Portraits of my Children {beachside at Bayshore Park}

Parker: 10 and a half \ tenderhearted, funny, and kind \ the first to clean up a room and the last to get in the car \ prefers a piano over a football \ an art camp in town over a church camp away \ books over bikes \ steak over hot dogs \ smoothies over milkshakes \ peace over happiness ... he's perfectly content to be his own guy, unique and different to the rest, and he's keenly aware of his love for God and living his life right for Him

Monty: 8 \ adventurous, go-getter, who will argue his case till the cows come home and then the next week, have the sweetest, gentlest spirit \ the last to clean up a room and the first to get in the car \ loves extreme sports over the regular safe kind \ prefers spaghetti over burgers \ ice cream over custard \ instant gratification over patience \ protector of his family \ wants to live life to the fullest and try his hand at everything \ will do anything for little sister \ completely wrapped around her finger

Elliot: 5 and three quarters \ so funny, big hugger, soft heart \ wants to "grow" backwards and become a baby again \ still trying to understand that that's not gonna happen \ will only clean if mom is helping or otherwise - tears! \ can't sleep without brothers in the room with him and so, when they spend the night away, he sleeps on our floor \ is the only one invited to give Scarlet a night night kiss after mom tucks her in \ loves basketball cause he thinks he's good at it \ is adventurous and brave just like Monty but more chill \ loves carrots over every other fruit and veggie \ easy going and patient \ eager to please and loves being the center of attention

Scarlet: 2 \ sweet and clever and funny and awesome \ spoiled by her adoring family and all the better for it \ loves to squeeze into tight places meaning, where ever someone is sitting (mom, dad, or brothers) she'll squeeze in alongside \ loves pretending she's big and then asking to be held like baby \ loves having a blanket thrown over her and then yelling for us to find her \ when we do, she says "shhhh" and then hides again \ talking so much now \ has the worst tantrums every time we try to put her in her car seat \ wants to sit in the back, she says \ dislikes ponytails but likes bows still \ loves swimming (to my leg when I'm sitting on the side and then requires a push on her bottom back to the steps where she repeats), biking, scooters, trampolining \ spending time in her tree house \ drawing tiny circles in her art books \ cousin Adorlee \ bubbles \ eggs (which she's apparently allergic to but no reaction, so yay!), hot cocoa \ mangoes \ avocados \ bubble guppies \ her duppy was split into 5 pieces so now there's a big duppy and several baby duppies to avoid future loss and subsequent trauma \ just means that sometimes we have to sleep with 5 duppies instead of 1 \ tomboy and girly girl mixed into one happy little lady who's filled with love and gentleness and goodness

3 Birds and a Butterfly

{this a part of a series called the 52 project, a portrait of each of my children almost every week of the year in 2013}

The middle of July 

Parker - summer sun on your pale skin

Monty - picking flowers for me 

Elliot - spiderman is baaaack!

Scarlet - teary eyed princess

3 Birds and a Butterfly

{This is a part of a series in 2013 called the 52 project. A photo of each of my kids every week of this year}

A lovely warm summer's day at the end of June

Parker - You've grown comfortable with picking up and holding Scarlet. It's wonderful to see your confidence grow in taking care of her. You're an incredible big brother to all of your siblings. 

Monty - You tell Scarlet a thousand times a day how beautiful she is. She will never lack for anything as long as you're nearby. 

Elliot - The bugs seem to love your sweetness this week, poor guy. You've got some terrible bites. You make me giggle cause you're such a great friend to every kid at every park in the city. I have to keep a watchful eye on you but I love the fact that you can be so bold and cute with everyone. 

Scarlet (only managed an iPhone pic) - You smile at us when we talk to you and you do that dreamy open mouth, nose squinch, eye wink kinda look that makes me feel like we're sharing a secret joke together. You're at the start of your (ongoing to be sure) interest in lights of any kind and you love to stare at them in complete absorption, often sharing a few mesmerizing words with the bulbs and windows. If I get you in the right mood, you'll agoo and awoo with me too. Ah, it's so awesome. And also, you rolled over twice this week. Twice! 

And finally, before the weekend is here, I'm whipping up a tiny look at today's outfit for you too. 

{All quite old: hat - Banana Republic, shirt - Kohls, necklace - thrifted, shorts - Express, shoes (are newer though) - Target

bracelets - South Africa, Brandy Melville, Madewell}

S tried to photobomb my arm candy shot this afternoon. ;)

3 Birds and a Butterfly

(first 3 pics taken by Phil)

{this is a part of the 52 project in 2013, a portrait of each of my children, every week of the year}

The middle of June

Parker - We gave you the first Harry Potter book a couple of days ago and your excitement was priceless. Your dad and I loved those books so we were kinda giddy at your reaction (well I suppose daddy doesn't really get all that giddy but you know what I mean). It may take a while to get through all of that and I'd even like it if I read it out loud with you. It's such a big deal though, the fact that you're able to read that well and yes, I know you're 8 and a half now but still. It's wild to me. 

