Another be with-er

I often wonder if I generally have a look of being out of control or just out of it when I am out in public with our kids.  I pretty regularly have people reminding me where my kids are and what imminent danger awaits them.  Now, I will be honest, there has been a time or five when one of them slips under the radar for a minute.  Like the time we all got off the tram at the Wild Animal Park and went one way and Joseph went the other.  Actually, poor guy, that has happened to him a couple of times.  But those times aside and despite the look on my face in public, I do have a pretty good grasp on our kids and what they are up to.  

I heard the other day of a friend of ours, a dad who also homeschools, saying how he does not feel like the years are slipping by.  You know the sentiment - the kids are growing up so fast, etc.  He said, "We are with them constantly.  I am not missing a thing."  I have to say I feel the same way.  I do not feel at all that the days are passing too quickly (too slowly sometimes, but that is another conversation). 

Anyway, that is my point in all this.  Despite the look on my face, I do know my kids and in general what they are up to.  For example, one might think the kid in the first 5 pictures is under fed, always begging for food.  On the contrary, he just likes to be with.  Wants to be doing what we are doing.  And while one day I will miss this little beggar, I do not think I will feel like I will have let these days slip by.

The youngests in spring

I sure love those grubby little fingers and hacked off bangs.

They got a bunny next door

The out takes

Mostly these are out takes because they are blurry.  I was having focusing issues.  (I think I still have focusing issues, but that is for another post.) But these do typify their relationship.

Second generation

Remember these two?  Their Grandpa Tony (who went to be with Jesus this past fall), sent these pj's for Christmas.  Joseph was so pudgy.  Even his feet were pudgy.

These two wore the same pj's all winter this year.  I kept meaning to take their picture.  Finally, in February, I squeezed Henry in them for the last time and took a few pics.  Getting him the pj's was much easier than getting the picture.  (see out takes in next post.)

The Sand Man

I used to say, "Don't sit in the sand box."  I don't say that anymore. One less thing to nag.  I wish I had learned that earlier.  I wish I really understood how to practice it now.  Who cares about a little sand in the crack.  

 He thinks she is hilarious.

He thinks life is hilarious.

At the "drive" in

Black Beauty.  

Viewed from themed seating.

Well, at least he thinks he is walking

In it, on it, under it

Now you understand how it happened that I left the room for 60 seconds to use the bathroom and came back to find him standing in the middle of the dining room table.

A year already!?

And we can't imagine the year without him.