What can four cousins and a dog do?

Share an inflatable double bed, of course!  

Kids and trees are cute

Nico













Gideon













Jacob













Maddie

10 Gigs of Photos and now I've got to blog them!

The boys and I have been in Utah for the past three weeks. We had a wonderful trip. We missed Matt so much, but it was nice to not feel so rushed cramming 3 weeks worth of stuff into 1 week (which is our usual very prudent approach to visits). Summer in Utah is the best. We spent time with family, friends, sprinklers, ice cream cones, and did a lot of big wheel riding at my old elementary school.

And, as the title of this post suggests, we took photos. Lots and lots of photos. My dad is a great photographer and recently got himself a great camera. Those two greats created 2 jump drives of pictures.

I'll start whittling away at all of my Utah data with this little bit of sweetness. Three years changes a lot.

Gideon & Jacob - 2006














2009


















Aaaaawwww.

I've been saving something

In November we had a photo shoot with Kelly McCaleb*. I am so grateful we have these pictures to document this unique time in our family's history. Unfortunately we didn't have a husband in attendance among us...but still the pictures are as close to perfection as pictures without husbands can be.

3 out of 4 smiles ain't bad.
















































Maddie's face. Gideon's smile. Jacob's squirm. Nico's ear plug. I love it all.


































































Kelly's direction here was, "Pretend that you push Jacob on antique tricycles down country lanes (with Nicholas on your hip) all of the time." How did I do?


















I love kiddos looking at each other. Don't I look like an everliving giant? Who knew four inches could make such a difference! And yes, that's drool on my shoulder.













I love everything about Jacob in this picture. What an awesome full-body lean.




































Look at these cuties!













And my favorite picture of the lot...I think...has to be this one. My only regret is that Nicholas looks totally bummed to be there. But, trust me, no one is sad to be with my momma. And isn't she exceptionally pretty?



















*Kelly and I were missionaries in New Jersey together a million years ago. We randomly found each other after our missions at BYU and shortly thereafter lost touch. The blog world helped us find each other again.

She's an amazing person. She was pretty much the gold standard on our mission and really helped teach me about the work we did. Needless to say, such excellence (that's for you Kelly) on her mission has continued. She has a lovely Etsy shop and is (as I'm sure you've seen) a gifted photographer.

Thank you so much Kelly!

There are three children in this picture

Can you see them?

Grandma's Pictures

Anyone who knows Grandma Jan knows that SHE ... LOVES ... PICTURES. Her constant refrain whenever I have reported a milestone to her has been, "Do you have a picture of it?". Another common phrase is, "If I didn't take a picture of it, it didn't happen." When I was young and carefree I used to take pictures just to cover my bases with my mother in law, but as the years have passed I am so grateful for her picture pressure. My memory already feels soft and so the glut of pictures I've taken is such a blessing.

When Gma Jan, Natalie & Jackson came last week Grandma brought her big, beautiful camera. It's new and spectacular. Just what this genealogist Grandma needs. We definitely put it through its paces.

Here's a taster of her awesome pics. ('Scuse the runny noses.) (And the fact that NEVER are all three kids smiling at once.) (And if my kids' hair looks too shaggy that's because it was too shaggy. I am sorry. It's been cut and shaped up and will be debuted in an upcoming blog.)













Nicholas is his own man, but I love this picture documenting his observant eye on his big bro.













Jackson's face says, "So this is what it's like to die." Nico's says, "Grandma, don't you see what's happening?" And Jacob's says, "I can show love and inflict pain at the same time! All right!"






























I love pictures of kids looking at each other. It looks like Jacob and Jackson got the joke. All of the adults in this house hate that book. Too many flaps!













Look familiar? (Again, their hair is bad. And Jacob has a crazy, mad dreadlock tuft.)













There are so many cute pictures it's overwhelming and I'm a bit too tired to keep looking...but expect to see more (as I am nowhere near done documenting their great trip) and check out this amazing shot captured by Natalie.

To Natalie

As per your comment: I am here. We are here. We are well.

But, in order to walk to the library or the store or the other store or the bus stop or the church pictured below is the minimum effort I have to put out (to say nothing of putting my own coat, hat and scarf on).



Oh, and the boys' gloves (not pictured above) are just about as crazy making as really crazy stuff. They come off just about as fast as I can put them on. Glove on. Glove off. Repeat.

Apparently the creative juices to blog equal the strength to bundle two small children. It seriously feels like "The Christmas Story" every day around here. My struggles are especially disheartening when my friends with a Chicago winter under their belts scoff at this even being that cold. Gulp.

So, I have had lots I've wanted to blog about. But when the ideas enter my head I am either getting ready to go out, I am out, or I've just gotten back. And honey, my mind is pretty lax around those times.

The thought of you, Jackson and Grandma Jan coming is warming the cockles of my heart. We can hit the museums, hit the Magnificent Mile or just sit around, talk and eat fudge and candied pecans. You'll be warm, you'll be happy. And I can't wait!

Thank you for caring. Thank you to you both for coming. It's the best Christmas present ever.

Here's the new view from our window.


















Oh, and for the uninitiated I give you the Bundle me.

Jacob and Maddie

Perhaps it's their place as the oldest grandkids. Perhaps they have a cosmic connection. Or perhaps it's because they're the only two grandkids who don't nap anymore. Whatever it is, these two really hit it off. I think Jacob loved having an older sibling to follow and I think Maddie loved having a little sibling to follow her who wasn't holding a train.

Enjoy some of my favorite pictures of the their shenanigans.

Cutting apples (lookee those faces):





























Making sugar cookies:





























Nico joined in at the end (he's the shorter napper between him and Giddie goo).















And, you saw the leaves:



















We didn't catch it on film, but my favorite thing they did was chase each other. Jacob usually put his hands up in front of himself and yelled "I'm a giant" as Maddie ran away squealing. And Maddie taught Jacob so much and really invited him into a big kid world.

I have a feeling that in a few years Jacob and Gideon will "get" each other and barricade themselves somewhere playing G.I. Joes or Tranformers (or newer, hipper toys) -- but for now Maddie is Jacob's girl. We love you Maddie!

And, thank you to Jana for doing the apples and cookies with the kids. Mom and Jana were so kind to let me try to rest out the lung prob...it's still a problem, but I finally cracked the University of Chicago healthcare labyrinth and got to see a doc. I'm hopefully on the mend.

Cousin Cuddle