i get to be the one to hold your hand.

There are days when it doesn't feel like a mercy that my last baby has decided to take FOREVER to learn to walk.  But today was different.  Sand between her toes (and in her teeth) turned out to be wonderful motivation.  She signed "more, more, more" and pointed to the ocean.  She attempted to run, did several face plants and took my hand.

It won't be long now, sweet girl.  

paleo popcorn.

This recipe is so dead easy it isn't even much of a recipe. They can be made start to finish during a commercial break and you can be back on your couch with your little sister watching So You Think You Can Dance, if you're into such things. Which, I am.

 We are big fans of popcorn in this house and these little gems satisfy that salty sweet popcorn-y place in our hearts. Definitely hot tamale train worthy.

the claire-athon: instilling the love.

This spring, I signed the kids up for a Kids 3K.  Nate ran with Everett (I believe Everett spent most of the race on his dad's shoulders) and I took Claire.  The course was poorly marked and most of us ended up running a 5K.  (Not Nate and Ev, though because they just turned around at the unmarked turnaround).  Claire was not happy, but she finished the thing.  I figured I had ruined her for running.

Then I had this goofy idea that she could run a marathon one mile at a time this summer.  Yesterday, she completed the final 2 of her 26.2 miles.  While not every mile was glorious or complaint-free, she accomplished something few six year olds have done.  

This goofball chose to "crosstrain" with a unique combination of scooter and as many sticks as he could carry.  Awesome.

july-lights.

This month has been crazytown.   I remember thinking last summer how much fun this year would be, I'd have a baby who only needed one nap and would be walking.  Simple! Easy! Care-free!

So, maybe not.  At sixteen months, Ingrid appears to be VERY committed to crawling.  Also, she enjoys screaming and escaping the house via dog door.

We did swim lessons and a lot of running and children's worship choir practice and canoeing and sleep overs with favorite friends.  Also: gelato fridays.  Love.

This girl, who requests an ice pack for a papercut, got her ears pierced along with her super-brave Grams.  They opted for matching Hello Kitty earrings.  And then we celebrated with gelato. 

some things about having 3 kids.

You will probably only go to the bathroom when you feel like you're about to pee your pants.
Your car will magically morph into a phone booth.
You are probably not going to watch a movie without a pile of laundry next to you.
Finishing your  goal of 11 blog posts per month is impossible.
And forget about capturing moments with the real camera.

A plus?  First trips to the splash pad are just as magical the third time around, especially when our resident non-walker decides to take s few steps hand in hand with her big sis.

that boy with the very low voice.

This is my boy.  Brave.  Fearless.  Occasionally refers to himself as Bootsie.

Summer is going by so fast.  I want to slow time.  The only way I know to do that is to stop and notice.

Some things I am thankful for right now:
Her firm commitment to being our baby
Accidental sleep ins
Watching Claire ride without training wheels
Everett and Wyatt together
Tuesday vegetable deliveries
Running further than I thought I could

4th.

Hope your 4th was this fun:

Again this year we celebrated with friends and a forklift full of fireworks. When we started this nonsense, she looked like this.  And now:

insta-fam.

There are five of us now. How is this possible?

I can remember exactly what shoes I was wearing on which walks when there were only two of us and all the time in the world.

Now you have lines around your eyes. (I do too) And a bit less hair. And I couldn't love you more. 

Last night you said the words every girl longs to hear. Let me help you fold. And we did.

Two friends. Talking late into the night. Folding clothes. Laughing about the day. When they are grown and gone there will still be you and me.