Uncle Re-Re & Lydia

 This past weekend Uncle Re-Re came to visit and brought his girlfriend Lydia. She flew in from Kansas City to meet us.  I've been looking forward to meeting her for the past few years (I think Brent met her once last year) I've always wondered who Regis would fall in love with and honestly been a little nervous of who he would end up with because if she didnt' like me then that might mean Brent and Regis wouldnt get to see each other very much. But on the other hand if she did like me then that would make it really fun to always get together and hang out - especially for me to have a girl to hang out with. So I was a little nervous but also excited to meet her. And I absolutely LOVE her so hopefully she feels the same or I might become some weird stalker wanting to hang out with her all the time :) 

 They are perfect for each other. Its really cute to see Regis with her.  They complement each other well. 

 We decided to go on a sailboat tour on the American Rover.  It just went to the opening of the bay and back but it was nice and relaxing. 

It was a sailboat so they had to set the sails or whatever you call it.  Colin got to help and hasn't stopped talking about it since. 

 I think they have been friends for 30 years or close to it.  Amazing - such a gift. 

 After the boat ride we went down to the beach since Lydia hasn't ever been in the Atlantic Ocean.  I forgot my camera but I got these adorable ones of Norah with Brents phone. 

 Oh those rolls.  I dont think I've ever seen anything cuter. It just might be my favorite picture ever. And that is a typical Norah face right now. 

The kids were intrigued with Regis and Lydia.  Colin didnt really remember Uncle Re-Re since it has been a while but Regis and Lydia quickly won over our kids. 

As you can see :)

Lydia is just wonderful. 

Thanks Uncle Re-Re and Lydia for coming to visit.  We loved having you and hope it wont be too long before we see you again. 

Pirates

Captain Morocco is the name. 101 mateys he has. With a three level ship and 50 guns.  And calls his treasure his booty.

Colin has a renewed interest in pirates since we went on the sailboat this past weekend, a pirate movie we watched the other day, and the botanical gardens. He has dressed like this all week. 

I love it.  He even got dressed this morning and wanted to wear it to his doctors appointment.  So I let him.  Brent was totally embarrassed and if it was up to him would not let our kids out of the house like this.  But I do :)  So good thing I was taking Colin to his appointment.  Colin was so proud and talked about pirates the whole drive over. He wants to be a pirate when he grows up now.  I love his imagination and just the innocence of him putting on a costume and thinking he really is a pirate

5 months

 Baby girl is 5 months old now.  It seems so fast and really hit me the other day how fast time is going by when Laura mentioned that Elsie had turned 5 months and commented that our babies are close to being half a year old.  The boys turned 6 months around Christmas time so for some reason I didn't think she would be so old this fast. 

Yesterday I sat her down to get pictures - it has been raining since Sunday and she sat up by herself for a few minutes. Today she can sit up with pillows around her and is pretty good unless she wants something in front of her - then she'll topple down.  She still doesnt like being on her back or tummy for very long.  She has rolled over from her stomach to back maybe 5 times but isn't in a hurry to move. The boys were creeping around at this age so its nice to have her take her time on the whole crawling thing. 

 She was intrigued by the grass so she would just lunge for it. 

Love dimpled baby hands. 

Norah loves to talk and smile at us.  She gets really excited when she sees her brothers and will start screeching and legs moving when she sees them.  She has this really cute screech that she does when she's happy or excited.  I've never heard anything like it.  We all love it and Joel loves to get her going and will spend most of the day trying to make her laugh/screech at him.  She hit a growth spurt at 4 months and has turned into an awful sleeper.  Gets up now every couple of hours - just like her brothers.  Norah is still just the sweetest baby with such an easy going/gentle personality.  I can't wait to see what she is like when she gets older.  She does love wearing dresses and skirts so she can grab on the bottom and pull it up to try to eat it :)  maybe she'll be my girly girl.  She is really the most easy going baby ever.  And such a sweet sweet girl. 

Just to remember...

