Lauren and Thomas

Our visit to my parents' house in North Carolina has given us our first opportunity to meet my nephew, Thomas. Having the two babies together has been so fun. All they have to do is to lay on a blanket and kick and smile and all the adults are mesmerized. We are also enjoying a game we like to call "Guess which baby is older?". Thomas, who is 3 months old, is weighing in at 17 lbs. Little Lauren, who is 4 months old today, is creeping up on 12 lbs.

Jakin

Yes, it's been a month since my last post. More than a month, in fact. It's been an eventful month - we have celebrated Lauren's baptism, Jakin's 8th birthday and Jakin's First Communion. Rather than trying to catch up on everything, in the following posts I'm posting a few pictures of each of the kids.

May has been "The Month of Jakin". Jakin playing baseball. And, as I've already said, Jakin's 8th birthday and Jakin's First Communion.



For his last few birthdays, Jakin has requested pancakes or waffles for his birthday dinner. Great! It's cheap and it's easy. He must be growing up. This year he requested steak.



Jack and I got Jakin a new bike for his birthday. His first new bike was from my parents on his 4th birthday. It's hard to believe that was 4 years ago.



With his friend Zac on opening day of the Williamstown Cal Ripkin baseball league 2009 season

Lauren

It's a whole new Bumbo world! My niece Emma has graduated from her Bumbo and her mother has kindly passed it on to Lauren. She sits in the seat during dinner and - wonder of wonders! - she's happy. For the whole meal. Jack and I ate dinner last night at the same time. I love the Bumbo.

Lauren is ready for take off


A happy meal


With Emma in their matching outfits from Grammy


Lauren was baptized on April 25th. The gown she wore was the same that many members of my family have worn for baptisms, including me and my mom.

Corban

To his great credit, Corban has bravely endured "The Month of Jakin". He did inherit Jakin's old bike in the process. Corban is finishing home school kindergarten and although he wouldn't admit it, he does very well. He doesn't like to make it easy on me, his teacher; but somehow learning does take place.

On his "new" bike at the skate park


This big kid still occasionally draws comfort from his blankey and monkey



As Corban tells the story of this fishing trip (and, believe me, I've heard it multiple times), Grampa and Jakin were able to catch twigs and a snapping turtle while Corban was the only one to catch a fish. Grampa showed him how to clean it and they ate it for dinner that night.

Annie

If our efforts to curb Annie's tendency to scream in protest to any little thing that might not be going her way are successful, Annie will then be the most delightful girl you could imagine. In particular, her fondness of picking flowers is incredibly endearing. When she is playing outside, she will pick a "bouquet of flowers" (a bunch of dandelions) and bring them to me while announcing, "Surprise!" It's very sweet. Here she is on Easter at Jack's parents' house bringing me flowers.



My mother and father-in-law were here this past weekend. My plan was for them to help me put in our garden. I would learn from them and the kids could help. The reality was that I was inside cooking dinner and they put in my garden while the kids helped. (Thank you, Jim and Nettie!) Annie was so eager to help.


With Grampa at Jakin's baseball game