!

 George wanted to help break up the wood.

 The poor boy tried and tried.

 It was a little stronger than we thought.  

Even jumping on it between the walk and a rock didn't help him.

 But he does persevere.... we are all impressed.

 Mags and I hung out on the deck a few mins at a time, just to take a few pics and go back inside.

 Troy did the real bonding.  

I'll wait until summer for that.

 We still haven't perfected the correct positioning on the dogs on the skewers.

 Ginnie plays more of a foreman role.

Like her Momma.

 Liv tried to enjoy every minute.

 George is..... well, he is just George.

They brought their dogs in to eat at the table before making s'mores.

Ginnie wasn't too keen on that either.  

It ended up being a sticky mess, her coat needing a washing,

and an argument over how a s'more is built.  She decided to play with it over eating it. 

This is why we can't live on a ranch.  There is no sense of s'more protocol.

Togetherness

Occasionally I see all four of my kids doing something together.  

I LOVE that.

 I asked Liv to hold the baby while I switched the laundry and I came back to see this sweet scene.

Yes, all of them are in zippered, footie pajamas.  

That is our school uniform!

 Liv was reading to the kids, and George was holding the book for her and turning the pages.

 I have no idea about the hat.....

 Once in a while, Virginia's attention is even held!

I'm not sure how Maggie feels about it.  

I'm guess she is hungry. 

Maybe she has just heard that story 800 times. 

I wonder how much they will read together when George reads independently....

She is one tough cookie!

I'm a little behind in posting this.  Things just got lost in the shuffle of uploaded pics.  

When we took Virginia to get her cast off (it was a whole family affair) 

we didn't know how it would go down.  

Not that we didn't know the whole procedure, since we experienced it before with Liv, but how little Miss Stubborn would deal.  

It could go to either extreme.  

Mega fits or "yes, I'll allow you to do this for me."  

Thankfully, she was more interested than scared. 

Even baby Denise had her cast taken off.

They both were very brave and got treated to Friendly's for dinner and dessert after.

Stylin

We went to get Ginnie's cast taken off and George walks out the door looking like this.  Being the preoccupied, airhead of a Mother some days, I didn't notice until we were settled in the waiting room. 

Yes, we have a scarf HE tied around his neck, all bunched up in a lovely quadruple knot, and the blue rain boots, because you never know when puddles might be in your way.  

He was very satisfied with this ensemble.  

I fear he has my clothing (lack of) style. 

Help!