Monty - You come up to Scarlet and gently whisper in her ear, "You're so beautiful, aren't you?" Today we celebrated your 6th birthday with some of your friends and cousins and you had such a blast. I think 6 is going to be an incredible year for you, little guy. 

Eliot - You don't like me very much right now and it makes me a little sad. I know we'll get past this soon enough and I knew this could happen as it does so often with the baby in the family, when a new one arrives to takes his place. But you've been naughtier lately and as a result, disciplined more often. And so all those "I love you"'s are reserved for daddy instead. I look forward to holding your hand again when we walk. I miss it. 

Scarlet - You have loved sleeping in our bed during these first 4 weeks of your life. I've loved that too though I appreciate the fact that you're in your room at night cause you are so noisy! It's unbelievable. It's grunting mostly ... lots of grunting. :)

3 Birds and a Butterfly

 {this is a part of a series in 2013, a portrait of each of my children *almost* every week}

Parker - You may not want to change Scarlet's diaper (as a older sister might) but you help me with Elliot now instead, buckling him into his seatbelt for me or helping him get ready in the mornings. Wish I could make your summer more interesting though.

Monty - Covered in chalk after decorating the rocks outside. 

Elliot - Finally figured out how to blow bubbles properly instead of just spitting at the wand. 

Scarlet - Ummmm ... just being a little boho baby ... no big deal. 

3 Birds and a Butterfly

{this is a part of a series in 2013, a portrait of each of my children *almost* every week of this year}

Nearing the end of May

Parker - 

School is out for the summer! And wow, that means that you're a 3rd grader now. I haven't had the time to absorb the fact that you're now in 3rd grade and that you said goodbye to everyone at school on Friday for a wonderfully long summer but what I can say is that I'm so proud of you and the incredible year that you had. You worked so hard and became so confident and independent. Your teacher had such a big part to play in that happening for you and I'm grateful to her for that. You also started with drum lessons and now we embark on a musical journey with drummer #2. This is a summer filled with new experiences for you and I can't wait to see it all unfold. Each summer has its own story and this one is sure to be awesome. 

Monty - 

This helmet is an early birthday present from your grandparents, who are in Australia for a while and have to miss your big day. You were hoping for a motorcycle helmet but this made you just as happy in the end. It was this or otherwise, a stuffie. You're a child of extremes and that's a perfect example of it!

Elliot -

 You've been asking dad to teach you the guitar and so this was one of your little jam sessions. Sweetness. 

Scarlet -

 This is the 6th day of your little life and I took a few photos of you in a toy doll bed that I found at a thrift store a week before you were born. You fit into it so perfectly. And you, little girl, are absolute perfection. You are such an indescribably tremendous gift to us. We are a blessed family. 

3 Birds and a Butterfly

{this is a part of a series in 2013, a portrait of each of my children, every week throughout this year}

Parker - enjoying the peace of baby's room

Monty - creating with dominoes

Elliot - drawing

Baby girl - way too squished to get a good shot but it's her nonetheless

This was a difficult week, a week of discipline I guess you could say. Monty and Elliot have started to play together more and as a result, fight more. They're both firecrackers, those two. They love passionately and fight passionately. So we've had little peace and much time spent crying in the bedroom. But this too shall pass. Parker takes moments to breath peacefully in quieter places and baby's room is an oasis. It's beautiful. I'd spend the day in there if I could ... reading, napping, playing a game of Candyland with them, drawing in sketch books. 2 of us would love nothing better than a room and something in our hands, while the other 2 need to move .... A LOT. Thank goodness for variety, the spice of life!

3 Boys

{this is a part of a series in 2013, a portrait of my kids, each week for the entire year - unless things get a little too crazy!}

Parker 

Every single day he draws a cartoon, usually inspired by his current favorite games. Used to be crazy Star Wars characters and now it's all Mario. Here we have Mario Music and Mario's Ten Commandments. They read ...

1. Bowzer shall not capture Peach twice (in a row) 

2. Enemy's can not jump on Mario's head (or Luigi's)

3. Bowzer can not get to MEGA

4. This game has to be fun!

5. It can't get to(o) hard (only on final battle)

Obviously all very important. :) 

Monty 

Always blanketed, always surrounded by soft, cuddly toys. 

Elliot 

He's practiced more this week than Monty's has. He's going to give M a run for his money too.