LIttle bits of my life

Brotherly love - "willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light" - Mosiah 18:8

Camden is so full of love for our family, individually and collectively, and I think of him as our "glue".  I love how in his 1-year-old way he reaches out to his brother who was the only one sentenced to a time-out here.

 Family scripture time -- note that Camden needs to have his own book.  And that he loves to sit next to his sister whom he calls "Hannah" half the time.

 Once daddy's little girl, always daddy's little girl.  Here they are coming home after going for a dusk-time walk to see the dam.

 I had both my elementary kids in the same dance festival this year.  What a treat for this momma!  Here Hannah & Jacob are warming up.  The matching bright yellow shirts were a pure coincidence.

 Drew made a fabulous playdough cake and was so proud!

 Drew likes to do his own hair now.  His hair can stand straight up just like Grandpa R.'s.  Is anyone here surprised?  Yet another way that he is just like his Grandpa.  If some of Drew's hairs get knocked down he is very particular about going and combing them straight up again.  Okay, so that part isn't like Grandpa.

 Best friends on a rare free afternoon at the neighbor's trampoline.

 And not happy that Mom snuck up to document it.  How could I help it, you two are so cute together and are the luckiest of sisters!

 Partners in play; partners in crime.  The newest duo at our house.

Jacob applied serious tenacity to finally get this play dough snake to stay together and wrap around his arm long enough for me to snap a picture.  That's all he wanted, just for Mom to take a picture. 

I love being with these five junior citizens every day!

Baby Crazy

It took having an electronic baby at our house for a day to learn that my children are baby crazy.  They fought over who got to hold the baby, who got to change its diapers, who would feed the baby...and can you believe that no one took me up on the offer to let them change Camden's diaper?

My girls were the ones officially asked to care for "Sophie" when our neighbor had to be admitted to the hospital and was in the middle of a weekend school assignment caring for the baby. Callie was thrilled, "I am SO taking this class when I am in 9th grade".  Callie went to bed with Sophie sleeping in the car seat carrier by her side.  I heard the baby crying at 5:50am the next morning so I offered to let Callie go back to sleep.  As Callie rolled over to go back to sleep she said "I am SO not taking that class".  A peek at the log showed me that Callie had fed/diapered/burped the doll at 10pm, 11pm, and 3am.  Welcome to real life -- what a great experience!

 Two happy babysitters (we haven't hit nighttime yet)

 My boys even went nuts over this doll.  Here they are doing "this little piggie" to her.

  I just wanted to show off this person's foot.  If I had any photographic pride it is swallowed in the fact that I had to show how yes, even Camden had to have a turn with the baby and treated her as if she were real.

 

That night we also had a REAL and MOST ADORABLE baby come to our house.

 Aubrie is so beautiful; if she was my baby I think I would just wear my camera to have it always on hand.

 Feeding time.

 

Spring

We aren't in any danger of winning "yard of the month" at our house but there are a few spots of spring that bring joy to my heart and a smile to my face.  I love this time of year.

 We're back in business with a new bird feeder and every morning when I arise the birds are busy singing to me.  Love it.

 Hooray for tulips, one of the most cheerful flowers on earth!  Defy those crunchy leaves that never got cleaned up!

It's not even super impressive but our forsythia bush actually bloomed this year - the first time in four springs!  Love those bright yellow blossoms!

Spring Beauties

My girls looked so pretty in their new spring clothes that I just had to snap a picture.