Where's the Cow?

happy birthday Wilder boy!

2011-09-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

12 months. I can not believe how fast this has gone. It really doesn't even seem fair. As i look back through these pictures it just doesn't even seem real. to have this little man a part of our crazy family for so long.
finding out i was pregnant with wilder was another wonderful surprise, and even though in my heart i had really thought that i could not handle one more child, the Lord wonderfully showed me that it wasn't true. children really are a blessing (amongst other things) and wilder has wonderfully blessed our lives for the last year.

our third son, my longest and most boring/frustrating labor ever.

instant love of a big sister.
the amazement of our veteran big brother.

the pro, 4th newborn.tiny fingers.

what is this?

and then he grew. those first few weeks flew by, and wilder found his fit in our family and in our hearts.

Wilder Michael, you are loved, so very loved. we call you Wilder boy, thanks to your sister. you are the fastest crawler i have seen, and even though you are not walking on your own yet, you have mastered a special climbing skill that i wish you hadn't. perhaps your dad has found a climber partner. your brother Campbell wants to help carry you around, your sister Mason enjoys playing with you in her room, and i watch your brother Henry with you, he isn't quite sure what to do with you yet, but the two of you will be running around together soon enough. you make goofy smiles and laugh at silly things.
the biggest way i would describe you right now though is: mama's boy. by my side in the house, i will constantly turn around and find myself practically tripping over you. you are the happiest when you are in my arms, and our precious time we have just the two of us is some of the best time i have.
as i watch your brothers and sister grow i can't imagine you being anything other than our small little baby, but soon you will be figuring things out like Campbell, chattering non stop like Mason, and chasing after Papa like Henry.
no matter how big you choose to get, you are our baby, my baby.
and you are loved, very very much.
happy birthday Wilder boy.

five.

2011-04-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

once upon a time, a long time ago....
i became a mom.

what everyone says is completely true, it goes way to fast. because i can look at this pictures and it feels like it was just yesterday that we were a family of 3. i felt prepared for becoming a parent. my youngest brother was born when i was 15, so i didn't feel completely awkward around babies. and the only thing in the world i wanted to be was a wife an mother.
but nothing prepared me for the love. nothing prepared me for the overwhelming, all consuming love that exploded inside of me.
and now, here we are, 5 years later, with a son that i couldn't possibly love more.
and now, 5 years of Campbell Paul.

year 1

first birthday.
first experience in the outdoors.

snuggling with his "nigh nighs"
his first sibling.
his second birthday.

happy, and he knows it.
always ready to pose.
3.

and trains. oh, the trains.
4.
climbing.

big brother.
brothers.

goofballs.
Campbell Paul, 5 years. You are strong, the rock during my day. Sometimes the things that come out of your mouth both shock and amaze me. Lately you little mind is consumed with Heaven, and who gets to go to Heaven, and why we aren't in Heaven right now. Many times in your short little life you have come to tell me that God has spoken to you, love for Christ grows in your little heart.
You love your brothers and sister. Love them. You definitely enjoy the alone time that you get, as rare as it can be, but you organize pirate play and diego adventures and train escapades for everyone.
Listening to you read is one of my favorite things, cause you read so so well, and you get so very excited and change your voice and everything.
Trains. You know and love them all. You are attached to the little toys in your life, as your imagination explodes and they become alive in your mind.
You race around outside, and explore everything. You are curious and adventurous.
You are loving and compassionate.
You are wild and crazy.
You are brilliant and funny.
You are dramatic and silly.
You are my little love.
When you came, I became a mother, you made my biggest dream and desire come true. I do not thank God enough for you, because you are my sweet child, and i am so thankful for you.
i love you.
happy birthday my son.

2

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Henry

Dear Henry,

2 years. It is pretty hard to believe that you have only been a part of our lives for 2 years, because it feels like so much longer. From the moment you were placed in my arms you have held such a special and dear spot in my heart. I don't know how you did it, but you changed the way I felt about being a mother, in an incredible wonderful way.
You were the most wonderful, calm, sweet baby. We were constantly asked if you ever cried. So happy.

You still are one of the happiest children I have ever found, but there are just so many other adjectives I could use to describe you.

You are curious. You watch how something works and then you go ahead and replicate it. A typical 3rd born you refuse to be left behind. So you are fast on everyone's heels.You are so sweet. A really really sweet little boy. So incredibly intuitive at such a young age. If any of your siblings are crying you are so quick to look for their binky or their "nigh nigh" and you bring it right to them.

