S'more...

This is what I was able to get before she "heard" a "doggy barkin" (miles away, I'm sure.) and started screaming frantically at the top of her lungs while clawing her way up my leg and then proceeded to suck her thumb(?) This girly is driving us crazy with her constant paranoia about all things 4-legged. She is seriously terrified of everything these days...

The calm before the storm...

My Girl...

Gwyneth,

Beauty.Full

You are. In every way.

I prayed for a daughter for years and when God answered my prayers he gave me the daughter of my dreams...complete with blond curls and blueberry eyes. I could not have imagined a daughter as perfect as you. You have more spunk than I ever thought possible. You will not allow anyone to take advantage of you, in any way. You have an opinion about everything and voice it without caring what anyone else may think. (I do believe you and Great-Grandma Colene are kindred-spirits. And you love each other dearly, too.)You do not allow many the priviledge of knowing the true Gwyneth. You have a very sensitive soul and you guard it carefully with a spirit of anger. Whenever you feel insecure or shy you will feign an attitide to scare the intruder off...I know this because you got it from me. You love Mama like no other, and I must love you for this. I love that you need to be with me every minute of the day. And I love that you mimic my every move. You command my devotion and attention and even if it were possible for me not to want to love you, I'm sure you'd give me no choice. And I do. I love my chattering, busy, sweet & sour little princess more than I ever thought possible.

Mama

What a punk!

Do ya see it?
























Oh my...

The thought of raising teenage boys has forever terrified me...
I must admit, it's the first thing I thought of each time I was told we were having a boy.
I wasn't at all prepared for the way each of them stole my heart, almost instantly.
My beautiful babies almost made me forget these fears...

Now I'm a bit panicky as I look at these photos and realize it's only a few short years away.

Why can't they stay sweet and [relatively] innocent forever and ever?

80's Flashback...

*My Little Pony
*Side pigtails
*Candy bracelets
*Jellies

It's me 25 years ago!
(Minus the gorgeous blond curls)

And, no, she hasn't had another eye surgery...
this is her very first attempt at make-up.
I'm sure she got just as much in her eye.
She woke up puffy this morning,
to say the least.
And it never came off,
so she got to go to church looking this way.
Why can't they make ours this long-lasting?
It'd sure save a lot of time in the mornings...

Thank you, Aunt Shelby & Kira,
for the "castle make-up"
Who knew it was possible to combine
Gwyneth's 2 loves...

My Sonshine...

Jude,

Your smile is my sunshine.

You can coax a smile from Mama, even on the gloomiest of days. The way you squinch up your little nose when you ask me a question makes me giggle, every time. You are a charmer, for sure, and can charm the socks off anyone when you decide to. You are so very contagious and you feel every emotion with 100% intensity. There is no lukewarm about you. You are a social-light and everyone loves you. At gatherings you make sure to play with everyone before we leave. I love that you're a peace-maker and will almost always give up what makes you happy for the happiness of others, but my heart aches when I see some already taking advantage of this and I pray that this beautiful trait will not be forsaken by you because of it. You are a love-bug, and Mama's only one. According to you, Eskimo kisses are the greatest thing ever invented. I melt into a big, gooey puddle when you slip your little arms around my shoulders and pat me while you snuggle up close. Every night after prayers you do this and then hold me tight so I can't get away....and it's all I can do to leave you...I'm so proud of your determined spirit. You put everything you have into everything you do. You will not except help from anyone, no matter how spittin mad you get or how long it takes, you will do it! It is because of this I believe you will go far…And no matter how far you go, always remember that your Mama adores you, and I always will.

Mama

Summer luvin...

We had the best week with Daddy!
It was so wonderful to have time together as a family.
We took the kids to their very first movie on the bigscreen...
Went to the beach, twice!
Gobbled popcorn and icecream sandwiches all week
and spent lots of downtime at home, just enjoying our family.
We all needed it. It's been years since Daddy has taken a vacation with us...
And we miss him terribly today!

Uncle Jay and Aunt Heidi invited us to join them at the beach last night...

Little Miss. lovin the dirt, as always...
























Sun Bonnet Sue...
























Some poor little guy had left these action figures behind....

Can you feel the love people?
























I think Mama had better get the boy some of his own next time we're in town!
























Family Fued...
Gwyneth was so mad that "Rowie splashed me!"
She took it so personally and is still griping about it...


















I'm so proud of these boys. They are the most extreme opposites,
but they've really learned to love each other...
























The fab. 5...





















I love evenings at the lake.
It was so peaceful.
My babies are actually starting to really enjoy life
and I can feel my spirit taking a huge sigh of relief
as the marathon I've been running for the last few years
finally slows down just a bit...

Lazy Dayz...

Grandpa Jim made Jude's day when he decided to bounce the ball around with him. Just look at that face! He's practically glowing! Jude has always loved balls, from the time he was itty bitty. And what could be better than a lazy summer afternoon spent playing with Grandpa?