Benjamin at 16 weeks

We went on a mini-vacation this weekend, to the tiny and beautiful beach town of Binningup (http://www.harvey.wa.gov.au/binningup). Larry preached at the Binningup Church of Christ (http://www.binningup.org.au/).

Now, this was our first family vacation since Jonathan was three months old, so, in almost five years. We had a wonderful time of relaxation and I think Larry and I both feel refreshed. We didn't have a TV or a phone, just a few books and our four babies, the beach, and some very good, new friends.

While in Binningup without many of the distractions of our everyday lives, we were able to focus a little more on just being with our children. What a blessing they are! Here are some photos I took of Benjamin. I was struck by his lovely coloring and the smoothness of his skin and tried to capture it, although the lighting wasn't ideal in that room. Oh well, he's still adorable...

Somebody help me PLEASE!!!

Yes, I need help! Well, not really, I just need to vent a little...

The following are pics of our home. WARNING: not for the faint-hearted. Be brave, be VERY brave...

Dining room














Family room














Bedroom














Craft table












Living room














The problem, as I see it, is that I seem to be capable of only concentrating on one or two things at a time {besides making sure my children are dressed, diapered, fed, etc.}. Right now, I am trying to get a small business off the ground, and trying to regain my fitness since having Ben. I am having reasonable success with both endeavors, but EVERYTHING else has gone south. That and the once-a-month cooking I have recently undertaken, which, I have learned, leaves me so burnt out for a few days that cleaning is the LAST thing I want to do. Want more excuses? I've got more!

Now, in fairness, it is difficult to maintain any kind of tidyness with three rampant youngsters who think it's their lifetime career to make messes {the fourth is still easily containable}. They don't LIKE it tidy. I do, however. I can't think straight in a messy home. Therefore, at the moment, I am most certainly not thinking very straight at all.

Originally I took these photos so I could do side-by-side before and afters to cheer myself up on a day {like every day} when I have spent a couple hours cleaning up only to have children unclean everything in half that time. Only, I haven't gotten around to the afters yet. *SMACKING SELF IN FOREHEAD*

Tales of a twelve- {nearly thirteen-} week-old!

OK, first and foremost, Ben discovered his thumb this week. He is now officially a Thumb Sucker! :o) I love the way he wraps his forefinger around his nose, just like Mae did {and still does}. It's such a baby thing to do!









I love this photo because it shows how pretty Ben's eyes are...just like his daddy's. I don't really understand how we ended up with three blue-eyed babes -- Larry's are blue, mine are hazel. Until we had Mae I had assumed they were brown-green hazel, but apparently they're brown-blue?? I guess so.







He's not always that serious...here are a few smiles for ya!

And to end on a sweet note, here is a pic of Ben and Mae, our two blondies...Mae is a super big sister {most of the time} and these two adore each other {most of the time}!

Baby Body Double

A friend shared this photo {on the left} of her son, Elijah, when he was about Ben's age {Ben is two months in this photo, Elijah was about three months}. We were both amazed at how similar the babies are!

Just for kicks, I asked her for a current photo of Elijah -- so here's what may be a future glimpse of what Ben's going to look like! :D

Tobin James

This is our new nephew/cousin, Tobin James. He's a beautiful little guy belonging to my sister, Moey and her husband Tom. Congratulations, Tom and Moey! :D

He's nine weeks old already!

I put Ben on his tummy to play today {doesn't happen very often as I'm afraid he'll get trampled} and he was holding his head up SO well, I just had to get the camera. By the time I got back, he had rolled over! By the look on his face, I think he surprised himself! :)


The rest of these are just...cute. He's such a little PERSON! :)

Some pics from our outing today...

Since Larry is on a study break right now, we had a chance to get out of the house and go to the park today. It was a beautiful day, and afforded us the opportunity to get some great photos. Here is one of my personal favourites; I will refer to it often when I need a reminder of how blessed I am to have these five people in my life.


Our two youngest are bonding already (Benjamin just doesn't know it yet).


This one pretty much speaks for itself:


Here are a couple of pictures of the beautiful park we visited.




Believe it or not, this is the first time either Jonathan or Mae have attempted to climb a tree. What were we thinking? ;)






'Course Larry knows how to climb a tree...and insisted on hoisting Jonathan up into it despite my pleas and the repeated rolling of my eyes...


Then of course Mae wants a turn...


And what kind of Daddy would he be if he denied THAT face??

Cincinnati girls at heart...

Well here are a few pics of another "stellar wardrobe choice" as promised! :) Our girls wore these to church on Sunday and then to an engagement party afterwards. Ain't they cute?



How'd that stinky lambie sneak in there? ;)

I finally caught one...

A smile, that is...Ben's been smiling for a while now, but today he actually kept going long enough for someone to bring me the camera!



Larry was practicing his sermon last night and decided he needed a practice audience -- this is what he came up with! :D



It has been said that Grace runs something like an elephant. I think this photograph may give the viewer some insight into why that has been said...;)And if not, well it's a cute photograph.



And the following photos were taken "just because"...

Our four babies :o}

Grace at 17.5 months, Mae at barely 3 years old, Jonathan at 4 years 7 months, and Benjamin at 3 weeks 3 days old...gotta love 'em!