How many ankles do you have?

Sunday Lexi told me that she didn't have as many ankles as I do. Confused, I said, "What do you mean? You have two ankles, and I have two ankles." She said "No, you have lots of them." Still confused, I told her to show me. She pointed at multiple places on my legs, saying "There's one, and there's one, and there's one" ... Aha!! Lexi, those are called FRECKLES not ankles.

And if that's not enough, while we were driving later that same day she discovered that she has a freckle on her middle finger just above her fingernail. And she's happy to show it to you whenever you ask. Call me irreverent, but it's pretty darn funny to see a 3-year old giving you the finger!!

My favorite picture

I think this is my favorite picture of the 128 Shannon gave us to choose from ... but there are so many great ones you may be seeing them a few at a time for a long time to come!! :)

Christa and I taught Lexi how to play Uno today - the little stinker caught on right away and when it was her turn if we weren't watching she'd try to go through the deck to get a "skipper" because the skip cards are her favorite. She won the game too, fair and square. What will we do with that child??

The many faces of Mason ...

Can you say mood swings?? From tantrum ...


... to tickled back to happy ...


... to throwing a fit because Mommy gave him the wrong spoon ...


... to happy again (food is in his near future, always a pleasing event for him) ...


... to being a total goofball.


And last but not least, just what you always wanted to see ... Nini turned into a horsey!!

Would you call this flirting?

She's winking ... I think we might be safe from attracting boys for the forseeable future if she keeps it up. I showed her the picture and said, "Is that what you thought you looked like when you wink?" She said, "No, let me twy that again!" So she did.



Better? I think not. Mason pics coming as soon as I can corral him long enough to take some - he's definitely feeling better.

Callie Anne - seven weeks old!

Callie is growing but still seems so small to me! Maybe because the last baby I have to compare her to is Mason, who may have started out almost as big as she is now. Speaking of Mason, the poor guy has been sick all week with hand, foot and mouth disease (no it's not the same as hoof and mouth or whatever the cows or pigs get) - apparently it's a common virus this time of year. The blisters on his hands and feet are better but his mouth is a terrible mess - went back to the doctor today to find that he now has a secondary bacterial infection in his mouth and throat. He has not been eating or sleeping much, and is very unhappy and uncomfortable. So Kari, the promised feature on Mason will have to wait until he feels better.

Here, however, are some recent pictures of Miss Callie Anne - love that smile! She's starting to coo occasionally too - I had forgotten how much work it is for them to muster up an intentional sound at this age. So sweet.

Pure Lexi

A series of snapshots from the bathtub the other night - she was on her game, for sure!!

Love, sweet love

Today is our anniversary - 19 years!! What holds a marriage together? What makes it stronger with each passing year?

From my vantage point, I can say that for us all these things have been hugely important:

* Believing that we made a covenant before God on the day we got married, and knowing that divorce is not an option!

* Laughter - no one makes me laugh as much as Greg does - we have such a blast together. We've often wondered why we prefer to spend all our free time together, and I think this is a big part of it!

* An amazing strong man of God, who takes his faith seriously, who leads me carefully and well, and who I know would die for me.

* Spending time together before the Lord, reading and studying his word and praying together.

* Being willing to be wrong, or to let it go even if you still think you're right!! Don't major on the minors.

* Be honest, but be kind. Speak the truth in love.

* Sometimes it's better just to shut up. :)

* Be affectionate! Physical touch is so important.

I'm sure there's so many other things that you could think of, and I probably could if I tried, but I'm going to shut this computer and go spend some time with the love of my life!