Elise at 4 months

This beautiful lady is 4 months old.  She loves to suck on her hands and I had a hard time getting a picture that isn't drool laden.  But even then, she's still adorable!  I love this little peanut and can't believe how fast she is growing.

Father's Day 2013

 Father's day started with church, then a nap for everyone, and then we got down to celebrating Dad!  The kids gave him his gift which they had been a part of selecting.  We were 3/5 of the gifts, better than other years.  Then we went and got our bowling shoes on (for Hayden and Clare it being the first time).  Daddy showed them how to bowl and Mommy showed them how to win.   Ooops, did I say that.  Well if he wouldn't let me win anything while we dated, then I'm sure not going to hold back because it's Father's day.  Either way, we look forward to a rematch soon! 

So sweet!

Enjoying nature

 I love it that my kids are at an age where they are amazed by creeks and waterfalls.  They stop to sniff and flower and pretend to sneeze.  I love it that they are content to run and run and run some more.  I am grateful that I get to take in this beauty of nature and enjoy the beautiful sight of my children doing the same and loving it.  We have made time to get outside and take a deep breath and go for a walk and some of out beautiful surroundings here this summer again.

Summertime visiting "the Farm"

 This is a favorite for the kids to go here each year.  It isn't open year round and so we wait patiently for April 1st to roll around and bid it farewell at the end of October.  The kids always beg to pan for gold so this year I splurged and let the "shake the rocks."  There is an abundance of baby animals at the beginning of the season and they keep them indoors at first so they kids get to pet them.  We have to feed at least one animal, so I'm always packing quarters (forgetting them has gotten me in trouble a couple of times.)  The fish have been popular this year but I think the the goats are getting a little porky anyway. 

He was so happy his legs reached and they were strong enough to peddle these little tractors this year.

Well she'll see it next year

Feeding the fish

Hayden Rides a Bike

This is Hayden at 4 years and 4 months.  He is riding his bicycle that he got for his 4th birthday.  He hadn't gotten many good days to ride it because of all the snowy and cold weather we had up until about a week ago.  After all there was snow on the ground on May 1st and tomorrow on May 14th it is supposed to hit 90 degrees.  He had been riding his balance bike since last summer at 3 1/2 years when we talked him into riding it in the neighborhood 4th of July parade.    He mastered it within a few weeks and was really comfortable.  He has these huge tricycles at school that are one and two person and he loves to race them there.  And he'd learned to peddle with a tiny tricycle when he was just over 2 years old.  But this bicycle came with training wheels that he never saw.  And after practicing for the last month and a half off and on, he got it tonight for the first time.  Sometimes as a parent you try something a little different that what you knew growing up and this was one of those things.  We are so happy for him!  He will definitely be rocking it out at the 4th of July parade this year!  Go Hayden!  We're so proud of you and how brave and talented you are!

Elise at 3 Months

 Well this little baby girl is just delicious.  She is getting stronger and stronger.  Able to hold her head up in the 3rd month well. She rolls and coos and is sleeping well through the night.  Just delightful.  I love her smiles that are so big there is an aftershock in her body.    We all love her and the kids can't hardly keep their hands off.  But there is a reward for that sometimes, when the camera is pointed their direction (refer to last picture).  I love my this baby girl.  Daddy and I are thrice blessed with her!

Love the gums!

Surprise!

She completely had Clare by a fistful of hair in this picture.  You can see the sisterly irritation on Clare's face.

Sisters....awww!