Mo-See-See

The best part of Nora's days these days is her doses of "Mo-see-see" (aka amoxicillin)- I think she will be disappointed when her ear infection is all better- but I won't be. :)

Shaky

This is what happens when your 4-year-old grabs onto your sleeve to catch your attention while you're trying to take a picture of the moon with the camera on a slow shutter speed. Not just one moon, but three!

Nothing Like...

the feel of sand between your fingers (picture taken yesterday... but who cares, it's my blog :))

Outtake

while i'm certain the choke hold is carolyn's way of expressing affection for her sister and a desire to not see her fall down the stairs and most certainly is not a deeper and more desperate longing to get at the Smarties likely stashed in Nora's hand... it didn't make for a great family picture... and so it  made the outtakes list. :)

Dock Watching

We were only able to talk one of our children into accompanying us on the walk down the dock to see the marsh at high tide. But she had a good time anyway.

Just for comparison sake, here's the other sweet child in pigtails around the same age. :) I was struck today with how alike.. and how different they really are.

Family

We four.

In a Row

Loved the way 3 rosebuds perched in a row looked in Nora's hair. :) So glad I have girls so I can make them try out all my stuff... :)

Small Things

Loving the new butterflies. This is my life. :) I get really excited about the small things.

Snowflake

My favorite thing I made today. :)

Pumpkin Carving

Daddy carved this year's pumpkin, with assistance from Carolyn, and her toys Woody and Jessie who wanted very much to play inside the pumpkin once it was carved out. Nora just said "Pukkies!" and then quickly lost interest, and I was busy baking pumpkin seeds. They were very good, and that was too many sentences. Too bad.

Fun!

Carolyn loves craft projects- just like me!

Leftovers

Trying to salvage the very last scraps of cookie dough. A girl after my own heart. :)

Amused

Who'd have thought that a couple of cups, a tutu, and some loose change from my pocket would keep Nora busy for almost half an hour!

Front Seat

Here's the front seat of our sweet new ride- including the unexpectedly blessed backup camera, four cupholders, iPod hookup (that actually works), and multiple plugs, cubbyholes and other convenient niceties from minivan designers that clearly knew what it's like to have small children!

Friends

The older I get the more I realize the value of relationships in my life- some come and go and stay for a season, and in others, the roots go down deep, so deep that no matter how our roads turn asunder, our roots bring us together in deep and meaningful and lasting friendship. You may only have a few friends like this in your life- here are some of ours. We rocked Brad's 10-year college reunion tonight and had a wonderful time catching up with people we've gone deep with, and who continue to be an important part of our lives (and now our children's lives!)

Messy

This is what happens when "clean out pantry" stays on your to-do list a bit longer than it should... I was baking in the kitchen today when the shelf in the middle of the pantry where everything is stored crashed down!

Bunnies

Carolyn loved them- and they were so cute that I almost felt tempted to take one home (almost, but not quite!)

Stitches

The creative process is so much fun. :) I had the idea to add some stitching to the flowers and loved them. :) I think there's a very good chance I will be making more tonight. :)

Outtake

An unsuccessful attempt at a Sister Picture. :) There was a better one after this, though. :)

Passed!

Official notice came today- Brad PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS! We are so proud of him, even if some of us would rather not participate in pictures...

Sharing Grapes

Ammy loves to share her "bapes" with the girls. :)

Nothing is better than pumpkins!

"Nothing is better than pumpkins!" (as said by Jose and his brothers in the fine book "Pumpkin Town.")

Cool

I accidentally got this really cool picture of Carolyn on the swing today. :)

Go Runners Go!

Great Job, Dad and Laura- Chicago Marathon finishers! :)

Four's Company

Had a fun, but crazy day today with 4 kids 4 and under!

Blub... Blub... Blub...

AAAAH! My head fell off!! [a current favorite apple game in our house]

First Frost

Beautiful West Michigan summer gives way to the crispness of Fall mornings... aaahhh....

Apple Pie

Nothing says "fall" like a warm, homemade apple pie. :)

Swinger

Trying out the Big Girl Swing

Crazy

No matter how crazy our days get (and we have had some pretty wild ones lately)... at the end of the day, I'm always crazy about her. :)

Blurry

Someday I may be able to figure out how to get the camera to freeze motion... but I kinda like the blurred look here anyway. :)

Matching

Loved their matching shirts today!

Candy Corn

I was kind of giddy about the new candy corn clips I made last night. :)

BFFs

Carolyn has a little best friend at her preschool- she and Olivia are joined at the hip. :)

Fall

Fall colors never get old.

Sisters

Sisters make the best friends.

Yum

A girl after my own heart- loves chocolate chip cookie dough!

Favorite

My favorite thing I made today. :)

Sleepy

One of the best things about being a parent is getting to watch your babies sleep. :)

Hostile Takeover

The hummingbirds (aka Prince Naveen and friends) have all gone south for the winter, and now there are only Bees- Bees, Bees, Bees- at the hummingbird feeder- and I am scared to go outside and deal with the infestation- this is a job for a husband (and that was a run-on sentence).

Bean

Bean in the Corn- thanks Ashley!

Papa

Love Papa

Fresh

Backyard view after a morning thunderstorm

Circus

Despite the obvious dismay on her face, Nora really did enjoy both the circus and the cotton candy (just not sitting there in the same chair with her sister!)

Love Is...

Staring hungrily all day at the very last of his mother's homemade French breakfast puffs because you saved it special for him.

Beautiful Day

I just spent a week taking lots of pictures of some of God's most pristine creation... and it doesn't hold a candle to the purity and beauty of the joy in this child's face as she threw hay all over herself (and me!) today!

Dancing

In addition to several new words ("all done," "mine," and "outside," as notable examples), Nora also learned to twirl while we were gone. :)

Cruise

Great times, but glad to be going home now.

Sunrise

Worth getting up early for.