LeaAnn at 13-1/2-months

What a turkey! Ms. LeaAnn is now 5 days away from being 14-months... and she is STILL not walking!?! So this post is a little behind, but I'm always feeling a little behind, so that's OK :)

Here we are at the Peck's, 4/14/12 - thanks to Maggie & Aunt Jody we have a picture of us in matching ISU sweatshirts! (shirts are originally from Aunt Jody :D) Helping her walk of course... but she has no problem scooting on any ground...

4/21/12
And I'm sure I'll be banished from the "A" list of mom's ;) but one of her favorite things is to dig out the recyclables!  And why she loves empty bottles... I have no idea... probably b/c she got lots of attention & laughs out of everyone around when this happened. :) So will she walk when we ask her to?  Of course not! But w/Bud Light Lime bottle in hand... you betcha! So proud of herself :)

had to take it ... for the record ;)

and being naked is another favorite... she crawls the fastest when her butt is bare! Had to show off her leg-creases :D  Lauren had the same thing!

And here is an example of her perma-grin :D  She is quick to smile & quick to grab onto anyone who will give her attention!

Lydia at 2-5months

Video pretty much speaks for itself :D  Lydia is a hilarious little girl, who is still demanding... but showing more & more signs of turning the corner from 'hell-bent-2-yr-old' to a 'teachable-yet-spunky-3-yr-old' ;)  (if there is such a thing??) We did just take away her passifiers at night... rough 2-nights, but I think we're in the clear. We have seen her point & count to 5... though she can count to 12, pointing was something new. She adores Dora & Curious George... and anything that her big sisters are doing. :)

Last weekend she was riding her trike in the shed and this song came on... she whispered to Chris, "Dad... let's have a party." And he said, "what?!" (b/c he couldn't hear the song) and she pointed to the radio and said, "Solo cup, Dad!" So I had to get this on video :D

Lauren Dorothy at 7

Monday, April 23, 2012

Happy birthday to the best big sister, mom/dad helper, compassionate & caring 'little' girl around!

How in the world did we get to 7?!?

She had the most beautiful blonde hair when she was born :)

and the sweetest little eyes...

At one, she was a happy & funny little girl... born loving books & talking non-stop ;)

age 2... still had the curly hair :D

we thought, such a big girl at 3 :)

and she just kept growing, and growing... here at age 4

skating at age 5...

Kindergarten friends at age 6...

and now an almost-2nd grader(!?! tear)... reading to all her sisters, completely amazing me at all times with her talent & abilities. I asked the other day how school was and she said, "OK." And I asked why just OK, and she said, "B/c we had to run around the track and I came in 4th." Oh my dear Ms. Lauren... I guess I'm glad she's always striving to do her best ;)

The birthday girl requested walking taco's for her birthday dinner, and Grammy & Papa Jim came over to have dinner with us!  Even Ms. Lydia loved the tacos...

I also threw in White Chicken Chili... Papa loved it :)

Smallsey has Grammy's number... she's always demanding, "Grammy!"

Singing w/cake again :)

I was so happy with these pictures of the 3 of them! :D  we're definitely getting there ;)

Happy birthday sweet Lauren... what a perfect birthday celebration! (Lindsay 5-8mo & Lydia 2-5mo)

'the little girls'

Sunday, 4/22/12

'The little girls' is what they are called most of the time... :)  

Even though neither one of them believe they are 'little'... why their 'big girls' too!

Here's Smallsey at 2-5months :D  I asked her to smile, and she gave it to me! This is one of her favorite spots...

With Wiam (13-1/2months)... they just kept going...

& going... in circles!

Lydia did not want Wiam to have her bubbles... so she started driving one-handed ;)

I think this picture is hysterical! Such a typical LeaAnn look :)

honestly... can they get any cuter?? (I know I'm biased ;)

I wish I knew when I was going to be able to get them both looking at the same time! I love this picture :)

Right... LeaAnn, you can't walk yet, but you can reach the pedal & drive the motorcycle yourself :)

It's really cute...

Here we are at O'Connors... BOTH their very favorite thing to do..

Lucky LeaAnn got the 'skid-woader' ride with Dad :)

Here is Lydia & Lindsay 'fighting' over the stick/whip thing we found in the barn... Lydia just took it from Lindsay...

Lindsay jumps for it..

misses... keeps after her ;)

got it!  Can you see Lydia's 'not-happy' face??

Yup, she's yelling, and Lindsay is smiling :)

'This is the way it should be!' according to Lindsay ;)

say "cheese" Wiam!

She doesn't look like she enjoyed it, but she did :D

Lauren's 7th birthday party!

Sunday, 4/22/12

Lauren Dorothy's 7th birthday party!

Beautiful day... a little windy, but nothing that stopped us from being outside! Her first 'friend-only' birthday party was a huge success. (largely due to Grammy offering to take the little girls out of our hands! ;)          Bright colors was our only 'theme' & we went with all her favorites :D

Her classmates...

Playing musical chairs...

Lauren was really funny during this... she sang the whole time!

the whole time ;)

Had to put this in ... like her 80's outfit?  Compliments of Mimi! And she adored it... wanted to wear it to school the next day even :)

And although she wanted to win & had a good 'hip' strategy ;)  she did not, Lily did.

Moved on to an obstacle course that was long & involved, hence no pictures :)  but here is the egg-relay race...

everyone did a great job despite the wind.

Next up was painting sun-catchers & then inside for cake! Jessica Cook made the cake and she did such an awesome job...

Pretty proud 7-yr-old :D

and the cake-pops were a huge hit!

and super adorable...

Singing to the birthday girl...

This is what I remember from my birthday parties... streamers & balloons on the mailbox :)

There is something magic about being sang too :)  it always produces a beaming smile!

I can't believe she's 7...

I do hope all her wishes come true :)

This was after presents...

Everyone was wanting a turn with the magic 8-ball... remember those?! I can't remember if Tara or Mendi had one?  So much fun :)

Wish I had snapped this earlier... but had to get one of the two of them... Lauren's friends were great at including Lindsay in the fun.

And her birthday party-day ended with a trip to O'Connors where she found her gift from us, a new bike!  (Never mind Lindsay on top of the truck ;)  She's perfectly safe... promise!)

All of this before the big day at school :)  More to come on that!