Random mumbling of happy children!

Messy Fingers

© Debra S. Higginbotham

Sticky fingers, tangled hair,

scattered crayons, everywhere.

Fancy artwork on the wall 

drawn by midgets three feet tall.

Tell me why  and tell me how '

that was mine  I want it NOW!

Fix my bike. Buy me gum.

If you have it, I want some.

Dirty faces, grass-stained knees,

learning words  like pretty please.

Endless hugs & goofy wet kisses,

learning respect with 'Mr.' & 'Mrs.'

Scraped-up hands, from falling down.

Tender tugs - - on my night gown.

Need more paper  for Santa's letter?

I wasn't so bad but I've been better.

Watching a movie  again and again 

Mommy, please put the tape back in.

Messy fingers hair gone wild 

all in the life of a precious child !!

Ahhh.... the joyous moments of life all around us. June has been productive, flying by so quick, and yet at a pace that is so sweet and enjoyable! We have stopped to admire baby ducks in the ponds, we've went to the Zoo, had picnics, and all the while, I have not had my camera!! That is a SERIOUS mishap!

But I did capture some moments!

WHY must my silly son think that sitting ON the table is an acceptable practice? Oh yes... because his lovely dad left his chocolate milk on the table. Declan was silent and chugging it as fast as he could when I captured this moment. Silly kid!

Did you know, I can almost never snap photos of just one of my girls? Its almost as if they are one child in two bodies. I'll try to snap a quick photo of Aurora and Daunika will quickly sit down in the photo. So precious!! 

Ahhh.... look at those EYES? Big brown eyes that make you a sucker for him all the time. He is really getting to look like a bigger kid too. 

Daunika and Aurora are definitely girls. Glamour dresses to play in the dirt outside? Absolutely. Don't forget the lip gloss..... Sigh. They grow so fast!

Speaking of growing.... I am indeed growing out of all my normal clothes now! at 15 weeks along in this pregnancy, this is by far the soonest to be out of my normal jeans. We had our prenatal appt and yet again we couldn't find a heart beat. Damon was there this time and was so positive and calm about our hidden baby. Both of us felt very confident that our baby was perfect and healthy but just hiding! I had to come back later in the day to get blood drawn and my favorite midwife at this practice came in and asked if I wanted her to try to find a heart beat.... sure enough, there was that beautiful little thump thump thump in there! What a beautiful sound. I wish Damon could have been there, but instead, our kids were there and excited about it!




These next pictures from yesterday were fantastic!! Did I mention I love zoom on my camera? I loved watching Moose really really try to keep up with Aurora. She obviously has the ability and agility to enjoy more features of this park than him, but you'd never suggest he wasn't having the time of his life following her!

 I mean, he was REALLY determined! So cute.

And during this time... Where did my big girl go? On her own quest.

 Somewhere between last year and this year, she has learned to LOVE swinging. Independence is a beautiful thing for Daunika. She enjoys the ability to control life!

 It amazes me that she never gets discouraged by the task of starting. These are not little swings. These are very tall, very big swings that she tackles with a determination that is clearly self motivation to enjoy them!

And what can I do but sit back and pray when shes flying that high! Though this picture doesn't show the wonder, thrill and accomplishment in her face, it would do her a disservice to hover. She worked hard to accomplish her goal of swinging high and I am so proud of her (and a tad nervous!)

Life is fabulous!

I love these goofs!

Ahhhhh..... Hear that? It's called Laughter. If you haven't heard it lately, please drop everything in your entire world and go listen. It's absolutely soul warming. Our "season" for work has started and I'm missing my husband completely and totally every day... but - there is one cure to the missing-husband blues - our childrens laughter!

I'm serious. There is NOTHING better in life than knowing our kids are happy, well rounded, silly, completely themselves and full of spirit! So, heres to the goofs. You know, those silly, funny, crazy nut heads that make up the three beautiful children we have!

This picture pretty much captures it well. Parents bed for jumping? Why of course! I figure lifes a little to short, jump away. The laughter makes me smile - so when the beds not made - JUMP to your hearts content!

Heres my real secret... Jumping on the bed leads to happy pictures which makes me uuber happy too!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...... Aren't YOU happier just thinking about jumping on a bed and being young again? I know I am. :)

Daunika's best friend turns FIVE !

Five years? Wow. Daunika has one very best friend in the whole world... which works out nicely since I happen to adore the whole family! From the very beginning... they have been friends :)

 And we were there to ring  in Josh's every birthday, as they were there for every Daunikas.....

Well.... BRING IT ON YOU FIVE YEAR OLDS!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see what five brings. I have so enjoyed these 4 years together!

Megan and Joe (Josh's parents) took amazing 5 year old Joshua to Wahooz - a great place for kids, families and generally having fun! We cleared our schedules and tagged along. Besides, what kind of best friends would we be if we didn't join every birthday!?

Josh (and dad Joe) along with Daunika and Damon were thrilled to go hit the Go Karts!

Little kids were of course excited, but I'm thinkin our BIGGEST kids were our husbands. Clearly having fun together!

While our big kids did Go Karts - us mommies headed to play miniature golf!

