Oh Henry.

Because baby yawns are so cute. 

 I swear I didn't make him pose for these. he just wiggles into these positions. 

 chubby cheeks

 soft cheeks

bright eyes....

Because you can't have too many pictures of babies.

Life is beautiful.

It's 3:37 am and I am awake feeding Henry and my heart is bursting with gratitude for all my blessings big or little. 

This last week was a hard week, but we got through it. I'm so happy I have good kids and a loving husband who works so hard to take care of me and our kids. 

I'm grateful for the hard moments in life that push you to grow and love and learn more than you have before. The sleepless nights with children. The pain and inconvenience of surgery. The heartache from seeing your children struggle or suffer. The demands of everyday life life when you are not at your best. All these things force you to dig down deep and find strength to do hard things. 

When I was in college, I had a particular experience that gave me an epiphany. "Hard things"--or trials--aren't bad. At least they don't have to be. With faith and gratitude "hard things" can be blessings. They can make life rich. They can make life beautiful. 

Raising a family is difficult and exhausting. There are so many hard things to go through--to learn. But in between and around and sometimes during those hard things, there is pure and sacred joy.

I felt that sacred joy while Justin spoon fed me yogurt because I couldn't do it myself. I felt it again as I watched my six year old try to bravely eat some solid food so she could get over her illness. I felt it when I could see my baby boy breathing fine after a coughing fit. 

I feel that joy everyday when I hear Amelia say as only she can, "okay, mama." 

I feel it when Gracie selflessly shares all that she has so no one goes without. 

I feel it when Katie quietly hands me a picture she drew me and tells me it's to cheer me up. 

Family life is beautifully full of sacred joy, and in the very wee hours of this morning, I am so very grateful to experience all of it. 

Gratitude

funny how you don't truly appreciate something very much until it's gone or missing or not like how it usually is. Today, I am grateful for normally healthy children, sleeping baby, and being able to chew foods... (i got my wisdom teeth out this week). As my mom says, "we're all breathing and out of the hospital and no one is in jail" so I guess I have everything to be grateful for. (but i will really be grateful for next week to come, please oh please be normal.)

Sisters...

Poor boy has no choice but to like dolls. I keep finding barbies and baby dolls tucked in the bassinet with Henry. 

Angry sheep

Katie: (henry crying) Henry sounds like a sheep.

Grace: he does!

Katie: a sad, angry sheep

Grace: yeah, a very sad, angry sheep

Mia turns 2

yo gabba gabba cupcakes

corduroy

reading books

trains. race cars. school buses.

tortilla with cheese in it

super hero Mia

building tents. babies. ponies.

"I helping you, Mama!"

jumping. jumping. jumping.

This little girl fills our lives with fun and wonder. She eats nearly anything we give her, but won't go to sleep at night, She is never to be left out or left behind. Loves to dress herself and pick out her own clothes. Loves her candy, but surprisingly doesn't over do it...at least not yet.  no volume control. what so ever. She jumps everywhere and all the time. i swear she is part frog or kangaroo. 

Halloween 2014

Little Red Riding Hood. Word Girl. Peacock

I was so happy she decided to be Little Red Riding Hood after all...she changed her mind probably five times, but this idea won out for the church party. And I have to say, I am pretty proud that I made that costume for less than $3. The material for the skirt, the basket, shoes, and shirt we had on hand. The red material  for the cloak and vest, I picked up for $1 at a yard sale, and the ribbon was less than $2. Woot. woot.

Amelia's costume was also put together mostly from things I had on hand.i did have to pick up some felt and a little tulle. Grace and Amelia have really been into peacocks lately, and Amelia really enjoyed dressing u as one.

Word Girl. Katie has been planning on being Word Girl since November 1st of last year. I was happy that it was a simple costume to put together.

Grace wanted to be her second choice for trick or treating: Super Grace. I made her a super hero cape awhile ago because she kept tying blankets around her neck and pretending to be super grace. 

The back of Mia's costume...upside down. 

The girls helped me cut out a witch, bats, and a cauldron to put in the window for Halloween.  It looked awesome from outside the house at night. I was really pleased with how it turned out. I loved the bats Katie and grace made. Bats drawn and cut out by a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old are just about the cutest thing. 

6 is cool

Minion Party with Friends

Minion Cake designed and decorated by herself and with the help of sisters

Big hugs for picking out the best present ever: Hello Kitty Clock

...and just because I love this picture...

Reading. Reading.Reading.

Riding Bikes

Climbing Trees

Loving on Henry

Playing with Friends

Drawing.Drawing.Drawing.

Hello Kitty. Minions. Martha Speaks. Word Girl. 

Mystery Solver. Play House. Yoga. 

Still in love with Pink

Truffles.

Something I adore about Katie that has really surfaced in the last year is her desire to be unique. While the rest of world of girls 2-10 are obsessing over Frozen, Katie is so sick and tired of it. Haha. She likes to be different, and she likes what she likes even if no one else likes it. I love that she was Word Girl for Halloween even though a lot of people didn't even know who Word Girl is. And I love that she wants to keep bangs simply because she likes them (even though, I am not a personal fan of the high maintenance of bangs...). When she realized that she was one of the only girls in her class with bangs, and one of her best friends teased her about her bangs (grrrrr), she contemplated growing them out. But after a little encouragement to be who she is and be happy with it, she has never looked back. She loves her bangs and fully enjoys styling them each day. 

I sure do love this Katie girl. She has grown up so much in the last year. Getting so mature. It makes me rejoice that we have conquered certain aspects of development, but it breaks my heart a little to see her so grown up. OH the bitter and the sweet of growing children.