I've taken a break from a few things. 

I miss keeping a record of our growing family here.

So, I'm back with older children.

EIGHT, SIX and (in just three days) TWO...

What have they been up to?

Big E

Reads chapter books like crazy. 

 (as in stays up all night. )

  which Mr. Dreewes has pointed out, among other things reminds him of me.

Has decided to let his hair grow.

Plays Axel F on the piano

Loves to shoot his friends

 (with nerf guns or on the xbox game - HALO)

Likes sushi but

      not grilled cheese sandwiches

      (not a trait he inherited from me...)

Miss E

Has a love for girls, of all ages.

Reads signs aloud in the car

Prefers "ice cold water, with ice in it"

Creates art and lovely sweet notes 

   ( prolifically )

Can brush her own hair

Dislikes smoothies. and chunks in yogurt

  likes going out to Thai food with Dad.

Little E

Performs all his own stunts

  (first child to go to the ER, first child to chip teeth...  and so on.)

Loves to do wooden puzzles.

Gives the sweetest hugs in the known universe.

Likes grapes.  (which could be grapes or strawberries.)

Is wearing big boy undies.

I'm sure I've missed a few really important milestones, and forgotten funny stories.

But to sum it up

 :  Our kids are sweet, crazy and very smart.  and we love them to bits  :

the e's

What Baby E is up to - OR- Little E is such a boy.

Ten things the Littlest E spend his days doing.

1. Putting dolls in the toilet.
2. Looking for a reason to put on shoes, and go outside.
3. Asking to get pushed on the bike or scooter.
he calls them both "car." and he calls any other vehicle "car".
4. Searching for a ball. or a snack.
"bah." "nack!"
5. Trying to climb anything.
6. Chasing Mom.
"up."
7. Imitating the Big E's.
Especially getting into bed with a "book!".
8. Hitting something with a stick
9. Hitting something with a sword.
10. Wishing he wasn't in the carseat

happy campers

Baby E loves Everything about the outdoors.

the grass, the dirt, the sticks.

the sticks especially.

He's grown into a toddling little boy overnight.

Running after the big kids. Arms outstretched.

Talking and making baby signs.

"Ball." "Bird." "Boat."

He learned to sign :Thank You: this weekend.

Sat in his little camp chair, asked for s'mores, played badminton, chased balls of all sizes and types, paddled a boat with mommy, climbed all over daddy, explored the tent...

Baby E's Birthday

Easter Pictures

Baby E is ONE!

Birthday Town.
Population One.

... and the boys

Same day,

Same leaves,

more E's...

Loves to Eat.

Baby E has been studying our eating habits for at least three months now.

He has been very glad to join the club. His food list includes - rice cereal, peaches, sweet potatoes, avocado, baby mum mum crackers, and baby back ribs. Actually just baby back rib bones. For the poor teething gums. . .

our october news..

☼ Big E ☼

Doing well in school. He has surprised me with a natural math sense, that I do NOT possess. He is smart, smart, smart. It's amazing to watch him be challenged and then to be surprised at his own ability.

This month he lost his top front teeth.

That's six teeth gone now.

It's changed his face from a little guy face to something bigger,

older and a little sillier.

His love to cuddle and have his back scratched remind me that he is still my little guy...

☼ Miss E ☼

So girl.

Most conversations include "pretty" and most projects include glitter.

She is crazy smart just like her brother,

and enjoys listening in on the more advanced lessons

and blurting out the answers. Or just loud guesses.

She loves to help - with cooking, baby watching, closing car doors, shopping...

It can become a crisis of disappointment and drama if a job is not available.

In general Miss E is all sweetness or all tears.

Searching for attention in a busier year and a bigger family.

We make sure to have time with the kids as individuals,

for small things like a trip to the hardware store with Dad

or playing at a friends house without siblings.

I'm sure it could happen more often...

Any other ideas?

☼ Baby E ☼

Smiles at everyone.

This month has been full of big milestones.

This month we are

six months old,

scooching around the floor,

getting our first two teeth,

trying out solid foods,

sitting up unassisted,

making new intentional noises.

And he rediscovered that he can stick his tongue out.

All the time.

Baby E also had his first solo adventures as

Mommy and Daddy did some celebrating at a wedding.

