These are a few of my favorite things!

I have been decluttering and cleaning our house like a mad woman. Each day our house is a little more organized. It's such a great feeling. Well, I organized the bookshelf and I haven't been able to decide what to put here just yet. Though I wasn't too excited to see my children on the shelves, I thought it was slightly cute. So I seized the photo oportunity and took this picture. One day I will be sad that they aren't this little and that I can't put them on the book shelf for safe keeping. So I will do it with a picture.

Luke at 2 months

These pictures were taken when Luke was 2 months old. He is now closer to 3 months, but I still wanted to get these up. I am constantly amazed with each new child that we are able to have come to our family, that there is always so much love for each addition. Love is funny that way. It defies quantification and qualification. With my first child, Ethan, I never thought I could love another as much as I loved him. Then Cameron was born, and in an instant the fear of not loving him as much as Ethan was gone. The great love of a parent was born in my heart.
So too, it has been with Laurel, and now Luke. What an amazing journey it is with these beautiful, and spectacular children. They have reawakened the world to me. With new eyes I see things, because with the wonder and amazement my children are viewing the world for the first time, they teach me to awaken to the beauties and simplicity of so many things that surround me. As Luke grows I wonder what he will get bring into my life and further teach me. Bring it on little boy, there is room for growth in my heart!

Ghostly Halloween Fun!

I know, it's been almost a month since Halloween. I've been both too busy or too lazy to post these pictures.
It was a crazy day. Then at dinnertime a friend called saying she had a present for Luke, and could she bring it over right then. So she did and she brought this cute Luke Skywalker X-wing fighter costume. Walt loves Halloween, but he wasn't feeling in the mood this year until this outfit arrived. Then he said he had to dress up, Luke needed his Lord of the Sith father to complete the effect. So since we had recently been cleaning out our amazing dirty garge, it took some time to find the complete Darth Vader costume. Parts were in the garage, in our closet, outside (my fault!). The older kids didn't have time to go trick-or-treating
before our ward trunk-or-treat, but they didn't seem to mind too much.
Ethan wanted to be a dragon, or more precisely a witch-dragon, but we couldn't seem to get the witch's hat to

stay on top of the dragon costume head. Nor could I get the boy to let me get a picture of him with his eyes open. Originally, Cameron was going to be a fire-fighter, but a friend offered the use of this batman costume, and Cameron was so overjoyed at the thought of being a super hero that I didn't have the heart to say no. So although it is weird to look at the fake muscles and six-pack on my 4 year-old, he was beaming with joy to wear it.
Laurel, was a cute little witch. I picked up this costume for cheap last year, and though I was highly tempted to buy her a princess costume for her to wear, I didn't. Good thing she is so cute, that she would make the pricess or witch costume adorable. When we got to the church Laurel noticed a friend who was wearing a similar costume. They looked so cute together I had to make sure to snap a picture.

Family Photos

On Tuesday my good friend took our family picture. This is the third year she has done it. It is so nice to have friends willing to bless you with their talents. The first three pictures are of Cameron, Ethan, and Laurel, and though they were not smiling I like these pictures of them. Cameron was so wiggly during this shoot. We were by a river with rocks and logs. He was all over the place, climbing and throwing. So typical of Cameron. He stays busy. There are days when Cameron will be so shy, this picture seems to capture that, and other days that he has so much to say to everyone he meets.











Ethan is such a character these days. This is a face very often seen at our house. He tries to make a sour face, but he is mostly trying not to smile. Walt and I just had a parent-teacher conference where his teacher told us that he is just "perfect." He in Kindergarten, but he is reading on a second semester 1st grade level. His math skills are great too.
I adore this picture of Laurel! I'm not sure why she kept putting out her tongue throughout our photo shoot. Oh well, she is soooo cute. I know I am her mom, but she really is beautiful!

One of our nicer pictures.



























Our Christmas picture this year will be a composite of this picture of Laurel's head with the next picture of the rest of us. Isn't it wonderful what Photoshop can do. You can take 2 non-perfect pictures and make a great picture. Ahh, technology and a computer whiz husband. Isn't it lovely!!!! You will all have to wait to see the results at Christmas time.

Pumpkin Patch

We had our annual preschool group outing to our local pumpkin patch. Cameron and Laurel had a great time. Here are couple pictures of the two and their pumpkins.

Smiley Baby

I have a friend who says that I have the smiliest babies.

Little does everyone know that they have a dad who comes home at night and laughs with them for long periods of time. So of course they are happy and quick to smile! Luke is no exception. This picture was taken about 2 weeks ago. Now he not only smiles but is beginning to laugh. It's delightful to hear.

My shadow, my friend!

Lately Laurel has been playing with her shadow. If you've seen "Bear in the Big, Blue House" you'll know the song "Where, oh, where is shadow?" Laurel goes around the house singing that song, and then goes to the wall and talks and plays with her shadow. I think this is so funny. She ask everyone, "Where is shadow?" It is interesting to see her imagination take flight lately. Dream on little girl, the world needs more imagination and hope!