The first half of our 4 day weekend

Friday and Saturday we built this home for our swing set.

and rewarded ourselves by going on a family bike ride at the City Forest.

Here are our teams.

For the first time, Liv rode all by herself. She rode the whole way (about an hours worth) and used her own gears to maneuver up the big hills.

Beckham's face tells me that he was eating dirt while he enjoyed the ride.

He can help himself

and sometimes that means the whole box at one time.

Yes, I totally encourage this

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This little man loves to draw. The one thing he will actually sit and do for any length of time is color with markers on paper. Recently, he has been exploring different canvases. As long as its not the walls or the furniture I'm happy!

All dress ups, all day long.

Entry |May 22, 2011|

Recently, I have been working on my painting of Gwen. I have been eager to do it and trying to make time whenever it is possible. Oil painting takes up a lot of time, partly because it is such a process to clean the brushes and partly because getting everything out, and letting the canvas dry in between sessions is also a process. So, making the time means I have to have at least a couple of hours available. Which is a rarity. A couple of weeks ago, I painted while the kids were awake! I have definitely never done that before, and amazingly it worked out! Gwen played with some little figurines at the table, Liv read, and Beckham opened every cupboard around and filled the contents in his shopping cart or onto the ground =0). Brad read on the couch nearby and ran intervention with the kids whenever necessary. But, for the most part, it actually consisted of each of us being entertained by our own quiet, enjoyable activity while all being together in the same room, amazing. After a while, the girls sat quietly at the counter and watched my process. Occasionally, they would ask thoughtful, patient questions. I could tell that they were absorbing, and feeling inspired. Ever since then, we have pulled out their sketchbooks almost daily. There are few things I love as much as my children's art work.

These are the girls portraits of me =0).

Liv age 6 ----------------------------------------Gwen age 4

The girls have also been picking me lots of pretty flowers.

Mostly while in bear feet. This dirty foot sight reminded me of summer and made me happy.

Thanks to Bridgette's flower crowns, the girls have been enjoying these dandelion creations.

Beckham, well, he just wants to be outside whenever possible. And wearing his "hat, haat, hat" whenever possible.

Wheat Grass

• Figure out that wheat seeds are the same thing as whole wheat berries- Check
• Soak seed over night - Check
• Layer glass jars with rocks and soil - Check
• Cover top of soil with sprouted seeds - Check
• Water sprouts- Check
• Mist Sprouts - Check
• Watch Sprouts Grow an inch a day- Check
• Tell your plants how proud you are of them - Check

P.S. Blogger was down yesterday and somehow in their repairs, they lost the 5 catch up posts that I made yesterday. . .ugh.

Little Miss

She's my Word girl, always has been. I'm not quite sure when it became apharant to me. Maybe when she was a baby and wanted books constantly. Maybe when she was a tot, about 3 years old and coined the word "Bumbalee" for her bum (we still say it). Maybe when she was 3 and she head butted me, it really hurt and as I said, "Oh, Liv don't head butt me that really hurts," she laughed about it all day and couldn't get over how funny the phrase, "head butt" was. Whenever it was, I've been thinking about it lately. Most recently the thoughts have been prompted by her language. Picking the perfect assortment of words to describe a situation. She has started calling Beckham her "Little Morsel." It couldn't be more perfect for him. It makes my heart smile. And then as she talked to me about her stitches and the whole night of getting them. She said, "Mommy, I love it when people say they 'gathered their courage.' I think I 'gathered my courage." I'm proud of her. That's for sure. My little miss.

And just incase you think she's all "old soul" and no silly, pictures to prove otherwise.

P.S. these pictures are obviously all from last fall, before her big hair cut. Makes me eager for it to be long again.

Little Miss Olivia has a new accessory. . .stitches.

