{someone's walking...}

A lot's changed since my first child. When Ryan was a baby, I just couldn't wait for him to meet every milestone. Whether it was eating rice cereal, sitting up, crawling, walking, or saying his first word, I was counting down the days until he was on to the next thing. Well, now I know better.

There's a lot to appreciate about babies that are immobile. How about being able to shower and not worry about your house standing still? Or not wondering if one of your babies will open the oven, while the other one climbs in? You know, the little things.

So, I've been praying that they wouldn't walk until at least 14 months, but I guess a few days into 13 months isn't too bad. My Jack Jack us taking a step or two, but Henry's record is about twenty...so far.

Already I've realized that baby-proofing does not equal Henry-proofing, and since he is also extremely tall, it makes things even more tricky. So, we are stepping up our game. I'm not quite sure how yet, but we're working on it.

He is so absolutely darling, though, that I just can't stand it. He big grin lights up the whole room, and it wouldn't be the same without his little chatter and happiness. I can't wait to see what exciting things will come from him exploring his new world.

{twenty}

Walked 20 miles today. No metaphors here, I literally walked every single one of those 20 miles. My feet are sore (even though somehow I was lucky enough to get no blisters), my muscles ache, and I have a sunburn. (Running 10 miles yesterday morning didn't really help the situation.)

The upside?

I was able to spend the day with my Scouting, merit-badge-earning son, and watch him work hard to accomplish something difficult. I'm a proud momma--he did really well.

I got to talk to my very good friend for seven straight hours.

And I burned 2500 calories.

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It was a good day.

{picking blueberries}

In our family, August means blueberries. Each year we visit one of the local blueberry farms and pick to our hearts' content. We walk up and down the rows of blueberry bushes, buckets in hand, picking and eating in rhythm...one for the bucket, three in the mouth, a few for the bucket, a few more in the mouth...and so on.

This time around, the weather was absolutely perfect. It was cool, but not cold, the sun was shining, and there was just the smallest hint of a breeze. We pushed the stroller down the row (we really need to invest in backpacks...soon), and parked the babies right in front of a bush. Picking blueberries must be innate, because they knew exactly what to do. In the end, they couldn't pick them fast enough to satisfy themselves, so I spent most of my time plunking blueberries in their open mouths.

Kate and Emma were true-to-form. Emma spent her time carefully picking blueberries off the bushes, and placing them in her bucket. Kate ate most of hers, and was up and down the aisles singing and dancing. Ryan went after the big bunches of plump berries along with Rick, and between them, picked us enough to last for quite awhile. My mouth was watering the whole time, thinking of blueberry waffles, pancakes, muffins, cobbler, and one of our favorites, Blueberry Buckle.

I can't believe there are less than 3 weeks left of summer. We have a few things left on our summer list to do, and I'm looking forward to those, but I have to admit--I've started thinking about cozy sweaters, yummy soup, apple cider, and the pumpkin patch.

I know, I know. It will come soon enough.

{family getaway}

Rick had the week off, and despite a long to-do list, we decided to take a few days and explore something we hadn't seen before. So, we packed our bags and headed down to Detroit, to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

I love history, so this was right up my alley. Rick and the kids were super excited for a variety of reasons (hotel pool, anyone?), and we were glad to take a few days together as a family.

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GREENFIELD VILLAGE




We saw so many incredible things, and didn't even have time to see it all. We were immersed in history, seeing things like: The "idea factory" of Thomas Edison, the original birthplace of the first airplane (the actual home where the Wright brothers built it), the Robert Frost home, Henry Ford's home and factory where the first Model T was built, and more. Henry Ford started "collecting" these home almost 80 years ago, moving them to create Greenfield Village. The Wright home was actually taken apart brick-by-brick, numbered, then put back together again on top of soil that was also taken from it's original plot. Incredible. There was also a peek into the home life of past America--with their "Porches and Parlors", Main Street, railroads, and even a working farm.


