day 9 - we're having a baby...

...stay at our house for 24 hours! Well, technically he's not a baby - he's 14 months old.

A sweet boy like this makes me think our family needs another baby - we have decided we are definitely ready for more nieces and nephews.

day 8 - pool upgrade

M and G decided our pool (see yesterday's photo) needed an upgrade. They added a slide. This is the result. Doesn't look like it hurts too badly...

day 7 - our pool

Someday we'll have a bigger pool (hopefully), but for now this will do just fine.

day 6 - heaven and hell

To properly mark the first day of summer vacation, we visited our local sno-ball establishment, Mam's House of Ice. It's a little taste of heaven in a styrofoam cup...

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Unfortunately, a brain-freeze is a little bit like hell...

day 5 - it's all about the shoes

We took the kids bowling for the first time tonight. They had a blast dropping the ball down the lane.

As we were leaving, I asked M if she had a good time. Her response, "Do we get to take the shoes home?"

Love it. I've always wanted a pair of bowling shoes...

day 4 - let's get one thing straight

So G starts off swim lessons by wagging his finger at his teacher and saying in a stern voice, "You may not push me under the water. Do you understand?"

The kid just doesn't like water in his eyes...I totally understand.

Miss Cricket said he can use goggles for the second session.

day 3 - what we do for fun around here

Pillow sledding down the stairs.

Oh to be young and fearless...

day 2 - bee cheerios

G loves cereal, specifically Honey Nut Cheerios (a.k.a. Bee Cheerios). They are one of the first of life's many small joys G has discovered. Some consider cereal a breakfast food...why limit them to breakfast? Here he is enjoying a bowl at 5:15 p.m. No, not dinner...a snack.

day 1 - what's in a name?

"Hurry up." These are the words I find myself saying all too often - to myself and to my sweet children - when what I really need to be saying is "slow down." I find that I am so often rushing through the day, forgetting to slow down and enjoy the special moments and little victories that each day holds.

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My goal over the next 365 days is to hurry up (and) slow down and appreciate each day and the moments it holds as the special gifts from God that they are. I hope that taking a picture a day and posting it will keep me accountable and that some of you will get a kick out of having a glimpse into our crazy wonderful life!

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Little victory caught on camera: M has finally mastered "pumping." Check out her face. She's so excited about high she can swing "all by myself!"