Helpful, you are very helpful. And quite the giver. If something is on the coffee table you pride yourself in being the one to want to hand anything to anybody. Whether it be a magazine or a coffee mug full of coffee.

Your favorite things? Your binky, but only used upside down. I can't remember how old you were when you discovered that you could flip it upside down using only your tongue.
Balls. You love to throw anything.

Sand and Dirt. It is fairly ironic to me and your dad that we named you after a copy of Thoreau's On Walden's Pond, because you would rather be outside than pretty much anything else.
Except the iPad. You are fairly addicted to the "bapad" and its embarrassing to admit just how good you are at using it. I can take a little comfort in knowing that once the front door opens you quickly throw the iPad down and try to escape to the outside.

Your baby brother. You have taken a lot of ownership over him. There hasn't been an ounce of jealousy in your little heart, but complete awe and attentiveness to him. If he's awake and around you want to be around him. I cannot wait to see the two of you grow as friends and brothers.

oh Henry. you still don't talk much, but you do sing out my name whenever you want me. you like to play peek a boo, you love to jump, you are always up for a run, and if anyone is on the ground you immediately dog pile all over them.
oh son, i hope and pray that you will continue to grow into the sweet boy that you are and that you grow to be a strong man who seeks the Lord.
i don't exactly have the right words to tell you just how much i love you, how you have changed my life profoundly and how i cannot even imagine this family without you in it.
happy birthday to my little one.

lost cause.

2011-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

2011 (i think)

there seems to be no chance i will "catch" up on old posts. simply because i have no idea where half of my pictures are stored on this computer.
so, these are all recent photos.
enjoy.

seriously, how cute is he?

and seriously, how cute is he???
brothers.
warning, pictures below will make you hungry.
and angry at me.

but you can't stay angry at that face? can you? and really, you should be angry at my sister. she made those cupcakes. and they were unbelievable. like, i get a sugar rush just thinking about them.
come back, Ash, and make more.
oh my sweetness.
and the face that always makes me smile.

hmmmm

2011-03-05T15:56:00.001-08:00

not the best pictures to compare. but when henry was a baby we thought he looked just like his big brother, when he was a baby.

but now, he's not quite a baby anymore.

there's still a resemblance in the grins, but i think they are starting too look so very different.
what do you think?

Resemblance

2011-03-05T15:42:00.002-08:00

i think the boys are starting to look a little different from each other.

what do you think?

so hard to catch up

2011-01-23T16:40:00.000-08:00

i might just have to stop trying to catch up, but as i sort through my pictures i keep coming across great shots, that i cannot resist sharing.
like these:

i don't think any of the kids love being outside as much as Henry does :)

we gave thanks.

2011-01-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

last year (or two months ago) the kids and i went up to Portland and then to Puyallup to spend thanksgiving with my family. my dad was crazy, i mean generous, and flew down to Sacramento and helped drive the 5 of us up. we left Sam behind as starbucks is a busy busy time and he needs to be in his store.
we made it up, in oh what felt like 18 hours, but was really less. seriously, someone MUST have been praying for us because at about 50 minutes to destination the fear of total meltdown was upon us, but 5 minutes later ALL of the kids fell asleep for the last of the journey.
that was friday. saturday, my sister joined us in Portland and my dad continued the journey with 3 of the kids to the cabin in Government Camp.
thank you dad.
those 3 days with just my little baby and my little sister were UN-BE-LIEVABLE!
these are some pics my sister took saturday morning before the kids went with my dad.

now, i have no pictures from the kids time at the cabin. i wasn't there. but i don't even have that many pictures from the trip, and that's really because i was having such a good time relaxing :)
up at the cabin the kids were introduced to hot chocolate.
which they now love.

and we made sugar cookies.

and my sister made a lot of food.
including this beautiful turkey.

thanksgiving. it was wonderful. my parents were exhausted by the time i left, mainly because i basically handed them my kids and then took a nice long break!

