Random cute Lauren pictures

I just couldn't resist.... C'mon! Look how cute she is!


Her little ponytail


Dressing up in Annie's tutu. It's surprising how peacefully Lauren submits to Annie dressing her up. They play together for long chunks of time in the room with the babies and the dress up clothes. I never know what Lauren or Annie will be wearing when they come out.

Lauren at 19 months

Lauren is growing up and noticing the things that her big brothers and sister are doing. She, of course, wants to do what they are doing. If they are setting the table, she wants to help. If they are putting ketchup on something on their plate, she wants ketchup even though she has no idea what it is. If they are doing laps around the house, she starts running too. When I do Annie's hair in the morning, Lauren is frantically handing me the things I need to do her hair as well. When I finish with her hair, Lauren voices her approval by saying, "Veevee", which means pretty.

Her verbal skills have progressed. I now find myself having conversations with her. Below is an excerpt from a conversation we had this morning:
Lauren and I took an early walk because everyone else in the house was sleeping. We walked up to our new house and when we arrived ....
Lauren said, "Dada" (Oh, I know that place. It's where I see Dad a lot")
Me: "No, Dada isn't here right now."
Lauren: "Dada?" and she held up her hands the way she does when she's looking for someone or something
Me: "Dada isn't here right now. Let's go see him."
Lauren: "Dada nigh-nigh" (Dad is sleeping)

She has names for all of us and when she sees something that belongs to one of us, she will identify the object by its owner.

She loves to be outside. And she loves taking walks. Lately, Annie has been riding her bike around the block while I push Lauren in the stroller. Taking daily walks in the stroller keeps her happy. Often, the first words out of her mouth when she wakes up in the am or from a nap are, "bye bye?". And she really would be very happy to hop in the stroller or into the car at that moment.

We've gotten rid of the tray at the table. She wants to be a big girl and sit up to the table with a plate and silverware like the rest of us.

And she's still really stinkin' cute and we just want to eat her up!

She fell asleep on my lap on the boat in NC


Playing in the kiddie pool Grandma bought for the kids


The beach


With Grandma and Grandpa at the beach. She still loves me and Daddy best, but she's warming up to other people now.


She loved this game... giggling and giggling....

High Rock Lake

In July, we spent a week at my parents' house on the lake in North Carolina. The weather turned out to be really good for boating and we got out a good number of times, especially considering that neither Ed nor Jack were with us.

One highlight was that Jakin learned to water ski. Despite the fact that we don't have kid skis or training skis. And despite the fact that he did it when I was driving - I'm a horrible driver. He did some real, legitimate skiing. We have the video footage to prove it. Just not a still picture. If I ever figure out posting a video again, I'll post that one. Until then, you'll have to take my word for it!


The boys practice their "Jumping Off the Boat" poses


Lisa and Annie


The boys enjoyed a good bit of tubing


All 3 kids liked getting out of the boat and swimming around whenever it stopped


Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa! It was great to spend the week at your house!

Time with Thomas

Since we live in Massachusetts and my nephew Thomas lives in St Louis, the sad reality is that we don't often get to see him. After our week at the beach, I head to my parents' house with my four kids and Thomas. Ed and Lisa both had business trips so Mom and Dad and I were able to help them out with T for the week. It was hard. Bless all those mothers and fathers of twins. But, it was great to get some extended time with Thomas and for all the kids to get some extra cousin time.

(I'm doing these posts in chronological order, which means they appear in backwards order for blog posts.... maybe I'll get my act together on that someday....)

Atlantic Beach, NC

Our family spent a really great week at the beach with my mom's extended family in July. The pictures I've posted only show a small snapshot of the week. Such a blessing - great weather, great times with family. We love the beach!

My brother Ed, his son Thomas and his wife Lisa. We don't get to see these guys nearly as much as we would like.


Daddy and Lauren. We went out to the beach a few times in the evening after dinner. So perfect! Cool. No sunscreen needed. And the tide made little pools that were perfect for the little ones.


For a 60th birthday present for my parents, the Tom Ruble clan posed (twice) for a picture on the beach. Those pictures were taken on Lisa's camera, so I can't share them, but here's one of the six of us. None of these turned out well, but here we all are!


The boys on the beach


Annie


We don't often see my cousins' kids, but this week was an opportunity to spend time with them.


And the highlight of the week..... Micah proposed to Alli! He surprised her by coming a day earlier than she expected him and he asked her right on the beach. He was so thoughtful in thinking about how special it would be for her to share this day with her family. My parents were honored and overjoyed to be included in all of the planning. Yay! We are all looking forward to their wedding in May in Kentucky.

Colonial Williamsburg

On the way to a vacation in July with my family on the beach in North Carolina, we six Millers did a side trip in Colonial Williamsburg. I'm very glad we went, but I'd be lying if I said, "It was a great day!". The reality is that temperatures were in the mid-90s and our kids spent most of the day asking if we could go to the hotel pool or the souvenir shop.


We did the requisite whacking the hoop and kids in the stocks pictures






One of the highlights of the day for the boys was the opportunity to jump on the beds in the hotel room... something they are not allowed to do at home.








Our hot, sweaty baby fought sleep for a while, but eventually dropped off for a decent nap in the stroller.