It was fun, but FREEZING!

And in the freezing weather, what do you do? Ride WATER attractions? Sure. 

I adore these times our families share side by side together. Happy Birthday again dear Joshua, what a wonderful kid you are :)

Moose... you are a MESS

Daunika and Aurora are unusual children. They are VERY clean when they eat. In fact, as young babies, both of them would freak out if the smallest amount of food or water hit them. It was a blessing and a curse all at once. 

Well..... Moose is different. This kid knows how to get into EVERYTHING. 

And its not dangerous stuff..... but wonderful things like a 5 gal bucket of flour. Over and over and over again! 

Furthermore, he is very tall. So tall, he can reach the edge of the kitchen counter tops. So, one day, I decided to quickly go pee alone.... I came back to him painting the kitchen floor with yogurt. Yikes! 

At least he is CUTE right?! 

Until he gets into the oatmeal in the pantry!! 

As he's getting older... He is trying more and more to feed himself. It is fun, and of course, MESSY. 

Goodness. Moose = Mess. 

But, pictures make good ammo for teen years aye?? 

Spring is FUN!

I was talking to Damon on the phone today and we both were commenting on the gloriously beautiful day it was. Talking about how growing up (both of us) in areas where rain, sprinkles, showers, grey skies, some more rain, and a chance of sun seem to be the weather.... 

Here in Idaho, we have really fallen in love with the four seasons. The winter seems long enough and certainly cold enough to make your body just NEED to feel the sunshine when it arrives. That fabulous moment, when you step out into the sun, squint your eyes, and just breathe deep because it feels perfect to have sunshine. And of course by the end of the 100+ degree days in the summer, you enjoy the end of the sun all the time, and look forward to cooler weather... but thats not here yet this year. Right now, this lovely life of ours, is enjoying the Spring and all its glory. 

Some of the best moments of Spring are the adventures of falling in love with being outside again! It's it nothing short of Amazing. 

April has brought some wonderful moments already!! 

And we figured out that Declan is a "Let me do it!!!" kid. This boy was loving the day Daddy pulled out the lawn mowers to tune up. 

 And Daddy moving on to fix something else did not stop this little man. He was determined to push the mower... though it didn't move, he sure tried!!! 

Not just adventures in the front yard... But we've had some amazing explorations in our back yard too!! 

Daunika and best friend Joshua had an amazing time with their worm. I forget what they named him but it was adorable. 

Josh's younger sister Rosie and our lovely Aurora absolutely were THRILLED to have found a centipeed

 And well... Declan just plain explored anything he could crawl to in the back yard!

There has been plenty of running barefoot outside already! (and yes, that big beautiful suburban is ours.. but that story is for a whole other blog!)

And today was just too sunny to sit and do nothing... so me and the kids packed into the car and headed to pick out some lovely flowers to pretty up our front door with some simple planters! 

I am happy to report, I was too involved to take pictures until they were planted and by my front door. The kids were THRILLED to play in the dirt, to pick out flowers in any color they wanted, and to marvel at their work when they were all done. 

Ahhhhh..... Happiness. I hope everyone else enjoyed some sunshine today!!!! 

March is gone already?

Ya know, I could talk about stresses sometimes, but why? I have the best life in the world. I get to spend my entire life with wonderful people, great children, a charming husband and so much more! March was a pretty eventful month for us! 

Our little man turned One in March and he really is getting older and older every day. He is so thrilled to be able to climb on top of things now... very fun indeed! He has been our only little one to love the kitchen so much from the very beginnings. He is always in there pulling things out of cupboards, pulling out every baggie in the drawer, you name it - he is messin it up. Its quite messy and very cute. 

Yep.... Seriously in love with kitchen gadgets!

March also was a great time for silliness. What is better than silly little girls that got suckers? They were thrilled to have a green and blue tongue!!

New skills were mastered without my help! 

Our amazing, awesome and silly five year old figured out that hand stands and cart wheels are so fun!! 

She is really good at it too!!!

Declan's hair just keeps growing!! It's so cute and I refuse to cut it :) 

We also moved Moose from the kitchen sink to the big bathtub for bath times... Because this kid can splash and it was getting MESSY! 

And, Declan is still playing with the idea of walking...... 

He's quite smitten with himself when he walks too! 

Daunika decided on hot days the sun roof blows lots of air on her and she likes it!

And I captured the FUNNIEST pictures of Daunika and her best friend Joshua on a  nifty swing last week! 

How can you see those brilliant and glorious bliss filled faces and not smile? I know I can't.

Spring

A sense of warmth is tapping at the door; And hope, a feeling out from distant lore – Or so it seems – clears the deep refrain! Emerging youth: a dormant lea awakes. The raging colour, singing loud, partakes In annual birth – spring is born again! A zest anew for nascent life Begins in floral train: Carriage one: a snowdropp thrill; Carriage two: the crocus; Number three, a daffodil – dancing, Drawing focus – as she would, Attention seeker! How I love our spring: The bold and sleeker feel I get, An inner glow, a ring! I’ve paid the winter’s chilly debt, so Now upon the wing! Mark Slaghter