God Bless Texas!

And its beautiful blue bonnets! This is the first year we dared head out with the masses dressed just so and trampling through the fields to get the perfect shot. Our new house is about 5 minutes away from a cute little hill with the perfect setting. So we thought why not. Well, if Im being totally honest, Jonathan just agreed to play along.

Im so glad we went! I love the candid shots that show off their little personalities and relationships. While most days with 2 one-year olds and 1 two-year old can be more like a circus than anything, its afternoons (and shots like these) that excite me for the future when the closeness in age will be so much fun!

the one who gave up her weekend....

we love you! My sweet sister gave up her weekend to spend it with me and the boys while J went hunting. I tell you, I dont know what we would do without so many family members who pour their lives into my boys....but lets face it, It also is a big help to mom!

This weekend Allie was with us from Friday night until about noon on Sunday and while I loved every minute of it, Christopher was in heaven. He got such special attention and is still talking about it. He has prayed for Allie and Sadie (her dog) for the past two nights. Just them and his brothers. Its pretty great. He went on walks, saw Christmas lights, wrestled with, play dohed, colored with and just had a great time with Aunt Ahwee.

She took this pic of C on one of their cold walks. I know why C is such a lover, he's got the greatest role models! Allie, thanks for giving of your weekend and all the times weekly that you come to play with us! I loved our grown up talks and laughs at night too!

the one that makes me laugh all day....

on our short ride to school today Christopher and I were talking about Cousins and what makes a cousin. I thought the convo was finished when C began pointing out the "castles" and bulldozers we passed. And then:

C: mommy
Me: yes buddy
C Ahwee has baby, I get bruder
Me: no, when mommy has baby you get a brother, when Allie has a baby you get a cousin
C: okay, no more babies for mommy. Ahwees turn, you share.
Me: well said buddy. Mommy will share. But, first Allie will meet a neat boy and get married
C: we can share daddy!!!
Me: no buddy, we don't share that!

END OF CONVO - PRAISE GOD!

Still laughing hours later!!!!

the one who keeps me laughing...

Had the following conversation with C today:

C: Mommy, lets count
Me: Okay (we count to 20)
C: lets count those (pointing to magnets on fridge)

I pull 5 button magnets down and he puts them in a row and counts them

Me: Those are called Magnets, buddy.
C: Oh yes, I love maggots!

Ha! Happy Friday.

the two that changed everything.....

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY! It's hard to believe you are 6 months old today. Thank you for all the joy you have brought our family. I can't imagine life without you two. I love the big brother that Christopher is becoming. He is so tender and kind and very proud of his little people!

Sutton, you have a tender spirit and love how your sweet smile lights up a room. You are super active and love to roll around and bounce in your bouncer. You just love life and want to be a part of all the action. You are so special!

Jackson, you are such a lover. You like to cuddle and snuggle on anyone who will let you. Just this week you have started to sit on your own (in a tripod format) and every time it surprises you. You love to talk, the louder the better. You are such a joy!

Christopher, I know this has been a big change for you and you handle it with such grace. You are such a wonderful big brother and I hope your little brothers learn to be just like you. God gave you to me so that you could teach me how to love unconditionally and he knew that these two would need a great role model. Thank you for your sweet heart, big hugs and crazy thoughts! You keep me on my toes. I'm so proud of the big boy you are becoming!

the 4 who melt me......

This week C is learning all about family at school. They asked us to send a pic of our family to school this week. Um....the newest one we have of all of us is when I was about 7 months preggo with the twins. Not sure that counts and might be kinda hard to explain to C. So, this weekend Marcus and Amanda were in town and we snuck in a little photo opp. Marcus shot the pic and Amanda made (most) of the little men smile. Jackson was over it! As crazy as our days can get, its images like these that remind me how quickly it all passes and I just want to freeze time!

the one with super powers....

or a super nose. On the way to school we prayed for a great day and good, obedient attitudes and ended praying for Aunt Ahwee (Allie) who is having her wisdom teeth out today. Then, the following conversation:

Me: I'm glad we were able to pray for Aunt Allie. She is going to the Dr today.
C: Yep, gotta see Doctor about mouth.
Me: Thats right. I'm sure thankful that she is going to feel better
C: Me too, her and sadie (dog)
Me: right?!