Tonight I was in the kitchen making dinner, Joel was on the couch asleep, and I think Norah was sleeping or just woke up - brent had gone to get her.  Colin was in his room playing with Legos and came bouncing into the kitchen. 

C: "mommy, if I marry Adah would her family become my family?" 
Me:  "Yes - her whole family would be your family too."
C:  "That would be awesome.  Best friends becoming brothers!!!!!" 

I hope Colin picks his wife on more than just who her brother is but I have to say a small part of me could picture him and Adah married and how much fun that would be for our families.  Just saying - maybe in 20 years it could happen :) 

Pirate Ship

 This week we got a new roof put on the house.  After about an hour of the pounding I took the kids to the Botanical Gardens for the day.  The kids had fun. We haven't been in a few months and they have created this whole new pirate adventure for the summer. It was great. 

 Norah wasn't too fond of the water part.  Since she liked the slip n slide I thought she would like this.  But the water was cold.  Felt good to the boys - not to Norah.

 The kids had fun playing on the pirate parts.  We didnt get to all the pirate adventures (there is a treasure hunt you go on to find clues) so I promised the kids we would go back this week.  Joel fell asleep on the way home and then slept for a few hours while the roof was getting finished. 

Backstroke and Butterfly

We're signing Joel up next year for the swim team. 

Swinging

Salsa Competition

 The whole weekend wasn't all work.  Brent, Jeff and Sarah went to a winery and mom and I took the kids to the playground in town but the most fun was our first annual salsa competition.  It all started when Brent made some salsa and the Mary commented that she had made salsa and that they should have a compeition.  So we did.  Only Mary never showed up couldnt come.  But the rest of us got into it.  Jeff even went to town that morning to get his ingredients.  Colin was the judge and made up the categories and ribbons that morning. He was very excited about it.

 
 Mom made hers before she came.  And then told Brent she used the cilantro he gave her from the garden.  Only he never gave her cilantro - he gave her rosemary. So she got a lot of teasing the whole weekend.   It was actually pretty good. 

 Brent's took forever to make. And he was sure he would win - especially since he and sarah were the only ones with recipes.  The rest of us just made it up. 

And it was all just as yummy as it looks.  I say we do this again. 

Colin went around and tasted it all.  And then proudly handed out his ribbons. 

Ant Ant got the hot and spicy award.

Brent got the prize winner - but we're pretty sure there was bribery involved :) 

Jeff got best looking salsa and I got most origional.  But I would like to point out that mine was the only one that was completely eaten after dinner. 

Mostly by this little guy.  Looks like i'll have to try to replicate what I did again.  It was pretty good if I do say so :) 

And then it started to rain a little bit.  Just a few minutes of light sprinkles.  We sat and continued our dinner under the cover of a really big tree and then saw a rainbow come out over the house (the night before we saw one while sitting on the back patio after the rain)

Mary - you need to come and redeem yourself so we can try your salsa and see who really is the winner between you and Brent. 

Tree Removal

 One of the things on the work list this weekend was taking out this tree. Jeff had the idea of tying it to the back of the truck and then pulling it over.

 We weren't so sure it would work but it did.  And no one or truck got hurt.

 After playing in it we had to chop it up and then clear it all away. 

Hammock

 We all enjoyed some time in the hammock this weekend at the farm. 

 

Makes me laugh

Joy

Scarf

I took this picture back in October of last year.  When I was still dry heaving all the time and so sick and miserable. I think I was going to send it to brent while he was at work but never did.  This was the only way I could change Joel's diapers. Makes me laugh now. 

I was reminded of it today when I was talking to my friend who is pregnant and as sick as I was.  Its sometimes hard to find people who really understand what I went through - so while I wish my friend felt better it is nice to have someone understand. 

But this sweet girl is so worth it. So worth it all.

Joel and his pretty girl

Our Joel loves to make people laugh.  He loves to say and do crazy things to make us smile.  He's realized how fun it is to make Norah laugh and giggle. 

This picture is from the 4th of July but its pretty much what he likes to do with Norah.  Or hug and still give her strangle kisses and hugs. 

This morning he had her giggling so hard. I think these two will be great friends.