HELP!!!!

Last month, Doug surprised me with a new lens for my camera. It's been so much fun to play that I decided to try taking the kids spring pictures. Two words sum it up -fun and work. :)

We headed to a local park on a rather cold day -thus the red and runny noses! The day was gorgeous and the big kids were so well behaved. Hope has been feeling a little puny lately so she was not happy about taking pictures. And she has a love affair with her coat. And her coat's hood. "Hat on" happens to be her favorite words before heading out the door right now. The fact that it was warm enough to need only a jacket didn't go over so well.

By the time Ty and Becca sat through a million pictures of all three kids (Hope was distracted or grumpy in many) they didn't want to take any more. So I took a few more of the big kids outside the house the next day. I've learned something about toddlers and photo sessions...they don't go together. Ty and Becca did great with all my goofs and trying to learn my way around my camera better.

So now that I've dragged this on forever, here's my plea for help. I can't decide on my favorites and would love some input. If you know anything about editing (I use Picassa) and could help me there I'd really appreciate it.

Tyler

Becca

Hope

(This one is obviously SOOC)

The kids

It's Been a Long Time!

Here's a quick review of what's happening here. :)
It's been a lot cold.
(Weekend trip to my parents. The snowiest weekend of the year.)

And we've just had life happen.
(Sorting through all the boy clothes I no longer need. *sniff, sniff*)

And we've been having a lot of fun.
(Children's Museum)

It's been a little crazy.

But that can be fun too.
(Being an aunt is so much fun!)

We've celebrated.
(Becca's sixth, just the family, birthday party)

We've seen old friends.

(Former Wabash College student and my 4th brother

came back from Malaysia for a visit. As you can see

Hope loved him from the start!)

And enjoyed taking in the new

(kids first time to the circus).

But, now, I'm hoping to be back around here a little more often. But even when I'm not blogging, I enjoy reading about you and yours! See you tomorrow...maybe. :)

Becca

You are six.

I cannot believe that your birthday week flew by so fast and I'm just now writing my birthday letter to you. We had so much fun this week and you wore me out! This was your first "big girl" party with more than your cousin sleeping over. We grabbed another friend and headed to the nail salon where you and your friends got a fun paint job. Then we went to lunch and played in the Chick-fil-a play area. I loved watching as you are blooming into an incredible girl, on your way to becoming a wonderful woman of God.

You grew too fast this year. Physically, yes! You are the second tallest girl in your Sunday school class. Coming from a shorty like your mom that quite something. It just one of the many ways you are like your Grandma. But more than how quickly you grew outside this year, you grew in your soul. There were so many changes in your little life. You started school, you are becoming a big sister again, you have a little sister who can get into your things and a big brother who loves you and loves to pester you. You are big enough to help take care of the pets, take your own bath and brush your teeth. You are learning to cook and clean. You love to help match all the socks and fold the washrags on laundry days.

You have also developed a wonderful sense of humor. You are learning to let people laugh at your jokes and starting to laugh at your own mistakes. Watching you is like watching a beautiful flower unfold. You love warmth and security yet you are beginning to be willing to bloom in inhospitable circumstances.

Of course all the changes this year were not fun. Watching you learn to grieve has been heart wrenching. The fear and uncertainty of this past year etched your life. I know it is part of the work God in you. We have both had to learn to trust Him in new and deeper ways. Though there were some pretty awful days, there were many days you grieved with so much hope it astounded me.

This year is another year with obvious changes on the way. I pray you continue to grow with grace, your heart be filled with peace and joy, and that His hand guides you through the challenges to come.

I look forward to watching you grow and change. There are somethings that I hope will stay the same though! I pray your heart will stay close to God's. I hope your love of family and dear friends stays the same. I hope you never lose your sense of fun, your quick laugh, your sense of purpose or your love of art and fashion.

I love you, my first baby girl. Happy Brithday.

Tyler

My lover of animals.

Hater of shoes.

Craziness Defined


Protector and Defender

Master of chess

Smasher of baseballs

Big brother extraordinaire

Up and coming lawn tractor racer


Always my boy

The Week with Four Saturdays

Did you ever have one of those weeks where you couldn't keep track of what day it was? This was the week with four Saturdays for me. I think I'll wake up and go to church tomorrow.

Doug took a few days off work to make it a long weekend. My parents are on an Asian vacation. They have a beautiful home with several acres in the middle of no where. It's perfect for a get away. We often head out there for a day or even a few nights just to get out of the city. I woke up Thursday morning. Doug was sleeping beside me. It's Saturday, right?

I woke up Friday. Doug was sleeping beside me. It's Saturday, right?

I woke up Saturday. Doug wasn't sleeping beside me. I was sleeping on a twin mattress thrown out on the family room floor to have a slumber party with my girls. Thinking I would sleep on the couch while they shared the mattress. Wrong. All three of us were sleeping on the twin mattress. Apparently, I don't remember things well. Cribs, when available, should be used. There was a crib set up. I did not use it.

Sunday, I woke up. Doug was sleeping across the room.

I'm tired. Very tired. I really don't want to do lesson plans and start school in the morning.

Maybe I should just call it a snow day tomorrow.

Oh wait. The snow is not coming until Tuesday. Whenever that is. :)

Hope is

Fun

Full of life - at least that's what I'm telling myself

Hater of Cold

Coloring Marvel

Makeup Artist

Loving

Daddy's Little Girl

My baby girl...always

Mommy Penance

Having to use a towel with a dog head hand towel sewn on the top with a tail hanging off the back to dry with because you have neglected to do laundry even though the kids have been diligent about taking the dirty laundry down to the washer.