Taking pictures

Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a baby while you are holding him? It's a little tuff.

Aspen, Cedar and Olive all liked to be cradled in my arms and to face out when I would carry them around. If they couldn't see where they were going they would fuss until I turned them around. That's just how they liked things. Since it was all three of them, I just assumed that Linden would have the same preferences. I think that may be one of the biggest mistakes we mothers make. assuming that one child is like the others just because they have the same parents and home. Sometimes we forget that these little people are real people, real individuals.

Linden is like that. I try to carry him around facing forward. It is a fairly easy and convenient way to carry a baby. He tolerates it for a little while, then he fusses and squirms until I turn him around and pat his back until he settles in. He is my snuggler. I must admit I adore holding him this way. I just want to sit and cuddle and hold him.

My favorite time is in the morning when he has started to fuss a little and I pull him onto my chest and we both just lay there in bed watching the room get brighter. He seems to melt right into me and I lay there silently praying my little prayers of thanks that I got to have another turn to be a mother.

I have been trying to document Linden's snuggling days. (I know they won't last very long. I think I might cry just thinking about it...) I have taken to photographing myself and Linden in the mirror. The plus of this way of photographing is that my face is covered by the camera. This is usually pretty good since I don't spend too much time on my appearance these days. On a side note. Did I ever tell you what a good buy a $25 pool from Wal-Mart is? Even though Aspen complained when we bought it that it was a "Baby pool" the kids really do have a lot of fun keeping cool and playing. I wish we could buy one of those ones that are bigger and deeper and have a pump and you leave up and all that stuff, but our yard has exactly 9 almost square feet of flatness and it is too close to the house to risk putting that much water.


I wish I had put on the video for this one, Linden was talking and talking to Olive. We decided he was telling her all about the angels.

Linden's journal

look, I'm up side down!

Today I went to the park for the first time. My mom, of coarse forgot the camera. It's ok though, I slept through most of it.

We took Cedar to and from basket ball camp and thankfully I got to stay home with mommy and Olive while daddy took Aspen and Cedar to Swim practice.

I am babbling and smiling sometimes. Daddy was funny before he left so I smiled at him.

It's going to rain and thunder soon! I don't mind it though. (Olive does, so I better go play with her!)

Thank you!

I am about 2 months late, but I can't go with out saying thank you to those of you who attended Emily's baby shower and sent love my way via the money tree that they had set up. It was so sweet of you to help me crash Emily's baby shower! I realized though that I have no idea who contributed what. So to all of you, Thank you!

Do you want to know what I purchased with your lovely gift? I bought an adjustable sling (which I totally love!) And I also bought a stroller. I found a really good, gently used one (that even matches my car seat!) at a garage sale. These are all baby essentials for me. Especially as I try to keep up with the other 3 beautiful and funny kiddo's.
The above mentioned three kiddo's having their bath outside. I figure why not? We're um saving water, right?

Variations on "Peter Pumpkin Eater"

We have been playing around with musical composition recently at our house:

School's out!

It is finally happening.

School is ending in a few short minutes.

Summer is here.

(I have totally mixed feelings about all that!)

The good news:
We can sleep in!
We don't have to be anywhere at any particular time!!!
We can sleep in!
We are going to Utah in a few months!
We can sleep in!
I get my kids all to myself!
(Did I mention sleeping in? Linden seems like he might just be a good morning sleeper. I would like to thoroughly test that hypothesis out!)

With the end of school comes end of the school stuff. There has been field trips. Which we are thankful that Grandparents could come and enjoy with Olive. Cedar and Aspen enjoyed theirs with their class and friends. I was sorry I couldn't go, but glad they had fun!

There have been parties and celebrations and awards. Here is a little run down:

Olive Graduated from Kindergarten!

We are so proud of her! Some of this years accomplishments are:
Olive can read.
She loves to write.
She didn't once get her name pulled. (Get in trouble.)
She made lots of new friends.
She can count to more than 100.
She can add.
She can tell time to the hour.
She can work hard and finish a hard project.
She is such a big girl. I can't believe we have a first grader in the house!


Cedar

Cedar quite literally "cleaned up" at this years 2nd grade awards ceremony. Following in the footsteps of such an accomplished big sister isn't easy, but he sure made it look that way!

Cedar's awards included:
All "A's" all year - high honor roll
His Director's writing contest book won first place in the county.
Star student award
He was the only second grader in the school to get the Presidential Physical Fitness award.
He got a trophy for getting the most AR points in the primary grades

Way to go Cedar. We are proud of you!


Aspen

Year after year Aspen has shown that she has what it takes to be an amazing student and that she has the capacity to learn and lead in school. Here are some of her awards:

Presidential Physical Fitness award (1 of 6 in the 4th grade)
Over 350 AR points (2nd highest in 4th grade)
Highest math average
Library helper
All "A's" all year. (1 of 2 in 4th grade)
High achievers club
Millionaire's club (Read over a million words, several times over)

We are so proud of Aspen. She is consistent in her school work, responsible with her homework and has been the most amazing help at home since Linden has joined our family. Thank you Aspen!

Cedar an Aspen also had their piano recitals. It was Cedar's first one. The both did wonderful and I am amazed at how musically talented they are!

Linden and the kids

I have so many posts to get to. This isn't any of those posts. This is for grandma who wants pictures.

I have probably a dozen things to share with you. Lots and lots of thank you's. Details of grandparents visits, Linden's birth story, his blessing day, the first 3 weeks of his life. Cedar's baptism, visiting with my cousin, the end of the school year stuff (with even more happening tomorrow to get behind on.) A swim a thon and garden update. I'm sure there is more, but doesn't it sound like I am far enough behind? So until I get to those things, here is Linden being loved by each of his siblings.

That's a pretty good start!

Easter Bunny

Look at our Easter Bunny!!!!!!

By Aspen