far and away..

don't be scared...

of this man...

he is, in fact, my darling husband!  

just chilling in singapore, with his new 'stache!

wrapping up this week!

a birthday dinner for the birthday boy.  

he was so sad to leave the house that i told him he could bring his legos with!  he spent the evening doing his legos!!!

just saying cheese!

our view on wednesday morning!

this kid.  it was too bright, and he "needed" sunglasses!

sweet james and his new lego.  that he built by himself.  even though the box says "8-14 yrs old"

career day at school.  he was a detective.  

at the parade.  

up on stage!

just chilling with daddy!

this transition to 4 has been fun.  and so helpful that alyssa has been here!  the other day it dawned on me, however, that i don't get to redo this time.  i won't come back to this time when it's less busy.  or i am a better mother/housekeeper/friend.  this is it.  (i know- not a huge surprise… that's life, right!  and i also know, i am not even guaranteed tomorrow… but for whatever reason, this was a revelation to me!)

for years, i have talked somewhat on here (and in real life) about wanting to be more intentional.  and in some regards, i am making small improvements.  this year, for example, instead of overcommitting myself, like i can do, i chose to be involved in what i felt called to do, and what i wanted to do.  i said no to things (good things) that just didn't work for this time of my life.  

but there are so many areas where i could be better, still!  (that's also part of life, right?)  i am working to be aware of those areas and make better choices.  

and something that has come up quite a few times this week, since last weeks' sermon at church, is whose approval i am seeking?  i went to james' class for career day, and felt like i was so not cool.  and was kinda bumming about it as i drove home.  and then remembered WHY i went there.  because james wanted me to.  he said i was the coolest and he was so glad i was there!  and changed my whole perspective on it.  

the same goes for my four kids.  sometimes i feel like we are a crazy whirlwind and people wonder why i have four kids, or just think i can't handle it.  but i can, and i am.  and it doesn't really matter what they think.  the important thing is between God and me.  and God and my kids.  and we are going to be messy and crazy.  (come on- i have THREE BOYS!)  but i don't want little robots.  i LOVE my kids.  

riding in cars...

riding hawaiian style!

friends.  and the 2 year old who can't NOT be in a picture currently!

loving his brother...

smiles...

trying to be a big kid… if only his mommy would let him sleep in the big boy bed!  

(too much change in one month for this mommy!!!)

sleepy baby.

trying to wake him up…

can't have too many legos, right?

we went to the lego store for his birthday!

growing up...

i am talking in jamey's class for career day tomorrow.  not sure i am old enough to do this!  but using this pic, of when i was promoted on the USS Midway.  in 2005.  

my sweet friend took newborn pics of brandon.  these were in our backyard!  

she has a website (here) if you are interested in more pics…  or are local and want pictures done!  she's amazing!

and this little boy is so cute...

and then there's this pic.  

tuesday...

cute boy running down the hall in his daddy's hat!

outdoor movie night!

sleeping boy.  not happy that i was taking a picture!

another sleeping boy.  he woke up early, but wasn't ready to be awake!!

two boys...

bottle time!

we drove on to base the other day and saw mr b's ship.  c pointed it out, and then said, "daddy's ship, bye bye".  then he said "mommy on a ship?"  no, mommy doesn't leave…  and then he said "daddy a hero".  sweet boy!  i love that he loves daddy!!!  and knows his daddy is a hero!  

being showered...

nora jeanne

 

james patrick

christopher david

brandon peter

just comparing the babies...

my sweet friends here threw me a baby shower.  

it was so much fun to just sit and enjoy their company!  

just trying to figure out what outfit to wear...

my baby shower gift… it's a "sea bag".  made from recycled sails.  i first saw the bags YEARS ago in maine with my sister in law, sarah.  their flagship store is near david's family house in maine.  i have LOVED them, and could never bring myself to buy one.  i saw this diaper bag, and was raving about it to my friends.  they decided this should be my shower gift.  i am so excited about it!!!  (mostly because, it might be a diaper bag, but i see it as a "rest of my life" bag!!!)

spring break outings...

matsumotos...

couldn't be bothered.  but looked too cute in his hat!

nora may be in EVERY japanese tourists' picture that was at matsumotos that day.  they kept coming over and asking to pose with her.  

but this sums up our day.  c throwing a temper tantrum cause he wasn't getting his way!  (it's a good thing he's cute..  cause then he will turn to me and say, unprompted, "love you mommy".)  

oh… and my big kids.  forgot shoes.  for our hike.  to the waterfall.  hawaii problems…  thankfully, no one else ever wears shoes either!

rare awake moments!

these blondies!

he does love to hold his brother!

the farmers' market...

ono pops.  locally made from fruit puree…  and the fam sells them at the various farmers' markets.  (as well as some grocery stores.  so legit!)

i forgot to mention, james' party was a sleep over with his friend, dayton.  he had so much fun!  and i am so glad.  i just didn't have it in me to do the "whole class" birthday party he had asked for!  

an almost birthday...

building legos...

his lego cake.  thankfully, he didn't notice how not pretty it was!!!

auntie byssa made a chocolate emmit...

and chocolate legos!

with lego candles!!!

opening presents!

yay!

watching "larry boy"…  the birthday boy's pick!

nora worked hard all afternoon to make him this present!  she colored and cut out all the pictures of the lego characters and made him a "poster".  so precious!!

today, the kids and i ventured to church by ourselves.  christopher has been throwing temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way.  or when i won't hold him.  and i couldn't carry him up the stairs to church.  so he threw a temper tantrum.  when he got to the top, i picked him up and carried him in to the nursery.  

when i got there, he was still screaming.  and i expected to have to walk in with him and calm him down.  but the dad working the nursery just took him and walked away from the door so i could escape.  

then, i walked in to church and nursed the babe.  when he fussed for a second, another mom just took him and cuddled him through the whole service.

after church, a mom came up and said her husband could come and pick up the boys after naps and take them to the park!  (i, SADLY, had to say no to that… or a rain check)  

i left church feeling so OVERWHELMINGLY loved and cared for.   and then, some girl friends threw me a shower.  and we spent the afternoon just enjoying the company of our friends!  what a blessed life!!