Gabes Turn

Gabe makes sounds like an ewok?(little furry creatures from starwars), his hair curles around his ears when he's sweaty, he belly laughs, he reaches for me, he claps and bobs his head for attention and he almost always has a big smile for me. All I can say is that I'm completly crazy about this happy, chubby little boy. Each of my babies I fall in love with and I find as I get closer to them being the last I enjoy them even more.

My Handsome, Helpful, Happy, Hankie carrying Husband!!

This post is for my (well read the title). He is the best.

Handsome: I always will love his blue eyes and beautiful smile.

Helpful: OK. I am endlessly coming up with new projects. How about turning the storage room into a room for Anna, lets put in new laminate flooring, planting trees, painting rooms, building garden boxes, sand boxes, making an attic over the garage, yard work.... He agrees knowing he will end up doing most of the work.

Happy: When I've been having one of those hard mom days. Endless messes, whining kids, dishes, laundry, fussy baby, ect. Craig walks in the door he'll hold the baby, joke with whining kids, tell me how great I am and usually crack some sort of joke with me. The whole mood lightens and we make it through another day.

Hankies: Craig always has a hankie. This is especially useful for a family with four girls(me included I cry easily). There are a lot of tears. Not to mention runny nose, scraped knees, and spills. He's always prepared and ready to lend a hand.

I am grateful to be married to Craig for all of the above reasons and a million more. Most of all he is my best friend. (You're GorgeousER!)

Freedom

At the beginning of the school year Anna began to ask if she could walk home from school. I worried, I pondered, I agonized, I talked with others, and finally I let her. She and her friend Mary have walked home almost everyday of the year rain or shine. They've loved it. Sometimes it takes over an hour (it should take about 15 min) . They go to the library, walk home through the cemetery, feed some of the horses along the way and their favorite: stop at the creek and wade in or read by the banks. Last week she took me to their secret hideout. She showed me the various rooms and told me about the game they are playing. I am happy to have given her this freedom to spend a little more time in fairyland. The years past have shown me she'll grow up soon enough.

At the beginning of the year they were caught in a down pour and were completely soaked... and happy!

Gabes Blessing

We blessed Gabe on April 13th. It was a nice day. Craig gave a beautiful blessing. I am so grateful for my husband. He is a wonderful father and husband. It meant alot to me to have my family all gathered together. My sweet grandma let us use her beautiful home to have a brunch after.

What cuties, Gabe was a sweet boy. He's such a happy guy.


The blessing circle guys



Father and son & father and son

The whole gang!

Me and my Dad

My beautiful Grandma

She fills our lives with sunshine!

I have loved this age. Five is a happy age. Beka seems so grown up. I like how I can talk with her and explain things to her. At the same time she thinks she's invincible and loves to get lost in imagination. It is truly a magic time in her life. I love to watch her play and see the pure joy and innocence. I love to hear her laugh. It bubbles out of her and is infectious. She loves music and singing and playing. It's how Beka lives. She is a very full of life person.

This is my favorite picture. This is her cat Jasmine, it's her Hobbes. She takes it most everywhere. She got this crown at Lauren's birthday party on Friday and she wore it for most of the weekend.

She likes to build tents for Gabe. (yes, that's a latex glove balloon :)

Goggles and ... fairy wings? She told me she's an underwater fairy.

Beka loves to include Gabe in her fun.

Chocolate Hands

Emma has always had an affinity with Hotty chocy (hot chocolate) as she calls it. This week she has decided to make it for herself. This involves dragging the stool across the kitchen, climbing onto the counter and then digging it out of the back of cabinet where I had it hidden. After opening the can she decided why mix it into milk, handfuls of it will be just as good!! You would think after the first incident I would have moved it.... fast forward a few days. I was getting the Easter decorations out of the attic. Emma had been with me and went inside. I was almost done and thought she won't get into much in just a few minutes....this time I took pictures. She is so sweet. She immediately says sorry. With her big blue eyes and the sprinkling of freckles across her nose (and a chocolate mustache) I can't get mad at her. Later when she was in the bath she said look mom "chocate hands".

Beautiful Anna

Anna is becoming quite the photographer, not to mention a beautiful young women. These are some of the great pictures she has taken. She's also getting good at using photoshop to touch up pictures.