23/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Peyton: fists of love from Meg.
Lia: animal lover.
Austyn: always reading or writing.
Tayt: boy.
Nash: learning how to pray.
Drew: learning how to potty.
Meg: crawl. pose. repeat.

(these are all taken with my phone)

I apologize this is so late. It's garden season. My camera was gone. And now back. So I'll have lots more good ones soon of all the kids. *sigh* Right now my bed is calling me. I'm pooped! We're definitely enjoying the warm weather. And I guess I won't complain too much about the occasional rain showers. They won't stop me. Mowed through them today. Until someone damaged the mower. I won't say who or how. Oops. Until tomorrow... :)

summer begins

Summer has officially begun. Hold up... Nash is *beyond* blonde in the photo below. Wowza! 

Anyway...I wanted to look back and see the kids at the beginning of their school year and compare to the end of the school year. So grateful we've been pretty healthy, no injuries, and had quite a smooth year. I love having them all home for the summer, and I'm going to try extra hard to keep them involved in the household chores. And then treat them extra special to keep them involved. Call it bribery if you want ;)

first day of school - September 2012

and just like that, they've aged almost an entire year... and I'm trying really hard to be more than okay with that :)

goofy bunch, I tell ya! (these are the four in school...yes, I am aware I have FOUR in school... eek!)

Peyton holding Homer (Casey's little guy). Nash. Tayt holding Meg (new addition since last year;) Lia holding Drew. and Austyn.

heavy heart

We are very blessed in this house. We have more than we could ever need or want. I have my rough days just like everyone else. Then I remind myself how extremely blessed we are. Our prayers lately have been focused on this family. I can't wrap my brain around it, but I stop more often to savor the simple things and the small moments that make each day a blessing. And then this happens in my kitchen and I thank God for everything we have all over again... 

Keep praying for baby Treyden and his family so they can find the strength to keep fighting. We're all praying for them!

22/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Peyton: sorta like his dad.
Lia: kid at heart.
Austyn: reading with her big sista.
Tayt: his little friend.
Nash: shorts the result of an outside potty break.
Drew: attitude.
Meg: all about hood strings.