Happy 2nd Birthday Lauren

Two years ago today we greeted you into our lives. You are the first child that we are amazed it has only been two years. It seems like you have been with us for so much longer.

* I love how you say 'otay'
* I love how you want me to sing the Temple Song to you at night
* I love how you look up to your older sister and brother
* I love how you can ride a tricycle & do so many other things by yourself - you are so independent
* I love how you love nursery
* I love how obsessed you are with shoes - having them on; making sure others have them on - ALL of the time
* I love how you say 'awww man' when I tell you no
* I love how well you fit into our family and really really cannot believe it has only been two years!

Sisters

Hadley & Gentry

Green Thumb

My mother-in-law gave me strawberry plants for my birthday. We even marked them with spoons so no one would run them over.
Vincent and Lauren helped and we watered these babies for about a week. I think I even counted a new leaf growing on one! And then the rains came . . .

And came . . . and came . . . and came. My poor plants were buried in several inches of rain for an entire week. Is it possible to drown plants? I hope not but, hey at least now we know we have a drainage issue at the end of our driveway.

P.S. We also have 'drainage' issues on some of our windows. And I use the term drainage loosely, meaning they 'drain' inside our house.

Improvisation

When Vincent is really desperate for fun I guess, he plays Gary the Gardener with his sisters' doll stroller. I of course must play along as he goes back and forth leaving marks on the carpet and pretending not to hear me over the loud sound of the mower. Then he'll take a break for lunch on the back of his truck like our other gardeners used to do. Then back to work & ignoring me.

Why Gary? I have no idea. And why a gardener? Who knows. Do I need to get out more? Probably.

Jackpot

As I was walking out of a store the other day with all four kids in tow an older man passed me and said, "Wow, you really hit the jackpot!"

That is such a new and refreshing way of looking at it. I love that I didn't get the typical, 'wow you have your hands full' or 'wow I bet you're a busy mom.' How many of us moms think we hit the jackpot on a daily basis?

Birthday Celebration

The Sawyers were in town for my birthday this year. Everyone came out to our place and we had a celebration amid the rain. Everyone even took a break from Settlers to sing to me and have chocolate eclair cake - thanks Mom!

Ryan & Lauren playing zoom-o in the rain.

Fun with cousins.

Lauren - the next day was pooped.

Free Time