Oh my, so many instagrams

I have sooo many photos to share! Starting way back in March! When we were still in Minnesota. Wren was still in a helmet. Grey wasn't in school yet. The twins were in Kindergarten. I'm not even going to do videos now, I'll put them in their own post. Buckle up for the ride!

I love you, you little helmet-head.

The daylight savings transition- it's rough.

Grey's first visit to Smaland. Time for an ikea date.

Consuming their spoils from a very overpopulated Easter egg hunt. They got to collect two eggs! Wow! (It was still fun)

Prepping for Easter baskets

Happy Easter!

||eight months|| Two-thirds of a year! *Two teeth came through on her bottom gum *Separation anxiety is strong with this one *Still very tolerant of her helmet, only complains when I'm putting it back on after her break hour *Does several days of sleeping through the night then several days of not, then repeat *Takes two good naps a day *Loves watching her brothers but doesn't love when they get in her face *Becoming more interested in food, gnawing on things, though still thinks it's pretty weird *Thankfully, the blowouts are much less frequent *The signs of wanting to crawl are there *Loves mommy and daddy the best! 

Conference is extra exciting when you watch outside. 

These pjs were my favy faves when all my boys wore them. It still works for a little girl, right? Please?

Time to read!

Back from a quick (and windy! and cold!) trip to Fargo. Now everyone can check ND off their list!

Hotel pools 🙌🏻

So what if I wait until spring to clean up leaves?

To sunglass or not to sunglass?

It was so friggin perfect today. (But yes, the water was cold)

Peeking under the rim

Brother bonding at recess

Discovered her sleeve button. Super safe.

Apparently wren hates rainbows. I'm interpreting this situation correctly, yes?

A little visit to Stillwater this weekend.

Oh my.

|| nine months || (okay, I'm a couple days late) Wren has such a cute personality. She's chatty and smiley and big on waving. She enjoys her brothers' attention so long as they are not smothering her. She still loves mommy and daddy best and dislikes when we leave her presence. Real food has gained an important place in her life. She scooches her way to her goal, generally to find something to stick in her mouth. She should be done with her helmet by next month. Sean wants me to make sure you know that she is stinkin cute. 

Nine years, baby!

Quick walk tucked into the list of Things To Do.

Water overhead, two ways

Head Emancipation Day! She's done with her helmet!

Round head! Fluffy hair! Pretty bow!

To all the nurturers out there but especially to this one, thank you for teaching us how to be good people and show love. Happy Mother's Day!

My peeps, my day

My birthday boys! Six looks good on them.

When this boy wants to be sweet, it's syrupy and delicious.

"This is you and this is daddy but he's angry. It's the day you got married!" - The artist, Grey

I always feel guilty when I have to wake this sweetness up.

That time grey got called up to help in the school magic show- that magician did not know what he was in for. Grey was very entertaining, I'll give him that much.

The kindergarten music concert. It was loud, enthusiastic, and really hard to understand the words.

A captivated wren at the hibachi grill. Love those entertaining chefs!

Learned some cpr at the bike rodeo. Grey had impressive form.

Ra ra ra-ra-ra, goooooo... zebras?

Stop it, you.

|| ten months || Helmet, be gone! Hair bows, come forth! While her head isn't completely, perfectly round, it was unlikely to get much better in a short period of time, so we called it quits. After a day of extra head bumps, she's now used to a free head and enjoys rubbing her forehead on things. • In other news, she loves all food and always wants to take part. • She's still a scoocher and can get around anywhere she wants; however, she's getting up on her knees a lot and I think it's only a matter of days until she puts the two together for a legit crawl. • She sleeps all the way through the night now from 8-9pm to 7-9am. • Wren loves laughing with her brothers as long as they are at least a foot away. • Sometimes I swear she's repeating our words, like "hi," "bye bye," and "love you," but I think I might be a little imaginative. Nonetheless, she is certainly chatty. I think she may be channeling a lion cub with the way she roars! • She charms everyone with her smile and wave. If you're lucky, you might even get double wave! 

