Phone Photos from March

One of the few days Mister Sun was shining.  She needed to be in the rays.

Swinging for the first time!

"Funny Dress Day" at school.  He called himself "Batman Birdie".  I just went with it.

Boomer Sooner! 

His first job for money: shredding my huge pile of paper

I honestly don't remember what she ate, but she obviously enjoyed it! 

St. Patrick's Day breakfast smoothies 

The Birthday Girl!

She let me snuggle longer on her birthday.  It's still hard to believe she's one.

Not what we expected to be doing before church in the middle of the month! 

Remember when it was fun to sleep in oversized t-shirts?!  Who am I kidding?  I still do that. 

Stratego.  Good times. 

I love our early morning snuggles. 

She snuggles with him first thing, too.  It just looks a little different!  Truth be told, he is pretty patient with her and lets her get away with a lot.

A morning spent with the girls running errands meant we all needed a little snack break. 

Pre-pajama shenanigans. 

Our pretty princess. 

The kids at Rooke's school were asked to make and bring an Easter hat to show off in the parade.  We worked on it together the night before.  He decorated it with some random stickers, a few drawings of decorated eggs, Jesus on the cross, the tomb, thirty pieces of silver, and lots of hearts with crosses in them.  No one could tell from the catwalk parade how he had made his hat, but I was sure proud of him.  He strutted down and back with confidence.

Gretchen and our neighbor friend in their Easter bonnets they made at our church's Easter party. 

The Dailyness of Life

My friend recently shared on her blog some things that make her house a home.  I loved her photos and the glimpse they gave me into the reality of her family's daily life.  Her post inspired me.  This past week, I've tried to keep my camera close by and snap away as I see things that make this house feel like home to me.  

They are the daily things that happen with the people I love most.  Messes.  Toys.  Things that I might typically roll my eyes at, or not even think twice about.  But this week I tried to see and value the little signs that life is happening all around me and memories are being made.  Consequently, Ryan was gone this week and my little project helped me keep a positive perspective on the longer and more tiring days without him around.  

So here is my little reality check.  Some of the things that make this house our home. . . .

Princesses and legos living in perfect harmony.  This time on the window sill.  

(Yes, that's snow on the ground.  Yes, we run by the same monthly calendar you do.)

Bridgette's trail of destruction discovery.

Precious works of art on display for all to see and out of reach from baby sisters of destruction discovery.

Coloring.  Drawing.  Coloring.  More coloring.  Always drawing and coloring these days.  This week they preferred to do it standing up.

Sisters sharing a sun spot.

The shadows show how I tie back the curtains first thing every morning on both front-facing windows, letting the daylight in.

The kids use the "little chairs" as steps stools in the kitchen.

Watch before you wipe in our home.  At least she's putting the boogies in the right place.  Now we'll work on discarding the tissue once it's been used. 

Little friends.

Things left on the steps for the next time I go upstairs.

The big sofa gets moved all over the living room to accommodate space needed for playing.

Dinner dishes and a school project.

Messes in the most unexpected places.  This is the shoe and coat closet.   

Bridgette's mess while the rest of us get ready for the walk to school.

Keeping an eye on Bridgette is a full-time job.  Not keeping an eye on her is two full-time jobs.

The tupperware drawer, which is located just below my prime counter space, is one of her favorite places of discovery.

I didn't use a baby gate with Rooke.  I only had one for Gretchen.  The third child gets two gates: one up and one down.

Imaginary play: pirates sailing to find the buried treasure 

The table set for dinner by little hands.  Bridgette always gets an appetizer. 

More discovery.

We love to read. 

I love my home!

The Birthday Girl

We had a little birthday lunch for Bridgette this weekend.  Family, friends, and cupcakes all around!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, 

Happy Birthday sweet Bridgette, 

Happy Birthday to you!

The first taste . . .

"Like this, Bridgette . . . watch me . . . you have to shove it in . . ." 

"Like this?!"

"I'm likin' this cupcake stuff" 

"Would you like some pink frosting highlights Big Sister?!"

Opening her fun bag of birthday goodies Kaye K and Big Daddy collected in the states.  Thank you, Aunt Vallerie, for your cute contribution! 

The birthday girl also got to open some fun packages on her real birthday.  Big Brother and Big Sister were more than happy to help her rip into the gifts!  

Thank you Grammy Deb, G-Daddy, Uncle Sean and Aunt Jess!

I am usually following behind her these days, only getting a glimpse of the back of her head. =)

I still can't believe she is ONE!