Friday Photo Favorites

Tunnel Time

George braved his brothers and sister to venture into the tunnel.

I can do it.

He raced through it get his picture "taken" by PT.

Oh Momma, you have a camera too!

Here I come for a close up!

Oh this silly boy and his faces!

We have enjoyed this tunnel so much. It's one of the few toys to survive all the kiddos. Here is a look back at the other first tunnel time.

Mary Colette

Avery

The Life You're Living: Week 4

Being the first born you like to know what is going on all the time.  You weaseled it out of me what kind of cake Avery was getting and begged to help set up the surprise. The grader and dump truck were tucked away in some cabinets the night before waiting for their load of "dirt" when you discovered them you turned to Daddy and me with that grin and said, "There sure is a lot of machinery in our kitchen." Your sense of humor is developing quite nicely and with any lucky you will be as nerdy and wonderful as your Grandpas' and Daddy. 

This week Avery, you turn five! I was totally okay with your brother getting older, but for some reason you being a big boy is just hard on me.  You and PT are best buddies and for your birthday Gia took you to store to pick out your present. You were set on these two firetrucks even though you were allotted a larger budget; it was these that you fancied. From the toy store we headed over to pick up PT from school and the moment he got in the car you handed him one beaming and said you got him one! Oh my, Gia and I had to fight back tears. Avery you are such a special brother!

Well my crazy hair momma, you have been taking such good care of your three babies! You stood each one up so I could take a picture of you with each one. You are pure spunk and fun. I just love watching you develop your nurturing skills.

Well look at you, Georgianney, getting the hang of this walking thing! At ten months you're doing great! Oh to bottle this age!

Five Years of Bounce

Ummm...look at those feet. Those are my Joy Boy feet for sure. Evidence of a day full of play and bounce. Yup that's right, his heels still find it hard to be on the ground. His Poppy jokes that all his shoes will only be worn out on the balls and if we ever found a kid that walked on his heels then we could swap shoes. 

For as long as he as been on two feet he has bounced. I think it's his joy overflowing that makes him bounce. 

From the moment I first held you, my heart was filled with wonder, awe and unmatched joy. Both Daddy and I took a deep breath when meeting you for the first time and felt the joyous weight of what God was asking of you and of us.

My Joy, we thank God daily for you and pray that by His grace and guidance we help form your character to better suit His plan for you.

We love you!

Manic Monday

Strollers aren't just for girls!

Despite getting stuck here, Georgianney is really skilled at navigating his way through the house with his sisters stroller.  He also is walking across the room now! With each passing hour, he moves from baby to toddler. 

Growing Up at the Speed of... Something Very Fast

We celebrated Avery's 5th birthday today.

Tonight he went to bed without his blanket.

No, no, not at all do I like this.

Friday Photo Favorites

Umm...should he be "getting" me? - Arthur

Okay this isn't so bad. - Arthur

I got him! - George

Trying to "measure" the boys.

Yup, both are supey dupey cute, according to Mary Colette.

Poke!

Georgianney had such a blast with all the little cousins at Christmas.

Oh, how badly he wanted to slime kiss/flattened sweet Arthur.

The Life You're Living: Week 3

Paul Thomas, is there anything better than flight in a boys world?! Thank you for indulging me in a fantastic picture of your plane's trek. What a blessing to be able to playing with airplanes outside in January.

I love the determination on your face Avery! 

This however, is maybe one of my favorites pictures of you!  As your plane takes flight so does your body and imagination. This is boyhood!

Oh Mary Colette! How you are such a charmer with your wild hair and spunky personality. You are dangerously fast on this little car and just as I think you may crash you whip it around and remain in control. You are fearless, my love.

Sweet George this whole walking thing is kind of tough! You don't stop smiling though and soon you will have it mastered.

Friday Photo Favorites

 The two youngest hit it off great at GeeGee and Papa's.

Ummm, George you're squishing Lucia.

Two brown-eyed, teething cutie-pies!

The Life You're Living: Week 2

Paul Thomas, you have always be so job ordinated. That's why you and Poppy get along so well. This week I needed to make a meal for two families in addition to our own and homemade ravioli is what I volunteered as our offering. Boy was I in need of some serious help. You took over the entire rolling process of the pasta. You made this meal come together for everyone! What a gift you are!

Avery, you remind me so much of my sweet little sister. You are so happy to be a part of what is going on. You watched and encouraged Paul Thomas the whole time. You were able to be supportive and not an obstacle for the task at hand. Avery you are a great brother!

We had a wild dance party happening the kitchen and you my little Sass-a-fras needed to be just like Momma and grabbed you baby to dance with too. As you grow I am realizing how careful I must be. You will look to me as an example of how to be, what a task. I pray that you will look to Mary more than your earthly mother.

How can it be sweet Georgianney that you still sleep in our bed every night?! You have been a dream baby! Sleeping so easily and such a joy to share a bed with. You have your spot between our pillows and all we do is lay you down between them and you reach up rub the two pillows roll over and sleep peacefully. 

The Life You're Living: Week 1

During this past Advent season, as I excitedly snapped pictures of Georgianney and all his firsts, Avery asked a very pionet question; "Why don't you ever take pictures of me?" I replied that George was experiencing all of this season for the first time and that he grows so quickly that I wanted to capture some of it. His replied in the way that only my Avery could, frankly and in the way that makes you pause and reflect, he said, "I'm growing too." 

Yes, Avery you are. You are right. A day for George is still a day for you and each day brings trials, experiences, joys and sadness and you are learning and growing just as all my little ones. So, I am trying to bottle this year, as I watch all my even-aged children turn to odd years, with at least one picture from each week. Because this is The Life You're Living Avery and Paul Thomas and Mary Colette and George...one day at a time.

The first week of 2014

How you enjoy being with your Michigan family, Paul Thomas. We were blest to spent New Year's day with all, but Uncle Stephen. You adore babies, all babies. Especially your babies, which includes Lucia. 

Avery, you too enjoy being with your Northern family. You are at that tender age of trying to understand where you fit, so this trip was harder on you. You are not quite into all of PT's obsessions and not young enough to always play with Mary Colette. This year will be an interesting year as you continue to grow, mature and find your place.

You too love babies. Your enthusiasm is contagious and at times worrisome for those in your care. You are still and always will be "My Joy Boy."

Well my little Sass-a-fras, you needed to be around your girl cousins. You enjoy and can keep up every bit of the way with the boys, but it is just wonderful to be a girl and talk girl and just be silly. 

Of course being a girl means being a daddy's girl and extra specially Papa's girl.

Oh George, you had a blast in Michigan. And you did wonderfully for your longest road trip to date. During this trip you got your first two teeth and worked really hard on the second set on top. 

Two for two. You and Lucia both worked on teeth this trip and just needed some experienced arms to get you through. What a way to start the year!