Fourth of July

We started the day in church worshiping. Lindsey was up at her job because she was getting the horses ready to be in the parade in another town. She drives the wagon with two large draft horses. After church we headed to a friend's house in our town who lives right on the parade route. Most houses put American flags in front of their houses. The kids couldn't resist a little patriotism.




We got to see things like this:
Watching the parade go by. I like it when he wears his hat backwards. It's hunky.
Hunk-in-training?
After the parade we went home for naps then went over to camp to see Bob's mother and attend the a chicken BBQ dinner with a brass band quartet concert afterward. The night is topped off with an ice cream social. We love sharing this tradition with Farmor (father's mother in Swedish).

It's hot. Curly hair gives it away.
This boy melts my soul.
This boys stirs up my soul. His heart is big as the outdoors.
She smiled! There is almost a sparkle in those eyes.
All of the sudden, there was a lull and everyone was feeling happy so I was the entertainment jumping around like a maniac and I "requested" that Lindsey get behind the camera. After all, hands down she has a better chance of getting a good picture than me. All of the pictures of the three littles were taken by Lindsey Peterson.
Favorite!
More brotherly love...
What would you do if you were her?
Take them both out of course!!! Wap!

Lindsey moved from photographer to baby thrower. It was starting to get dark but you can almost hear the giggles.
Some babies just can't get enough.
The eyes. I can't get over the eyes.
Erika has become camera shy of late. I snuck this one in. Her favorite attire these days is mixing pink and red. It works for her because she is so gorgeous.
Mom, do you want to see me do a bridge?
Grr, I'm a monster.
This boy is at the end of one and nearing two in a few weeks. He is precious.


I love these over the shoulder pictures. I have them for most of our babies.
We did not make the fireworks this year with so many little ones. We were planning on heading off to the beach the next day so home we went. There is always next year.

PS Cora and Lindsey were there just not in front of the camera. Cora doesn't stand still long enough and Lindsey, well, she is a photographer.

Playing Around

The fun part of Vacation Bible School week for me was that I got to spend every morning with the littles by myself. Truth be told, I've missed them. During vacation there were so many people to play with them, change diapers, feed the baby, and hold them that I definitely didn't get my fair share. I was kind of busy organizing and trying to find the next hotel to stay in.

One morning we were getting dressed and they started playing together. Out came the camera.

Soak up those brown eyes.
More brown eyes
And yet more beautiful browns.
The next thing I know, they are banging on the radiator. One started and then another and then the third. They played together. It was fabulous.
But there was a little bit of this.
Turn around. I want to take a picture.
Look Mom. We're playing.
Taking pictures of these three at 2,1, and 8 months is definitely a challenge. One I have yet to master but I will keep trying. They are so fun. And how precious that they are learning to play together. I am so blessed to have the privilege of raising these arrows.

A Wedding

We were privileged to all be invited to our niece's wedding. She is the oldest cousin and the first of the next generation to get married. The wedding took place in another state about 5 hours away at 5:00pm. We decided to really get dolled up for the affair with a black, white, brown, and pink color scheme. Works for us. We left around 10:00 am and stopped at a department store where we got lucky and found suits for the little boys. We arrived around 3:00, had time to get our pretty clothes on, and made it to the church on time.

The oldest and youngest looking very fine with a sassy (in a cute way) preteen looking on.
I admit to falling down on the job with the camera. I didn't take a picture of the church or anything. But I did get a washed out picture of these two trying to stay clean before the wedding.
Okay, now Mom says everybody line up so I can take your picture. I am giving up hope that we will all have a family picture but maybe I can get the kids at least. Did I mention it was around 90 degrees and very humid? Jerrod got a white tie for the occasion. I can't remember the last time Erika wore a dress.
Here they all are together. This might be the first picture I have of all of them. Rosy is reaching for Cora's hair. Somehow I managed to get everyone's partial attention.
Not much difference in this picture but it seems to have a few more smiles although the hair pulling is still happening.
Rosy won the battle and gave Cora a good yank. This picture is so real life.
The wedding took place in a beautiful old church with a pipe organ. The bride was gorgeous and the color of the bridesmaid's dresses was sienna. I now see burnt orange in a whole new way. I loved the color. I wish I could say the babies all behaved perfectly and sat in their seats but I admit to spending about half of the ceremony outside on the steps. What to do with a 1 year old and a two year old after five hours in the car?

Not very many of the kids had ever been to a wedding so it was a new experience. Cora's dream was to dance with her daddy. Isn't she lovely?
Then we boogied down. Bob and I danced to all the party favorites. The older kids were "astounded" that their parents knew how to let their hair down. They watched from the sidelines. The younger set, however, learned how to twist and shout.
Oh yeah baby, he can dance.
Once this guy caught on, he could cut quite a rug and was a favorite around the dance floor. All the ladies tried to dance with him. He is exceptionally cute and has fancy footwork.
The reception was elegant. It was in a field under a tent. Our niece is a florist and outdid herself with the decorating. She had made gift bags for the kids with toys and crayons. The centerpieces alone were a work of art. Bob didn't make anyone wear their jacket as it was still hot. If you look at Micah on the left you will notice his head is completely wet. He really knows how to sweat. He hair was ringing wet and got extra curly.
Here are the bride and groom. We didn't have the settings right on the camera.
The wedding meal was a buffet and delicious. There was something for everyone. Our table ate a lot of pasta (fancy macaroni and cheese). Almost everyone stole a sip of champagne before the glasses were confiscated by Mom and Dad. At about 10:15, after a quick bite of cake, we loaded up the van and headed home arriving about 2:30 am after a stop for gas and coffee. What a great day. I am so glad we went, saw family, and got to experience a fantastic celebration.

Mudroom Blues - Life in a Large Family

What is one to do with all of these? Even if everyone only has two pairs of regularly worn shoes, that is still 44 shoes. Then there are the Sunday shoes, flip flops, work shoes, mud boots......you get the idea.
Cora has the fun job of straightening up the mud room almost every day.
This is what she can accomplish. Go Cora.
I finally got a curtain for the closet that holds the vacuum.
We have a cute red bench. That is only diaper bags on the bench. Fighting the clutter.
We found matching red shelves for the big people and their stuff like egg cartons, peanuts, and swimmy diapers, work gloves, camera parts, and baseball hats.
Along with the beadboard, alas, this is the closest I will ever get to Better Homes and Gardens at my house.
Now, if only people would put their shoes on the rack...

Never Too Old!

I sure hope we are never too old to play with our kids.
Lined up and ready to go.

They went down every which way.
Happy that Kloey's confidence in the water let her do it this way.
Wild woman Cora.
Here comes Erik!
Grandpa enjoyed from the sidelines.
There was a place for the little boys to play. The slide would have been more adventure than they were looking for. Next time...
It took me awhile to get the pictures down. It's harder than you think to shoot a moving subject!
Us big people were not to be left out and slid more than a few times!
Still playin' with the kids!
He went for the splash factor I do believe.
And just because they are so cute....


Jerrod also played on the slide but he was sick the day we took pictures. I think he was partly sick and partly wanted to watch World Cup Soccer on cable TV.

The baby slept through the whole thing.

Also, Lindsey Peterson may have taken a few of these pictures. I must give her photo credit.