Memorial Day Weekend

It's the last weekend before school gets out for the summer. Nathan is now three months old, my roses are in full bloom, we got to go swimming, and Westley put up flags early in the morning on Memorial Day. Travis got up on the high ledge in the front hall to clean it off with the swiffer and I had a bunch of little helpers with me making strawberry freezer jam for the summer.  Great weekend!

Beloved Old Dog Snoopy

Snoopy has been having a rough time as of late.  I'm not sure how much longer he'll be with us, so I decided to take pictures of him with each of the kids.  He's been such a good dog for our family.  He's gentle with the kids, playful, sweet, and just a good fit for us.  It will be hard for us when his time comes.  He is already 14 years old, which is really old for his breed.  We aren't sure how much longer he'll be with us.

National Junior Honor Society

Westley was invited to join the National Junior Honor Society for 8th grade at his school.  He decided to apply and turned in all the paperwork and got in.  So he had his induction at the end of May.

Jonah's Awesome

Jonah got a bike for his birthday but with me having the new baby and then bad weather, he hadn't had much of an opportunity until now to try it out.  And also, one day I promised to take him swimming but didn't get a chance to go because of babies napping, so I let him "swim" in the bathtub.

Beautiful Girl

Eliza and I were  hanging out outside one day and I decided to take a picture of her with my roses.  She is so beautiful.

Cuteness Overload

 Annmarie takes a turn feeding baby brother

 Annmarie being a mom

 Cute little sleeping boy

 This is new!  First time in the play place

 More sleeping

Naptime for sister

Spring Gymnastics Showcase

Every six months the gym that the girls take gymnastics with do a showcase so the girls can practice showing their routines to spectators and see what it would feel like to be in a competition.  These girls are not at a competitive level so it's not a competition. 

Girl (and Baby) Time

Father/Sons campout came along and the boys all went camping, minus Nathan, of course.  So we girls decided to have a little girls night.  We went out to dinner at Braum's, watched a girlie movie while painting our nails, and had a little slumber party in my room.  It was a fun night with my girls.  And Nathan is just as cute as ever!

Annmarie's Owie

On a happy Wednesday morning, Annmarie fell off her chair in the kitchen and hit her head on the corner of the wall, where the walls from the kitchen and living room intersect.  She split her forehead open, so I took her to the emergency room because the urgent care that I stopped at first said that due to the head injury, they wouldn't look at her.  I was disappointed in how they patched her up--the doctor used glue and didn't even hold the skin together when he glued, so she has an enormous scar there.  She was mostly upset about the blood though.

We have a TEENAGER! AAAHHH

Well, Westley is now thirteen years old! 

I can't believe it's been thirteen years since I became a mother.  It was fitting and appropriate that this year his birthday fell on Mother's Day.  Always a wonderful thing when that happens, as it did on his eighth birthday and his second birthday. 

He's a good kid, kind of crazy at times, but interesting to talk with and fun to be around.  He makes friends easily and he can be a huge help when he's in the mood.  We sure do love this kid of ours!

Beginning of May

These months are flying by.  I suppose that's because I'm in a constant state of sleep deprivation so it's all kind of a blur.  The kids are great helpers with Nathan and around the house.  And I can't help but take selfies when holding the cute little snugglebug.

Family Talent Show

Westley loves to plan and put on shows and at the end of April, he decided that a family talent show was in order.  So he invited all of the cousins and we set aside a date for the show. 

 Elliott is showing off his artwork

 Annmarie sang a medley of Princess songs

 Lily's artwork

 Jonah doing ninja moves

Maggie and Eliza showing their gymnastics skills