Because the Kids Aren’t Getting Any Younger

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Zachary, 10; Laurianna, 13; Kaleb, 8; McKenna, 12

So the kids are growing up. Proof positive in the picture above. In case you don’t recognize them - well, those are our four. It’s been a bit since I’ve shared a picture and looking at the family pictures on our wall in comparison - yikes.

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day and a chance to grab a few snapshots to document just how much they’ve grown and how beautiful (or handsome) they are becoming, both inside and out.

McKenna would love to have you notice that yes, she IS taller than her older sister. This is the first time in a long time that she has worn her hair down, which we love!

These two girls can be the best of friends or drive each other crazy all in the span of 15 minutes. They are growing into beautiful young ladies (that in and of itself sounds too grown up!).

And the boys - well, they aren’t so little anymore either. There’s a part of me that keeps thinking Kaleb is six. He’s eight. Sigh. It should be noted that Zachary wanted a pink shirt for Easter. He got plaid.

Rick and I aren’t getting any younger either - but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. At all. This man is all sorts of amazing and I am blessed to have him and those crazy kids along for the ride.

Sights of the Carnival

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The kids had WAY too much fun the other night at a local carnival.

Kaleb and I started out on the ferris wheel {or the steering wheel as he kept calling it}. He kept saying, “This is so much fun!!” And then wanted me to keep taking pictures of the lights. So I did. :)

My brother rode along with Zachary and the contrast between the two just cracks me up {my brother is a tank}.

Laurianna and Daddy took a ride together too {while the rest of us enjoyed some cotton candy}. See them up at the waaaaaay top?

Kaleb and I rode the carousel together…and he was enthralled by the horses and again all the colors and lights.

The girls saw one of their friends and waited in line together to ride the Scrambler {i.e. because neither of the moms wanted to see if her stomach could still handle the ride}. This is their before picture…

And the during pictures were just too much fun, so I had to share more than just one…

 

 

So much fun…and we’ll just have to go back for more!

The T-Rex Meets Polly

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It's all about playing fair in toyland.

The girls have had their fun dressing Zachary up as a princess and parading him around the house, so it was about time that the tables were turned. And in all truth, it's amazing that Polly Pocket wasn't introduced to more of the boy's toys earlier.

Or should I say ingested by more of the boy's toys.

Little Polly was playing innocently enough when a pterodactyl swooped in for an early dinner.

Fortunately, one of her friends was around to rescue her and had some rope handy to tie the pterodactyl up.

Unbeknownst to her, the T-Rex was lurking ~ waiting for the perfect moment.

Poor Polly. She should have stayed around the leafeaters.

I'm Not Partial or Anything

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We survived Easter pictures without one major meltdown.

From the parents even.

AND we managed to get a great picture of all of our children. You know - the one where they all look at the camera at the same time. We did have to resort to having Rick be completely goofy behind me to accomplish it ~ but it is done!!

Of course, I happen to think I have some fairly photogenic and super~cute kids too! {Feel free to agree with me...}

Now off to make some prints and update the pictures around the house!

What's Blue and Purple and Hurts All Over?

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How about my foot?

We took a trip to the pool yesterday, which quickly took a turn for the not-so-fun.

Suffice it to say, it involved one of our children, a behavior issue, and although it wasn't intentional, an unpleasant ending for me. And I am serious when I say that labor and delivery never felt as miserable as this.

My toe is broken. And ever so pretty too. I took a picture of it just for memory's sake. And no, my toe is not freakishly longer than my big toe...go figure.

Any suggestions on how to catch the kids when I can hardly walk?

A Day of Firsts

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Every time that Kaleb has a "first" happen, I am reminded that there is also a "last" taking place. Since he is the last little one that we will have, it makes all the things he is learning just a little more special. And at the same time makes me relish each moment for what it is.

Kaleb still isn't talking much at all - and while he's 19 months, I'm not worried much. Because there is enough going on in the house that the poor boy can't compete. Yet.

But tonight the little man sat next to me on the couch and despite the fact that he has ignored the same questions for months now, he decided to answer when I asked him where his nose was. He pointed to it and then clapped for himself. He was his own little cheering squad.

And then he pointed to his ears, hair, eyes, feet, hands, mouth, teeth, bottom...all when I asked, each time clapping when he pointed. Scrunching up that little nose in excitement.

The boy has apparently been holding out on me. Absorbing it all and then just let it all out at once.

So. Stinkin. Cute.

When Laurianna was younger we pushed and anxiously waited for each little thing she did. But with Kaleb...I can wait. And want to wait as long as possible. Because once he finishes all those firsts...he's technically done something for the last time.

And while it's exciting to see what he can do, it's sad to see the end of something too. Although I will say, his venturing into the land of speech will be a MUCH welcome release from the land of shrieking.

One of THOSE Days

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It's just been one of those days. Profoundly so.

It started out with a headache and then I had the brilliant idea of running errands with the kids and topping it off with a trip to our library. I will preface the rest by saying that the accoustics are wonderful in our library.

And I'm sure everyone in our town is thankful for that at this moment.

We managed the few errands and then...

...the library.

The stacks of books, the toys, the overabundance of children were apparently too much for a little man and myself. And a Mom needs to stand by her boundaries. And stand I did...

Zachary kept running with another little girl back and forth through the stacks. So after the third time of telling him to stop, I said we were leaving.

