A Good Book

Elizabeth

This baby?

LOOOOOOOVES to be outside--

even if the flash on Mommy's camera was set a bit too bright

and even if her stripes and flowers don't match

and even if I forgot to wipe that stuff off her eye before the picture

and even if she's wearing a hand-me-down hat from eleven years ago when Linnea wore it--

yep, even then.

Facing West

sitting in the doorway

watching the evening coming on

thinking little girl thoughts

unaware of the camera

until we call her name

Outside

 We've been enjoying a balmy spring here lately.

Ivy and Ruby shared a ride on the bouncy horse.

 Elizabeth takes it all in from her perch on my back in the Ergo (a generous gift from a generous friend)

while Ruby and Ivy discuss how to use the rope swing in the background.

 Though it's a bit blurry, I thought you might like to see Ivy "helping" to boost Ruby up on to the rope.

(The attempt was unsuccessful.)

((I double-checked that no one's undies were on the clothesline in the picture.))

 My outdoor-, football-loving guy, 

Andrew.

(We totally scored at Goodwill, finding the shirt for $1.80 and the pants for $1!!)

 The Bipper 

 Ivy Joy gives the rope swing a try.

Did I mention where Elizabeth was?

I did?

'mkay.

AWANA

Our kids participate in AWANA, a Scripture memory program for kids.

They had their award ceremony the first week of May.

Bipper had just lost his tooth, remember?

Linnea was excited to be there,

but a bit sad as it was her last year.

Sixth grade is as far as this church goes with their program.

She has eagerly memorized hundreds of verses in her years of AWANA.

I know they will serve her well in the years to come.

Thy word have I hid in my heart,

that I might not sin against Thee.  Psalm 118:11

Words Escape Me

All Dressed Up

Everyone should have an 11 year old fashion consultant/wardrobe designer/big sister,

don'tcha think?

Dad's New (to Him) Tractor

(I keep neglecting to put these pictures up!

They were taken a few weeks ago when it was cool enough to need a jacket.)

Dennis bought his first tractor when he was 15.

This is the second one--now at age 37.

He's pretty happy to have it.

The kids have rarely seen a tractor so clean!!

I thought I'd better take some pictures before he put it to hard (and dirty!) work.

A Non-Political Tea Party

I'm hoping that the points awarded for Ruby's beautifully plaited hair 

are more than my demerits for Ivy's very dirty face.

Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself--

I think when I took this picture, everyone was dressed and had been served a meal of real (as opposed to plastic) food.

That's a successful day in my book.

Jump!

Bipper Lost a Tooth!!

It had been hanging by a thread for some time, that tooth.

Bipper, with his finger seemingly always in his mouth,

wiggled and jiggled and jiggled and wiggled that tooth.

I tried to pull it, Daddy tried to pull it.

It just didn't want to let go!

During an afternoon of football on the yard,

I heard the front door slam and what sounded like sobs

as Christopher climbed the front steps.

As the mother of boys, I immediately conjured up images replete with blood.

It turns out he was laughing rather incredulously.

A football to the face had knocked that tooth loose!

There was blood indeed, but no tears.

He laughed as he told me how as he dove for the football and

got a mouthful of it instead.

As he stood up, he realized his tooth was out.

We didn't find it on the yard,

but we played the tooth fairy game anyway.

(My kids know about Santa and the tooth fairy.)

Now, instead of his finger always on that tooth,

his tongue occupies the vacated space!

A Little Ray of Sunshine

I Hope You'll Always Know

To my daughters:

I hope you always know how much we love you.

I hope you always know how beautiful you are.

I hope you will always know how precious you are--

that no matter what anyone says or does to you

that you would know without doubt that you are precious.

I hope that you will acknowledge that all bodies are made differently,

and that you will love and accept your own unique design.

I hope that you always know the joy and delight you bring me.

I hope you always know that you were and are wanted.

I hope the only pain you'll know will be the kind that makes you stronger,

not the kind that shatters you.

I hope you will always know that you belong.

I hope you'll always know the love of a family.

I hope you'll always know that I am honored to be your mama.

These things I hope you'll always know.