Enjoying the view with a friend.

View from the hammock

On the day we moved in three years ago, this incredible woman showed up at my door with bread and an offer to watch my kids while we unpacked. A couple days later I mentioned doing something with a friend to my sister, who asked "how do you have a friend already?!" It's because this woman is the embodiment of love and acceptance. We bonded over photography, motherhood, the gospel, and sushi. I knew this dreaded day of parting would come soon but then she had to go move first, making it that much sooner. Farewell, beautiful lady, I've saved a spot for you in my heart! 

Bye bye, Harpers!

Blackberry massacre

Graduation night, date night! (He's not done yet, it's like a pre-graduation?) 

I thiiiiiink their eyes are turning green! 💚💚👁👁

Perfect day for the highly anticipated Track and Field Day! I volunteered to help with the other two kids with me- I only lost track of grey twice. 👍

A helpful brother

Little girl, big hill

She looks at me and I melt 😍

Last day of kindergarten! These faces show their mixed emotion: mostly very excited but just a little bit sad.

You too can achieve this height in your style in just four easy steps:
(1) Rub watermelon juice liberally all through your hair. (2) Pat with water. (3) Towel dry. (4) Comb out when stiff peaks form.

Happy Father's Day, Daddio! Remembering our bouncy ball fights, road trips (like going to the fffffffffflume), and seeing all those super popular car dealerships. We should go on a trip to spot not sometime, to not the spot and snot the pot.

Happy Father's Day! We all adore you.

He's done! With residency! There aren't enough explanation points in the world to do this fact justice!

Took a break from packing to pick some berries.

View out the window

Thanks, little white house, you've served us well. Now, we're off! 😢😢😄😄

I miss Minnesota already. Highlights of the move prep: - sweet, kind people helping watch my kids and bring us meals while we packed. - Sean's parents coming out to help and drive back a car (with pogo!)
- hiring movers to load the truck. It took 20 man-hours! 😱
- taking one of the movers to the hospital when he cut his finger on the truck 😖
- wren taking a nice long nap when we got. stuff. done.
- wren crying non-stop once she woke up when we got things done slowwwwwly
- aiming for 3pm departure and actually leaving at 7:30. Whoops. At least we were able to see one last MN sunset.

I had grand intentions of photographing all my many important people and didn't get most of you. So if you're not pictured here, do not feel bad, I still love you. Minnesota really is filled with the nicest people. I have been loved and served by so many. Thank you for being a part of our lives! Come on over to visit!

The process of moving

The tread flew off our tire! Well, let me back up. After driving on some rough roads, are car would shake violently at high speeds. We couldn't figure out why despite several stops and adjustments. Until the tire decided to show us what was wrong. Worry not! We located the spare (middle of the car!) changed out the tire with a nice guy who pulled over to help, took it to the Walmart tire center 15 minutes before closing, and got a new tire out on. All in all, a three hour delay but it ended up okay.

|| eleven months (ish) || Wren's getting good at everything. She's finally getting the hang of knee crawling but still defaults to the army crawl inevitably. Eats everything except spice. Remember how she used to never stand? Now it's hard to get her to bend her knees at all. Never wants to be set down unless there's something REALLY cool on the ground. Sleeps great and may be transitioning to one nap a day. Two top teeth are peeking through. Says "hi" and "dada" with meaning. Favorite places include the hammock, swing, and her high chair. Still a chatty, smiley charmer! #monthlywren

Waiting for fireworks. The view from the hill was perfect.

Throwback to our dinner on the sidewalk outside Walmart while we replaced our tire last week. The kids were amazing through it all, even the biting flies that attacked as we put on the spare.

A week after we moved to Minnesota, our old little Honda Accord was caught in flooded water, never to drive again. A week after moving to Colorado, our Trailblazer's engine went up in smoke while trying to climb a mountain pass, never to drive again. We better sell our cars next time we move! Or never move again!

