Outside

Caleb, 10 weeks

Sidewalk chalk

Biking

Hopscotch

Playmates

Mother's Day

I'm on a perpetual quest for heriloom-quality family photos: serenely smiling subjects, complementary outfits, scenic setting, balanced composition, proper focus, all eyes open. Alas, with a family of six it may never come to pass. But who needs perfection, when you can capture these little personalities and preserve them for posterity?! (although i'm sure i'll keep trying...)

Brothers

so much for "in focus" :)

Sisters

Trees!

Here's the short version of the tree saga:

Our house had a small back yard but a lush, beautiful screen of Leland cypress trees all the way across the back. * We discovered (a story in itself) that there was at least as much yard behind the row of trees as in front of it. * We had 23 trees cut down and planted 7 new 14 foot trees along the actual back line of our property. * In a few years we will again enjoy the privacy and greenery of mature cypress trees--and a yard that's twice as big.

These pictures don't show the entire drama (the bobcat, stump grinder, etc.), but I think you'll get the general idea. Obviously the kids were enthralled by the process.

Before

Timber!

Watching

Still Watching

Exposed

Watching Again (not pictured: stump grinder)

Delivery

Back to watching right after this snack break.

(Check back later for a picture of the finished product.)

Catching Up

Caleb, 6 weeks

I'm afraid she knows how cute she is.

Picking strawberries with the Frasers.

Caleb, 8 weeks

In Everything Give Thanks

Lately, Kate has been composing her own prayers at bedtime. Here, for your spiritual edification, is a compilation of two or three recent offerings (transcribed phonetically in local dialect for full effect):

Dear Heav Fahder,
Tank you fer mommy. Tank you fer daddy. Tank you fer meg. Tank you fer brudder*. Tank you fer Keyweeb**. Tank you fer give sins. Tank you fer boo-boo my foot on door. Tank you fer my toof hurting. Tank you fer Kate. Tank you fer mommy. Tank you fer daddy. Tank you fer bubbose***. Tank you fer nigh-night****. Tank you fer Keyweeb. In Jesus Christ his onwy son our word. [we're learning the Apostles' Creed] Amen.

*Nate; **Caleb; ***bubbles; ****blanket

Camera Shopping

We've had to return our digital camera due to some malfunctions, so until we replace it, photo posts will be few and far between. Sorry Grandparents.

3 down, 1 to go

I am also happy to report that Kate is now potty trained!! The process went much faster with her than with Meg orNate. I think it has something to do with using cloth training pants and plastic pants instead of pull-ups (which I used with M&N giving them little incentive to stay dry). She does wear a pull-up at night, but half the time she wakes up dry, so I think she'll be a full time underwear girl in the near future.

And, almost as exciting: she had her first PBJ sandwich yesterday. (Our pediatrician says no peanut butter before 2 or better yet, 3!) She's not there yet, but I realized she's already had things with peanut oil, and I think once Nate slipped her part of his Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, so there was no sense in holding out on the one thing that would greatly simplify my life: peanut butter sandwiches for everyone at lunchtime. Just don't tell Dr. Yoder.