Elmo (and Aunt Kelly)...love you so, so, much...

Anut Kelly was over last weekend. The boys were excited to see her. Mitchell especially loved playing with her and ELMO.

(notice the blue painters tape on the windows...no it's not an exciting new decorating statement...we're finally getting around to painting the windows in the rec room. I'm not sure which is more surprising...that we haven't painted them yet...or that I actually taped them all off before trying to paint.)



Mitchell: Who are you? And why are you looking at me like that?



Thanks for playing with me Aunt Klelly.

Grandma visits...

Grandma Shannon came over to visit us last Saturday. It was so nice to hang out with her. Mitchell enjoyed sitting up and taking it all in. Do you notice the red tinge in Mitchell's hair? By the way, Mr. Mitchell started using a pacifier!

PS Sorry, I don't know how to move the pictures so they're upright.

Blessed

I'm feeling very blessed today...actually, not just today...I'm blessed every day. I just notice it some days more than others.

This is one of those times, though, that I'm so overwhelmed with love that I can barely contain it. I must be the luckiest woman in the world. (cheesy, i know..but i think its true. you can remind me of this later) I've got a beautiful healthy family and an extraordinary husband.

We've been at a bunch of family and friend events lately...and each time we're out with people, I'm more and more proud of my boys. They have been so polite and well behaved. Of course they still have plenty of vinegar inside...but that's to be expected. Plus, we've been having a really good time. I love seeing them having fun. Nothing makes me happier than hearing them belly laugh!

I also really dig my husband. (He'll roll his eyes when he sees this) Truly, I am blessed with an over-the-top, more-than-I-ever-deserved, totally-hot husband. Even though we don't always agree on child rearing....(okay, so maybe I am a bit too over protective)...he's a great dad and totally loves our boys. The last couple of nights he was awake when I got home from work. (he was washing the kitchen floor last night) I loved it. We talked and talked and talked. We don't get to do that too often with 4 little guys nipping at our heels. Anyway, I'm blessed.

As soon as I can, I'll add pictures of our weekend fun. A visit from Grandma Shannon, a visit from Aunt Kelly, and some outside stuff.

By the way, my friend Carrie just posted some pictures of Mitchell. She took them when he was 5 days old.

Check out her site http://www.lulubellephotography.com/ go to online proofing. the password is our last name. (Go to the oh, baby photo gallery and you'll see three pictures of Sawyer posted there. Too cute.)

Something new...

Mitchell got his first taste of cereal today. the first picture is one that craig took while i was feeding mitchell. (its a little fuzzy)....but it captures his first bite! He's not so sure....

Mitchell loved it though. He ate a bunch...with a little dribble here and there.

I think he's sold on it. we'll give him some more tomorrow. (sigh of relief from mommy since it means i'll get a little break from being the sole source of nourishment for this little one.)

anyway...we had a good day. one of the highlights came as i was folding laundry and came upon connor's new spiderman shirt. sawyer picked it out of the laundry and started showing it to jackson...jackson said..."i don't need to see it sawyer. give it to connor, he loves spider man! he wants it."

it was really cute. jackson is always quick to share and think of others. it is really hard to believe that about a year ago i was so concerned about his progress. he has really broken out of his shell. he's so eager to talk and tell us about his day and what he's doing. he constantly impresses me with this gentle spirit. i couldnt' possibly love him any more.

my cup overflows with blessings.

One big happy family....

*check out the serious frown on Mr. Connor....ewww, he wasn't happy!

Give thanks for friends...

We were really fortunate to be able to catch up with some old friends this week. Our friends Joel and Lonna and their kids were up in Lancaster for a few days. They live in Atlanta and we don't often get to see them. Joel was in our wedding...and has been a good friend to Craig through the years. He had a stroke about two months ago...it was pretty scary at the time, but he seems to be doing well now. We were so happy to get a chance to see them.

Lonna's parents have a pool, so we thoroughly took advantage. The boys LOVED playing with their new friends. (Lonna and Joel have three kids...Ben, Gabe and Naomi...plus their older cousins were there too.)

Naomi liked playing in the dirt pile almost as much as Sawyer!

(Hey cutie...what do you say I throw a little dirt on you and we make it a date!)

But no one can wear their ice cream like my little bull!

Jackson LOVED the ducky swim toy...he could have spent all day in the pool. He's really getting to enjoy the water.

Sawyer and Joel...Sawyer did not like the life vest...but eventually warmed up to it. (He doesn't like being restricted!)

Baptism

Sunday July 26th was a special day. Mitchell was baptised. It was a beautiful service...made even more so by the fact that we were joined by our family. Craig and i thought it was important to have the other boys in front with us. (okay, i thought it was important, craig agreed...though he had to hold sawyer for the majority of the service so he got the short end of the stick.)

I felt overwhelmingly blessed...Connor, Jackson and Sawyer did great out in front. They were very interested and listened. When Pastor Kent uncovered the baptismal font, Connor asked...how is mitchell going to fit in there? too cute. all jackson wanted to do was kiss his little brother. he was concerned that mitchell was getting wet. Mitchell did great too. Although he spit up all over me, himself, and the floor. he never spits up...so it was a little strange...but no big deal. the big boys got to touch the water before mitchell was baptised. they loved it.

Then kent asked the boys (and Craig and I) to lay hands on mitchell and pray. i was a great moment. I felt overwhelmed with joy and love. God is so good...and was very much there as we dedicated Mitchell's life to the Lord.

Mitchell wore the same blue sweater set that his brothers wore at their baptisms. (jackson acutally wore a polo shirt since he was older than the rest.)

This is Kent as he's introducing Mitchell to the congregation. I love this part of the service. Kent asks the congregation to take a role in raising Mitchell. It takes a congregation.

Our littlest blessing!