Potty Training

Can be such a pain.

Sprinkle in a little fun

Jumping for Joy!

The kind of joy only the last day of school can bring.

Truth be told, it took Brinley a little bit to muster the joy. She loves school and will miss her teacher terribly.

Ben, not so much.

Looking forward to spending my summer days with these little faces.

My taste tester

Bowen, Icing Dept.

Muddin'

Just wait until he's 16.

Favorite Foto Friday

Bittersweet Goodbye

Today we said goodbye to the crib.
It has been bounced on, climbed on, and slept in by all 3 of my babies.
It has been both loathed & loved.
It will be passed on to a new baby.

My babies aren't babies anymore.

Favorite Foto Friday

It's a tie!
There's this little jewel of evidence -
I was taking sweet little kitty lovin' Brin's pic (trying out my new flash, yay) when Ben runs by and pushes her!
Not smart. Gotta save it for memory's sake, though.

And then there's Bo...

2 years, 24 lbs, 34.5 inches of silliness.

Gifts

We dedicated Bowen on Sunday.
Meaning we stood before our church and prayed with our Elders that he has a life rich with the gifts that only a life in Christ can give him.
It was awesome!

One of our keepsakes is this blanket....

From afar it may look like an ordinary little boy's blanket but...

Up close, it is so much more.

It is handmade, personalized and filled with scripture!

What a treasure, just like Bowen.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I ask of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."
1 Samuel 1:27-28

Playing daily at our house:

just a little off the side, please...

Bowen's first haircut...

Compliments of daddy's discarded razor.

Don't worry, no children were hurt but we'll have to find a safer place to put old razors because no trash can is left untouched when Bo is around!

Bowen -11 months

Bowen's new face and new talent
"Look, no hands"

What he's up to:

• hugs
• takes 1-3 steps at a time
  
• gives high-fives & waves
• says "dada" and "that"...still no mama :(
• teething, currently working on some molars - ouch!
• does pat-a-cake, claps and rolls on his own.
  
• likes to splash...in. the. toilet. when he can find an open bathroom door
• loves crackers, hates toast
• still battling ear infections :(
• already likes to climb, lucky me!
  
• becoming a daddy's boy
  

Bowen turns 9 months old

Nine months!
Wow.

I know I'm really getting away from the bear pictures BUT he looks so mature here, I can't get over it...and shh, you're getting a sneak peak at our Christmas card photo session site.

So here's what Bowen's up to:

• his hair is curling up in back (so, so cute)
• he will stand -on his own- for several seconds at a time.
• still pulls up on any & every thing.
• he is getting 3 new top teeth. right. now. as he sleeps
• he makes a beeline crawling to daddy when he comes home from work.
• enjoying 3rd foods and snacks - crackers, puffs, bananas, etc.
• he plays a game where the kids "chase" him and he scrambles up to me laughing so hard!
  

Love it!
Such a doll.

May the force be with you...and mickey, too.

Introducing my Star Wars nuts...

Princess Leia & Darth VaderThen there's Mickey

~Bowen's first Halloween, 8 months~ Brinley's favorite activity (next to eating candy) was squeaking Bo's ears.

A great moment:

Ben giving Brinley a pep talk about the creatures...meanwhile Brook (Alice in wonderland) has to shield her eyes to make it up to the door. Not afraid, that's my girl!


One last look back ...

And just because it cracks me up...

He was pooped.

It was a great night.