Happy Birthday Kiddo!

 Has it really been seven years  since I first held you in my arms? 

It feels like yesterday, and a million years ago all at the same time.

You were so tiny and delicate...and purple.

We couldn't believe all your red hair.

I'd never seen your father cry, not until that day when he first laid eyes on you.

He said he'd never seen such a beautiful sight.

Seeing how much he loves you 

how you enchanted him from the beginning. 

That is the most beautiful sight for me.

Screaming and healthy, you knew what you wanted from day one. 

"Careful," said the nurse, "This one's got an attitude!"

We laughed then, but soon discovered she was sort of right. 

And now you are still you, spunky and full of heart. Just the way I like you to be.

You are The best part of me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKIE!

Summer chronicles: escape to the deep blue

With our central air being out of service for the moment, and possibly all summer long, the kids and I often find refuge from the heat at the pool. It takes a lot of sunscreen to cover all my little albinos, but it sure is a nice little retreat. 

Of course Matthew has to be all decked out.

We're still trying to convince Matthew that he doesn't need three or four different flotation devices in order to keep his head above water, but with little luck. 

underwater eyes

Some days we pack a picnic lunch and stay for hours! Not a lot of laundry or dishes have been getting done on our "pool escape" days, as we call them, but the kids have sure developed a healthier relationship with aquatics. 

All four have learned quite a few different swimming techniques. Even little Harrison will dip his face in the water, blow bubbles and kick around like a fish.

sea monster!

I'm especially proud of Ashton. At the beginning of the summer she was afraid to even put her face in the water, but now she's swimming very well and just keeps getting better.

Hawwison and his witto water weenie.

The best part of mixing kids with sun and water is that it pretty much always results in exhaustion! This means that once we've spent a good few hours horsing around in the pool all are ready to crash for a couple hours, leaving mom some time of her own...to do laundry, of course. ha ha!