Here goes nothing. Chad has wanted me to keep a blog for several years now, and I have never had any desire. Well, today I have desire. I have always argued that I want to spend time with my kids to enjoy being with them- and I couldn't do that as well if I were worrying about taking pictures, and I wouldn't have as much time to spend with them if I had to make time to blog on top of everything else. Well, I'm not promising to be an avid blogger, but I have felt very reflective lately (that's thoughtful, not shiny :) My kids are growing up. Soon I won't have babies anymore, and I don't want to forget any of this. I hope there are lots of great times coming, but thus far, this is truly the happiest time of my life. Sitting on the couch drinking in my Sweet Baby Clara, I don't want to lose this moment. I want to soak it up, to thoroughly enjoy it and live in the moment, but I also don't want to ever forget it. And since I have a laptop and can sit and type with her in my arms, my cheek resting on her forehead, breathing in her sweet baby smell, I'm going to try to figure out this blogging thing.

And there you go. I just posted my first ever blog picture. I love this baby. And now the kids are all home and Clara is awake and ready to eat, so I'm done. That wasn't so bad. Maybe I will try it again one of these days.

Mother's Day

It's likely that I am fairly normal... but my wife is not. Shelly is Super Mom. Every once in a while I want a break from the father roll; nothing bad just a movie besides Thomas the train, or Barbie. Sometimes I dream about having a bathroom that I can use without kids walking through it, and a man cave that is completely free of kid stuff and glitter. When Super Shelly wants to unwind she wants to clean the house or sort and fold laundry. So for whiny permaboy me who wants to just sit on the couch and veg I feel like a total parenting wimp.  Father's day should come first so that mothers know how to not to cook and clean on their holiday. I love her she rocks.

Sunday update

I'm thinking that this pile of toys is mostly Junie's design but she may have had some sibling accomplices.  About every 23.754 days Ruby June likes to unload all of the basement toy bins and decorate the whole house. The above pictured was one of the cutest, most concentrated of such displays.

Asher and Presley decided to put themselves in time out by climbing up a bar stool and then kicking it over and away. I couldn't resist taking this picture the're such cute little buddies.

Yes, Ember is growing up and has lost 4 of her baby teeth, with one adult tooth just starting to bud.

This morning Junie can upstairs waring a pillow cover as a night cap. She had put it on before she fell asleep insisting that it was her night hat.

Splish slash

As I type Asher and Presley are in the tub making sure our 10' ceilings have water on them. As a dad I'm torn between the responsible action of trying to get them to stop and the pleasantry of listening to the joy in their voices. Joy is winning and the bathroom is a mess... Shelly's reading material all wet. Her posts would be more interesting.

Yummy B-Day treats

So one Sabbath day Marty M. brought some tasty treats to share with the gold counters. It turns out that His wife had made them for my wife (and some of the neighborhood ladies) the night before. Well they were super yummy so I asked Shelly id she would make some for me.....    and since it was my birthday recently she did. Just finished them a day or two ago. Thanks baby.

Valentines Day

The kiddies in their matchy red outfits, and heart-y chicken pillows.