We're Back!

I know I haven't blogged in a very long time. But we are still here and here's what we've been up to:

Wedding

Beach

Playing Inside

First day of School (Kate - Kindergarten, Claire - K4)

Playing Outside

Growing Teeth

Someone stealing my camera

Playing on the computer

First day of Ballet

Heavy Lifting

Ok. Guess that's enough for now! I'll be back soon!

More pics from Lauren

Here are more pictures from our time with Lauren. Check her out here:

http://freshgracephotography.blogspot.com/

Snow

Kate was excited because, "THESE ARE GROWN UP SNOWFLAKES, NOT BABY ONES"!!!!

Girls always like to pose for pictures, boys do not. Here is the proof:

This is Kate with her 3 snowmen. They all have pine cones for noses and sticks for eyes. At this point, I REALLY need Rick to come home. He's the "snow parent." I'd rather be inside making hot chocolate.

Then Boo and Papaw came to the rescue with the nice sled:

Then the snow parent came home and built the BIGGEST snowman I've ever seen. This guy was over 6 feet tall. He was more of the Abominable type than the Frosty type. Did you notice that I said was? Mere moments after this picture was taken, the snowman met his demise and crashed to the ground. Oh well, at least I got proof.

Baby Girl and Baby Boy

Henry 4 months 4-3-08

To my dear Henry,

Today you are 4 months old! You are a joy and a blessing and I am thankful for you. You have blue eyes right now but that might change. Your hair is coming in and it's very dark like Claire's. I love you at this age because you smile all the time. I'm glad God created babies to smile early. It makes me happy when you smile. You've settled into a schedule with is nice. You go to bed at 7pm with your sisters and wake between 6:30-7:00 am. Then you take a morning nap from 8:30-10:00 and an afternoon nap from 1-3:30/4:00.
It's different for me to write you these letters. When you read them, you won't be concerned with the same issues as your sisters so my advice and thoughts to you have to be different. I must write them though because of my deep love for you. It is greater than you will know.
Someday I'll share my thoughts with you on how to be a good husband and father but for now you are still my little baby and my little boy. I will stick with the first things.
John 6:47 "Most assuredly I say to you, He who believes in Me has everlasting life." Your father and I will spend our eternity in Heaven and we want you with us. More than anything, we want you with us.
The second most important thing is that we love you. We will love you always and forever.
I love you my dear son-
Mommy

Other Easter Pics

Family Portrait

Boo with the girls

Rick w/Henry

Papaw with KCH

Trying to get everyone to look at the camera

Oh well!

Bathtime Buddies

I like things that simplify life....thus...Henry joins the gang in the tub!

KCH's first bath together...Everyone had a grand time!

Nice and clean

Henry 3 months 3-3-08

To my dear son,

Today you are 3 months old! Time goes by much faster with each child. I am trying my best to hold on to each moment with you. I probably hold you more than I did Kate and Claire only because I know how quickly time passes. I just carry you around with me and go about playing with your sisters and getting my work done around the house. In fact, I'm holding you now...even as I type this letter.
3 months is a good age. You smile every time you see me, you sleep great, you only nurse so I'm not having to prepare food for you, you let me kiss you as much as I want to, and you want me to hold you! What could be better than that! Soon you'll be squirming to get down and play with your sisters but for now you're content with me and I like that.
You have the cutest little ears and sweetest smile. You are a good baby and are a blessing to your family. I truly enjoy every second that I have with you.

I love you with my whole heart,
Mommy

Leaving the House

Since I just posted about going to the grocery store for the first time, I thought I'd let you know what's involved with getting 3 children out the door.



Kate
Supervise teeth brushing
Make sure she goes to the bathroom
Pick out clothes
Supervise getting dressed
Help tie shoes
Fix hair
Put on coat

Claire
Brush her teeth
Put on clean diaper
Pick out clothes
Dress her
Put on shoes and socks (normally this is done 2x before we leave because she always takes them off)
Fix hair
Make sure I have another diaper with me...just in case
Put on coat
Make sure we have "botbee" (her blanket)


Henry
Change diaper
Pick out clothes
Get him dressed
Nurse
Strap in car seat carrier
Put blanket over him
Make sure I have diapers/bottle if we are going to be out awhile


Walk all 3 to the car...
Buckle Henry's seat in
Buckle Kate in
Buckle Claire in
Climb to the front on the van
Sit in my seat
Buckle myself in

Turn on the car

Sit and rest (I actually do this)

Now, this may seem like a lot but it normally only takes about 2 hours :)

Henry

Henry - 1 month - January 3rd, 2008

To my son,

Today you are 1 month old! I can't believe it's only been 1 month because it seems like you've been with us forever and I can't even picture our little family without you now.

You are a good baby. You sleep well and have only gotten up one time in the night since you were 8 days old. I'm hoping in the next week or 2 that you'll follow in your sisters steps and start sleeping all the way through the night but if not, I'll enjoy the time that just the 2 of us share at 3am. You smiled for the first time on New Years Day! I must say that I am so glad that you gave your first smile to me. You fit right into our family and your sisters sure do love you. They hug and kiss you all the time and fight to hold you. Whenever they wake up in the morning or after naptime, they both ask for you first thing.

If I could tell you one thing that you should carry with you your entire life it would be to watch your father. See how worship is first. See how he loves me and treats me and cares for me. See how he loves you and your sisters. See how he works hard but never puts work above us. See how he spends his time. You will never be too old to seek his guidance or spend time with him.

While you are in our house, we will be preparing you to one day leave and to be a man, a husband and a father. You have no better example than your own father. When you leave us, you will be ready if you learn from him. The Lord has blessed you. All this talk of leaving makes me sad so for now, I will hold you close and hold you tight while you are still my baby.

I will love you my whole life,

Mommy

Day 8

Well....I've been "TeeTeeed" on 3 times today, but Henry only woke up once last night between 10:00 pm and 7:30 am so I think that's a fair trade.

Henry 1 week old

Henry Scott