Summer Rain

This morning started rough. One of those mornings I kind of was wishing for a do over. Owen was having more accidents than successes Luke and Anna were fighting Beau was distracted from his task of bedroom cleaning. I was overly frustrated. After we all took a deep breath Anna and Luke have been doing a fantastic job of sweeping and mopping the kitchen, Owen is napping and Beau has accomplished a lot in his room. Then the rain started falling and I sent my kids to go take a shower. I love the laughter I hear and I think I might go join them.

A Quote from Luke

Getting ready to clean up a mess, I hear this from a Luke in an announcers voice..."paper towels ready to clean up anything with the help of rag and spray." He is so funny. I need to start keeping more records of the funny things my kids say because I never remember them.

Always Helping

Owen loves to help. He will try any job you give him and willingly help his siblings do their jobs although they usually prefer he wasn't helping. Many times the cause of his tantrums is that he can't help the way he wants to. Whether it is a safety issue or the fact I don't want a bigger mess to clean up while scrubbing the floors. He tries so hard and it is hard to punish him for his tantrum when he just wanted to help in the first place but after so many today time out was a very necessary thing for both of us. He wants to be bigger than he is but I want him to just be little we have plenty of time for him to be big.

4th of July Messterpieces

Angel food cake with strawberries was one of my mom's standby desserts when I was little. I bought one yesterday and let the kids dress theirs up in red, white and blue. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, whip cream, cherries and sprinkles on top. YUM!

Snorkeling Biscayne Bay

We had the opportunity to take the kids snorkeling this past week. We went to Biscayne Bay national Park. It was a fantastic trip. We saw a manatee, dolphins - 3 pods of them, two sea turtles, a string ray, lots of beautiful fish including a puffer fish and a coral reef. It couldn't have been a more fantastic trip. I was so proud of Beau Anna and Luke. They didn't get scared and they looked very comfortable in the middle of the ocean. Owen did pretty good for a two year old. He never cried just repeated the phrase "I want to get out" over and over. He rode on my hip in his life jacket but refused to wear the goggles. We would bring a little raft for him if we went again but it was still an amazing trip.

Pool time in Florida

Kids are really enjoying the swimming even Owen is learning to love the water. Yesterday we saw 27 alligators in the wild and the kids held a two year alligator at a backwoods zoo. Alligator pictures will have to wait til we get back home.

She is 9

Happy Birthday to one of the sweetest most wonderful daughters there ever was.

Nine years old and she is becoming a beautiful young woman inside and out.

She loves her little brother and takes great care of him.

I can count on her no matter what.

Straight A's and a great reputation at school.

A quick wit and playful personality (although this is a must growing up in our house.)

A smile and chuckle that makes me chuckle too.

A fierce competitor.

A temper that flares but mostly only at her older brother.

Strong.

Determined.

Willing to try.

Compassionate.

Tender Hearted.

She is a gem in our home and to all who know her.

We love you Anna Louise and we look forward to what lays ahead.

You will create an amazing future for yourself and all who get the chance to know you will be blessed.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

Eight

Seven

Six

Five

Four

 

Three

Two

One

My baby 6 lbs 10 oz. Not very big when she was born but she has made a huge impact already.