2010-12-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

all 3 boys, at roughly the same age. its not to hard to tell them apart, but i still think they look kinda like they belong together!

happy birthday

2010-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

there isn't anyone quite like our little miss. she'd correct that by saying, i'm not a miss, i'm mason.
i can't believe its been 3 years. no wait, i can, because mason has made her presence in this family known. if you are ever around you will no one thing- she does NOT stop talking. sometimes in the morning she meets me at the couch, before i have even had 2 sips of my coffee and she is halfway through some excite story that's she remembered from her dreams the night before.

and if she isn't talking, she's singing. most often singing just whatever she is doing, but lately it is her own renditions of "Jesus loves the world", as mason understands that Jesus just loves everything, and it sounds better to a tune.
she has more sass that most gals i've met. and she has so many catch phrases. my favorite is, "that's not a good idea." which she usually will tell me with her head tilted to the side and her mouth slightly pursed.

her make believe play this year has truly taken off. she never goes right down for a nap, she usually spends the first hour in her own little world with her dollies, her babies (cause they are different), the zoo of animals that share her bed, and whatever little item she has deemed important to carry around with her (right now she alternates between 3 little strawberry shortcake toys, a small plastic kitten, a blueberry flavored chapstick, and a plastic giraffe). i have to hide my video camera in my bedroom (which is attached to hers) so that i can hide and watch her play. it is really so sweet.

she is so sweet. i never should have worried about bringing henry home, since she took to him right away, and its even more so with wilder. her only complaint about him? that she wasn't there at the hospital. i am sad she doesn't have a sister (and we aren't planning on trying for one) but i don't honestly think she realizes what a sister is, and further more, i don't think she would want them, i think she loves being the girl.

but she is not just a girlie girl. she is rough and tumbly just like her brothers. she will balance tomboy and princess quite well.

for christmas i put together a sewing box for her, and i love watching her take out the items and ask me how to sew. she wants to snuggle, she wants to gab, she wants to be rescued from the monsters, and she also loves to engage in full on battles.

i have no doubt that i have my hands full with just her. i have no doubt that the Lord gave me her to challenge me and to teach me more about who He is, how much He loves me, and how much He loves her. i have no doubt that she will be the light and laughter of our house. i have not doubt that she will try and be the boss of our house. and i have no doubt that my life would not be as wonderful if she wasn't in it.
on her 3rd birthday, much love to my darling daughter. may your love and curiosity grow, may we teach you more about God's love.
happy birthday little miss, you are trouble wrapped up in a grin, you are loved by many.
your brothers, and dad and i love you so much.

bookworm buddies.

2010-11-16T21:54:00.000-08:00

Henry really loves to be with Campbell. Well, he really likes to be in that chair, or any chair, if anyone is in it. He really just loves to involve himself in what is going on. Campbell was a willing sport.

a shot from 5 weeks.

2010-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

i've really yet to find a jealous bone in any of our kids. they absolutely love the new baby. Mason really loves to pose with Wilder. and Wilder really loves the attention.

at 3 1/2 weeks

2010-11-14T21:08:00.000-08:00

he's already changed so much! time goes way to fast.

little brothers.

2010-11-12T21:02:00.000-08:00

and someday, they will be best buds.

more old shots.

2010-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

these are some old shots, but so very cute.

cuteness.

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

when this beautiful boy was just 2 weeks old. how is he 9 weeks now?

brothers.

2010-11-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Campbell is just really waiting for the day that Wilder can start in on the train fun.

hi

2010-11-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

hi guys! my mom really does want to blog more, she's just been really busy taking care of me and my brothers and sister.

Nona time!

2010-10-21T19:40:00.001-07:00

At the beginning of October, my mom- Nona (that's not her name, but its Italian for Grandma, and that's what she's is called) my brother Eric, and our family friend Chaz, came to help me for almost a whole week!
it was awesome!
Nona got to take the 3 older kids on special "dates". Mason loved hers so much, she wanted to keep going on them. Helps when you get a toy and a treat, and have someone who will listen to you prattle on and on and on and on....
Mason loves to talk.
All 3 of my happy helpers, worked so hard while they were here, whipping our yard into shape, helping me change where my homeschooling room was (yes, it was just done in September, but I needed it to be somewhere else) and other little projects that I just never have time for.
The kids had a wonderful time with their Nona, and Uncle Eric and Chaz. And are waiting for them to come back.
Mason had such a wonderful time she tried to get in their car and go home with them.
but we kept her here!
Thank you so much for all of your help mom, we miss you!

Eric and Campbell wrestling

Mason apparently telling them how to wrestle.

Mason flat out refused to take a posed picture with Nona.

she was out of there!

