The every day

I've been taking more pictures of life as we know it on a regular old day. I had felt like I hadn't taken many pictures lately and these moments are slipping by quicker every day. I took time in watching the 3 bigger kids play so thoughtfully and wonderfully together (and fight bitterly too) and I couldn't help but wonder what it will be like when the littlest one joins them in playing and not just sit by watching. How she'll add even more color, adventure and LIFE to the bunch. I'm also happy just letting her be little and lay there smiling, cooing and content with not being able to get anywhere quite yet! I know the next time I blink though they'll all be chasing after each other their little limbs longer and stronger, pulling them steadily away from being just little.

This suitcase is heavy!

Playing hide and seek is their favorite.

This boy and his Zoe!! Zoe!! 

Pretty sure we've got another blue-eyed girl! 

The sisters.

Gretta in her "office"

I love listening to their conversations in their pretend little worlds and what they come up with in their imaginations. I very often get the STOP!! STOP IT! scream if I try to take pictures these days, but sometimes I can sneak in a few, especially when the sun is shining and there's a blanket laid out.

Actual conversation overheard
Gretta: "This is actually a really good day, I wish it was like this every day! We could like sleep out here and wake up and be out here. Its like not hot, but not cold and I wish it was just like this every day. Well, we couldn't sleep out on the blanket, but we could sleep in a tent."

Maggie: "But we would need a grown up to help. What if we could play friend the whole night?!"

Gretta: "We could, it could be like a real night!"

Looking for daddy's TRUCK!

This girl loves books as much as her mama, devouring them, which makes mama's heart ever so happy!

She's not that impressed with the truck situation yet.

She's already adding color and life to this bunch!

Just this

Zoe, 3 months

We lost a very important woman in our lives last week. My Grandma Lillian, whom Zoe Lillian is named after, passed away after 91 wonderful, love filled years on this earth. We are going to miss her more than words can express, but we know she is in a much warmer and happier place with Grandpa.

Thankfully because of FaceTime Zoe had met her a couple of times before her and I made the trip back to MN to say goodbye. 

I can only hope that our little Zoe Lillian will have as much independence and spunk as her namesake.

These are the days

The card shark, War and Go Fish are her specialty, watch out. 

Heels, flannel and driving his truck around. We think he's going to be pretty well-rounded.

Sleepy times

Lately big brother has been wanting to "Hold! Zoe! Couch!" which translates to holding Zoe on the couch.

The imagination girls

They were spies and setting up traps.

Practicing her balancing skills!

More sleepy times.

And this silly boy....every day something else!

Growing up fast!

Girl Scouts father/daughter dance! They had lots of fun dancing, crafting and having treats!