And the screaming began. And the semi-kicking. And crying.

Yeah. Those librarians were LOVIN' me!

We finally made it home. Life stayed fairly crazy. And now we have a little boy on probation from going to the library for awhile. And a momma who might just be slinking back into the library without kids for awhile.

Perhaps they won't recognize me then.

Our Little Squatters

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One of my friends called me this morning and wanted to get together. And I truly wanted to.

But the kids just wouldn't cooperate long enough to let me even get one load of laundry started. Started. Not from start to finish. Just collected, put in the washer, soaped up and going.

I sent them outside to play for half an hour. And not even two minutes later someone was screaming. Bubbles had spilled. A few minutes later, someone had stolen one minuscule fruit snack from an other's bowl. Or hit another. Or told another what to do. The cycle just kept going and going. And the laundry didn't even get in the washer.

Zachary managed to also get himself soaking wet, since the wading pool was full of rain and he decided to slide into it. He didn't like being wet, but I made him stay in his clothes to play in the meantime. A few minutes later, Laurianna came running inside to let me know that Zachary was running around the backyard completely naked.

Shocking, I know.

Before I could get his clothes back on, he started yelling he had to pee NOW (which he did!!) so with lack of foresight, I let him pee in the corner of the yard, quickly re-dressed him and reminded him to keep his clothes on.

I finally got that load of laundry started (after only an hour and a half) and sat down with Kaleb to read a book with him when McKenna came running in, all excited and smiling.

"Mom! Guess what Zachary and I did?"

I can't even begin to guess. And never in a million did I expect to hear:

"We pooped in the backyard! Right where Zachary peed!"

Sure enough, both of them collaborated, squatted and did their business. IN MY BACKYARD!!And that was my morning - all before 10:15am. How was your day?

Toothless Wonder

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Laurianna has lost 2 bottom teeth already, but there is just something about losing a top tooth that changes the look of a child.

And I will admit that it was hard for me not to giggle for the first few days after she lost it. It's just too cute and strangely odd looking.




Even now as I look at the pictures that I took, it just makes me smile. But at the same time it's a little sad. Yes, I am aware that my children are growing up. This makes it even more obvious. Her face is maturing. Freckles are popping up and spreading ever-so-sweetly overnight.


Of course, in the end it all boils down to how much the tooth fairy is willing to cough up for a precious top tooth. This one warranted $2 - the first dollar since it was such a special tooth and the second dollar because we managed to get this tooth out before the replacement tooth came out (which was a BIG issue with the bottom two).

*** A little explanation: $2 is not a per tooth norm. This was a special, ummm... cash prize, because of the dental issues (getting it out before the other tooth came in) associated with the tooth. The first tooth ever was $1, and subsequent teeth have only been 25 cents. We would go broke if we attached that much cash to each tooth *grins*. ***


The money aspect has McKenna wiggling as fast as she can in anticipation of the vast benefits that await her. She's convinced she'll be rich, rich, rich.

Playing with Friends

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Our kids were so excited to have Charis and Selah come over and play (and cried and cried when they left to go home). They weren't here quite an hour, but our kids managed to squeeze in every bit possible before they did leave.

Laughing and giggling.

Taking pictures of Mommy.

Dressing up and dancing.

Twirling.

Just having fun!

Praying for Your Kids as a Daily "Chore"

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I found a great idea recently that I have "latched" onto recently - and since it's working, why not share it?

Finding uninterrupted prayer time for my family and things in general can be rather difficult. I know, I could get up earlier, but I usually am up pretty early in the morning, but along with that - so are our kids. And thus goes the quiet solitude and "mommy time." Having large blocks of time to pray just isn't happening at this stage of life right now.

But - life goes on. And there ARE things in the house that need to be done every single day. Like feeding my children. Doing laundry. Cleaning something. So, I have given those everyday mundane chores an added bonus. They are now attached to someone in my house and while I am completing that task/chore I pray for that specific person. When I am doing laundry - little Miss McKenna is being prayed for. Washing dishes and loading the dishwasher? Kaleb. Do you get the idea?

My mind is usually going anyway, so this gives me a definite focus for my thoughts - and I am accomplishing a little more in my prayer life.

Don't Shoot til You See the Whites of Their Eyes

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A note for the record: My children do not get any part of their personalities from me. At all. They are all mini-Ricks. Not one single ounce can be attributed to me. *grins*

I've been eyeing a lovely little camera lens for awhile now (thanks so much to Lisa at Destination Photography) and finally got around to buying it. Since I've been carried away with Jane Austen lately scrubbing and cleaning my house, I haven't played around with it much yet. Until it was a lovely 80 degrees here today. Kids were outside. I was outside (if only to make sure Zachary didn't climb over the fence). Again.

If you'll allow me, you'll have to suffer through numerous pictures of my beautiful children. So sorry. Such is the loveliness of having a digital camera. But feel relieved. At least I won't post all 80 of them. :)

It started out in all seriousness. Every intent of taking some "serious" photos of the kids. Some nice new pictures for Daddy's desk at work.

And then it turned into FaceFest 2008. And really who can blame them for wanting to have a little fun. And why not take pictures of it all for memory's sake.

And really, there were so many more lovely pictures that I could post of my children (serious and no-so-serious), but you all only have so much time. And patience. :)