Flashback

Sometimes it's fun to look back at how little the kids were just a few years ago. A few years often doesn't make much difference in the life of an adult, but it is huge in the life of a kid. Here are pictures from spring of 2006...

Daniel would be2.5 and Jay would have just turned 4.

This is Hannah on her new bike on her 6th birthday.

Julia is 6 months here.

Springtime Fun!

The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately, and we have been soaking it up!
The bikes are out of the attic, the sunglasses are on, and the kids are off and running (or riding)!

Daniel and Jay spend a lot of time on their bikes...

Jay has found a love for climbing trees. I just hope he does a good time

differentiating between good and bad branches to lean on!

Julia is mimicking her older sister and trying her hand at jumping rope!

Hannah was at school when these pictures were taken. I'll have to get one of her posted, too!

Why...

Why children need parents and why parents are amused by children.

Hannah's Art Project

Here is the promised finished product of Hannah's art project. She took the picture of the crocus and then painted a picture and drew a picture of it and we mounted the three together. It will be on display at her school's art exhibit this weekend.

A Sign of Spring

Up on the mountain, we still have a few weeks to go before we see true spring, but I found these crocus flowers peeking through. Needless to say, I was a little excited.

Hannah actually took this picture. She's using it for an art project for school. I'll post a picture of the finished product when she's done.

Funny Childhood Memory

I had given Julia her bath (she's always especially cute in the tub, pretending to be "Samu"). Next it was the boys turn. I was out of the bathroom helping Julia and they were in the bathroom preparing to get into the tub, when I heard hysterical laughter. Daniel was in the tub and Jay was nearly rolling on the bathroom floor he was laughing so hard. I went in to investigate. Daniel was sitting in the water still wearing his socks! He, through much laughter, explained that he had forgotton to take off his socks before getting into the tub (which prompted a new wave of laughter from Jay). I reached in, peeled off his plastered on black socks, wrung them out and went to put them in the laundry room. The boys were still laughing.
As I walked toward the laundry room with two wet balls of sock in my hand, I remembered once when my sister Mandie and I tried to convince my Mom to let us wear our socks in the tub. (According to Mandie, it was just my idea.) For whatever reason, I thought it would be really fun...I have no idea why... :)

PS For the decency of my children this post will remain without an accompaning picture.

Daniel

Look at this cute smile. It's so infectious. I can't help but smile when he does. Now that Daniel is four I've noticed some changes.
He looks older. His face has thinned out and lost it's baby chub. I looked at a picture of him from just 6 months ago and was surprised by the drastic change in such a short amount of time.
He has also lost some of his "anything goes," easy-going personality. It is now possible to make Daniel mad. As much as this can be a pain (more fighting between the boys), in some ways I'm glad. I don't want him to be spineless and easy to walk over as he gets bigger.
One thing that hasn't changed: he is still the funny one. He has a good sense of humor and often makes us laugh with his commentary, songs, or antics. He is our comedian.