HENRY FORD MUSEUM


We could have spent three days in the Henry Ford Museum alone. There were just so many fantastic exhibits, and they were each as fascinating as the next. Just a few included: The rocking chair that Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated, the Kennedy limo in which JFK was shot, and the Rosa Parks bus. Of course there was the "Automobile in American Life", which shows how "the automobile has refashioned our nation's way of life more than any other invention in history". We saw cars of all kinds and shapes, all the way back to the horse and buggy days, and it was easy to imagine people throughout history.

THE HOTEL


This deserve its own paragraph, just because of how much the kids look forward to it. We always joke that we could just get a hotel here in town for a night, and they would be perfectly happy!
After a day at Greenfield Village, it was back to the hotel for dinner (takeout from Red Robin, my favorite!) and then the pool for the three older kids and Rick. I stayed back with the babies to put them to bed (I love hotels that provide cribs!), and then enjoyed a little quiet time with my book and a good movie. When they got back from swimming, the babies were fast asleep, and the rest of us curled up in bed together to watch a movie. The best way to end the day!

The next morning we enjoyed a really nice breakfast there at the hotel, where they cook you up your own omelet and Belgian waffles, not to mention all the other great food. Ryan set a record for how many carbs eaten in one meal, which he is always trying to beat. He ate so.much.food. But just so you know, we don't let him try it that often.

After another day at the village and museum, we stopped for dinner, then headed home. I'm usually not very spontaneous, especially when it involves packing up a family of 7 to stay overnight, and generally have to plan everything out. How glad am I, that I was able to let loose, put everything else on the back burner, and just go. It was wonderful!

{the beach by the numbers}

• 5,000,000,000,000 grains of sand
• 25 sand toys
  
• 15 different snacks & drinks
• 8 bags + an umbrella
  
• 7 towels
• 5 kids
• 3 hours in the car
  
• 1 perfect day
  

P.S. If you think this is a lot of pictures, you should see how many I started with.
That would be 202. :)

{hush, little baby}

Bedtime has long been one of the hardest parts of the day for me. It comes close on the heels of dinner time, bath time, homework time, grumpy time, and tired time, and I'm just plain ready to have a few minutes to myself. I'm ready to not have anyone touching me, pulling on me, asking for a snack, or having to clean up one of the seemingly endless messes. I'm ready to watch whatever I want on TV, and not hear one more episode of Max and Ruby. I'm ready to sit and have my favorite popcorn and be able to eat the whole thing myself, run a few errands alone, or even meet up with a friend or two.

I know something else about bedtime. Snuggling up to a child with damp, clean hair, reading a few chapters out of one of our favorite books, talking about "sports" (or whatever subject they request), and singing their favorite song (Hush, Little Baby) is one of the sweetest moments of the day, and one that is worth enjoying, even when (and especially when) I'm anxious for that alone time.

One day, when all I have is quiet nights, I know that I will be so glad that I did.

HUSH LITTLE BABY

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird.

If that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring.

If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's going to buy you a looking glass.

If that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's going to buy you a billy goat.

If that billy goat won't pull,
Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull.

If that cart and bull turn over,
Mama's going to buy you a dog named Rover.

If that dog named Rover won't bark,
Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart.

If that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

So hush little baby, don't you cry,
Daddy loves you and so do I.

{henry b.}

We love our Henry B.!

{to cut or not to cut}

Fuzzy and Slick. That's how one of our good friends refers to our boys. And it's true--Henry's hair sticks down nicely, close to his head, while every single hair on Jack's head sticks out.

It is most definitely adorable--fuzzy, red, baby hair. It's also a little crazy looking, and a tiny haircut would probably make a world of difference.

Am I the only one who has a hard time cutting baby hair? Even though I know it would be an improvement, I feel like once you cut it, they just look so much older. I wouldn't even consider it until he turned one, but now that he is, I think I'm ready.

So...cut, or not?

{birthday cake}

A first birthday would not be complete without the cake...

• Jack dove right in--no hesitation at all.
  
• Henry was a little more reticent at first--then he made up for lost time!

