Growing Family

Pretty sure I know why all the pictures of Sophie are open mouthed.


This past week and a half, it has started to sink in, the idea of a family expanded. Sophie is becoming more person like every day, Lillian and Samuel are responding to the expansion in their own way, I am responding in my own way to my own expansion (which I hope is not permanent), and Nick is hanging in there trying to ignore the flashing sign in his periphery that reads "Shrinking" blink blink "Too Tight" blink blink "Reduction"...and variations on this theme.

But, look at all the fruitfulness that is possible with this increasing family. And Nick and I are both sober and thankful as we consider the great blessing and responsibility entrusted to us (a little speechless and pop-eyed as well; imagine...well maybe I will treat you to an actual illustration sometime).

On the "fruitfulness" note. Nick took/had some time off and boy was he productive. He brewed his next batch of beer (he made a slight error with his liquid measurement, but is hoping he accidentally discovered the "Redmond Imperial Stout"), He took the children on their first camping trip, Nick style (oh my gosh, we are such pansies!!!) in the back yard. We are hoping to expand our camping territory at some point, but with a camp stove and some smores it was beauty to behold. Samuel hopped up on chocholate at ten o'clock, running lapps around the tent howling at the moon; seriously, my children have problems with sugar. Nick is such a fun Dad.

Samuel eating Gumbo.

I find it intresting, and when I am finding it intresting it is becuase I am not in the middle of it, merley observing, what emotional/conversational situations our particular personality traits, isolated and directed back at us with an indapendant will, are capable of creating on a day to day basis.

For instance, Nick and Lillian, mirroring eachother with a furrowed brow, arms crossed...I can almost hear the whistely western gun fight music in the background. And it is not always negative, Samuel maticulously painting until he is satisfied with the quality and complet and thourough coverage of paper, 45 min later. For that matter, the fact that in the same 45 minutes Lillian will have painted through an entire package (minus the one page Samuel is using) of copy paper (hey, art is from the heart). That is only the first two, what transpires when you throw in an odd number? By the way, I have also observed other traits that are loosly tied to our own by blood (or maybe directly). Nick had a chuckle when I told him Samuels idea of fixing every thing that was broken was "well, we could glue it!"...I will leave that a mistery.

Samuel's "Ice Skating" performance.

My vibrant curly girl.

Se is so cute!

To be vulnerably honest, my brilliance is totally dependent on the "spell check" function on my computer (or Nick which ever is handy at the time). Neither are working for me today!
Enjoy-