Growing Up

The other night we finished dinner and chores and all headed outside to enjoy some nice weather.  I grabbed my camera and am so thankful I did.  The lighting was perfect and I got some great candid shots of our family.

First up is Jack.  He was rocking his pjs while we all played outside.  Since he is a Winter baby this is his first time to truly get to PLAY outdoors.  He is learning to love it!

Next up is Grace.  This is classic Grace.  She is always moving, running, dancing and flipping.

Then we have Benjamin.  I had a hard time getting a shot of him.  But I loved this one of him playing with Sissy.

Then we have Kayla.  She is my hardest child to photograph but I happened to snag this photo of her.  It takes my breath away.  I cannot believe this beautiful girl is ours and that she is almost 11!

And lastly, is my husband!  His family has the tendency to ALL close their eyes every time a camera is brought out.  So we worked for about 10 minutes to get this. LOL!

Happy Friday!

The Genius is growing up...

Happy Easter 2013!

A few photos of my family.  I love them so much, you just cannot even imagine.  My heart is overflowing with love!  We are truly blessed.  I thank God each day for my amazing husband and our great kids.

Busy Days, late Nights

Life is good.  Days are full and the nights....well, the nights are getting later and later.  This little Linebacker seems to be a night owl.  By the time we went to bed last night it was actually this morning.  Actually around 12:30, then he is still wanting to get up and nurse.  I know in my head that this is a phase and soon I will miss it, since he is our last.  But my body is really wanting some rest.  The days are so full with school for the girls and keeping the Professor from hurting himself.  But, every day I am counting my blessings and enjoying these moments with my husband and our kids.  And let's never forget the power of coffee. Ha!
Have a great day!

9 Weeks

Our Linebacker is 9 weeks old.   He is sleeping so much better now.  I am functioning mom again.  Most nights he goes to bed between 11-11:30.  Then he gets up at some point during the night for about 1 1/2 hours.  Normally we seem to be up around 3-4:30 or so.  Now that I am a rested mom, I enjoy (most) of these night time moments together.  Many nights we watch the news.  Several times we have heard stories of babies being abused.  Last night I looked down at him in my arms.

He is just beyond precious.  His long eyelashes across his chubby cheeks.  That perfect rest where he is so relaxed, so secure, so loved without even knowing what love is.  It literally breaks my heart to think of a baby being hurt.  I truly don't understand it. 
No real point to this post other than I love this little guy.  He is so sweet, so squishy and so loveable.  And thinking that this is our last makes me very emotional.  I love this innocent baby phase.  I love my baby.  I love my family and work hard to never, ever forget how blessed I am.

4th Grade Thoughts

The Genius is in the 4th grade.  She is rapidly entering that in-between time.  Not quite little girl and not yet a ready to leave behind toys and things.  She will be 10 this year and if you want to make my husband and I cry, just remind us that she is over halfway done living at home.  Major sniff, sniff.
Anyways, she still does and says things that are so cute and I wanted to get down a few of them.
She is like her mom (me) in her love for reading.  She rapidly outgrew younger books and was ready to tackle slightly older books.  First she read, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  She loved it and is currently reading book 2.  She mentioned to me about Edward eating the Turkish Delight.  I said, "Neat! Maybe we could make some together!".  In total sincerity, she says, "Oh Mommy, we can never make that.  Remember?  The White Witch said it was 'enchanted turkish delight' and we do not know magic Mommy."  LOL!
The other thing is that she has been reading The Red Scarf Girl.  This is a non-fiction book about the Cultural Revolution in China.  Now, we did buy our kids this book, but I did read it before giving it to them.  It just so happened as the Genius was reading this book, in home-school we began studying Karl Marx and capitalism vs communism.  Every day I ask about what she read in the book and if she is scared or has any questions.  The other day she said, "No.  It does not scare me.  But I really understand why communism is so wrong.  I mean, basically, you are in charge of nothing and you get no choices in anything.  And then, if someone decides you are wrong they send you to jail.  And the only way to get out is to say how bad you are...even though you don't even believe it.  Then you get out of jail and go back to find out your life is even worse.  I really like capitalism and am glad to live in America."  I LOVED this!  First off, I am just so proud of her for reading this and grasping these concepts.  Secondly, what a great definition!!! Adults try to fancify definitions and give long explanations but I think she pretty well hit it on the head.
So proud of our girl!