Wildflowers in the Spring

Life with five little ones is BUSY. They are growing so fast - so I wanted to pause and capture them this Spring in the field of Wildflowers near our home. Sawyer, 8. Aspen, 7. Hazel, 4. Hudson, 2. And Juniper, 3 months old. 

They are our everything. (And we think they're pretty cute, too!) 

Easter & Bluebonnets

We have lived in Texas now for 4 Springs. Something I absolutely adore about Texas, is all of the wildflowers that bloom in the Spring. The bluebonnets line the highways and country roads and are truly a sight to see. Of course, most Texans grab their kids and their camera to go take pictures of them in the bluebonnets - much like we did in the Tulip Fields of the Skagit Valley when we lived in Seattle. Somehow, this is the first year I have taken photos of my children in the bluebonnets. And I am so glad I did! 

A few things I love about each one, right now: Sawyer has recently started losing some teeth (2 to be exact, one on top and one on bottom). It gives him the most cute and silly country-boy grin ever! He's also getting so skinny - stretching out into a bigger-little boy look. Growing up. Aspen is always a beauty. Truly, inside and out she is one of the most beautiful people I know. She recently asked if we could adopt a baby because she knows there are so many that need a good family. Hazel. She is three - and she is so so snuggly. She could give kisses and hugs and sit on my lap and snuggle all the live long day. She loves her siblings but also sometimes wanders into her own little world. She has gorgeous eyes and if we're not careful she can use them to her advantage ;) And Hudson, oh boy. He is all boy. Into everything, yet also loves to steal Hazel's little baby doll and kiss her and hug her. Loves the outdoors and loves to grab my hand and say "yet's GO!" Oh, how I love my little crazy crew. 

The past week or so I have been working on sewing the girls' Easter dresses, and I finished them earlier this week. The weekend can get so exciting and busy that I decided to have them try on their dresses - and then got their brothers dressed up, too - and we went to spend an hour at the park yesterday afternoon. Before we went back to the van, we found a perfect little patch of bluebonnets and I took a few pictures of my (yes I am biased) darling children, twirling and laughing in the wildflowers in all their Spring time glory. Of course some have a longer tolerance than others for pictures, and while Aspen could well be a children's clothing model, and is super patient with pictures, Hudson was ready to book it back to the playground after about 5 minutes. Sawyer isn't a fan. And Hazel tends to make funny faces rather than be natural. All in all, though, I am very pleased with what we got. All my babies, all in linen, all with their summer saltwater sandals, and most with smiles. Who doesn't love twirling around in a field of wildflowers!?!

I couldn't help but think that the Earth is bursting and blooming in celebration of Easter. What a beautiful reminder, and beautiful sight! Happy Easter, everyone!

life lately // spring has sprung

We had a busy spring, with all the "normals" of life with four small children. In addition, we were able to enjoy Sawyer's first spring break, as well as a break of our own as we took our gang to enjoy Florida's Emerald Coast, with a stop in New Orleans as well. We had visits from both of our parents, one set from Utah, the other set from Oregon. Time just doesn't seem to slow down, does it?

1. baby toes are so tasty
2. looking for dinosaur tracks in the san gabriel river
3. little foot/big foot - we found acrocanthosaurus tracks in the riverbed, pretty amazing
4. taking barbie and her friends for a dip in the river at doe skin ranch
5. sweet view as I was hiking with hudson in the ergo
6. reading together on a sunny spring morning
7. make a wish, little one
8. picking out flowers for our hanging baskets with one of my favorite girls in our matching saltwaters
9. enjoying the warm weather and showing my littles how fun it is to turn cartwheels through the sprinklers
10. a little messy?
11. a few of our favorite easter treasures
12. a little afternoon painting, always a favorite
13. his first time going down the slide at our neighborhood playground
14. boys and trees, always irresistible 
15. learning about paris in our homeschool studies
16. aspen's eiffel tower, made with wafers and peanut butter, which we proceeded to eat right up
17. baby's first time at the beach
18. our kids' first time in a real toy store, and such a darling one
19. cutest post office I ever did see (seaside, florida)
20. studying and admiring 
21. I think his blue eyes are here to stay
22. backyard still life
23. on the fairy trail at the botanical gardens
24. my little artist painting a giant squid
25. another water baby - he loves the water
26. ready to swing our way into summer