Sweet is Liam

He really is the sweetest little boy I have ever met.  Mellow, cuddly and very quiet.  He is always giving out these wonderfully shy smiles.

I really just love him.

Liam is Aidric's little brother.  They are so cute together. 

Doesn't he just melt your heart?

Funny thing happened on my side of the family.  All the first born children have blue eyes.  Cadence, Avery, Aidric and Tyson all have big beautiful blues.  All the second born children have some variation of brown.  Rory, Liam and Gage all have these richly colored dark eyes.  It's pretty fun!

Liam loved the camera.  He was all over me to get his hands on it.  Sweet boy that he is, he did let me get some pictures of him too. 

I know this boy was sent specifically for his momma.  He just has a soothing effect on you when he is around and I know every mom needs a child like that.  He brings a little peace and goodness where ever he goes.

I miss you Liam.  My girls miss your kisses and your quiet mumbling. Hope we can see you again sometime soon!

Gage is his name...

...and he is cute as all get out.  

Gage is exactly one month older than Beckah.  It's happened a couple times now.  Avery is about 7 months older than Tyson. Tyson is three months older than Rory and Rory is 4 weeks older than Aidric.  Yes that means the right now we have four 3 year olds on my side of the family.  Thankfully Avery will be turning 4 very soon. 

But back to Gage...

Gage is Avery's baby.  No really, she has told me just that.  I think it's sweet that she loves him so much.   But how could you not love this boy?  

It's impossible. Not to love him, I mean.  

Gage has one awesome set of lungs.  He likes to squawk and squeal.  LOUDLY and often. 

Very vocal he is.   He is also really really happy.  He smiles at pretty much anyone.

He does play favorites though.  He loves his momma.  He even likes Grandma most of the time.  And surprisingly he LOVES me.  Since I don't see him that often (just in quickly texted pictures and videos) it was pretty sweet that he came right to me.

He is a complete ham.  I always have a ton of pictures of him because he just loves the camera.  It's awesome. 

Here are the two babies together.  Sigh.  So much cuteness in one place.

Don't worry Gage.  We can here you still. 

I miss you little buddy.  Next time I get to see you, you will probably be walking!

The fabulous Tyson

Sigh.  I really love his hair. 

This is my nephew Tyson.  He is totally awesome.  I honestly feel that his hair a pretty good representation of his personality.  You know, crazy but you just can't help love every second of his crazy. 

I miss his curly head so much.  We used to hang out all the time in Vegas.  

He also doesn't like posing for me, but I manage to get some smiles anyway.  

Here he is with his mommy, my youngest sister Cecily.  I know.  They are seriously good looking.  Hard not to be jealous. 

My sister is a single mom.  I think she does an awesome job and I am super proud of her.  I know I don't say that near enough, Cecily.  I think you are amazing and Tyson is super lucky.  

I love you sweet curly head!  

Aidric

I have four nephews.  This one is Aidric, my brother's oldest son. 

He has the most amazing blue eyes.  They remind me so much of Cadence's. Aidric LOVES Cadence. He would follow her around all day if he could.  It's a good thing that Cadence loves to have him tagging along!

Aidric is, in my dear husband's words, deliberate.  He is usually pretty quiet (around us anyway) and it always seems like he has a plan.

Don't worry he can turn on the crazy just like any kid his age.  He is clever and has a really great laugh.

And he takes after my brother.  Can't take a picture without trying to be silly first. 

We think your funny too buddy.

We miss your silly faces and playing dolls.  Not to may boys around here are willing to do that and in a house full of girls that particular trait is priceless.  

We love you Aidric!

This is Avery

I only have one niece on my side of the family.  Yes that means I am single handedly keeping my mom in girl grand-babies.  

My nieces name is Avery.  It took my sister and her husband almost a week to name her.  She is that unique. :o)

Avery is a joyful menace.  No really.  She is silly, fun, and has a stubborn streak a mile wide.  And I absolutely adore her. So do my girls.  They play and play and play.  And cry when they have to leave. 

In case you can't tell, she hates to take pictures.  I have to coax and ply and generally act like a crazy-face to get her to work with me.  

It's worth every minute. 

I love you so Avery.  My girls miss you very much and can't wait to hang out again sometime soon. 

Feelings captured...

I have been working on restoring some pictures for my mom and grandmother.   It is very painstaking work and has taken me much longer than I ever anticipated.   

I am really enjoying it though.  I am seeing pictures of my mom and uncles that I have never seen before.  I love seeing them young and silly.  I love seeing my grandma young and radiant.  I don't remember much about my grandfather.  He passed when I was two or three and I have enjoyed getting to know him a bit through pictures.  

In my work I came across this picture. 

I didn't change much about it except the crop.  It's funny how as a photographer I should be seeing how the colors are too washed out, or that there is some burn out happening on my grandma and grandpa.  

But all I can see is what my grandma is feeling right at that moment.  A little bit of peace in the sun with the man she chose to spend her life with.  

Beautiful. 

The things they say...

I wanted to get these two down so I don't forget them later.  A couple of days ago on the way to school Cadence and Rory had the following argument. 


Cadence found a dandelion to blow on. 

Cady: Rory here you can blow it with me and we can make a wish. (they blow annoying weed seeds into one of my neighbors yards)


Rory: What did you wish for?
Cady: A unicorn. What did you wish for?
Rory: A purple unicorn.
Cady: Unicorns can't be purple.
Rory: Yes they can.
Cady: No. They are white and sparkly with pink horns!
Rory: Mine is purple.
Cady: Mom! Tell Rory that unicorns CAN'T be purple.
Me: Unicorns aren't real so they can be any color you want them to be.
********silence*********
Cady: You're not being helpful mom. I know they aren't real. Rory you have to face it. Unicorns CAN'T be purple.
Rory: Yes they can. Mine can. She's magic. 


This went on until we got to school. 




Tonight at dinner we were talking about dreams.


Rory: Mom, I dreamed about a rainbow dinosaur and I had to kill him dead with my crayon sword in my pocket. 


Cadence: Mom, she's just faking that up.  It totally wasn't rainbow. 






They are totally a riot.