Easter 2015

Sorry for the long silence. We were hibernating during the long winter. But...spring is finally here. The grass has just started to turn from brown to green, and last week our daffodils made appearances. The boys are growing and changing, too.

We spent Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's with the cousins. The boys had a great time hunting for Easter eggs with their cousins--a hunt that's growing more and more competitive--and eating too much candy.

All the cousins. Not a good picture, but the best we could do.

At least this guy sits still for pictures. (Bennett, age 9 months)

The World From Grant's Perspective

Grant has been interested in my camera lately. This started one day when we were in Costa Rica, and now whenever I pull out my camera he wants to have a turn too. I love going back through the photos and seeing the world from Grant's perspective.

Here are some he took in Costa Rica:

And here are some he took at home around Christmastime:

His view of the world is definitely his own. I love seeing all the details that he captures.

Christmas Recap

December was even more of a whirlwind than usual, with our trip to Costa Rica followed just a couple of weeks later by Christmas. It was by far the best Christmas season we've had. The boys are big enough to understand and get excited about the traditions, which makes them so much fun to watch.

We did an advent calendar this year. Every morning, the boys rushed downstairs to see what was in the day's pocket (usually candy or a small toy) and then counted how many days until Christmas.

G opted to write Santa a letter this year instead of sitting of visiting with him in person. It says: "Dear Santa, I want a tarantula (not a real one). And a scorpion. Don't give me a real one. And a candy cane puppet. Love, Grant" Miles' letter, which was dictated to me, was short and sweet. It said: "I want a train. Love, Miles"

One day Miles came home from school wearing antlers and red fuzzy dot on his nose. He wore it for the rest of the day and insisted we call him Rudolph.

Grant asked repeatedly for a Santa hat, so on the last day of school before break, there was one waiting for him in his carseat when I picked him up. He wore it almost every day until Christmas.

I had the week of Christmas off. In all honesty, we spent three out of the seven days in our pajamas, and it was awesome. Here was the day we made a gingerbread house in our jammies.

We hosted the extended Smith family for Christmas Eve dinner, which was a whirlwind of presents and sugar overload. There are now seven boys in the family, ages 6 months to 8 years old.

On Christmas morning, the boys slept in a little bit but had no patience when it came to getting downstairs: "Hurry up, Mom! It's Christmas!" Santa brought a train track, toy tarantula and scorpion, plus practical stuff like socks, underwear and art supplies.

Also under the tree were gifts from Mom and Dad like a new helicopter for Grant and chef outfit for Miles.

After getting dressed, the boys were patient for about 2 minutes of picture taking. 

Grant, my budding photographer, took this picture of Kent and me. 

Later, when we had family around to take a family pictures, this was the best we could do. Miles was being uncooperative as usual, and Grant was being just a little more so. But it captures the stage of life we're in perfectly.