A triumph! And a might big shout-out to our brave friends

who took such good care of him.

pants.

I got this cute fabric to make some camera lens bags,

but once I got home it didn't really go with my camera bag...

So, it got reassigned to a wallet for me and these "Simple Baby Pants"

for Baby E.

The pattern was truly simple.

And with an extra inch or two on the top of the waistband there is room for the big cloth diapered booty. Hooray!

Past the Five Month Mark

Teaching Baby E to Crawl.

So far he can roll, wiggle, sit up for a little while and scoot backwards.

He is FASCINATED with cups, straws, spoons and all parts of the eating game.

We plan start to solid foods in a few weeks and I have no doubt that he is READY!

He saves his biggest smiles for brother and sister.

I can't imagine a better little guy for our family,

he's a dreamboat!

So how fun is a four month old boy?

Um... pretty fun!

He's teething big time. Anything he sees goes in his drooly little mouth to be chomped...

And now he can roll over, but ONLY if he's mad and wiggly.

Longest Post EVER. part three

PART THREE

What else has happened...

Little E turned 3 Months Old!

We started doing Cloth Diapers. (saving some CASH dance!)

and he's just beginning to giggle...

It's going to solve some world peace problems!

Our area is having a Heat Wave.

Pink cheeks are the new look around here.

Sitting in the creek is the new hangout.

Mom also got a paid photography job.

Hello, Senior Portraits!

umm, apparently I should make it clear that

is graduating senior not senior citizen . . .

and Dad even watched our sweet nursing baby.

who hates the bottle.

and the binki.

Big E lost his third tooth. And THREE more are wiggly.

He's drinking all his food through a straw this fall...

Dad is starting a project at church,

leading a team of men installing the sprinkler system!

Mom is helping by putting the yummies in the tummies.

(also called bringing lunch -by people who don't get as much time with the Good Doctor Seuss...)

Longest Post EVER. part one

Dearest Blog, I have been meaning to post all month.

It seems like we have been busy for a while.

What have we been up to?

SO MUCH!

PART ONE

Vacation Bible School.

" All Aboard "

God provided such a super-awesome-fun-healthy-exausting distraction while Dad was out of town ! ! !

The E's got the energy out, played with friends and learned fun songs.

Even Little E had a good time with plenty of arms to hold him.

And we can't forget SNACKS – Every night Miss E amazed Dad with a detailed description of every treat she received that day!

And as an added bonus Mom got to be the photographer for TONS of kids having a blast!

Little E Update

Oh, he's a sweet thing.

I'm still holding him almost all the time.
I might never get anything done!

Okay, I do put him down sometimes...

(for pictures.)

Because this time of our life is so short
it feels like I must enjoy every smile and wiggle.

It's approaching three months and Little E is a very charming drooler.

Liking to bite his fist. Teething is just around the corner isn’t it?

Great at tracking people around him...
Particularly Brother and Sister.

Likes to be outside or looking out the windows.

Splashes in the bath very joyfully.

(sorry to the perpetually wet floors and cabinet…)

Is very happy to let anyone else hold him.

Getting chubbier by the minute...

Good Morning.

8 weeks old

It's already 8 weeks.

Baby E likes to be held,

loves to listen to and watch the bigger kids.

likes his bouncy seat,

likes a clean and dry diaper.

Is happiest in the morning,

has figured out a routine - sorta...

It seems to be interrupted by school and errands.

Has learned to smile, make cute noises,

find his favorite faces, bat at toys and be adorable.

Likes to sleep with a blanket on his cheek,

or swaddled - but not too swaddled...

Dislikes too much carseat, not getting attention,

Really dislikes the Binki.

Did you know...

Babies, even newborns can imitate facial movements.
When Baby E first came home,

I told big sister to stick out her tongue for him.
He copied her & she knows that she taught him this game...
It's fun for Daddy too.

Six and Seven weeks

Baby E has really changed in the last week.

We are getting smiles and happy noises.

(which is quite a change from his usual attitude...

these "serious" or "thoughful" looks…) He’s been staying awake for longer,

(and sleeping longer too…)

That newborn stage is fleeting &
we are quickly moving into something new…