Multipurpose blog?

A friend of mine had a similar post, and it got me to thinking...I should maybe start blogging about more than just my kids. As cute and sweet and dear to me as they are, they don't COMPLETELY define ME. I mean, a huge piece, and some days are ALL about them, yes...but there are some other things that make up me. Shocking, I know, since I have a whole gaggle of them...

So, let's just start with what I am doing right now...VBS. A girl at work called it Vacation Bible Study one time, which made me laugh, but it's really Vacation Bible SCHOOL. You might say "Christi, that's STILL all about your kids!!!", but it's not. I started leading the music before I earned the title of Mom. It's something I LOVE to do. I love music. I love kids. I love teaching. I love dancing the VBS way. I love serving. So, I love *IT*.

It's been a great week of watching the kidlets learn that God is wild about us!!!! woo hoo!!!!!! And it's been more than just music. They spent yesterday inside the belly of a whale. It was squishy and smelly and wet. Really, it really really was. Today, they hid out from Roman soldiers. One little girl was concerned if any other kids had been found, and wanted a full report, tomorrow, about if anyone got found out after her. Today, the kids tie dyed backpacks that will be paired with Bibles and sent to another country to kids. It's all about making it real for the kids, and that, I believe, we have done. THANK YOU GOD!

Lucy - 10.months.old

I'll just go ahead and come clean...she's 11 months, one week, in this picture, taken today. Some might say "Fourth kid should be glad there are any pictures taken at all!" but I'm not going to use that excuse. Mommy dropped the 10 month ball, and I'm sorry Lulu.

I thought it was only appropriate to commemorate Lucy's 10th month at the place where we plan to spend much of the summer - the POOL! Stickers don't work that well on swimsuits...even a dry one. But, you get the 10 month picture well enough, yes?


She's really coming around to like the water. I mean, if Mommy's holding her, anywhere will really work out fine, right? Love you Lulu girl.

Smitten

I was trying to decide how to describe how we feel about little Lucy. I think I've got it...smitten. It's defined as "very much in love". Yep, I'd say that pretty much sums it up...our entire family is smitten.

And of course, we have been overjoyed to welcome each one of our children into our lives. We have been "smitten" with each of them. But Lucy...she is the first baby we have had that the other kids have really participated in loving on her, and recognize just how darned precious she is to have around. When Lily was born, Landen was 22 months...yeah, he didn't care so much that she came home to live with us. Then when Lawson was born, Lily was 2 years 10 months, and Landen was 4.5 years. They were excited about him, and gave him kisses and all, but still didn't really "get it". When Lucy was born, Landen was almost 8, Lily was 6, and Lawson had just turned 3 (but acted like he was 6!). And from day 1, they have all been smitten with her. I mean, really, how could you not be? When we went to Colorado, recently, and Lucy stayed with my parents, we couldn't get the vehicle in park and our seat belts off, fast enough, to all run inside and see her. Yep, smitten. :)

So, today is Lucy's last day of her 9th month. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??? Golly, I can't believe she will be 10 months old tomorrow. We picked a beautiful, sunny, but windy, day to take her 9 month pictures.

This is Lucy's new pat-a-cake trick. I don't care how many kids you have, when you see your baby do this for the first time, your heart melts all over again, just like it was your first.

Smitten.

Cheerios...Lucy likes

Lucy officially has enough teeth in her mouth that she can grind them together, so why not try some Cheerios on for size? First, her current face of satisfaction...the piggy snort. She doesn't so much have the pincer grasp down...it's more of a handful, but it gets the job done.

She approved with a chew of the sippy cup...of course, sucking on the sippy cup would be too normal.

More cheerios.

Some more...yep, I do believe she likes them.

An approving smile.

Just a couple more.

One more approving smile.

Another milestone achieved...mom says, sniffle.

Our 6 month old Lucy

Well, actually 7 months and 8 days...these pictures were a long time coming! We cancelled once because I was sick, once because Lucy was sick, at least twice for bad weather, and once because my friend was having a baby, and I was there with her. But, that's the beauty of doing business with a friend...she's forgiving and accommodating, and will fly to the moon and back for a plate of peanut butter cookies as a tip. :) Okay, the moon may be a bit of an exaggeration, but she was so kind to reschedule us many, many times.

And wow, I'm tickled pink with the outcome. As always, Willow Brandt Photography did an amazing job, capturing our beautiful Lucy. Our Lucy...growing up so big and so fast.

Lucy's hangout

Lucy does enjoy the exersaucer...perhaps, more than any of the four kidlets ever have. You know something else she loves? Chewing. Chewing on anything. In these pictures, the preferred chewee is a plush, stuffed seal.

She's growing up before our very eyes.

Happy 6 1/2 birthday Lil'!

Lily is one of those lucky kiddos who has a summer birthday. Not only does her birthday land smack dab in the middle of summer, but her half birthday happens during Christmas break! POOR LIL'! We didn't let that stop us, though. We didn't even let the two snow days at the beginning of the week stop us. We preserved Barbie Mermaid and her ocean paradise...1st graders don't care so long as frosting is involved.

This is what the cake looked like before the kids dug in. And this is what was left to share with her brothers, complete with candles. In the spirit of halves, we only used three candles...and uh, that's all we could find, anyway.