Family Home Evening Hike. Fall 2014.

These pictures say it all for me. Perfect night. With the perfect people for me. 

Mathilda Turns 1!

Peach cake for this peach of a babe! 

{peaches are her favorite}

She was not shy about her cake...also not very smiley about it either. 

Most of the night Tildy was trying to climb our cellar door like the big kids. Explains her to a T...always trying to keep up and be big.

**These gatherings for my kiddos' birthdays always remind me how wonderful family is. My kids are blessed with so much love around them and so many great people to count on. It is a blessing to me, too. I'm also feeling blessed for the little house we now call home. Nothing better than making memories in a place we hope to be for awhile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tildy! 

Your first year of life has gone by too fast and brought more love and joy into our family than I thought possible. It also brought some good lessons on how to be a more patient and loving mother as I'm learning to juggle my time between three kids. It hasn't always been easy (and there have been many rough moments), but one year later, I feel I've grown as a mom and a person. I'm feeling grateful to all three of my little munchkins for helping me be a better person.

Our Tildy. The one-year-old.

My favorite picture from when she was born.

What can I say...she's my best eater and best sleeper. And just like the three who came before, she has stolen my heart. I want to eat her up every. single. day.

Ode to my three-year-old. We like to call him Rascal Hank. 

He is a fun loving, wild, curious, intense, and sweet little three-year-old. 

He HATES wearing shoes, and when you ask if he needs some his response, "No, I'm fine."

He likes rice and beans, gogurts, otter pops, hot dogs, and crackers. (and up until he turned three, a big bottle of milk...he's been a champ getting rid of it.)

He loves exploring outside, is curious about everything. Likes playing with his little cars and playing inside real cars. 

He is one mean scooter rider and a great little climber. And he doesn't mind being told that "your doing a great job, Hank!" frequently.

He is also king of time-outs. But after a little pout session is quick to bounce back into action.

He insists on having his back and stomach tickled as he falls asleep, and lately prefers sleeping on the floor.

He likes reading books and is always asking "what does that say, mom" when he sees a word anywhere (billboard, sidewalks, street signs....)

We love our fun little rascal!

Hank's Birthday Bash!

Two things Hank loves....Grandma Suzi's house and his cousins. It's all he needed to have a great party!

Grandma Suzi makes a mean chocolate cake! Complete with Hank's favorite...CARS!

Love this of cute Gray, pleased to be singing to Hank.

Hank was totally content to eat his licorice while watching Thomas and Gray open his gifts. Pretty funny.

Happy 3rd Birthday Henry! 

We love you!

Memory Lane and an almost three year old!

These sweet pics of Hank are killing me. How is he going to be three in a week and a half!

Lately, my relationship with Hank has been a bit tenuous. He kicks, I yell. He grabs from Tildy, I yell. He spits, I yell...you get the picture. Too much negative energy between the two of us. Luckily, Hank is good at throwing in some pretty sweet moments too. He'll ask a question followed-up with "Right, Mom" or respond to my I love you with, "lub you too, mom." And he still gives the best goodbye kiss and hug in town. Today we had a particularly rough morning, but these pictures are encouraging me to be better...more patient, more loving, more understanding and less angry, less frustrated, and less irritated. 

I do love you, Hank. You are a special kid with a lot of energy and the best facial expressions I've ever seen. 

    Costa Rica 2012

No words for her cuteness.