The clean up? Not so fun, but totally worth it.

{1}

One year ago...

JACK:

• my cuddle-er, loves to be held
• sweet
  
• happy
• laid back
• curious
• loves to eat!
• easy to please
• 4 cute teeth, but 4 more coming soon!
• Jack Sprat, Jack-Jack
  

HENRY:

• a grin as big as can be
• wants to be EVERYWHERE
• loves to have what anyone else has
• momma's boy
• in charge
• full of energy, never stopping
• stubborn--knows what he wants
• 8 teeth by 10 months--this kid was born to eat!
  
• Henry B.
  

Sweet babies, I can't believe you are one year old!
I'm so incredibly grateful that my plan was not the same as God's plan, and that you are both here with me.

I love you! Happy Birthday my darling boys!

{spill}

Ever wonder what an entire gallon of milk looks like all over the floor?

Well, let me help you with that.




These pictures do not even come close to doing the actual damage justice. It's been an afternoon's project to get it all cleaned up, and I have a feeling I will be finding little droplets of milk for awhile. Poor little Miss Emma--it wasn't her fault. I was bringing in the groceries, and set the milk too close to the edge of the island.

Just another day in the life, right?

{snippets}

I have a riddle for you today.

If your little girl asked you, "I would like mustaches on my blinks", how would you respond?

She wanted mascara on her eyes. LOL.
That Miss Kate, I love the words she uses. She also calls Corn Flakes "Snow Flakes". I don't even try to correct her. She has the rest of her life to say it right!

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Rick was walking by Emma's room this morning around 6am. She was sitting quietly in her room, with the lamp on, reading the Gospel Principles manual. She kills me.

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{lunch conversation}

Let me set the scene around the table at lunch today...

• two sick kids, throwing up and with fevers (that had been up all night)
• one sick baby, wanting to be held, but not while sitting down; wanting to eat, but not wanting to sit in his chair
• one hungry baby, wanting food that of course needed to be spoon fed
• one big boy, needing insulin and lots of encouragement to get his chores done (including the dishes that were currently spread all over the kitchen)
  
• two girlies, both clearly making it know that they want lunch...now
  

The conversation:

Kate: Why do you have so many kids?

Me: (my harried, but sincere answer) Because we have so much fun together, and we love having you as part of our family.

...a small pause

Emma: I love staying home and having so much fun with you, Mom.

Kate: Dad's sure missing out on all this fun.

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Why yes, he sure is.

{another milestone}

Well, I'm about to have a whole lot more money.

This is the last formula I will ever buy! (most likely)

HALLELUJAH! I swear, I could have put Ryan through his first year of college with what we spent on formula, so it really is a day of celebration.

On the other hand, I am still recovering from the fact that my baby boys are drinking milk from a sippy cup, and will be 1 year old in a couple weeks.

*sigh*

{4th of July celebration}

I look forward to the 4th of July all year. I LOVE it.

It was an especially nice weekend this year, because with the 4th falling on Sunday, Rick had both Friday and Monday off. It was wonderful. We went to the pool, to the beach, ate yummy food, and spent time with good friends. It was wonderful.

Sunday evening we went to watch the fireworks in our traditional spot on the church lawn. It is the best seat in town! It's the perfect place--lots of friends to see, plenty of space for kids to run and around and play, and not much traffic when leaving. We tried to give the four littles a nap that afternoon, and while the boys cooperated, the girls did not. Hence, the exhaustion (and hysteria) set in on our way home, but since the end result was them sleeping in until almost 9am, it worked out just fine.

Handsome boys.

Yep. Jack has a mohawk, and I love it. Since his hair naturally sticks up, I just help it along with a little gel. It fits him perfectly.

Just chillin'...

We had our traditional homemade ice cream, and my girls were two of the best customers.

I'm not sure what Emma is scrunching her nose about, but it made me laugh.

Okay. This picture was an attempt to be in front of the camera more, but you can see how successful that was, lol.

Happy 4th!