You get fussy in the pool so your mom gives you your paci…

I realize I am doing anything as of late to keep this fussy one happy.  When does teething end?

Our Sweet friend Coree gifted us an amazing photo shoot!  She did a fabulous job and we LOVE what she captured.   I have looked at the photos at least 10 times and still do not know which are my favorites!   Thanks so much Coree for all you did to capture our family during this time when our little ones seem to grow so quickly.   Get your Kleenex out ladies (and  gentlemen.. but I am pretty sure no gents read this blog).. this is a real tear jerker..  Kevin may or may not have shed a few tears while he watched this clip!

After 3 showers I still smell camp fire smoke in my hair.  After 2 baths my children still have dirt on their feet.  That Donner dirt must be permanent.   Here are a few pics from the trip!

Three cheers to camping.. now off to try and get some more things cleaned!

Kevin talked me into camping … with 4 kids.. this is gonna take a LONG time to get over.. Not sure where to start… baths, sleep, laundry (repeat cycle over and over).. more pictures to come once we have recovered. The way I figure it .. I am owed BIG TIME.. wonder how that one will pay off????

look at those 2 pearlies…

Last week while we were on vacation Fisher decided to cut his first two teeth.. it was fun!

I’d show them to you but the dude won’t let us anywhere near them…

Zeke.. some things about you during this 3rd year of your life.

You rarely stop for the camera..
You LOVE life.  You enjoy a good joke and have the same sense of humor as your daddy.
You love to find ants, pick them up, run and show me and then toss them in the trash.
Your favorite meal is pasta & milk.
You gag on eggs.  You have since you were a baby.  When I serve them I ask you take one bite.  You still gag every time..  I must admit I laugh every time.
You walk by me and say “I love you mam” at least 5 times a day.  It melts me.
You are the most cheerful giver in our home.
You are easy to please and wear joy on your sleeve.  I love it when you say “Yahoo” after I have announced what we are doing for the day.
You communicate best through whining.  It drives me CRAZY.  We are working on that.
If you are the last one in the room  to fall asleep at night you get sad.  A few minutes of lovin’ and you seem to be ready to face the dark.
Wherever we go .. you find sticks and LOVE playing with them.  You have been dubbed stick man.
You have become our informant on how P does in Sunday School.  I am sure someday we may regret the encouraged tattling.  But for now.. we get what we need.

Not much to say the last week… we have been spending a lot of time at the pool.  We had hopes that it would wear the children out. no such luck.  The only one going to bed early is the baby.  We had family pictures done.. I am hoping to get permission to post them here for you all to see..

Do your hips ache looking at how this little lamb sleeps?  Mine do!

Paige asked multiple times throughout the day.. “Is it still Happy Father’s day”?

They loved celebrating him, as much as I do!  Kevin is God’s gift to these kids.. They are too young to realize what a gift they have in him.  They will figure it out as they grow.. I have no doubt!   Happy Father’s Day to the best daddy ever!

We celebrated Father’s Day with hair cuts for all the boys in the house who are big enough to eat a lollipop..  Did I mention Kevin is also the best barber in town?

We have had a couple of chances to pull off the side of the road and take a gander at the sheep and goats that are shipped in to do some brush maintenance.  It has been the perfect opportunity to teach the kids about sheep, shepherds and what that looks like between them and God.  They have all the concepts down.  They know they are God’s sheep, they know He is their Shepherd.  They honestly believe He watches over them, He will comfort them and will lead them to quite waters… Seeing their eyes and knowing they believe God for all these things makes me understand what “having faith like a child” means.. I want that!

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, ^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.