seven years

Patrick and I just celebrated our anniversary.
Seven years.





Happy Anniversary, Patrick.
Here's to walking side-by-side for the next seven years.

the lazies

After a full day of birthday celebrating yesterday, today we're all really tired. And we're feeling
v e r y
l a z y.
We stayed in our pj's almost all morning, ate chocolate-chip pancakes late (closer to morning snack time than breakfast time), and we haven't gotten in our van to go
any
where.
The boys have been playing with Henry's new birthday toys and cruising the streets (ok, the sidewalks) in Henry's Gator.
Nice, fun, LAZY day!

happy birthday henry!

You're FOUR today!
You are finally
this big...




Happy fourth Birthday, Henry!
You are a boy with big plans.
As you continue to grow we continue to pray that you would love Jesus and seek His plans for your life.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

four

My baby is turning four tomorrow.

Usually I first think
a-l-r-e-a-d-y?
But this time, its more like
we've had four
incredible years
with this
sweet
boy.








after reminiscing over these past four years in pictures, I'm publishing this post with some teary eyes. I remember that 22nd day in July of 2005 so vividly. I can recall with great detail the hours leading up to Henry's birth on that early morning and the moments after it. We were so excited to become parents and so thankful for a healthy baby boy. What's harder to remember is life before that 22nd day of July in 2005. I know it sounds cliche, but it's sometime hard to picture our lives before Henry came into them.
When I think of Henry and these last four years,I think
joy,
fun,
daring,
sweet,
excited,
empathetic,
cranky at times,
early-mornings,
great naps,
strong will,
silly,
energy,
fearless,
chocolate milk,
tractors,
blonde streak,
jumping,
bike-riding,
green,
mint-chip ice-cream,
crocs,
happy,
talkative,
inquisitive,
forgiving,
love,
thankful.

here kitty

h e r e,
k i t t y

k i t t y,

kitty

and just for fun
here's Henry's first reaction to the kitties when he was about the same age


I found these as I was looking through our pictures from our weekend with Dan and Sara and the boys in Chicago over Memorial Day.
Our sheltered children clearly need a pet!
I may be ready to start with
something small.
Like a
goldfish,
maybe...

consecutive numbers

Today is July 8, 2009 or 7.8.09.
And these guys are
1, 2, 3, 4
{but only for a 14
days more}.


or if you prefer,





I could have also called this post b l e s s e d
or f o r t u n a t e
or great timing
or cousins
or b e s t o f f r i e n d s
because all of this is true of these four boys.

These pictures are from a fun filled weekend we spent together in Chicago
during the long
Memorial Day
weekend.

the fourth

We celebrated the fourth on the fifth of July this year. It rained nonstop all day on July 4. Most festivities including the fireworks were postponed until the fifth. While we woke up to dark skies and rain on Saturday, we woke up on Sunday to sunshine and an amazingly perfect day.

This year to celebrate we
went to a parade




and the boys got candy.
Lots of candy.
They each have a bag full.

We grilled burgers and hotdogs with friends.
The kids played in the backyard
and ate outside on big blankets.




We gave Henry his first ever sparklers,


and we went to see the fireworks.




the fireworks were loud.
And these two guys kept shouting (even louder)
"the fireworks tooted!" "the fireworks tooted!"
We pretended we didn't know who they were with.
:-)

It was a great day. I really love the fourth of July. (well, in this case, I really loved the fifth!)

free

I pledge allegiance

to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the Republic

for which it stands:

one nation

under God,

indivisible,

with liberty

and justice

for all.