Sick

We all have gotten colds this week.

Hope first, then everybody but Breeley. I commented to Doug, "I sure hope Breeley doesn't get this cold."

As Doug was answering Tyler broke in, "I hope I lose mine."

I miss blogging, but

10. I have one and a half bushels of tomatoes and a half bushel of peaches spread across my kitchen and dining room waiting to be preserved.

9. I went "home" to spend time with my mama while my dad was on a mission trip. (THANKS MOM FOR A WONDERFUL FEW DAYS!!)


8. I haven't downloaded any pictures from my camera for two or was it three weeks.
*Over 300 pictures.*

7. Two kids in VBS + One kid with a fever + One husband working tons of hours.

6. The zoo is so much fun in 90 degree weather.

(Can you guess which exhibit?)

5. The 4-h fair is really fun on the first cool night in weeks.

4. Breeley has decided to only nap if someone is holding her.

This is one of my favorite pictures.


3. The summer reading program at the library.

2. School is about to start.

1. I'd rather be cuddling her

or tickling her bare toes

braiding her hair

watching his latest stunts,

or hanging out with him.

Sunday Afternoon Bliss

Weekend Fun

Last weekend was our annual family get together with my side of the family. Two of my siblings live out of state - one of them half way across the country. When my brother's family send the date for when they are coming home, my mom starts working to get everyone else there too.

Even the butterflies!

It's always a bit chaotic and a lot of fun!

When it has been decided our family picture needs updating due to new additions, it adds a whole new dimension. There are my parents (of course), six kids (all married), and 14 grandchildren (and counting). Mom decided several family pictures back she wanted us to do "family colors". It really works well. I have to say this was the most painless picture so far. In spite of people arriving late and others having to leave early, our photographer got the family picture with 12 children under the age of 8 taken with everyone looking in less than 10 minutes. She was worth every penny - I almost tipped her. :)

After she was done with the big group picture, I grabbed my camera and kids and headed out to find the perfect spot to take their picture. Here is my favorite attempt from the day. At least this time one didn't throw her head out of the shot. :)

I love how Ty is tickling Hope in this one.

It was so fun to watch the kids play together after the pictures were taken. They swam, Dad grilled some wonderful burgers, there was at least four different desserts - Ty sampled each one twice I think -, Becca and her cousin read books together. Hope was worn out before we left so Mom rocked Breeley to sleep while I gave Hope some snuggles.

Our family gatherings are loud, chaotic, food filled, rough and tumble boys playing, girl-time having, Grammy cuddling, Papaw cooking, Sibling reuniting blessed times.

It was so nice to sleep in on Sunday. Thank goodness for 11 am service. :)

Two Out of Four Isn't Bad.

Right?

Jealous Much?

The Fourth Child

Having more than one child changes things. My parents would tell you they only peeled grapes for my oldest brother. I would tell you only Tyler got taken to the doctor for every little cold, got a diaper bag packed so full it rivaled the most prepared nuclear fall out shelter, got taken for drives in the middle of the night. And that's the short list.

With each child various things have fallen by the wayside. Last night after Becca and Hope had bathed, I put Breeley in the tub. I have yet to dig out the baby tub so a few washrags on the bottom of the tub and we were good to go. After I laid her in the water, I realized that Hope had probably peed in the tub I just laid my newborn baby girl in. I didn't clean it.

Bad mommy moment number ____? I don't even know anymore.

As I sat looking at my sweet little baby's face I felt horrible that I hadn't done more than rinse the tub out. Here she laid so new and vulnerable and I was failing to protect her from the germs in the tub. (Can anyone say postpartum hormones at work?)

She was quickly getting tired of the bath so I got to work washing her. Only to look down and see little baby poop floating in the tub.