I love my brober- My sister is always in my face

Abby loves Will. Will tolerates Abby. It is funny to watch Will find a good spot to sit down...and then watch Abby follow Will to that same spot. We've had to split them up a bit more to stop the fighting. They enjoy their activities apart, but they end up back together in the end.
Yesterday, Will screamed from the other room: "Abby itched me!!" Abby screamed her response back to me: "Brober is not looking at me!" Nice.

So, I got into the St Patrick's Day Spirit

What can I say, I did it for work. Yes, those are green pants and green shoes to go with my green vest and green shirt. I wanted to make sure everyone REALLY knew I was wearing green. William did not get it. He kept suggesting that I change shoes or wear a different color, like all orange. Maybe next year, just for him.

Good Kitty

Elvis and Bruno have been part of our family for seven years now. We have had them longer than we have had the kids. Our big yellow cat Bruno does not like the children in the least. He moves his fat body away from them as fast as he can when he sees them. Who can blame him? The kids are usually loud and running at him full speed with the intent to grab him. Yes, he is smart to run away.
Elvis, on the other hand, is a great cat to have around the children. Ever since Will was born, Elvis has enjoyed being around the babies. Elvis has been kind and gentle to him. Even when toddler Will and then toddler Abby grabbed at his stomach, patted him too rough or yelled "KITTY KITTY KITTY!" into his ear, the cat takes it in stride. Elvis does not scratch them like he does with Matt (Matt also likes to play with Elvis, but Elvis likes to use his claws in those games). Here is a picture of Abby "playing" with Elvis. Yes, you see it correctly. She is pulling his tail.
Don't get me wrong, Elvis is a very smart cat. He keeps his eyes on the children at all times. He knows they are unpredictable. But he does tolerate them. He loves their warm beds and their new-found ability to open the door for him.

Happy 5th Birthday William!

5 years ago today,when Will was born, Matt and I became parents. We looked at each other and laughed realizing that we had read all the books about birthing the baby and NOTHING about raising a baby! My mother came up and stayed with us for a week. When it was time for her to go home, we stood on the front porch holding the baby...having no idea what to do next.

While we still have lots to learn, we have come a long way from those first days standing on the porch. Will has been great "helping" us learn. To celebrate, we had a birthday party! Here are a few shots of the fun evening.

Happy Birthday to the little guy who changed our lives forever. He taught us to be parents and to laugh at the thing you can't control. He paved the way for his sisters (Abby is seen here in her snow white dress waiting patiently for her cake) and he became a little man in the process.

Still After That Perfect Picture

What is going on with all the crazy pictures of Harper? Could it be that my littlest is just not as photogenic as I thought? How could that be possible? She is just so cute in person!! I must guess that it is the camera operator. Or maybe her life just doesn't lend itself to good still shots.

This one turned out as an "up the nose shot." She does look happy.

Abby got into this one and Harper is staring at her. Part of it is sweet because Harper is looking lovingly at her big sister. It is still an off picture because you can see Harper is wearing two parts of two different outfits. At least it is a true to life picture.

Matt's foot is taking up too much room in this one. I could crop it out I guess. Harper looks scared again.

This one is my favorite. She is fully dressed (finally) and so happy. You can probably tell that she is mostly on the ottoman.

Daddy painted my toenails

Oh yes, you read that right. Matt painted Abby's toenails. I always wanted little girls for myself but yesterday I realized how important it is for a dad to have girls.

Sorry about your baby book, Harper

So Harper had her first solid foods, but I just don't remember the date. I have a rough idea. I remember what I made for dinner (we had eggs). I remember that the big kids were running around with Matt. I also remember that Harper did not like the baby single grain oatmeal and kept making a disgusted face and kept spitting out the food.

I did take pictures. The camera remembers the date right!?! Yeah technology! No, the date is wrong! I am sure it didn't happen on June 1st. Harper has not yet been alive on a June 1st.

Harper, I am pretty sure it was either February 5 or 12th.