Babies

Baby booms tend to come in waves and right around this time last year we had a big one. All of these babies (as well as a few who didn't make it into the picture) were born within just a few weeks of each other last spring and are beginning to turn one. Perhaps a photo shoot on a Sunday afternoon when hungry bellies and tired eyes abound was asking just a bit much of these little cuties. Though I'll confess, I think the variety of emotions expressed on this awesome green couch makes these pictures pretty stinkin' adorable. I love how Brynn, the lone girl, is so concerned for her unhappy friends!






Garden helpers

We're determined to make it work this time. We're choosing not to think abut our past failures at keeping any living thing (beyond children) alive, much less in a state of thriving and producing, and forging on, determined to eat something out of our garden this year. I have become more aware recently of the various weeds that are edible and we do know that we're really good at growing those, so our dream will likely come true one way or another. Hopefully the next time this garden is photographed it will be overflowing with hearty green leaves and an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Or at least lots of dandelions for a salad.


Coffee date

The big boys were out at the camper with GaGa and Grandpa. The little boys were napping. My girl was feeling a little down in the dumps and bored by a "regular old day with no one to have rest time with," so we made coffee. In the middle of the day. With sugar and froth (that was frothy enough to rival daddy's) and more crunchy brown sugar on top. Then we sat on the couch and read our books together. Still resting, still reading, but the coffee made it more "date" and less "boring". The TJ's dark chocolate peanut butter cups might have helped a little, too.






Jack.... again.

Yes, this is Jack. Yes, he has a carton of ice cream and a spoon. Yes, he's hiding in the corner. Yes, I am encouraged by the fact that he at least knows he shouldn't be eating ice cream without permission, thus the hiding. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.




Crooked

This is what happens when nine year old boys play sports in their glasses.

{and can I just say how much I love this sweet face? crooked glasses and all.}


The most glorious day of the year

"At the first glimmer of dawn, Mary Magdalene and other women headed to the tomb to wash Jesus' body. the early morning sun slanted through the ancient olive trees, drops of dew glittering on on leaves and grasses - little tears everywhere. The friends walked quietly along the hilly path, through the olive groves, until the reached the tomb. And immediately noticed something odd - it was wide open. They peered through the opening into the dark tomb. But wait. Jesus' body was gone! And something else: a shining man was there, with clothes made from lightning. "Don't be scared," the angel said. But (they couldn't help it) they screamed anyway. The angel asked them, "What are you doing here? This is a tomb and tombs are for dead people." The women couldn't speak. "Jesus isn't dead anymore!" he said. "He is alive again!"And their hearts leapt. And then the angel laughed with such gladness that they felt, for a moment, as if they had woken from a nightmare... was God really making everything sad come untrue? Was he making even death come untrue?... Jesus said, "I am the Savior and Rescuer of the world." And they knew, because he couldn't stay dead, because Jesus had come alive again, that somehow everything would be alright."

~ The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones
































Hand Me Downs

Expecting clothes to make it through five baby boys is a pretty tall order. But there is one shirt - our favorite shirt - that has proven to be up to the task. The mother of one of Jimmy's childhood friends sent us this shirt when Travis was born. The number, #44, was his number in every sport he played growing up. This shirt makes us smile and today it made Eli smile, too.