camera dump

Clearing out the 'ole camera and had a few pictures from the summer when we went camping for Hazel's birthday. 

the power of the freckle

Never under-estimate what a cute freckle will make you do.

and as always, the one picture I can get of Adler when he isn't making a silly face. 

slow down.

Five

Five has always been the magic age we used when Adler asked to do something he wasn't old enough to do. "Yes, Adler, you can stay up late, drive a car, drink coke, play with choking hazards....when you are five.". It seemed so far away; and now it is here. Luckily,he has forgotten most of these promises. But the idea has stuck with me. Suddenly, I am watching him in a new light. The bed that his bed rails are attached to doesn't look quite as high off the floor as it once did. For that matter, the wood floors don't look so menacing and hard either. His long arms and legs look a little silly dangling out of his carseat. Those big chunky legos look babyish. He has finally graduated- to rail-less beds, a booster (although I am still on the fence about that one!), and small legos he can choke on now. It's pretty surreal!
But how I LOVE my five year old Adler! He is funny and happy and full of life. He is right in the middle of the phase where any odd noise or face is hilarious, where knock knock jokes have no limits, where the party doesn't stop until the eyelids physically won't stay open, and where building blocks are transformed into spaceships for hours of fun.
But the gentle bits of him that I love are still here too- he still requires at least 20 minutes of cuddling a day. He is usually kind to his sister and truly feels it is his job to take care of her. He is mostly obedient and tries so hard to do the right things, follow the rules and make others happy. He is inquisitive and smart, curious and imaginative.
I couldn't be more excited for this fifth year- what a joy it is to be his mother!

The whole world is her stage.

These pictures pretty much sum up our little Hazel these days.  If there is a flat surface and a willing audience, she will sing and dance her heart out.  She loves it!

PS- Shhh- Z thinks that expression in the second photo is her super pretty face.  I am sure going to miss that scrunchy silly face when she realizes its not!

the MAN.

he knows where its at- all in the eyes.

he was a little nervous at first, but even still, he insisted and doing flips and tricks the whole time

he almost didn't get on the bull and wanted me to get on with him (not gonna happen!) but he did it.  And afterwards, he was all like, "I OWN that bull."

This year at the fair, Ad really got to experience all the rides as a kid, not a baby.  He rode on all the good ones with his cousin, Everett  and truly thought he was a big kid.  He was, actually.  He was nervous about them all, but he was brave and did them anyway.  So proud of the little guy my son is becoming!

school!

Adler made sure to hug and love on Hazel all day on her first day of school.

this picture right here is it for me- this kid has my heart.  What a big boy he is today!

she is honing her inner munchkin here.

in front of school with their backpacks on and lunches in hand!

School went great today!  Adler was so incredibly excited to be in the "big kids" classroom this year.  Hazel walked right in her class as if she owned it and had a fantastic day.  More later on that and pictures from the beach to come soon too!

This is how we do summer.

What can I even say about the summer of 2011?  What a beautiful, glorious, lazy, busy, exciting, relaxing, perfect summer it has been.  We have cleaned and organized, gone swimming, play doughed, canoed, played on playgrounds in the sticky heat, caught fire flies, ate watermelon, glued and cut, volleyballed, painted and colored, shopped and browsed, camped and s'mored....all in the name of summer.  For several years now I have longed to have a summer like this but just wasn't able to swing it until now.  It has been the summer of my childhood revisited and I, we, have loved every moment of it.

And its not over.  Eric and I are headed to the Dominican Republic with the kids in two days.  We can't wait to experience a new place and lounge on the beach for 7 days.  Its going to be amazing!

And then, the day after we get back I get to go set up classroom at my new job!  That's right- 3 hours a day, 3 mornings a week, I am calling Crawford Street Play School my home away from home.  I am going to be assisting the 3k class and I am so excited about it!  Since I am working, Z will be going during the same hours in the 2k class and Adler will be in 4k.  Its going to be a fun year.  Its going to be so neat to get a bird's eye view into what goes on when my kids are at school. 

I have been obsessed with stopping every few days and taking deep breaths and looking around and taking mental snapshots of what is going on around me- I can't believe I get to live this beautiful life- I know how blessed I am.  It is so easy to get caught up in the hum drums, the small, and sometimes the big, stresses of this world we live in.  But, then I catch my husband's eye as we watch our family enjoying each other on a lazy Saturday evening; I hear my children's giggles as they trace their bodies in chalk; I feel the cold of the sprinkler as we play; I taste the sweetness of a watermelon..... Summer restores my soul and reminds me of the rich blessings in my life.  How GREAT is our God!

the hunt

I love how every picture I have of Adler hunting eggs are action shots.  This boy was a mad hunter this year!

Easter sweetness

rascal

old fashioned girl

they were serious.

the picture that made me realize what a toddler she has grown to be

picture perfect

Am I the only person out there that finds it IMPOSSIBLE to get more than one member of my family in a picture that is actually good?  Granted, its usually me that is making the funny face or has hair in my face, but still, its beyond frustrating!  Here is the best of the best from Easter morning though:).  But, PS- isn't Adler's face in the first one priceless?

ps- that is not a real bug on Hazel's dress, just a sticker!  We all had them stuck all over us when we got to church somehow.

My eldest child. Adler. How much he has changed over the past year. There is barely a trace left of the baby. I see in when there are thunderstorms, when he is extra sleepy or just waking up or maybe when he is needing the attention. But mostly, he is this fantastic, energetic little boy. He is silly and clever and smart as a whip. He loves writing his letters and learning what letters go together to make words. I feel like reading will be coming soon and I can't wait for this part! He is confident and feels comfortable being who he is. He is athletic- very fast! He seems to always be the one being chased (see picture!) on the playground. He starts t-ball tomorrow and I can't wait to see him running the wrong way to the bases!


I am so proud of this sweet, silly boy.

spring is coming!

my lovely boy amongst the daffodils

Adler points out every bubble and Hazel loves it!

why won't she ever cooperate?

this was my favorite day ever.

my new favorite flower

baby pushing baby

Happy Valentine's Day!

Did I mention that Eric and I are leaving in the morning for New Orleans sans kids?  Oh Yeah!  Eric is going down there for a half marathon and I will be cheering him on!  My parents are doing the half too so I have lots of cheering to do.  I feel sort of like a bum because I won't be running, but oh well.

My in laws, God BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEARTS, will be keeping the kids.  I am very grateful and very excited to get away for a few days.

Anyway, we are coming home Monday afternoon and won't be around to post Valentine's "cards" so I am going to go ahead and do it now.  Hope you all are surrounded by the ones you love this valentine's day!

shoes

the hair and Adler's maddening new picture face

but doesn't he look cute in his first tie?