A brief pause and lots of sniffing. (typically meaning he smells that he or one of the twins has a stinky)

C: Mommy, smell that.
Me: what is it
C: Mommy, I smell snow!
Me: wow, winter is months away. You must have a powerful nose to smell snow.
C: Yep, and I smell the sun.
Me: I cant believe you can smell the sun, buddy
C: Mommy, I can smell Aunt Ahwee.
Me: you can? What does she smell like
C: Sweet........Corn.

Love that kiddo. He loves his aunt and just like his mommy......LOVES corn.

Allie, hope you didnt hurt your face laughing. You are loved by all your little people!

The one with the BAD "cheese" face....

someone taught my kiddo to "say cheese". Wasn't me, for the exact reason of the scary "cheese" face that he now makes. Being a photographer, I know better. So, I've been working to change that into "say brothers" or "say happy". FINALLY got a normal looking son in 1 pic of the last 6 months.


Then, we got tickled and the giggles started....

The three that melt my heart!

Please ignore the annoying mommy/baby voice. Please also ignore the "helpful" big brother camera shake. Most of all, please enjoy my lovies!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymjC3gWS7us

Back to reality. I had the following conversation with Christopher as we were getting up from nap:

me: wow, someone sure is smelly
C: I got a stinky
me: I smell that
C: (takes a few deep breaths) It burns my nose.

PRICELESS!

The one with sticky fingers...

I started cooking again (post twin arrival) about 2 months ago. Lately, Christopher is REALLY interested in helping. He helps make his pb&j for lunch, stir anything that needs stirring and helping whenever he can. As soon as I'm in the kitchen he walks over dragging a chair to "help."

For his birthday, our friends the Stampers got him this really cool gift. We have made a ton of stuff in these. They are perfect for little ones wanting to get involved. Still his favorite to make are chocolate chip cookies (thanks Amanda Duggan for the BEST recipe ever) and banana bread.

I had been promising him that we would make cookies for his good behavior for several days so last night we did. We had a great time pouring, stirring, watching them bake. C got one small on before bed. It was really fun.

This morning after I fed the twins I went to put the cookies in something (they had been out since cooling last night) and noticed that three on the edge had gone missing. I admit I had one this morning. (they have oatmeal so that's sort of a breakfast meal, right?) I went on a Christopher hunt. I found him in my closet with chocolate all over his face and the third cookie in his hand waiting to be devoured. After a small melt down (read, largest in the history of C) I promised him that we would save it for a snack this afternoon and from now on he needed to ask mommy for food.

Needless to say, my kiddo is HIGH on sugar and I'm sure is not totally asleep yet in his bed. New lesson for mommy today, counter height is no longer out of reach. That and my kiddo has sticky fingers. People, watch your valuables :)

Time files....

when you are outnumbered 3 to 1 ! Ha. Seriously, I think everyday about what I would/need/wish/should/want to blog about and then all the kiddos go down and I cant think of anything more I want to do then rest. So, I'm finally getting into a new "normal" with 3 under 3 and the twins are falling into more of a schedule, I'm going to tackle this again. For me and family more than anything. I want to keep a better record of what happens here daily. There is just too much to miss.

So, there is your warning. I'm back, not everyday back....but several times a week back.

Today I will leave you with a morning convo with C:

Me: I think you are so special
C: yeah
C: hug u mommy
Me: sure, thank you
C: I'm amazing and special
Me: you are
C: sorry mommy
Me: why buddy
C: just tooted on your leg

NICE! Love that kiddo!

Hope you have a happy hump day, I'm off to feed three mouths at the same time. :) Yep, I'm super human. I love a good challenge.

Just call me Dada

Christopher and I just had the following "conversation" :

Me: Am I your Mama?

C: Dada

Me: No, I'm the Mama.

C: Dogs?

Me: They are night night in the kennel

C: Tank to (thank you) Dada

Me: You are welcome

C: Bye Bye

Then he folds his arms across his chest (his latest post) and heads off to our bathroom (kennel) and talks to the dogs (barks at them) through the door.

Still not sure who had a better conversation. Me or the dogs. But at least its our first conversation. I'm just hoping I get a "mama" before he leaves for kindergarten!