Summer Evenings

So, I don't like summer. I think it's gross and hot and usually a little boring. But I must admit that about 7pm has been quite beautiful the last few days.

Thursday evening I wanted to try some things with my camera with motion and blur (which didn't really turn out), so the bigs and Margaret and I went out after the twins were in bed. Natalie and James enjoyed watching a dragonfly on the ground.

The grass in the yard (not pictured) was about ten feet tall and still kind of swampy, plus the mosquitos were swarming, so we didn't stay out.

I did get this one of Joanna before we went back in though. I love the light through the trees.

Friday evening we went over to my Aunt Gail's for enchiladas, and when we got out of the car, Natalie insisted I take her picture by this tree. :)

How could I object?

Later, Joanna and I went out to look at the garden – the light was so so pretty.

It has rained pretty much every weekend for what seems like forever, but Matt was finally able to battle the tall grass on Saturday. He also sprayed for mosquitos in an effort to at least keep them out of the house when we open doors for two seconds.

We all went outside after dinner yesterday – it was practically pleasant. There was a little breeze, and the mosquitos were just bad, not terrible.

Don't be fooled, Thomas is NOT leaning over to kiss Michael sweetly. He is yelling at him to get out of the chair.

My toddlers cannot seem to sleep past 6:30 in the morning, even when they're totally exhausted, but I'm hoping I can maybe push that back a little so we can enjoy some evenings outside. I don't go out unless absolutely necessary earlier in the day. :)

This and That, heavy on the Joanna

I’m determined to somewhat soonishly get caught up with posting pics on ye olde blogge. 

Aren’t these guys the super cutest?  I needed to take my monthly self portrait back on the 21st, and they were being my stand in while I got my settings all adjusted.

I had left my white balance not set on Auto, and that caused this next picture to be a nasty color when Matt just grabbed the camera to snap it.  I tried to fix it in PSE but basically failed.  It’s better than it was though.  :)  Isn’t she the best big sister ever?!!

My sweet children before church one Sunday.

A couple of Tuesdays ago Joanna and I attempted some yard work while the middles were at school.  She brought the trash can up after the garbage truck had come.  What a helper!

Our little helpers:

She did an AMAZING job of entertaining her brothers when they got grouchy so I could get a little more work done clearing out the flower bed.  She’s wonderful!

Then we had a little photo shoot in the azaleas after the babies went down for a nap.

I’m so proud of my azaleas for thriving despite me. :)

Thomas often sucks two fingers for comfort.  I think most of the time they are the first two fingers on his left hand, but he doesn’t seem too picky yet.  Here he is sucking the last two fingers on his right hand, upside down.  :)

Well… that’s it for now!

Sunshine

On one of the beautiful days this week, Joanna and I took the babies outside to take some pictures.  (That means it must have been Tuesday, since James and Natalie weren’t there.)

I took a few official birthday week shots, which I’ll post later, but Joanna wanted to take pictures with her baby brothers.

I’ll probably play with editing these at some point.  I like the colors in the quilts.

The kids all like to play different winter Olympic sports in the back yard (in Houston, in 75 degrees, ha!).

Joanna is prepping her bobsled:

And she’s on!

He he he.

A selfie with my babes:

My eyes were closed because it was bright!  I don’t do well with the bright.

Posts and Pences

So at least one blogger that I like to read does a post on the weekends with links to stories and articles she’s enjoyed over the past week.  I thought I might like to do the same, if only to have them in one place.  Some of these I’ve found through Facebook, others from blogs I read.  There are only three this week since I’m not in the habit yet of remembering to copy the address of posts I’ve enjoyed.  :)

• Give childhood back to children: if we want our offspring to have happy, productive and moral lives, we must allow more time for play, not less - Comment - Voices - The Independent‏

• How to Name a Baby | Wait But Why‏

• Top 10 Books for Crunchy Parents - Mama Natural - Mama Natural

And hopefully I’ve managed to put the right hyperlink with each post.  Ahem. 

I think post needs some sweet baby and kiddo pictures instead of just words.  So here we go!

Michael was suuuuuper sleepy after eating one evening.

My sweet five year old:

She’s in that fake smile phase; normally I tell her not to smile.  :)

A resident where Matt works matt the babies these adorable rainbow onesies.  I love them!  I’m even planning to cut and hem the bottom to make them into t-shirts once they’re too short for the bruisers.  (Actually I’m planning to outsource that, if you must know.)  They’re so precious! (Michael left; Thomas right)

The favorite!!

I love how they’re so independently handsome.  That’s probably the wrong phrase, but what I mean is they are each so stinkin’ handsome but they don’t look the same.

Michael got a hand free in his swaddle to chew on his fingers.

The day after James wears his footie PJs at night, he often keeps them on if we’re not going anywhere.  I love how he’s put his boots on right over them.

We decided to have him try out Natalie’s bike yesterday, footies and all.

He didn’t exactly give it the ol’ college try, but it is the right size for him.

As soon as we get a new bigger bike for Joanna, we’re going to put the training wheels back on her green bike and pass it along to Natalie.  I just need to figure out what size I need for Miss J.  And then to find it in a prettyish gender neutralish kind of color.  :)

We spent so much time outside yesterday – it was simply gorgeous!  It looks like rain at the end of the week, so I’m thinking we may go easy on school at the beginning of the week and enjoy the backyard, then finish up when we can’t go out with all the mud and wet.  That’s a little backward from how we usually do it, opting to lighten up at the end of the week when we’re all a little tired.  But I’m remembering last summer when it was so nasty all the time, and we really need to be outside now while it’s gorgeous.

Anyway, here’s Momma and her babes.  Thomas is a drool-machine lately!

I love this one, except that Thomas is looking away.  He’s still handsome though!

We’ve also grilled dinner out the last couple of nights and right now I’m smelling pork and potatoes from the backyard.  YUM!

Park Pictures

A couple of weeks ago I posted some pictures I took of the kids at the park.  Matt had walked up there with them before I showed up and taken pictures with the little camera.  And here I am finally getting around to posting them.  :)

Joanna getting some exercise in.

I packed some sandwiches and apple slices which they shared for a little picnic lunch.

They are cute.  Since then, summer has arrived, and I have no desire to be outside ever ever again.  :)

Park Fun

We have a new park area down the street, and the kids have been so excited to go this weekend!  Even though it’s been beautiful in the evenings, it’s a bit hard for us to try and fit in some park fun on school nights.  (Can you tell I am READY for summer vacation?!)

The plan was for them to go with Daddy this morning before I even woke up, but they weren’t here.  :)  So after I picked them up from Gran’s, they got park-ready, and Matt and I made a quick lunch for them to eat there.

They were gone about 40 minutes before I decided I needed to go too. 

The little girl pushing James is from Joanna’s class at school.  Yay friends!

I sat in the sunshine for a few minutes, then retired to the shade.  It really is a beautiful day!

We noticed there is all kinds of exercise equipment as well as play stuff.  It’s not for me right now, but I think it’s a good idea to be able to get a little workout in while your kids play!  There’s a good amount of shade too – hallelujah!

I just discovered that Matt took a bunch of pictures with the little camera before I got there.  I am way too tired lazy to upload and go through them now, but I will post them later – it looks like there are some cute ones!