the last couple months have been crazy busy.  crazy, i tell ya!  also, it’s been crazy hot.  so we’ve been sticking close to home lately in order to try and contain the crazy.  it’s only sorta working. and as soon as the hot, sunny days give way to the cooler, mellower evenings, everyone scoots out to the backyard. you know, mostly just to hang around. and get all up in each other’s business. aw, but the little guy just wanted to play some ball, too. good thing he’s easily distracted. course sometimes you gotta get creative with the distractions. making faces also helps, too.  helps with what, i’m not sure. …

one of the highlights… of being a kid. don’t you think? this kid is all about full-force gale winds. except the wind turned on him and blew all the dandelion puffs back on him. “did you get the shot, mom?” a fistful of dandelions mixed with blades of grass work just as well too. happy saturday, friends!

last week, this one had her first day of preschool.  she most definitely was not ready to go last year and so we happily kept her home.  but somewhere along the way, she suddenly grew up on me and became very excited about going to “her own” school. i think allie’s glowing reports about her school (which she is continuing to LOVE, thank the Lord!) might have influenced the little sister.  a little. all dressed and ready to tackle the big wide world of preschool.  (she couldn’t be convinced to wear the white sandals and chose the purple crocs instead.  she’s a third kid, so i didn’t press too hard. …

we recently had the pleasure of hosting a gathering of old friends at our house. look!  it’s auntie esther and uncle eugene!  mikey kept wondering how it was that auntie esther was in our house and not at the aquarium.  you know, like how it blew your mind to see your teacher anywhere but at school? our home filled to the brim with dear old friends.  love.  incidentally, see those keys in the corner there?  those are my keys.  jonah took off with them a few days ago and i haven’t seen them since.  i miss them. there was much to be eaten.  (hi, sam!)  trays and trays of food…

our church had their annual awesome vbs a couple months back and i had the privilege of helping take pictures of the week.  here are some of my personal favorite shots.  🙂 praise time… game time… story time… preschool time… craft time… “chatter theater” time… snack time… general cuteness time… celebration sunday time… in-n-out truck time… my kids said they had an okay time.  i kid!  i kid!  they had a BLAST and can’t wait for vbs next year.  it’s always a highlight of our summer.  🙂