Now, Henry is quite the ham, and takes great pictures.

such a sweetie!

love this picture!

hard to believe that Eric and Wilder are closer in age then myself and Eric.

Nona and her newest grandbaby.

can you see the small red glow?

Nope, i still don't want a picture, thanks.

and off for more wrestling!

We love you Nona and Uncle Eric- and next time Chaz, i need some pictures of you and the kids!

playing catch up

2010-10-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

in attempts to be more organized with my pictures, i have a strange system for marking which shots to blog with. and then i can never remember if i have posted them, or if i haven't.... so if i have, my apologies- but i'm trying to catch myself up here!
so enjoy, some random pictures of the kids from september!

little momma

giving kisses to wilder is one of henry's favorite things to do.

snuggling together with books.

too cute.

learning on the ipad..... really, we've loaded with educational aps.
and one stupid slingshot game.

fairytale land.

2010-10-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

wow, so almost a month ago (is that even possible?) we took the kids on an outing to fairytale land (and then i got to go on my favorite outing- IKEA!). we had been once before, when i was newly pregnant with henry, and had uncle steven and aunt ashley in tow, and sadly it was one of the hottest days in august. campbell had fun, but didn't really know what was going on.
but now the kids love to watch superwhy on pbs (or for us, on our instant play from netflix) so i thought that they would have a bit more fun this time around. and luckly for us, we only had to pay for sam and myself and campbell.
so we headed out, early (for us) and had a wonderful time!
no fear going down the big slide.

i think she wanted to bring this home with her.

more slides.

this girl will seriously do anything.

henry didn't go on all the slides, but he did have fun wandering about.
but here's a smaller slide that he liked.
with daddy's "help"
no seriously, he liked it.
and there is our little boss. she was telling all the other boys proper playground behavior, and instructing everyone on what to do.

all the different themed slides were quite the hit with campbell, although after these pictures were taken he did briefly disappear from us, there is just so many great things to see at fairytale land and he started to wander off.... he was quickly found.
ahhh, trains, always a favorite.

owl's treehouse. there was a group of kindergarten boys racing down this slide, and mason wasn't worried one bit, as the group ran up towards the stairs mason was at their heels "hey boys, do you want to go down the slide with me?"
she's trouble i tell you.
i love baby-wearing.
feet.
climbing on the block of cheese.
this cracks me up.
and this warms my heart.
breaking some rules.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
so snuggily.
all tuckered out, and ready for lunch.
if you haven't been to fairy-tale land, i think you should go. we had a lot of fun, and will probably try to make it down at least one more time before the summer is over. and yes, i can say summer in the middle of october, as it is still fairly warm here.

all the kids.

2010-10-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

all the kids, coming home from the hospital. this one isn't hard at all (i only put them in black and white cause mason was in pink)
A, B, C, D
this should be easy :)

hmmmmm

2010-10-03T15:01:00.001-07:00

all 3 boys, about 1 month old.....
care to venture a guess?
top picture: A
middle : B
bottom: C

outside.

2010-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

before you go through this pictures and ooh and ahh over how beautiful these guys are (cause, come on, they are) i want you to know that i am well aware of the fact that i have 4 children. 4. not 3. and just because only 3 are viewed in these pictures, doesn't mean i love the missing child any less. it just means, he didn't have any desire to have his photo taken.
henry, i love you.
now, enjoy.

she is such a ham.
they really do love this baby.
where's wilder?

ooh, will we have another finger sucker? and not a child obsessed with having his binky in upside down?
such the momma.
quite possibly my favorite picture of campbell, ever.
the other night while nursing wilder, campbell told me he wanted another baby. another baby brother. who he would name "boobie" (he said this with a straight face). mason then looks at me, lifts up her shirt, points to her belly and says, "i have boobie in my tummy right now".
yup. anatomy is not something we cover right now in home-schooling.

auntie ashley

2010-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

auntie ashley flew down to help me with my first 2 days alone with the kids. and she was a very big help! of course, she needed lots of time for cuddling. and baking. and helping me wrangle the rest of the children.

while out and about we ventured to costco. i stayed in the van to feed wilder, and ashley said she watched sam try to wade through costco, on a sunday, and as mason bit campbell's head and henry tried to climb out of the moving cart, she just kept thinking, "you have 4 kids, 4 kids!"
sure, they are crazy, but then there are wonderful moments like this.

love you sis!
we are all looking forward to the rest of the family coming to visit- soon!