Photographic essay of Isaac























































Please notice his hair in the above photos. It is red with white blonde scattered about. Isn't he a doll! He will be 11 months old on Saturday!

Some pictures of my biggest girl! Celeste turned 8 in July. She is getting be so big! We took a field trip on Thursday to Vulcan Materials. It was really cool. We saw them drilling, hauling, dumping, and crushing the rocks. The first photo is Celeste on the field trip. The other photo is of the two of us. Lydia took the picture. She has quite the photographic eye! as always, you can click to make the pictures larger.

My life is so good.

Yesterday was my mother's 59th birthday. She is healthy. Praise God!

Today, on September 11th, we spend so much time looking back at the tragedy that occured six years ago. So many were affected directly, and I think we were all indirectly affected. I decided today that my life is good, not in a making lemons out of lemonade way, but really truly good.

Isaac threw up in his crib, again, this morning. So I stripped his sheets, put them in my washing machine, that works, that has water and electricity, that runs in its very own laundry room. I spent the morning snuggling him, nursing him, giving him whatever he needed to feel better.

I cleaned up our family room, where our TV, DVD player, and computer reside, the place where we siit as a family to read books or watch football. The room is always pleasantly cooled by our AC or nicley warmed by a fire. We have each other. We are healthy.

I laughed as Samuel played doctor using my earbuds for his "stefascoop." He checked my eyes, ears, mouth, feet, knees, and armpits. Then he checked Isaac out. He did all of this while wearing no clothes at all! However, he was naked by choice. He has plenty of clothing and food and love.

My three big children went to school this morning. They went to an amazing public school that is run by caring and compassionate people. They went to teachers who truly care about their well being, who WANT my children to learn amazing lessons and not just the three R's.

My sweet husband took my children to school. He took out the trash, and he loaded the darling children into his truck. He doesn't just drive them. He uses the time to have amazing discussions with them. Sometimes they talk about Bible class lessons, or the sermon on Sunday. Sometimes they talk about an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal. Sometimes, they just talk about life.

My life is amazing. I have been blessed in ways I don't see and ways that are in front of me every second of the day. Count your blessings. Thank God for every single one of them.

you can tell me he isn't cute, but you'd be lying!






I've been telling everyone that Isaac is walking. Some of you have been fortunate enough to see it. For those of you who live far away or haven't seen us in a few weeks, here you go! Now you get stop action footage of little man walking.

He turned 10 months old on August 28th.

Just so no one worries. Samuel was fine. When I picked him up this afternoon, he gave me a BIG hug. Then he said,"I want to go back there." So, he loves school again. It is the leaving mommy he doesn't like!

Wherein I become a terrible mother.

This was the first day of school for Samuel. He is only 2. I have never sent one of my children to preschool this young. Celeste was 4 before I sent her to school, and Lydia and William were 3. However, all 3 big kids are in school all day, and Samuel gets bored and lonely. It is for 2 days a week: Tuesday and Thursday.

I walked him in on Tuesday. He was a little ambivalent. I sat with him and we read a couple of books. I waited until he was engrossed in a book and snuck out. He was fine. I checked in on him later to make sure he was ok in class, and he was having fun. When I picked him up, he smiled, hugged me, and told me all about his day.

This morning, we got up and dressed for school. I packed his lunch. We put on shoes and got our backpack. Then we left home. Everything was fine! Then, we pulled into the parking lot.

"I don't want to go here," he says.

"You love school. It will be so much fun," says the mommy.

LEt's just say, it didn't go well. I decided to drop him in the carpool line because I knew if I walked in with him, I would never leave. So I left him.
crying
upset
sad

I left him. I did call the school to make sure he was ok. He is fine. He is playing with friends. I will pick him up at 12:45 and he will tell me how much fun it was.

Next Tuesday, I hope it goes better. I don't like the crying!

The whole motley crew! William 5, Samuel 2, Lydia 6.5, Celeste 8, Daddy age unspecified, Isaac 10 months old! Keep an eye out tomorrow for some GREAT pictures from the zoo. I might even add a funny story in!

Isaac is funny!


Isaac is REALLY funny!

Celeste reads!


Samuel swims!


The girls pose! Celeste on the left, just turned 8. Lydia on the right will be 7 in December.

Isaac explores the water for the first time.


Whatcha lookin at?


Lydia and William nighttime digging in the sand.




William swims!

Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but I haven't blogged in FIVE MONTHS! I've uploaded new photos to my family site, but nothing here. Shame on me! So, just a few words, then some pictures! Celeste, Lydia, and William started school two weeks ago. We love our teachers. Mama loves the quiet for a few hours a day. It is amazing what gets done with only two little people underfoot.

We have had a heat wave the last three weeks or so. It has been over or near 100 degrees every day. Woo! Today's high is in the low 90's and for that we are truly thankful.

Samuel gets smarter every day. Isaac is 10 months old TOMORROW and is walking! Ok, enough teasing, now photos. I promise to try to keep you more up to date!

I just learned something new! If you click on any of the pictures below, you can see it bigger! Cool huh!

One more of William with a clean face.

Pictures of my bigger kids. I finally got some good ones. Did I mention the kidlets got in the mud again?

Babies in the bucket! At the zoo, they have an "Alabama Wilds" section. At Grandma's house, this great bucket sits on the front porch next to a rocking chair. Several of our friends have taken pics of their children in the bucket, so today we took out turn!

Isaac

Celeste, 8 in July, carrying Isaac 4.5 months old, in my BabyHawk MeiTai.

Notice anything different?

OK, my sister wants to know why I never post pictures of the girls. When I say,"Smile!" or "Let me take your picture," this is what I get.

My BABY sister says I post too many pictures of Samuel. The fact of the matter is that he is with me every day, and he does more stuff than Isaac. However, she has a point. So today, you get 3 pics of Isaac, because he sits still, and one of William. I will try to get girly pics this weekend.