Things that make me smile

I have needed to but a new post up for awhile but we haven't really done anything exciting. I do have some fun photos that I have taken the last few weeks. They are just random events but the pictures make me smile. Thought I would share them with you:)

Buzz, Jackson and Princess Dorothy posing for a picture. 

3 Amigos in a wagon at the zoo. 

Kelsey admiring the awes of the aquarium

Reflections of the deep

Jackson and "Buzzy"

Princess Dorothy giving her best smile

Kelsey discovering the air conditioning vent as it blows air on her face. 

Jackson the blooming flower

What a cute flower he makes

Our tribute to the Olympics. Kelsey couldn't be more excited about the event. 

Blackberry Bliss

One of my favorite times of the summer is when blackberries come on. Two summers ago, my sister Christina came to visit. We took a drive out in the country one day and we saw a sign for u=pick blackberries. Well it only took one taste and we have been back each summer since. This morning we made our yearly trek. The blackberries are so easy to pick that even Jackson likes to pick them. It took us only about 15 minutes to fill our container. Jocelyn's philosophy of picking was simple: pick one for herself and one for the container. This year she even stuck to eating the ripe ones. We came home and made a batch of jam and we are debating what to do with the rest. I think blackberry ice cream might win. I have become used to these u-pick fruit places, I will be very sad if wherever we move to doesn't have them.

Jocelyn adding to our stash.... or maybe taking out.

Jackson was a very good picker and didn't eat any.

Look at the size of those berries!!!

Our official berry tester. She really gets into her work.

Kelsey is hoping for a chance to roam in the berries next year.

Berry Heaven

Spotlight on Kelsey

Today I was just thinking how I rarely talk about Kelsey on the blog nor do I show many pictures of her. Many of you are probably wondering who is this third child I am talking about. She generally is sleeping when I have the camera out, so I thought I would highlight our little angel for a moment. This little blue eyed babe is now 8 months old and is a real joy. Her older siblings can be very demanding and display a lot of

 drama but she is very chill. She is generally a happy little lamb and gets so excited when people talk to her. She is a very social gal. She has just started crawling and I think it's to avoid being sat on by her older siblings. Although she has not said any recognizable words yet, I swear she is trying to say hi, she loves to use her voice. Kelsey displays  lovely squawk while playing and some various other noises too that get our attention.  Jackson and Jocelyn absolutely adore her and well so do her parents. The kids are often disappointed when she has to go down for a nap or has to leave them while playing. "The little one"as Jackson refers to her, is usually the only one permitted on our little pirate's ship. I guess she's the favorite. She has been a real calming peace to our home and we sure do love our Kelsey-Coos. 

Our American Idol

Jackson has really been into singing and playing his "cantar" or his guitar lately. He is often found belting a song out at the top of his lungs and jamming out with my tennis racket. Jackson recently found out that the Leap Frog Fridge Magnet always makes great accompaniment. I caught this on camera the other day and had to share his latest performance.  Caution- You may want your volume down a bit when you push play. It's a bit "louder" as Jackson would say. 

Killer bunny

For the past 5 weeks, we babysat a bunny named Killer. We have a fenced in backyard and after about 3 days of having the bunny with us, we just let her live in bunny paradise. She ran around our yard all day digging, jumping, eating- whatever she desired. Our kids would check on her each day and chase her. Then, each night she snuggled up to my tomato plants and went to sleep. I think Killer enjoyed her stay here, but, alas, on Sunday the fun and games were over. It was time for her to go home. Sadly, I didn't take very many pictures to document this event. Here's our tribute to Killer Bunny. 

Killer eating cauliflower leaves.

Our trip to the beach...sort of

I would like to say that we spent an exciting day by the sea searching for seashells and bobbing in the waves as they crashed into us, but in reality we were at a nearby lake imagining it was the ocean. Our kids wanted to go to the beach and so we went to Alum Creek State park with some friends. Our children loved it especially Kelsey although we don't have any pictures of her enjoying it (she was asleep when the camera was out). Beware of the glare off of our pasty-white bodies in the pics below- they don't see the sun all that often.

Our happy sun deprived family

Jocelyn loved going in the deep part with dad and her Elmo intertube

Jackson playing in the sand

Friends and family playing in the water

Happy 6th Anniversary

Today marks 6 years of marriage!!! Hooray!!! It's hard to believe it has only been 6 years but at the same time it's seems like so much has happened in that 6 years. As I thought of what I could say to sum up the 6 years, I didn't quite know how to put it into words. I am not much of a writer nor do I have a way with words like my own husband. I decided to sum it up a few simple verses. Here it goes:

We've lost a few hairs

We've gained a few pounds

We've had our share of ups 

We've had our share of downs

We've had a kid or two

Actually, make that three

We've moved across the nation

A bunch of nuts are we

Few things have stayed the same

Over the past 6 years, it's true

But one thing has remained constant

And that's my love for you. 

Happy Anniversary John-David