The reason we were driving over a mountain pass (where the SUV met its demise) was to head to a Bradley reunion with Sean's parents, sister, and niece. Breaking down where we did, we got to spend the night in beautiful Dillon. What a great pool view! Lots more reunion photos to come! 📷: seanie

Thrilled pool boy.
Incidentally, I had all four kids at the pool without Sean and no one drowned. Pat myself on the back.

First time fishermen

Spelunking

Slack line

Hiking on the edge

These guys were fantastic at Bryce Canyon

Feeding the daredevil chipmunk

Three boys, three sleeping bags, one futon. Each night had an increasing amount of encroachment, but it worked!

Wren's crib fit barely and perfectly in the closet for extra quiet. (Last photo! Hurray reunion!)

The four of them, just hangin

Happy birthday, my love!

A little birthday hike

One more Garden of the Gods photo

We ran out of fruit snacks.

Prisma app is pretty cool

Mah face

Balloon bunny grey

How to get to daddy through the glass... 🤔

Grey is still talking about how he liked to sit with great grandpa

Tied for first

Mini golfing with the minis.

Met a new friend at a library party

Quality bubble solution

A minion on his head and five straws in his water make for a very pleased Grey

Some balloons for the Almost Birthday Girl

Good night, Wren, when you wake up you won't be zero anymore!

|| twelve months || A whole year! Whoop whoop! Wren has accomplished so much in her little life. She now pulls up to standing often and sometimes cruises along the edge. She has nearly six teeth, the original two on bottom and three-almost-four on top. Words include Hello (hewo), Here You Go (heygo), and Thank You (dayoo). Her wave makes everyone swoon. Definitely a one-napper now and sleeps fantastically. Eats amazingly as well. She's a sweet thing. Happy birthday, girl! 

All playing together and no one's mad. Yet.

First day of first grade in a new school!

First morning sans biggest brothers and this was the requested activity.

The first day was a success! (And selfies are hard)

Easy science experiment: skittles + warm water

When you're sick, you just might fall asleep on the floor at 9am, halfway under a bed.

Any time I want to take his picture, he becomes a blurry bundle of wiggles. But when it's his idea? Cheese!

Oh Delicious Peach, I have MISSED you! (There's probably amazing peaches somewhere in Minnesota, but I never found them)

Visited daddy's work today. Too bad that means it ends with a couple shots in the thigh.

I'm sorry, but this silly face could make me laugh for the rest of my life.

Towering above me

It's no fun to say goodbye.

Our annual Ferris wheel ride. Love fairs/festivals/carnivals! Briarfest!

First day of preschool...

• It must be genetic

• A little giraffe spit never hurt anyone

• Skepticism

• Baby problems

• On a scale of 1 to Watching A Truck Pour Cement, how was your day?

• Primary program practice- Grey actually talked into the microphone!

• Hiking buddy

• Gradient

• We put wren in too but... she felt a little boxed in. 😂

• Gotta hydrate

• Show off

The kids experienced their first football game yesterday with everyone from Sean's clinic. I think they most enjoyed the constant snacking.

Crocodile tear

A moment

Liam somehow managed to put on wrens winter coat. Color me impressed.

Seizing the fiery foliage

My handsome first graders

This little lady turns 17 today. I would never have predicted she'd make it this far but she proves me wrong once again. She's old and creaky yet amazingly agile when it comes to sneaking food off the table. Happy birthday, my Pogo!

Mini golfing with a glow

It was an epic drama

That colorado sky

On the day Pogo died, I wrote: 

There's something pure about the love shared between a pet and her family. I've been lucky in have that over half my life with Pogo. My precious old pup passed away during the night. I could tell it was coming and I'm glad her spirit is free to run and jump and play again. But I'll sure miss her. I love you, Pog.

Photobombed

Up high, down low

Found this cute little face amidst the fluff of an oversized winter coat

Trying out the convertible in Florida last week. It got a liiiiittle windy for grey.

Ready to play "where's wren?" any time, any place.

They aren't real flames on the tree but I can still feel it's warmth.

