Pool Time!

Filling up the new pool! This one is only 30" deep vs 36" last year. We bought our previous pool for a steal on Craigslist, but since these pools aren't really designed to last more than a few years we decided to invest in a brand new one this year to maximize the time we get to use it (the old one may have been a steal, but it only lasted us a year!).

Simon hasn't been in it yet after it was completely filled up, but he might be tall enough to stand up in this one on his own. It'll be close. We'll see later on today, I'm sure! The big boys spent most of the day in the pool yesterday, and it's really a great size for them. The shorter water level is nice because they finally realize that it's not safe for them to jump off the ladder into the water over and over like they kept doing last year.

"Swimming" in their jammies first thing in the morning! Mitch started to fill up the pool, and they jumped right into the freezing cold hose water! Crazy kids!

Just to give you an idea of how high the pool comes up. This is the only pic I could find where anyone was actually standing next to the edge to gauge size! Gotta love that ratty dirt patch in the background there! Hopefully in a couple of weeks it will be converted into our second garden area for pumpkins, gourds and melons.

"Hi bubbas!" Simon went in the pool a bunch while it was filling up, but then it was time for a nap and a water break. He couldn't resist coming over to the fence to say hi to his brothers from time to time though.

He was happy to hang out with Mom in the garden and munch on the first strawberries of the season.

"Mmmm, nummy."

He also had fun hanging out in the shade with his sensory bin. This week it's filled with dyed green rice, a bunch of little cups and spoons for digging, and a couple of cars, naturally.

Water Play

Simon's first water balloon fight!

Playing air guitar and sliding at the same time takes skill!

Best Buds

(kind of makes you realize just how tall Sawyer has really gotten!)

The Graduate

I shot my youngest sister's high school graduation portraits this morning, and they came out really great.  Luckily she's a sweetheart with a huge heart and personality to match otherwise I might have to hate her for being so gorgeous and photogenic! ;)


She actually graduated {early!} last year, but my parents held off on her graduation celebration until the end of the traditional school year since her graduation fell right in the middle of the winter holiday chaos. She's now in the middle of her training at esthetician school, and I can hardly believe that she's so grown up! I know that probably makes me sound like her grandma when I say that, but let me put it in perspective - when Mitch & I started dating she was even younger than my big boys are now! I've definitely been able to watch her grow up every step of the way, and I couldn't be more proud of the beautiful woman that she's become!


Okay, okay, enough with the sappy stuff...here are two of my favorite photos from today. She hasn't chosen the one that she wants to use yet, so I'm just going to hold myself back and only show two, but they are all so pretty! ♥

Congratulations! ♥, Your Big Sis

Ladies Man

Lunchtime at School with Ruby, Grace, Maren & Destiny

(photo by the lovely Sarah Phillips)

School Play: Friendly Neighborhood Helpers

Today was Sawyer's school musical, "Friendly Neighborhood Helpers," a collaboration between the kindergarteners and first graders. His role was a garbage truck fan, and he was front and center for his group's song. They've been practicing for weeks, but he was still really nervous about performing in front of a huge crowd today...so much so that he forgot the words a few times! He made up for it with some great dance moves though! ;) The entire show was really cute, but he is SO glad to have it over and done with! Ignore the glitch at the 1:14 mark - my camera gave me a random "Recording Stopped Automatically" error right in the middle of their song!

This Week, in Instagrams

Baseball wears these guys out!

You can't have a great art party without a rainbow of tape! Getting ready!

A double "ice cream cone" waffle - Sawyer's "Person of the Week" cooking project that we shared with his class last Friday.

Party decorations are going up already!

EVERY ball that they could find.

Someone is ready for haircut #2!

Boys Rule

New seats for the whole family

Old rainboots, ready for some plants and their new home in the garden.

The raised beds are planted! Corn, sunflowers, basil, rosemary, lettuce, carrots, strawberries, three colors of peppers, sugar snap peas, and cucumbers are in...but we still need to do our zucchini, potatoes, pumpkins and melons on the other side of the yard. The tiny blueberry bushes are blooming, there are bean-sized nectarines on the tree, and the apricot tree is heavy and drooping from the weight of all its fruit. Fingers crossed that we have a good harvest this year!

I stopped by and freshened up the flowers at my grandparent's gravesite. I love Fair Oaks Cemetary.

New artwork by Katie Daisy is up. This is going to be surrounded by brightly colored whimsical frames full of art and family photos. There just might be more Katie Daisy work included in there too, because it makes me happy. 

Not an Instagram, and not from this week, but I just found this photo from when I surprised the boys by taking them to see the Lorax in 3-d a couple of weeks ago. They were bursting with excitement (and the 3-d glasses were freaking out Sutton's eyes lol)!

Easter Afternoon

This morning the Easter Bunny led the boys on a crazy Easter basket hunt following a trail of silly clues that eventually ended when they found their loot hidden inside of the downstairs shower. They got all sorts of fun stuff like books, cars, candy and a bunch of new card games (which are currently underway at the dining room table behind me). After a crazy and sugar-filled morning at home, we headed over to my parent's house for our annual Easter egg hunt and BBQ.

Look at those overflowing baskets! There were ten kiddos hunting eggs, and I think there were at least 300 eggs to be hunted. It was so much fun to watch the boys run around the yard finding eggs all on their own. This was the first year that we didn't really have to help them find all the eggs that were hidden in inconspicuous places.

Aniyah and Jedi checking out their goodies. Aniyah picked out her outfit all by herself today - love her lime green fairy wings!

Simon & Daddy ♥

Simon didn't nap at all today, which made the afternoon rather difficult at times. He was exhausted and a bit overwhelmed with all the people, but he had a ton of fun watching the big kids when they were playing baseball and frisbee. He ran back and forth in the middle of the game, tossing the balls in the air and yelling "Yay! Good job!"

The girls club: Victoria, Stella & Zoey

Zane wasn't so sure about the big crowd of people either. He preferred to sit back, observe and hang with Simon & Zoey.

Sugar rush!

Sawyer loves all the attention that the little kids give him. Valen, especially, loves to play with his big cousin!

Simon spent most of the day with this glazed look in his eyes. I felt so badly about the fact that he just won't fall sleep at Gigi's house anymore because he was completely exhausted from the moment we got there.

Hey, this is kind of cool though. I wonder how long it will take someone to take this soda can away from me!? Wonder if I can get the top popped open before then...

Yay, we have a smile! The kid was finally content for awhile! Who knew that an unopened soda can could bring joy to cranky toddlers!?