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While enthusiastically jumping off of a stool, she got her foot caught in one of the crossbars and pulled it down on herself. It hit her right between the eyebrows and cracked her skin right open, leaving a gaping hole about the size of an almond. Of course it happened right at the beginning of our dinner party. Which at first thought seems awful, but in actuality it turned out great. All of our friends pitched right in to help out. Joanna, a nurse practitioner, just happened to be there when it all happened. She walked us through everything, instructed Brad on what instruments, etc. she needed to stitch it up. BR ran over to his office and Rite-aid to get all of the necessities and when he got back Joanna stitched it up right there in our living room. In the mean time, while I sat on the couch trying to comfort/distract Liv, Tony brought Liv a hamburger and 2 fruit kabobs, Darlene tucked her in with a blanket, Chris swept my floors, while the other parents entertained the other kids outside. As it came time for the stitches, Liv started to get worked up about it. She was very nervous. Right at the last minute she decided she needed a blessing. Brad gave her a blessing right there in the middle of it all, and she was definitely blessed because of her faith. It calmed her right down and she was AMAZING during the process. Through the shots and stitches, she just sat there as calm as can be. She put herself into this little meditative trance and did great. I held her, Brad kept gauze over her eyes, Chris held the flashlight, and Joanna stitched her right up, and everyone else cheered Liv on. It was a neat experience in the end, and I'd say everyone definitely felt the spirit of Liv's faith. Since then, Liv has been a little embarrassed about the band aid she wears everyday (TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!!), but it hasn't stopped her one bit. She's still climbing over everything.

HAT, HAAAT

Little Beckaroo is growing up. Brad and I have been commenting on how much he has "matured" in the last few weeks. He has indulged us by being a baby forever. Which we have loved every minute of. Now, he wants to be a big boy. He started walking up and down the stairs 2 days after the first time he crawled up and down the stairs. We laugh because he never practices, just waits until he can fully do it before even trying =0). He also has started talking, and can communicate just about anything he wants. His favorite things are: Food (Bite, Bite, plea, plea, Bite, seat, BIITE, SEEEt), Getting into everything (HE-a-yugo), and being outside (boot, boot, outs-a-ee, outs-a-ee, outs-a-ee). Thankfully, he is still as chubby, twinkly and soft as ever.

Brad's Birthday!!

BR had a birthday April 3rd. I love this guy. He was made for me. Happy Birthday Babe, I'm so glad you were born!

{Liv woke up early to make this crown and card for him before he got up, I think it may have been his favorite birthday surprise =0)}

We love the Circus

Glad we got to go with cute cousins!

Mother's Day 2011

BR gave me these GORGEOUS tulips that make me smile every time I go into my kitchen, and a really sweet card. The girls gave me great little flower cards they made at school, and Liv gave me a "perfect" apple that she just knew I would love, and Gwen gave me her very first pinch pot painted pink, yellow and blue. Beckham gave me lots of kisses =0). I am a lucky girl.

I'm lucky to have an amazing mom who is my best friend and who gave me SO many tools to use as a mother. She always bouyed me up with her positive interactions and loved me and loved me more. She was and still is my best cheerleader. She taught me to laugh with my kids and see the world through their eyes. I love her. Watching her as a mom made me want to be a mom more than anything else in the world. What a gift you gave me mom. Thank You! I love this picture of you. You are beautiful. I can't even begin to say what an amazing grandmother you are. My kids definitely know they are LOVED beyond measure because of the way you prioritize them and enjoy them. Another priceless gift. Thank you!

I am also blessed with a great mother-in-law. Whom I love and adore. Brad always tells me he thinks I am like you, and that means so much to me. I could only hope to be as kind, loving, giving and warm as you someday. I couldn't have imagined a better mother-in-law. Thank you for bringing me in as yours, and thank you for giving me BR. He is who he is largly because of you. I love you.

Spring Break 2011

{ being able to cut back on pictures I post is not one of my talents =0)}

We drove through the night, 21 hours to get there.

We played at Disney

We got picked out of the audience.

We waited in line

We rode the "CHOO-CHOO"

Beckham made it clear who his best friend was!

And drew crowds of people with his water antics

We saw the Tree of Life, one of my favorite things at Disney

Took our traditional family picture next to the Rainforest Cafe sign at Animal Kingdom

Found an Orange Orchard!

Drank FRESH squeezed Orange Juice!

Swam in the pool

Met a fire ant hill

Swam in the ocean, played in the Sand and Saw 5 sea rays swimming by our feet.

And we want to go back!