Around the House

I don't take very many pictures of everyday life around our house like I used to. Some of it is because we're so busy, some is because there's not currently a cute baby that changes almost every day, and some is because the novelty of my camera has worn off. I just don't want to take the time to capture that perfect shot or be different and creative in trying new angels. It's just too much work right now. Unfortunately, I think that my skills have diminished since I don't take nearly as many pictures anymore, but oh well. I'm sure there will be another  season of life in which I can experiment with photography again and for now I will just try to capture some decent pictures of my family so that we can always remember and cherish these precious years.

So back to the very few everyday shots I took in April and May. Abby and Ben love reading/looking at books. I love finding them on the couch or in Abby's "reading nook," sharing a book or reading independently but somewhat together. So sweet!

Big sister reading a book to her brother. LOVE!

I decided to grab a shot of the whole backyard, knowing that things change around the house over the years and sometimes we don't capture it. You can see the temporary wire fence Kevin put up for just over $100 at the beginning of last summer. We hope to have enough money (sometime!) to put up a nice vinyl fence that will encompass some of the north side yard as well, but for now this has been a lifesaver as the kids can safely play in the backyard without me being out there constantly.

And closer up you can see the kids displaying their treasures from a recent trip to the beach. :)

This was a funny picture when Abby and Ben situated Jake with tons of stuffed animals, blankets, and hats on the rocking chair. He insisted he was quite comfortable. :)

Storytime with Daddy before bed.

Jake went through a strange phase for awhile where he would plead for at least ten blankets on his bed. I would enforce a reasonable limit, but often after I left the room he would quietly do his own thing and when I would go to wake him up from his nap, I never knew where or how I would find him! In the first picture he ended gathering every pillow in the room and all the blankets, and fell asleep on top of them all lying the opposite direction in his bed. In the second picture, he gathered most of the blankets and pillows and set them up on the floor. Abby and Ben are helping to wake him up and he is none too happy about it. :)

Just so I have this down for the record in case I wonder about the time-frame someday (and this seems as good as spot as any!), Abby very rarely takes naps anymore. I occasionally make her lie down, but even if I do she very rarely sleeps. I usually make Ben take a nap still (often in my bed) and will sometimes nap with him, but honestly he doesn't really need one anymore and sometimes he and Abby are being so sweet together in the afternoon (see the reading pictures at the beginning of the post!) that I don't have the heart to make him take a nap. Of course, all of this is a bit difficult with them all sharing the same room and thus bedtime is the same for everyone regardless if one or two or three have taken a nap. It will be nice when Kevin finishes the shed and can move his office out there so that Abby can have her own room. I'm sure she would fall asleep earlier at night if it wasn't for the boys keeping her awake with their gabbing since they had naps and she didn't. Hopefully this will happen soon! Kevin is so, so, so close to being done with the shed but has just been so busy with boat work all spring and hasn't been home much.

Since last summer, Abby and Ben have fallen into a pattern of taking turns sleeping in my bed on the nights Kevin is gone (well not every night - sometimes I just don't want to deal with anyone else in there!). One night while Abby was waiting for me to get ready for bed, I found her like this, reading from Genesis from my Bible. :o) Because she would ask, I had often read aloud whatever Bible reading I was going through that night, but it was fun to see her reading on her own and she often does this now when she sleeps in my room.

And a final picture of Jake cuddling with the cat. I think I've mentioned this before, but I am so pleased that Calvin has finally warmed up to all the kids. Honestly, I'm shocked at how friendly he is with them now and I LOVE finding the kids snuggling or petting him. :)