When you don’t keep up with your Instagram updates, all of a sudden you have 60 photos you’d like to share the stories about… whoopsie! Also, all the photos uploaded in reverse order and while I love you all, I’m not going to put them in the correct order so these go newest to oldest. If you want to follow along chronologically (which really doesn’t matter, I just like to write that way to put order in my own mind), start at the end and work your way. Also, this would be a way to try and make it all the way through!
Jack is still tiny and easy to toss around, so we do. Often. Much to his chagrin.
Sunday afternoon my niece (only 3 years younger than me, lest you think I am quite old from seeing her above) and her family came for dinner. Ethan is her youngest and quite the doll.
Quinn’s oldest is only 10 weeks younger than Jack so they have a brotherly relationship, which means they are perfect for hanging out together but also drive each other a little nuts. And as previously documented, they are big troublemakers when they get together. Fun for years to come.
This little nugget slept with me on Saturday night while the bigger boys were away shooting things, riding tractors and having campfires with the other guys in our small group.
The big boys being away meant we got to find our own fun at Bolder Ridge Wild Animal Park. I am still sad I did not capture a picture of Kate and I’s faces when the birds in the aviary all took flight at the same time and flew in a large circle around us. We screamed, perhaps a lot.
My first chalk painted piece. The words were traced with carbon paper and painted in – not a decal. Be impressed.
Momma deer and her baby in our backyard.
And one (of a 1000) tiny frog in our driveway.
We tagged along with friends who have a pool membership and my boys showed no fear in jumping off the diving board for the first time. Hours of fun = hours of sleep.
Yup.
The “woods” behind our house.
Dropping Liam off at camp – we barely said goodbye before he was off and running with the other kids. But he did bring his pillow pet.
His new favorite pasttime is sitting on the kitchen counters (that and not sleeping since this photo was taken AFTER book club got done and everyone left at 10:30 p.m.).
Pesky wabbits – the culprits for eating my new plants. Sometimes they just recline in the yard, which makes me irate!
Great Blue Heron on our pond – my first sighting, but then I saw another one last night. Less exciting.
Jack’s third favorite pasttime is riding his bike – though he yells at me the entire way from our driveway to this flat street in our neighborhood to “HOLD ONTO ME. DON’T LET GO. WHY ARE YOU LETTING GO? HELP!” It’s “fun.”
Twilight on the river makes me happy.
Practicing without training wheels. Day one of…. ?
Love.
And Jack’s portrait of our family with the word LOVE. (I’m in the middle with all the hair.)
Nature walk around the pond.
First and last days of second grade.
Our front yard a couple weeks apart.
My happy camper still fits in the baby swings.
The whole family in stripes for church. Liam did not wish to participate in the smiling portion of this photo.
Jack’s self-portrait and name signing progress from November 2013 to May 2014.
Most favorite Words with Friends play EVER.
Ellery (above) is 10 weeks older than Jack… And Keila (below) is 7 weeks younger than Liam – forever friends.
#tbt to our first trip to Oz together.
Holding hands with my lucky-finned boy.
The makings for a fun girl’s night!
George in flight.
Chillaxin’ on the deck at the start of summer. I haven’t killed all those plants (yet).
Tiny coffees for small boys.
Our canine house guest, Sheriff.
All legs (and technology interests).
Hiding in the couch. “Can you see me, mom?”
Trying something new: sweet potato fries. Also, please note that this kid wore his sweatshirt at daycare this day to cover up the “kissing” on his t-shirt.
Playing “Go Ape” with my little monkey.
More creatures in our yard – I took way too many pictures of this oddly-colored inchworm.
The best chocolate chip cookie recipe from Picky Palate – you can make this XXL as I did or normal size and they turn out delicious!
My beloved Oatmeal-PB-Banana smoothie from the Lemon Bowl.
Sleeping boys.
If he had a million dollars… Liam would buy a limo. A cool miniature poodle and a french poodle. A rocket. 40 body guards and some emeralds and diamonds.
Of course.
Finally.
Hello, Mr. Almost Third Grader.
Friday chilling with my little one, moments later a miracle happened, he fell asleep on me!
#tbt to me and my mama. Hot Lips Houllihan.
Playing in the spot where there will someday be a playset.
We have enjoyed the hard work of others – these two pics are of our house… the owners before us had it repainted and I am so glad for that!
How our little family has grown from two to four.
I could hold other peoples’ babies for hours and never grow weary of it.
Just my dog, embarrassing me by always choosing to poop way down next to the road for the world to see (yes, I’m also posting this on my blog for the world to see – welcome strange internet users who typed some search phrase including “poop” into their “googlers”).
Love it when he’s genuinely happy.
Mid-day anniversary date. Nine years of wedding bliss.
Family photo at Lego Kids Fest. Thanks, Liam, for the bunny ears that I just now noticed.
The yard prior to spring clean up… Jack didn’t seem to mind.
I leave white lights up year round – let the neighbors talk. They are solar powered and they make me happy.
Congrats – you made it to the end (or the beginning if you are working your way backwards).
ememby 