She's electric!

Crèche 2016

Captivated by the Festival of Lights parade over the weekend

Hot chocolate mustache AND unibrow

My Pogo

(Thanks, dad, for all these pictures of little Pogo!)

One Christmas I opened up a present to find a dog bone. I sat back to ponder what that was about and my parents had to prod me to guess. And, of course, it meant I was going to get a dog! Over the next few days we visited several pet places, looking for a beagle, and then we found these two beagle mixes. One was a bit crazier than the other, so we decided to get the calmer one.


On the drive home, I remember she just shivered. Her whole life, in fact, whenever she was nervous or scared, she shivered. So much so that her teeth would shatter. July Fourth was her least favorite day of the year!


When she wasn't scared, though, she was just so playful. Bouncy, as a matter of fact. So while we were brainstorming names, when my sister suggested Pogo, it was perfect. My puppy Pogo.


Oh how Pogo got into everything. She ripped up so much stuff. She even ate my sister's hear aids once, which was pretty terrible. The garbage can had to always be hidden for Pogo's whole life- if you left it out when you left the house, feast time! I couldn't even begin to guess how many diapers she's consumed. The grossest of gross.


But Pogo was a gooooood cuddler. She liked to just come up next to you and lean. She wasn't a big licker but every now and then she'd give you just a little tongue swipe on your fingers or feet that tickled so perfectly. If you involved food, though, there was much licking. And devouring. She sure loved people food. Except grapes. Peanut butter might have been her favorite.


When she was a puppy, she would curl up right on your shoulder and it was my favorite thing. Until she'd pass gas in my face. Yes, there was some unpleasantness to deal with having a dog. I spent most of her first winter waking up with her in the night and getting her to either squat on newspapered floor or get her to go out in the snow. It was good parent prep.


Pogo was a wonderful friend in my teenage years. Teenagers have feelings, right, and it was so nice to have something sweet and cuddly to snuggle. I had to leave Pogo behind when I went away for college and grad school. But I got her back when we went to Sean's medical school in Houston. Thankful, Sean was a dog guy and accepted Pogo as his own. Soon after, we had our twins and life was much different for Pogo. One of the worst things was that we had moved right before we had the babies and that yard had fleas, which Pogo got, of course. So we had to keep Pogo away from the infants and give her a million baths and it was just hard for her. She had already been moving a little bit more slowly and after all this, she really became and "old dog." Not much interested in playing, more arthritis, lots of sleeping, etc.


My kids never knew the playful Pogo. The Pogo that would take off at a tear when she spotted a squirrel, the Pogo that would tug and tug and tug on her rope ball. She was patient enough with them, though, and they enjoyed petting her and giving walks. All the boys' first words were "dog" and Wren said "pogo" as her third word or something. They always enjoyed her Nose-Flipping-the-Treat trick. And she still would howl whenever I played the flute or we howled too, that was a favorite.


Pogo had been deteriorating slowly over the last several years. I'd only buy small bags of dog food, unsure if we'd need the whole thing. In the last couple weeks of her life, she'd eat less and move sparingly. On her last full day, she wouldn't eat anything, even when I smothered it with ketchup. She couldn't stand for more than a second. I knew her time was short and we brought her dog bed up next to ours. I stayed up late that night stroking her and awoke that morning to find her body still. I was going to have her cremated but Sean's dad offered to bury her in their backyard, which we did that evening and gave her a little gravemarker. We're so grateful we can go visit the spot. And we are so grateful for the wonderful memories her sweet little life has given us. Thank you, Pogo, for the love.

Saaantaaa

Well, we visited Santa at Bass Pro Shop and got this free print. I hadn't showered because we were going to go swimming but changed plans when the pool was closed, and then I had to be in the shot since Sean was going to hold Wren who was not liking Santa so I had to be in it, too. And I'm in the wrong spot. And the quality isn't so good. But, hey, it was free.

O Holy Night

O Holy Night


The stars


are brightly shining,


It is the night


of our dear Savior's birth.