Jaxon in July

My cousin Kristi came to visit again and brought her adorable little boy, Jaxon, with her. He is 5 weeks younger than Darby but is starting to pass her in size. It was a lazy summer day and we enjoyed catching up and being out in the sun. 

Darby & Sean

I love having Sean around. He doesn't like to change diapers or help when the boys have to go to the bathroom but he is very quick to help out.  He would even pick up Darby and hold her when she started fussing.  The first day he was there he told me he only wanted two kids and can't believe I have four.  By the end of our time together he said he didn't want kids any more.  :)   He thought he wasn't very good with them.  I think he did a great job! 

I made sure to get a picture with Darby & Sean. 
(We have a similar picture with him & Ollie from a few years ago).

Sean & Zephyr

The boys had so much fun with Sean & Zephyr. They played outside and also played a lot of Legos inside. We also went to Dairy Queen (requested by Sean)

They were going to stay until Wednesday afternoon but plans changed and they were picked up Wednesday morning.  I was able to take a few pictures of all of them.

Darby made her way into these pictures. 

This was Brody after they left.  He had a tough time with them leaving.  

Wrestling with Sean

Cousin Sean and Cousin Zephyr are in town and the boys couldn't be more excited! They were able to spend the night at our house. After having dinner the boys ran around chasing each other and Sean was so nice to let all the boys jump on him and wrestle.

Morning Coffee and a good read

We have been LOVING this weather. It is perfect for having a morning latte and the Seattle Times on the morning porch. Or in this case a Mickey Mouse book. 

My Relaxing Chair

My neighbor and I often send our kids to each others houses so we can run errands, take a nap, have a break, do some chores, or eat bon bons. The fun part about this exchange is that she has two girls and we have the three boys. (Darby doesn't go over there yet). When I go to pick them up they often have princess crowns or dresses on. I have been known to send her girls back home with sticks, rocks and assorted bugs. 

This time the girls came to our house.  Instead of "boy" things the girls suggested that we make a "relaxing chair" for me.  Not that my boys don't love me and care deeply for me but they have yet to think about making a relaxing chair (hopefully this rubs off on them)

So they got all the towels and "pillows" (I had to ban the indoor pillows) and turned one of our wooden chairs into a relaxing chair. 

They also insisted on making signs. We used some of our scrap wood and Brad said it was ok for them to color on it. 

This is a beach scene with a palm tree and sun.  I am in the middle with my sunglasses.

Another scene.  To be honest, I don't know what it is.

The kids sitting by my relaxing chair.

Ollie wanted to be in these pictures with me.

One of those silly self portraits.  (Not too bad)

I even had a few hours, minutes, seconds to spend in my relaxing chair.

Chasing Butterflies

You may think I am a little psycho but this video brings little tears to my eyes. There really is nothing much to it. It's just Colt holding a small little net (from a fish tank) and using it to try and catch a butterfly. 

I did not tell him to do this.  I didn't point out the butterfly. 

In fact, Colt never knew I was watching him.

In his own sweet innocence Colt went to chase a butterfly.
And these are the moments of a child.
I want to continue to embrace these days watching these sweet children of mine.  
That is why there are still tears in my eyes.