Our mornings...

{my littles}

Family Pictures

We traded family pictures this year with another family - we took their's and they took ours.  We had a good time and I really like how they turned out.  The kids are at a such a cute stage but it is also a very busy season of life.  I hope I emerge from the chaos of toddler years with a clear memory of how fun it was too.  At this moment in life 

Mike {is loved at his job and offered new positions regularly * serves with the teachers quorum and has found that his sarcastic and yet quiet humor has connected with several boys * is a softy and lets the kids sleep in our bed more often than not}

Lucy {is learning a lot about and becoming passionate about helping others less fortunate * is beautifully articulate and so adept at negotiating with logic that his hard to argue with * doesn't feel cold, ever * loves my little ponies, her scooter, her big stuffed dog, and puppets * likes to help with everything}

Reid {climbs on everything * jumps off of everything * is just starting to mimic words * seems to only eat applesauce and milk * cuddles with Mike for a long time a night * wakes up early}

Mornings

The kids cling to Mike while he walks out the door each morning and then run to a window to wave goodbye.  It feels like full on trauma for these two each morning, having to say goodbye. 

I'll just let these pictures speak for themselves, but clearly sometimes it is hard to be a toddler and sometimes it is hard to be a mom. 

Lots of bumps and bruises

Both Lucy and Reid are very tactile children.  They like to manipulate everything.  But Reid, along with touching everything, is also very kinesthetic.  He likes to move and climb and run and fall.  Since he started walking he has not one day been without a bruise or cut on his forehead.  Not one day.  The latest bump was particular traumatic as it pulled the skin and fat apart between in eyes and created a great big hole through his nose. It was beyond my ability to stay composed over, but luckily Mike was home and a couple of his friends here are doctors, so they brilliantly took care of Reid. Reid was smiling almost immediately after.  He is tough.  He bumps and recovers in seconds time.  And a photographic nod to the final day of curls...    

Halloween 2013

If you are counting, this is costume #3 for Lucy.  Thankful for a dress up box to match Lucy's swiftly changing desires. 

Joy School Party {Doctor Lucy}

Pet doctor, that is.