Wheat or White?

Jude was so cute at lunch the other day...
My kids never get any white bread, only multi-grain or whole wheat. They love it, but the other day my Grandma sent us home with these dinner rolls. These white dinner rolls. Camden and Gwyn wouldn't even touch them, but Jude...

Well, Jude was in love. He scooped that thing up in both hands like it was the most precious thing ever and savored every bite! He definately has his daddy's taste buds!

Tiny Daughter

A Daughter Is... ...
a star glimmering in the sky,
a wonder,
a sweetness,
a perception,
a delight...
everything beautiful.
A daughter is love





There be none of beauty's daughters with a magic like thee.

Here comes trouble...

x 10!

These guys were such troopers! This was by far the easiest "photoshoot" we've ever had with them. Guess we just need to get them fun new presents every time we want them to smile!
When you consider that there are 10 kids 8 years and under, it's pretty amazing how well they all get along. I'm really proud of them!

I can't begin to explain how much I love watching my children interact with their cousins. It brings back so many memories from my own childhood...My cousins are still my best friends to this day.

This is my best group shot...If anyone has a good one with Caleb from this angle I can probably photoshop him in. All mine were out of focus. I also have ones were Gretta is looking up, but she's screaming in all of them.


This girl is always on the move!



Camden, doin a little jig.

Jude, showing me his boots. Just look at those poor little knees! This guy has fallen in the gravel more times than I can count!

Camden always gives me such great eye contact in his photos...

Uncle Matt had Jude laughin up a storm!

Last girl standing, or sitting, rather. For some reason she really liked lining up with all the cousins.
We seriously had so much fun with you guys! We need to get the whole fam together waaaay more often!

Little Rascals

We had so much fun with all the cousins this weekend! The kids are totally worn-out! This is my favorite shot of "The Gang", minus Baby Gretta. It is so funny looking through the different shots and glimpsing little bits of their personalities. I have quite a few to edit still, but just wanted to share since I haven't posted in forever!

Aren't they just soooo cute in all their rain gear... We miss you already, Caleb and Megan!

Mama's Day...

Wow! Was I ever spoiled this Mother's Day!

I think my husband is still trying to redeem himself after that first Mother's Day. The one where he didn't get me anything...not even a card...No acknowledgement whatsoever...

The one where he told me "You're not my Mother."

Men.

Apparently being the mother of his children doesn't count for much.
Needless to say, he realized his folly. (And surprisingly, I wasn't the one to bring it to his attention either.)

And so....

This Mother's Day I was surprised with a Starbucks card from "Camden".

We also went parking.
Now, now...you guys… not that kind of parking, although that sounds fun, too. No, "parking" is what Camden calls going to the park. He was so excited; he yelled "We're going parking!" the whole way into town.
But we have, shall we say...chickens, for children. Not one of them would swing or slide. Camden stated, "This is crazy!" So they just ran up and down the grassy hill for half an hour, and that was that. (I think they're a bit grass deprived. I can't wait till we get our lawn!)

Then we went to my Mom's for a weenie roast with my whole family. That was sooo much fun! The weenie jokes were flying! My brother had me laughing so hard I cried, my cheeks ached, and I just about peed my pants...more than once. The kids loved it too and we all came home smelling like a camp fire.

Then there was this beautiful post waiting for me when I woke up on Sunday, which you've all seen, of course. I'll never say another word about that first Mother's Day again. Consider yourself redeemed, Lyle. And for the record, I love you more than life itself, also.

THEN, church.

Then, BBQ with my "other Mother". Yummy. Yummy. I'm so glad it's time for summer food again! Lyle watched the kids all day and we played games. I love to do that! We need to do it more often, I think. (Instead of pool!) (;

Thank you, Mom and Connie, for working so hard to make the day special for us, even though you're mother's too! I love you both!

Sorry, no pics! I just enjoyed the weekend without my camera!

What we love so much about our Mommy

That we consume her thoughts, especially her most joyful thoughts

That when she sets out her goals in life, we are always a part of them

That she disciplines us to make us better, and loves us too much at the same time

She is proud of us when she looks at us

She loves to make us beautiful

That she is so happy to see us in the morning when we wake up

That we are all her favorite thing in the whole wide world

Our favorite thing is to sing songs and read books with Mommy

We love to wake her up in the middle of the night so she will come tuck us in again and again

We love her so much that we follow her everywhere until she picks us up and holds us in her arms

We don’t like to share her with anyone, she is our Mommy

There is no one in this world we can depend on more than our Mommy and we love her very much!

Camden, Jude, and Gwyneth

To the very best Mommy in the whole world!