when the phone camera will have to do

how many times have you wanted your camera and either couldn't find it or just couldn't get to it in time?  you knew the moment would be gone...so, here are a few pics i captured on my phone from lately. 

elise showing isaac the ropes in the tupperware cabinet

isaac caught in the act...

and then hamming it up!

elise has "her guys" that go with her just about everywhere.  on this morning, the collected grew as she added two dogs to the gang. 

the gang's all here

you'll have to excuse how out of order these pictures are.  i'm having a terrible time trying to insert them in the order i want!  anyway, here are some pics from aunt laura's visit with nora...including new baby cousin jael...and our times together (after nora's hospital stay and broken foot that is!)  they were quite the troopers and still managed to enjoy day trips to the museum and zoo!  miss you guys already!

six little ducks

if you've ever watched Barney, you've probably heard the six little ducks song, while watching kids waddle and dance with their umbrellas, while wearing rain boots. well...elise has officially brought this song from the video to our living room :)

 

 

 

 

 

our little man

our little boy is turning one in less than a month and i can harldy take it in.  here are a few recent pics of his great smile, 6 teeth, short hair, crazy crawling, cruising, playing, watching out the window, and yes, even walking (7 steps has been his max thus far).  he's a snuggly bundle of joy and i love him more each day.

no matter how thin he seems to get, those chubby legs are his trademark!

after just having his hair trimmed to match daddy's, his mouthful of hair made him look like he was growing a beard already!

already fixing stuff like his daddy...

thirty

my 30th birthday was wonderful.  my sweet sisters from church threw me a surprise party which was such a blessing.  it was sweet time to fellowship, enjoy eachother's company without children around, and be blessed by their encouragement.  then we had a great dinner with my folks.  the next day (my actual birthday) justin had off because of the morning rain...so we took to the kids to the aquarium.  elise was so sweet with her genuine excitement.  all we kept hearing was, "oh my goodness!  oh my goodness!"  as we left, we attempted a family photo...enjoy :)  thanks to all who made it a great birthday! 

summer do

our little man needed a summer do...

i love, love, love his hair!

but it had to be done...

he would have sweat all summer...

daddy did it...

i held him...

he looks so different!  but still so cute!

here's the before...

and after!!

my sweet boy!  (as if he didn't already look like his daddy...now they have matching hair cuts!)

can you believe all the hair?!  all you folks out there with bald babies, don't be jealous!

easter

we enjoyed a fabulous easter sunday.  it began with an egg hunt at home.  no matter how many times i encouraged elise to find eggs quickly (in practice for the egg hunt to come that afternoon), she insisted on opening each and every egg as she found it!  i should stop and enjoy her not-so-rushed pace :)

hanging out while lisey hunted for eggs

after church, we had a delicious lunch at mimi and grampy's house.  grampy's french toast was a hit with everyone, including isaac!  then we headed over to oma and papa's for another egg hunt & dinner.

he loves the grass

i love his face in this one!  that's exactly what i think of beer too buddy!

cousins!

"how's this for a smile, mom?  get this hat off me!"

standing by himself!!!!