The Swing

I could sit on this swing for hours.

And this week I think I have.

Of course, its the best when you have a joiner.

 Eliza shares my love of swinging.

 It has been a wonderfully rejuvenating week.

Tomorrow we go home,

but certainly not before we take one last swing.

Full Circle

It always tugs at my heart a little when I have to pack away clothes that the girls have outgrown, but especially if it is something I have seen often on all three of them. It is such a tangible reminder that they are growing so fast. I love my children at every age, more than ever, but I still miss the stages that have already passed.

So many pleasant memories are associated in my mind with this little dress. Theia received it as a birthday present from Uncle Pat and Aunt Nadya on her second birthday.

It has been a favorite with all three girls.

(Theia on our Spring Lake babymoon, shortly after Ingrid's birth)

(Eliza by the open window in January 2009, the first morning of our new life in Florida)

(Ingrid opening presents on her second birthday)

Ingrid wore it for the last time a few days ago. I started to put it on a hanger, then suddenly recalled how short it had been on her, and how the snaps had gaped apart because it was tight around her chest when I had put it on her. You can't blame me for shedding a few tears when I took it off the hanger and instead folded it up to send along to my niece. I look forward to seeing it on Rebecca next. It's one of those dresses that makes sweet little girls even sweeter.

Those aliens cannot be trusted.

Is there an alien writing bad checks from our account?

Where are my Reeces Pieces?

Au Contraire

 Whoa-whoa-whoa! Didn't I just give you a bath?!

Me? I don't need a bath.

Au Contraire.

This wet bar has certainly seen a lot of action lately.

Sung to the tune of...

Waking up knowing that Jesus has saved us

Swingsets set up while we sleep to surprise us



Playing outside just before we get dressed

These are a few of the things we like best!

__________________________

Girls in pink dresses with white grosgrain hairties

Egg hunts at house church before the rain drenches

Boys in white pants paired with argyle vests

These are a few of the things I like best!

The Girl's got Style

Every now and then when Eliza walks into my presence after getting dressed, I ask her to stop so I can snap a picture of her with my phone. I'm sure she thinks it's just because she's my favorite. She has no idea that I actually just like to document the outlandish combinations of clothing she manages to find. (She actually is my favorite though - my favorite 3 year old, that is.)

Proving patriotism is always in style.

If it's too cold for your brown summer capri outfit,

never fear, just throw on a navy quilted vest and

some cowboy boots - you're good to go!

Further proof that red boots go with everything.

Actual playtime conversation between Theia and Eliza

Theia: "Honey, go get the bare necessities, please."
Eliza: "We don't HAVE any bare necessities!"
Theia: "Just go look in the cabinet, that's where the bare necessities are!"
Eliza: (slowly and succinctly) "There are NONE in there. We are ALL OUT of bare necessities."

I think someone's been watching Jungle Book.

four

How do the girls feel about their new baby brother?

Tender,

Proud,

and excited.

These pictures are over two weeks old. Sorry they are so late in coming. Emeth is just over 3 weeks now, and he's definitely looking plumper, older, and clearer than he did when these were taken.

Life is BUSY. But that's partly because we got home with barely enough time to scrape Christmas preparations together for our family. Its definitely been a happy busy. Once December is over, I guess we'll find out what life with four is really like.

Halloween 2010 - The Farmer's Daughters

This year the girls dressed up as farmer's daughters for Halloween.

I don't think we'll be winning any contests, like we did last year, but I shore do think they made the cutest little bunch of freckle-faced rednecks I ever did see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being a farm girl is such hard work

There are crops

to be gathered

fields to be mowed

fences to be climbed

the farmhouse to tend

trees to be pruned

and, of course,

our down-home,

sweet and wholesome,

corn-cakes and apple pie,

aw shucks good looks

to be maintained.

I'm gonna wait till the midnight sunset hour

superlatives

...curly...

...curlier...

...curliest.