Who needs a "reason" for a photo shoot?

"Handsome Boys" is a good enough justification, for me!

And a quick kiss.

This makes me giggle. Graham has a firm handful of Holden's hair.

Holden is such a good big brother.

Hi.

This one doesn't always like to participate so well during photo shoot time.

Ornery.....

Adorable.

Everyone looking big and handsome. And so serious.

My goodness do I love these little boys ♥

Seven Months Old and the First Day of Spring

Graham is already seven months old, you guys. SEVEN! Oh my, my....


And, if it's possible, I think he keeps getting cuter. ♥







So, I guess not too much has changed since last month - he still loves naked bath time and eating. Now he likes to try and eat by himself, so he's been getting some itty-bitty-sized baby friendly bites. Favorites include: Cheerios, Puffs, and these Puffcorn things that are for adults but melt in his mouth and he loves them.

And I was going to say he seems to be regressing at the sleeping thing, but then last night was great again - never woke up once - so, who knows. It's a rollercoaster, folks. I'll just try to enjoy these "peak" days :)

Also, the moving. Oh, is he a wiggler. The other night at Mimi's house he was on all fours doing "the rock" - ya know, the one just before they figure out the crawling thing and take off? And he basically does a form of scooting/crawling already... but only backwards. So yes, I expect a full out Crawler sometime this month or next!

He's also a chatterbox (just ask the people in the pew in front of us at church ;)), he's found his tongue - which means really ridiculously cute faces, and we're working on learning to wave now. He's done it several times, but I've always been one for it to have to really be consistent for me to believe it's not just an accident... so we'll keep practicing, just to make sure!


And here are a few more pictures from yesterday morning.

My sweet baby.♥

Well, hello down there! :)

Look at that face. Testing the waters.... trying to decide whether or not to go for it and dive out....

Better just taste it instead.

Happy boy!

Beautiful little Sonshine.

Well hello there, Spring.

I've said it before, but around here, we're "weather people."

And sometimes when the sun starts shining, it seems like it can warm up more than just our faces.

It's been warm this week. And beautiful. And the other day the boys and I went out to dig in the dirt, feel the sun and the breeze, clean up the beds and help the tiny green shoots find the light, and just think about the multitude of ways in which we've been blessed. And how lucky we are to have been given all we have.

And how quickly it all changes.

Well, maybe it was just me doing those last few things. While my beautiful boys played in the sun and the dirt.

And, among other things, I just can not get this verse out of my head this week.

"Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
-Psalm 90:12

And I can not stop dwelling on the purpose of a life.... and how utterly temporary all this really is....



But for now, I give you these. Spring time pictures of my handsome boys.




And I hope that if the sun finds you on one of these days, as you close your eyes and lift your face to the light, that you will feel the warmth not just on your skin - and know you are loved.

Helping me weed. Gloves and all.

I just want to kiss these sweet little faces.

Wagon ride!

.

My cup runneth over ♥

The BIG Birthday Boy

Woah! Who's that TWENTY-EIGHT year OLD man over there? ;)

Yep! This Saturday was Jared's birthday. And now he's old just like me. (That silly 2 1/2 month difference he never lets me forget about...)






And what's that you say? A mug full of chocolate birthday cake to start the day? Why yes, of course!

I think the Birthday Boy was still waking up a little while Mommy and Holden were singing to him.

But then the boys gave him the Jeep (and superbly corny. Read: "To the funnest, toughest, "Wrangler" of little boys that we've ever known! Love you Daddy!") birthday card we made for him.





Holden was really excited about it, though, and kept telling Jared all about it.

Which was adorable.

But then, as it often does, snuggly time turned rough.

And everyone got tickled for a bit.

And then Daddy got to open his present - with all his helpers, of course...




He got a rubbery high impact mat for working out in the garage with his new gymnastic rings! He wasn't expecting it, so that was a pretty nice surprise. (He is like, the king of guessing his presents ahead of time.)



So then he had to try it out - which the boys all thought was fun :)

Graham!

Happy kid.






And Ta Da! All put together. Just like that.

He loves havin' his picture taken ;)

Then after he worked out and cleaned up, he finally got to go visit his strong and beautiful Aunt Karen in the hospital - as she continues to battle the monster, Cancer. I know he's been wanting to see her for a while now and he was so glad to get the chance to go.

When he came home, Tyler and Shanti stopped over for a bit since they had also gone to the hospital and were actually in the area - a rare birthday treat, indeed ;)

And then we ended the night with a spring time celebration, and an all-time favorite of Jared's: grilling out.

Jared wanted to have a campfire or something, but it was just a little too cold for me. After dinner then, he burned some trash and the brush pile we had in the back.. so I suppose he got his "fire" after all.

* * * * * *

But then Sunday, oh my, the weather was just beautiful. And so we continued his birthday weekend.

... with some kite flying ♥

Already soaring!

Zipping him up. Holden the Helper.

Indy!

Tickling Daddy's knee with a weed through the hole in his pants.
I love this picture.

Bridger Dean.
(All his green makes the yard look a little brown and sad.)

And Graham. Watching the big boys.

Here's Attempt #2 for Holden at flying it alone.

Attempt #1 resulted in Daddy having to retrieve the kite from across the road.



And the power lines.

Haha. "Indy lovin'" just about knocked Daddy on his bum.

Mommy's turn.

And Graham wanted to help.

Or chew on it. Either way.

Lovin' the outdoors.

And packing it in and calling it a day.


Well, we did go for a quick walk/wagon ride just down the road and back. Since it was just so pretty out.





But then it was time to head over to my mom's for dinner and birthday cake!

Blowing out the candles with Daddy.

And that was that!




Happy Birthday, Jared. We love you.♥