Cousins

This weekend we had some awesome family time: celebrating birthdays, eating great food and enjoying cute kid moments.  Ben and Wes had so much fun together and there were many moments of shocking voluntary sharing and generosity with coveted toys.  It was so fun to see them begin to play in a more grown up way, actually talking with and to each other and having real conversation.  We love dreaming about what they will be like as big grown up boys!
Here are a few of the fun moments.....

There was video of this moment, but the video was too ridiculously large to post here....Ben was reading his I SPY book to Wes (and pointing out EVERYTHING).  Wes was watching intently as Ben would say "here is the truck and here is the helicopter and here is the police car....do you see it?"

 

Cherishing Moments

I have heard it said, for young mothers, "the days are long but the years are fast".

It is easy to get entrenched in the dailies of life...the diapers (I am SO ready to not have two in diapers!), the never-ending cycle of dishes, the constant mess that needs to be cleaned up (a.k.a. my home), the disciplining (such an always sort of thing).  I get so task minded, focused on the problems, and downright weary that I forget to look up.  I forget to see Him hand-delivering joy into my day through little things that often pass unnoticed and unappreciated.

My children are growing up before me, too quickly most days (though there are the days when I silently beg Ben to grow up just a little more than he is so we can get through whatever meltdown has befallen us).  If I just "get through the day", long for the next stage, plan for next month or year....then what happens to today?  He gave me today as a gift to enjoy, and to thank Him for, and I don't want to waste it.
I believe He loves to delight us with His presence, to surprise us with His goodness, and to share wonder with us.  I want to cultivate the practice of noticing Him in my day, in my kids, in the world He has placed me in.  So I am taking the time to stop, notice, and cherish.  Here are some delights He has given me lately:

• exuberant early morning greeting from my daughter: screech of delight, and energetic toe touch as if to say "Yay!  You're here!"
• long lanky tow-head wrapping arms and legs around me in a full body hug and sighing with contented happiness
• Ben holding his cousin's hand and saying "Wes is my friend".
• Dark chocolate pudding pie with a pillowy dollop of fresh whipped cream and luscious raspberry sauce dripping over the edges.....wow
• contagious 2 year old laughter
• little sister giggling with joy over goofy brother antics
• warm crusty bread straight out the oven, oozing with cheese and pesto
• family evening of roasting marshmallows outside: smoky air, talking, laughing, sticky hands, chocolate rimmed mouths....loving every minute
• a shared look with John after an adorable kid moment that says without speaking, "this is pretty incredible, this life we have here, and I am so glad I get to do it with you".

This is what hanging out looks like in our house :)

This says it all--Ben loves to make people laugh, Megan loves to laugh and LOVES her brother.....and pretty much anything he does to show her attention, even if it is showing off his ridiculously long tongue.

Yes, he is wrapped around each and every one of those drool soaked fingers. :)

Playing with friends at a birthday party

There was cake....

....he was excited....

...and it was GOOD!

Ben's very first roasted marshmallow experience!  Big moment for me and my boy! (Ben is sporting what he calls his "top hat", which is really a pink tupperware.  And because I love my son, I let him wear it, though not in public :).

Oh yesssss!

Spring

Spring is here and the sun is warming up our green world around here.  We are enjoying park playdates, walks around the neighborhoods, lighter jackets and sometimes even flip flops! :)  But most of all, we are just loving getting to be with our kids.  They are learning and growing so fast and it is such delight to experience their little personalities blossom.  Yes there are challenging days (oh the emotional throes of 2-almost-3-ness), but I love these little munchkins so very much!

Ben always has several things in his hands, and when we travel upstairs or downstairs he has to gather all his "treasures" to take with us, like it is a long trip. :)  So many things, in fact, that he often can't keep them all in his arms and they drop out all along the way.  Now he will say "I have too many things"....hmmm, wonder if he's heard that before!

The love of hats continues for Ben. This one was a cheap St. Patrick's Day hat we found at the store one day and has been resurrected many times since after having been sat on, crunched, etc.  He fondly calls it his "Weprikon Hat" (Leprechaun Hat).

Our little sunshine--still so happy almost all the time.  She loves to be a part of things now and is interacting with toys and grabbing her feet and rolling around a bit, and now sitting up for awhile without being propped up!  She laughs and screeches with delight and "talks" (quite loudly) to everyone.  She definitely has a colorful and bold personality!

Our little engineer at work....notice the tongue.  Pretty sure it works better when your tongue is out.

Hats, tools and Grandpa. Can't beat it.

Too many things, Ben?

There is a picture of me sitting on my dad's lap as a baby just like this.  How precious the picture and even more precious the memory.

Just like Daddy!

Easter egg hunt in our yard with family and cousin.  And yes, their baskets for collecting the eggs were construction hats.  That's how we roll around here. :)

Our little bunny

They loved their first egg hunt.  We kept hearing "find anona one!" (another one!)

Getting all four to look in the same direction and smile.....impossible.  This was the best we could manage!

Easter morning hug

First Easter dress made by Grandma....and handmade shoes to match!  LOVE it!

Love these little darlings so much I could burst!

First time trying solids....

....and that's what she thought of that!

But we love our Bumbo seat!

"Look, Meggy!  I'm driving the car!"

We had a special visit from Gran and Aunt Melissa

Gran's in love again!

But seriously, how could you not be?!

Some of my most favorite times during her visit were when we would all gather around and get Megan to laugh and "talk".  We would all be laughing so hard that our sides hurt!

"Alright, whoever blinks first, loses!"

John is Ben's hero.  Anytime spent with him is a treat, but Ben literally lights up when he gets to play with "Daddy's tools" in the garage WITH Daddy.  Heaven on earth for our little boy!

Linda, Mom and I and the kids went to Mount Vernon to see the tulips and had so much fun looking at all the gorgeous flowers.  And corraling a 2+ year old little boy, especially after he realizes all we are doing is looking at flowers....yeah, made the morning interesting. :)

We forgot Megan's hat so Gran's scarf working in a pinch and she was the cutest little Babushka!

We love to laugh!

some of my dear Life Group girls and kiddos out for a walk and park-date in the glorious sunshine!

My new favorite picture of us!

Girls Night!  Once a month we have a girls night called a "Pinterest Party" where we take something we have been wanting to do that we found on Pinterest and actually do it!  Plus we have treats and girl time just us without the kids.  We LOVE it!  This month was hair and skin and makeup tricks and tips and it was a blast!  These are homemade facial masks that Beth made. 

Sarah dolled me up with some pretty curls and taught me a few tricks from all her modeling expertise.

I just love this picture!  Beth and Marie--love you girls so much!

I saved this video for last because it might be the best moment I have ever captured.  Megan LOVES her brother--any time he talks to her she smiles, and if he happen to laugh, well she just cracks up and then he starts laughing and then they are both laughing and loving each other.  And I got it on film!  Enjoy!