iPhone Out-takes

 I unloaded a bunch of pics off my iPhone the other day and came across a few of these gems.

Eden recharging with Klamath

Naps

For a while, Zion kind of dropped his naps, then all of a sudden he started picking them up again, and before I was acclimated to this new routine he would nap wherever he could - here he is napping throughout our entire costco visit then for at least 40 minutes once we got home.

Eden thought it was pretty hilarious!

Sibling Love 

 Chores

Sharing Treats

Harbor Days

On cooler days we enjoy riding our bikes around the harbor. It normally entails getting ice cream for the kids and all of the luxuries that truly spoil a child. In general it's a pretty wonderful way to pass an afternoon.

This is someone we affectionately refer to as "the bird guy". I'm ashamed to admit that I don't even know his name. He is this wonderful soul who has a bunch of birds as pets and he brings them down to the harbor for socialization and fresh air. He is wonderful with the kids, always encouraging them to pet and hold his birds. I think he is captivating and would enjoy a documentary of his daily life.

Whenever we are at the harbor we try to take Klamath for a swim off the launch ramp docks.

This pic is from baby beach. It seems as if every time we are here the firemen are also here doing their work-out and every time Zion elicits their attention somehow. This time he had the Captain helping him rinse off his boogie. I don't even think this guy knew that Zi was Jon's son.

This pic was taken shortly after Zi got into it with one of the pots in our house - I ended up removing his skin from the pot ): Zi has had a pretty bad run these days of tumbles and bumps. I'm hoping it comes to an end quickly.

Eden and I at her pre-school pancake breakfast.

These are the veggies that time forgot..they had been neglected to grow since being planted last spring /: Oops.

A Word on Eden

I have a story in my heart about Eden that I never want to forget....

A few weeks ago, I misplaced my wedding rings. I searched the house for them for hours to no avail, and began to sincerely loose hope. Eden could see my sorrow and she kindly told me:

"Mom, when I get married, as long as my husband does not give me green wedding rings, then I will give you mine - don't worry."

She is ever so kind and generous in ways that I can only begin to understand. Eden and I have been having our differences lately. I feel this strain between us that is ever so slight but it weighs on my heart as a possible foreshadowing of things to come. I know it is unhealthy to think this way and instead I am striving to meet her where she is today. She is such an incredible, tender, and strong soul, that really I am only beginning to know. I feel honored to call myself her mother.

As a side note, I am happy to report that once again Jon saved the day and helped trigger my memory in order to find those lost rings.

Easter Festivities

All of the Easter festivities were really fun this year. The kids seemed to be at this magical age wherein they really appreciated every aspect of it. In the years past I remember the egg dying and cookie decorating to be this big headache that was hardly worth the mess. This year each kid was really involved in the process and it made it super fun!

Annual Easter Egg Dye

Eden's "ladybug" egg

Zi loved this brown egg he made on the right. Seriously, he was so incredibly proud of it. Showing it to me over and over.

When I ask Eden what her favorite thing to do in the world is, her answer is..."Hang out with Tara", and you can see that here - it's written all over her face.

Zion (inspired by Tara) perfected this drip art form of cookie decorating. Seriously it worked so well and he had so much fun doing it!

Zi took the cookie decorating very seriously.

Tracy's eggs

Tracy made water balloons! The kids were in heaven!

The kids' cookies with zero help from me. (:

Zi got to do more egg dying while Eden was at school at his friends' house.

SC Sports Park "Eggstravaganza"

Eden impatiently waiting for the city Easter egg hunt to begin. She was so excited for this that it literally stressed her out.

This may have been the first year that Jon was off work for this event. He was super excited to go, and very serious about giving both the kids pep-talks on how to get the most eggs.

A rare family photo courtesy of Tracy (:

Easter Day

We always have a morning egg-hunt in our courtyard - this year it was super early because we wanted to do it before Jon left for work at 6:30.

These are supposed to be bunny prints, I suppose they look a lot more like bear prints but the kids don't seem to notice and are captivated by the fact that the Easter bunny leaves tracks.

I was packing the car and came outside to find klamath like this - with his head stuck in the basket munching on the yogurt covered cookies that we in Zion's eggs.

Eden came to his rescue...

And then fed him some of her own eggs.

More in-door and out-door egg hunts at the Wallas after church on Easter morning.

Eden and her "bestie"

Appently Zion turned on the game and had all the boys watching for a bit.

Meanwhile the girls were drawing.

Grammy & Grampy's House

We had a really nice afternoon with Grammy & Grampy and Jen and her boys. We haven't seen Jen and the boys for a long long time...maybe Christmas?? It was amazing to see how much they had both grown!