oh-io!!!

down to the falls...

waterfalls....

kids playing...

sleepy big boy!!!

trying to get a pic... and this kid just had to be in it!!

these three....

born a day apart.  her daddy was his daddy's best friend in middle school....

other friends!!!

c loved meeting his dog!!!!

i was just telling someone this week that i get sick of responding to the "oh, you have your hands full" comments.  i have four kids.  and sometimes, they are a crazy bunch.  i feel like everyone is always watching us, just because there are so many of us.  and they are close in age.  and they can be a bit wild.  (namely my two middle boys...)  i am (mostly) okay with all that.  

i want my kids to be well behaved.  (i mean, have you met a mom who DOESN'T want that?)  and i try hard.  but, there is ONE of me, and FOUR of them.  and brandon requires my arms a lot of the time.  and one of the others is at a tough age, where being quiet, sitting still, hand holding, etc, is just HARD.  and it requires both of my arms sometimes.  so, if you did the math, that's 2 kids that need 4 arms.  and, sadly, i only have 2 arms.  so, someone is usually left to their own devices.  

i will say, nora is an AMAZING help.  she will often hold her brother's hand so he's okay in the parking lot.  he listens to her well.  but, sometimes, we are just all crazy! 

anyway, back to my original point.  we have four kids.  JUST FOUR.  WHOA, FOUR.  i know that's a lot for some people.  we have always wanted four.  and yet, i feel like i have to justify that to everyone i meet.  or even friends.  i find myself constantly saying "i always wanted four; i am the oldest of four and i LOVE it!".  or "yes, we have four, but we are DONE, want to see the scar?"  

it's so silly... because i shouldn't have to justify it to ANYONE.  we decided (and even if we didn't decide) to have four kids.  and we can provide for all four.  there was some even some intentionality to our planning.  i.e.: no more than 2 in college at once.  

yes, four is busy.  and i am sure that sometimes (maybe a lot of times), i look a little harried.  as much as i try NOT to!  and my hands ARE full.  but i want them to be.  i am thankful for each of my kids.  so, saying that only makes me feel like i am not doing a good job of raising my kids.  or that you are pointing out that they are acting like monkeys and not human kids.  and, usually, i already know that and am either embarrassed or desperately trying to fix it.  

that said, i am sure that there are so many things i say, similar to that, without thinking that can bother someone.  so, i am sorry!!!  i really try not to!