Clay's 8th Birthday Party

Like I said before, way behind....

Clay just wanted to have a bowling party with our small group to celebrate his birthday. I thought that was awfully kind of him. With a one-month-old in the house, was not up for a big ol' party. This suited us just fine and he had a great time. Pizza, veggies, and drinks at the bowling alley; followed by a dropped ice cream cake back at our friend's house.





Good friends.



The dropped cake. One of the teenager's friends. Nice first impression!

12

Yesterday, we turned 12.



I can't really put into words the love I feel for Ronnie. The past 12 years have taken us to many different places, literally and figuratively. We've grown so much (again, literally and figuratively!) since we got married. Through it all, I have no doubt in my heart, that God brought us together. We were hand-picked for one another. Twelve years and four babies later, I still believe that.

I love you always, Ronnie.

Just the Stats

Way behind....

Elena had her two month check-up last Thursday, June 16th. She weighed 10 pounds, 3.5 ounces and measured 23.25 inches. That's approximately the 35th percentile for weight and the 75th for height. It's also only a 1/2 ounce smaller and 1/4 inch shorter than Gaby was at two months.

E's doing everything just right for two months. She's a strong little one. Sleeping good stretches at night, though she seems to wake around 5:00 no matter what time she's been fed. She doesn't even always want to eat right away; just seems to want some company. I'm not such a morning person, so that's a little early for me. Ronnie's usually close to getting up for work then too, so it makes it hard to get a bit more shuteye. Hoping she'll slide to the right a bit. We'll see. Never had an early riser, so we're probably due. And as tired as I am, I love cuddling her no matter the hour.

Precious, precious little girl.

Gold Friends

You know that saying/song, "Make new friends, but keep the old. Some are silver and the other gold"? Well, these friends are pure gold.



Great friends from pilot training. Ten year long friends. Love their family. Love that our kids enjoy the heck out of each other.



It was a super fun Memorial Day weekend. Still musing that we have nine kids between us! Loved meeting the babes for the first time.



H Family, We're so grateful you came to spend time with us before moving on to bigger and better things. You're terribly dear to us. Looking forward to the day our paths cross (or we make them cross!) again.

2 Months

My baby hit the two month mark already! The time is flying. Certainly doing my best to cherish these quick-moving days. So many things I have treasured and hopefully, permanently etched on my heart from her first 60 days. Elena has made my life rich. Rich. That's really the only word I can find to describe the feeling. I thought four was going to be wildly chaotic and overwhelmingly burdensome....so much to do that you can't enjoy any of it. Our household is busy, no doubt; but as I said after her birth, four feels unexpectedly wonderful to me. In a lot of ways I'm just realizing, I feel like I'm only now coming into my own as a mother. I feel in my element. My sweet spot. I did not expect that with four. Just another lesson God has taught me when I relinquish control.

We had an impromptu photo shoot with Little E tonight (as Clayton calls her). Gaby had just gone to bed, so we missed her cuteness unfortunately. Elena is truly a joyful little person. She's definitely the smiliest one of the bunch. Her brothers have mostly friendly competitions to see who can get the most smiles out of her. Pretty much all it takes is talking sweetly to her. Often even just a smile in her direction will do it. Her sleep patterns are starting to get more regular and she's mostly sleeping through the night. We just couldn't be happier to have her part of our family. Loved beyond measure you are, Elena Grace.







Daddy's favorite game with the babes.

Randoms

A few random photos from the last month that I love. Hard to not love pics of tiny little people, I think. And then, I love too, how much the big bros love on the little sis's in this house. Pretty darn special and something I'm terribly grateful for.

Pre-K Graduation

June 3rd, Thomas graduated from Pre-K. They had a precious ceremony which I remembered well from when Clayton went through a few years ago. He had a wonderful year with the best teacher in the world. We truly love her and are so grateful that both our boys were blessed with her for their Pre-K year.

As the kiddos walk down the center aisle in the church, the teacher announces their names and tells their favorite part of the year and what they want to be when they grow up. Thomas' favorite part of the year is no surprise to anyone who knows him; studying their ladybugs. And what does he want to be when he grows up? Another non-shocker to those who know and love him; "a man in a boat with a underwater camera so he can take pictures of all the sea creatures." Don't think a boat's gonna quite do the trick, but with Thomas, anything is possible!

The kids presented memorized scripture in small groups and sang three adorable songs. (And Thomas played with his tassle quite a bit in between.) :) It was a fun celebration! Can't believe we have a(nother) Kindergartner already!




A very cute onlooker!



Class photo.



Mommy with two of her favorite little people.