Peek a Boo Bubbles and More

Wanted:   Run-away Oompa Loompa's!

 Eclectic dinner: maple sausage, apple, and sweet onion brunch tart alongside a roasted artichoke and cottage cheese with peaches and kiwi

 These next pictures are from one of our final visits to SeaWorld. Sadly, our passes recently expired. Thanks again, Grammy and Grandad for all the wonderful memories!

 That is one cool penguin!

 My favorite show: the Cirque de Soleil-inspired Cirque de la Mer

 Crazy cool acrobatics and colorful costumes make this 20 minute performance oh-so-amazing!

 Love this!

Glimpses of our Home and Family in May

 I thought it worked well as a learning time manipulative and discussion piece.  

Love these pictures of our sleeping brutes and beauties.  Can you tell who the first one is?  Too funny.

 Yes, this was all happening at the same time - Hallelujah! - on a Sunday afternoon.  I had to snap the evidence before joining in to complete this scene from the napping house!

 Ian really wanted to wear some deodorant one day.  At first he was ready to use a glue stick!  Then I thought it would be less sticky, so I convinced him to use a large tube of chap stick instead.  This kid is HILARIOUS.

 Brooklyn's class participated in the International Festival at her school recently.  She and her classmates rocked out to some fun 60's tunes. It was such a delight to see her dance up there with her class.

 I was beaming with motherly pride.

Mother's Day

 Love that kindergartener of mine!

 We're back to our date-night rotation with friends and lovin' every minute of it!  Here Stephen heads up the craft segment of our night.  He was happy to expand his repertoire of tissue-paper hand-made flowers.
The following day, I was showered with pancakes and tissue paper flowers for breakfast.  Thanks kids and Stevebo.  I feel loved!

 Here I am with a life-size drawing Brooklyn created of me.  Such a sweetie, that girl is.  For just about the whole month of May, she'd make Mother's Day cards for me when I'd sneak in an afternoon nap with the boys.  I am still able to convince her to occasionally nap in the afternoons too.  At least she knows how to busy herself when the rest of us are off in dreamland!

 Not related to Mother's Day, but this is a recent snack that I am happy to report that my kids enjoy!

April and May

 Kids at play are just about my favorite current source of entertainment and joy.

 We will sorely miss our Ada, a.k.a. "Tiny," who is just three months younger than Ian, when she moves to Seattle with her family for her Dad's medical rotations. :(

 Eden and Ian enjoying a rest break on a recent hike of Torey Pines.

 I loved this original superman/cowboy dress-up combo.

 Watermelon anyone???

 Yes, those were all eaten by Ian!  Crazy kid!

 Mormon Helping Hands at Doyle Park. 

 Jack and Henry, our friend, napping.  So precious!  Henry is exactly 4 weeks older than Jack.

 Ian played hairdresser!  So lovely!

My first time making beef brisket.  So delish even though I will go with a tried and true method next time.  This time at least the bbq sauce moistened it up.  Thanks for letting us shop your fridge and freezer before your big moving day, Brit and Mike! ;)

 Another day we had a chiles rellenos casserole (slightly altered by me) along with steamed broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, spinach, and red pepper, and some pureed butternut squash.  The squash was supposed to be soup, but was so thick that it really didn't need its own bowl. 

Jack @ 3 Months

I am so behind on my posting that I have just pictures to share of the 3-month mark.  I only can remember what his latest and greatest accomplishments are, which I'll share in the 4 month post soon to follow!

Family Gathering

 Here are some pictures of the family get-together we had on the day Jack was blessed.  Sadly, I was so busy capturing our visiting guests that I neglected to get a good photo of the all-star himself!  There will be plenty other pictures of him in posts to follow though.  So sorry, big guy!  

You rocked it though!

 Pip practiced her amateur photography skills.  Here's a 3-generation shot of some beautiful women I know.

 Caden ready to run.

 Cam-cam resting on his momma.

 Pip and Lilly

 Grandma Bickmore

 Stephen and Brookie.  Stephen and I stayed up late the night before preparing our crock-pot picnic lunch of pulled pork for sandwiches and baked beans.  I can't believe I missed a picture of the food spread too!  Mom, Jeff, and Pip did some fruit salad.  Dessert was good ol' white cake with whipped cream and strawberries!  The Badger side of the family was remembered sweetly!

 Calvin and Bam-Bam (Cameron) with Brookie and Caleb in the foreground.

Thanks Mom and Pip for planning and staging our treasure hunt for the kids.  I knew that left-over Easter candy would be good for something!  

I remember being worried with my other two babies that they might cry during their baby blessing, but neither of them did.  I had no doubt at all that Jack would be a good boy during his.  Someone in the circle said that Jack was just looking up at all the men and watching them.  He is a happy baby.  For that I am forever grateful!