Pictures of the Week 7/22-7/28

 

Power Drive

204 / 365

When the legs get tired, enlist your sister for some power pushing.

Flame Blower

205 / 365

"Helping" Grandpa light the candles. Happy fifth birthday, Trey.

My Workforce

206 / 365

I pressed the big boys into service. 

Someday they will lather to go to the home improvement stores.

They just don't know it yet!

Remote Control

207 / 365

Erik has a hobby building remote control planes. 

Today we got a demo in the driveway.

 

Cutest Little Cowboy

208 / 365

I didn't know they made chaps that little.

TP Bandits

209 / 365

Watch out world. They are a force to be reckoned with.

Goat Love

210 / 365

Kloey fell in love with a Nigerian Dwarf at farm day.

The Hard Questions

The questions, they come. And grace is the only answer.

Four For Four

July brings birthdays.

First things first, 

the baby moves up in the world. 

It's nice that he gets to go first.

 Because youngest children do not like to wait....for anything.

Micah wanted a train cake. We put our heads together, made a quick trip to the store, a little google-ing, and created our own trains a la cupcakes.

 The big boy is FOUR years old

 By four, there is a good chance those candles might all get blown out!

 Our little visitor enjoyed every last bite.

Micah, not appreciating that the visiting baby was garnering all eyes and attention, promptly followed suit and asked for a picture. Oh, Micah-do, you are forever my baby!

 When you are a year older, bling comes easy.

 How in the world do they know these things?

 Every year, my twins emerge. 

This year gave me two fantastic four year olds 

for four whole days.

 Come the 23rd, Trey's birth day arrived. Five is quite a milestone!

 We had a family party and enjoyed celebrating with the little boys.

 Big sister called to give the birthday boys her love.

 Love ya lots, big sister!

 Grandpa and Trey lit the candles together.

 Can he do it?

Going in for the final blow.

 Ice cream cakes rock.

 Right around "five", a rite of passage occurred. 
Trey became completely independent on two wheels.

 Turns. Starts. Stops.

No turning back.
My babies are long gone now. 
To manhood and beyond!

Me, 14, And My Not-So-Magic Mother Moment

It's no secret around here.

Me and 14 are like oil and water.

For girls, it is more like 13 but let's round up for goodness sake.

'Cause when they are 13, they are going on 23 anyway.

The girls, that is.

 I cannot find a "13" picture of Lindsey. I think that was before the digital age and I'm not in the mood to look through 30,000 photos. Thirteen for her was boys, and giggles, and flirting. Oh my, we laugh about it now.  She always told me sooner or later about most things because her conscience got the better of her. We survived that year and moved on beautifully.

Now boys are a difference ball of wax altogether. My understanding was limited mostly because I'm a girl and they aren't.

Jerrod spent "14" seemingly angry and and pensive. His growing pains and oncoming manhood were nothing I could relate to. 

He stretched me big time and when it was over, a really good kid that was there all along came back, and asked if we could be friends. We weathered the storms and found the rainbow.

You can imagine my fear and trepidation I felt on round number three. Lord, help me.

Erik discovered his giftings.

Found and finessed his addictions.

He kept his smile while he pushed every one of my buttons and stretched our family with his growing pains. Big time.

And emerged an excellent capable young man. A sigh of relief was an understatement when fifteen arrived. The end of the tunnel is within reach and we can only go up from here.

Now the fourth go-round has begun.

You know how there is a certain age where they start to trail behind at Wally-world?

Just enough so you start to wonder if they don't want to be seen with you?

Well, that happened with Erika the other day.

Wanna know what I said? 

It was a douzy.

I said, "Hey, at least you can pretend to not know me and everyone will believe you because we don't look alike."

Yep.

I'm definitely NOT a proud adoptive mother.

While it was true, it wasn't necessary, nor kind.

It's a darn good thing I have a lot more practicing on the horizon.

Maybe I'll conquer "14" by the time the tenth one makes it through.

Just maybe.

Pictures of the Week 7/8-7/14

  VBS Kid's Worship Team

197 / 365

Kloey got to dance in the aisles.

Ocean Fun

198 / 365

The girls used their long hair to fling some water around.

A New Gap

199 / 365

Joshua pulled out his tooth. 

Although he has lost teeth before, this was a first in our presence.

  Summer Fun

200 / 365

A beautiful night to play in the yard.

Birthday Boy

201 / 365

My baby no longer.

What's In Your Front Yard

202 / 365

My beauties were gazing at clouds and imagining all sorts of shapes and things

Suspended  

203 / 365  

We watched a spider flying through the air as he wove his web.