A way of remembering

 Photography is a way of feeling, 

of touching,

of loving.

What you have caught on film is captured forever

...it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.

~~Aaron Siskind

Fun Today

Nathan and Emma began semi-private swimming lessons with some good friends today. They were both very excited and did great!

This afternoon the kids decided that tonight they would have a "slumber party" in Emma's room.  It was actually Nathan's idea... it came to him last week after he had a buddy spend the night here.  Nathan even offered to watch a princess movie with Emma.  When they confirmed that tonight was the night, there was loud cheering from Emma and a BIG smile on Nathan's face.  They were both really looking forward to this!  So, at bedtime they settled in with Emma in her bed, Nathan on the floor in his sleeping bag, lights off, both with snacks and ready to watch Cinderella II.  We didn't hear a peep from them until the movie was over and it was time to go to sleep!

 

Samuel was content to watch his own special movie with Mama in the living room.  Soon enough he'll be wanting to get in on the fun with his older siblings!

Bible Times

Last week the kids had Bible School at our church.  Everything was set up as if they were living in Bible times, complete with tents, a market place, live animals, and everyone in costume!  They loved it! 

Nathan carrying the flag for his tribe

Emma dipping water from the community well

The highlights for her were "Singing all the songs, making bread, visiting the animals and dressing up like Bible times."

Nathan really liked making things (pottery, potholders, candles...) and playing games.

 Here he is trying to balance a plate of food on his head:

What a wonderful experience for our children!

This one's for you Aunt Julie...

"Matthew" was one of my best childhood buddies.
I don't recall the year that Aunt Julie and I made him together- more her than me, but she did involve me in the process.  I had wanted a doll like him-- just like the dolls (Carrot Top and Brownie) that my older sisters had- also made by Aunt Julie.  He became an immediate favorite.  

Emma has played with Matthew some since I got him out for her a while back but he often gets buried in her bin of dolls.  Recently she discovered him again and spent the afternoon hanging out with him on the couch...

Matthew has had several different outfits over the years but now he wears clothes that used to belong to Nathan.

THEN, Samuel took him for a couple of strolls around the house, which was funny since Samuel isn't that much bigger than Matthew.  I thought he was going to try to sleep with him at naptime, but he really just wanted to sit and hold Matthew's hand.

Another day he decided to sit Matthew on the potty and proceeded to sit in his lap to brush his teeth.  Thankfully I caught him before he tried to brush (i.e. smear blue toothpaste all over) Matthew's teeth/mouth!

Samuel enjoys reading to Matthew and has made his new home the couch in Samuel & Lucas's room.  There, Matthew is available for a little chat whenever Samuel feels the need- which is often, and Sam always says "night night Matthew" and "wake up Matthew" as part of his naptime and bedtime ritual.

So, for fun I thought I'd introduce Lucas to Matthew...

"Look how big!"

Lucas mainly likes to eat Matthew's hair

Lucas & Emery

Lucas already has a little girlfriend named Emery.  They were born on the same day though their actual due dates were two weeks apart.  Tonight they got to hang out together for a bit in our church nursery.  I think they bonded...

"Hey Mom-- I think she likes me!"

Togetherness

Sometimes the togetherness in our household looks more like a wrestling match or a pile of people...

These recent pictures reminded Brian, Nathan and I of another set of pictures from several years ago with one big difference-- Nathan has now moved to the bottom!

1994

As good as it gets

Happy Father's Day to my love, the awesome man I married, the father of our children, the one I will spend the rest of my life with... Thank you for being such a loving, devoted father and the wonderful blessing that you are to all of us.  You are a great Daddy!

We have a sitter!

Lucas is working on sitting unassisted for a minute or two at a time.  He's still pretty wobbly but really seems to like being upright!

Emma's Birthday

Today is Emma's birthday. She was so excited to finally be FIVE but this morning she did say, "It's been fun being four!"  Her day began with a trip to a party store with Daddy to pick out a balloon- they've done this every year!

From there we went to Backyard Bible School at her Pre-K teacher's house, then lunch and some playtime there with friends.  We came home to get the little boys down for their naps and watched Cinderella for the very first time!  (with popcorn of course)

This evening we headed to Grandma's for Emma's birthday meal-- stuffed crust cheese pizza!  Then we had her birthday celebration with Clown Cones at Baskin Robbins!  Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma had clown cones too!

Lucas chillin out in his stroller

Our 5 year old with her new doll!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!

Party Time!

We had Emma's birthday party on Saturday with a few of her friends.  Everyone had a great time!  We started with a Kiss the Frog game (pin the tale on the donkey, Princess Tiana style):

Then a pull string pinata and Emma managed to pick THE string that opened it on her first try!

After that we had some lunch and then the main event-- birthday cake!  She asked for a strawberry flavored cake with green icing and Princess Tiana.

Presents were a big hit too of course!

At the end of the day I asked Emma if she was happy with her birthday party.  She said, "Yes and I'm STILL happy with it!" 

Lucas saying Happy Birthday to his big sister!

Dedication

Today was Lucas's dedication at church. He was very good and gave lots of smiles while our pastor held him.

We promise to raise you (and your brothers and sister) "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph 6:4)

Silhouettes

My Mom's Mother's Day gift... I've been intending to do for a long, long time... so long that I had to take updated pictures of the kids at least twice before I even got started as too many months had gone by... oh yeah, and then another was born... So it's a good thing I waited or I would've had to buy different frames!

THE GRANDKIDS

Lucas is 5 months!

Our little man is growing so fast! There are no strangers to him- he hands out smiles generously to everyone around him!
What a fun little guy!

Nathan's 10 year old pictures

I was pleased to get these great shots of Nathan at 10 years old!

Victory Field

Last Friday night Brian and Nathan went to a much anticipated Indians vs Chiefs game and Cub Scout camp-out at Victory Field.  After the game they actually got to camp on the outfield grass.  This was the second year they've gone, but this year a good new buddy of Nathan's went along.  They had a GREAT time!

Nathan & Nathan

 Loving the game and YES, the Indians DID win!

 Some post game reading

 Movie Time!

 The point of their tent is circled in the picture below