four

yesterday, our middle boy turned four years old...

he was so happy and excited it was his birthday....

throughout the day he kept asking, "is it still my birthday?!"....

it was a day full of birthday breakfast, happy birthday songs, candles, cake, presents, a trip to a really big candy store, dinner at noodles & co. (per his choice), and lots of playing with his new presents....

he recently has decided that all things superhero are just the best thing ever...

so, i embraced his love and got him a superhero cape and t-shirt....

it was an absolute hit....

i just loved watching him run around...in full superhero mode.....

trying to make that cape fly in the air.....

(i apologize, in advance, for the overload of superhero photos. he just played with it A LOT on his birthday!)

all in all, he had a good day.....

to continue the fun.... we went for a little story time trolley ride this morning--a tradition we started last year.... he said, "that was a fun trolley ride, mommy. Can we take the trolley home?"

my sweet max,

how is it possible you are 4 years old already?  much more of a big boy than a little one now....

you are sweet, silly (when the mood strikes you), sensitive, and lovable...

quite stubborn at times....

sometimes difficult for you to come out of your shell....

but you sure do shine when you break free...

you are still working on getting along with your littlest brother....

you adore your big brother and are his constant shadow.....

you tend to march to the beat of your own drum...do your own thing....

but, you are content.....

we love you lots and lots....

you make us smile every day....

happy birthday sweet boy...

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happy boy

it seems like only yesterday we were on these front steps....

this sweet baby boy was brand new....

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it's hard to believe a year has gone by and now he is toddling along...

full of sweet smiles....

and other amazing expressions....

it was so much fun following this happy one year old boy around....

being his sweet one year old self....

it, too, was fun seeing an old friend loving mommy hood and her little boy...

thanks friends, for the honor!

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one summer's eve

another year of photographing dear friends....

we battled the mosquitoes and a spill on the sidewalk...

but, that didn't seem to stop the kiddos for too long.... :)

thanks again sweet friends....

you are a beautiful family!

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living a life

“Instructions for living a life.

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.”

 ― Mary Oliver

Linking up with photography friends again this month....

The last of the photos from our little get away up the shore....

A walk with my early riser in the morning to visit with our friends...

Including, one last pit stop in my hometown....

A break to do some more rock throwing and savor that big, beautiful lake one more time....

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* * *

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up the shore

just wanted to share a few more photos from our little get away with friends up the shore...

who knew when we were matched as freshman roommates in college we would be here today....

so glad we really were compatible and have stayed good friends....

16 years and 6 kiddos later here we are....

we all had such a great time....

the north shore truly is beautiful....

kind of wishing we could transport back there right now....

the following photos are from the second day we were there....

we did some morning swimming (not pictured-and it was in the pool--not the frigid lake!), gus had his morning coffee (milk) with daddy, we all had a picnic lunch by the lake in the state park (the flies wanted to join us),  we dodged a couple of quick rain storms, did a little hiking, lots of rock throwing (love how the simple things create such joy), a BBQ, and to end the eve, the dads and kiddos did some more swimming while us moms stayed back and had a little wine (thanks you guys!!)....

also, an attempt was made to take a picture of all 6 kiddos....you can imagine how that went.... ha! :)

thanks again friends!

we are looking forward to next year--the boys are still asking when we are going back!

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take 2.....

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