Swings!!

I LOVE swings and have wanted a swing set for the past year being in our new home. I finally talked Dallas into getting one. (He wasn't as excited about the idea... Soon enough he'll see why it was such a good idea!) He and I (mostly him) set it up on Saturday. It took all afternoon to get it put together and we finally got it standing late that night. So, after letting the kids swing in the dark that night, they finally got to enjoy the swings in daylight on Sunday afternoon...

Candid.

The other night I took my kids to a field to get their photos taken. End result... a handful of good shots, massive mosquito bites on all of us (especially Makiah and Dallas), unhappy kids and everyone begging to go home. It was quick, not so fun and... well...  fine I guess.

Then tonight we were outside and the kids were having fun playing around. Surprisingly they weren't fighting and just enjoying themselves. The weather has been perfect lately, September is the best month :) I am so glad I thought to get my camera out. Lately I make excuses not to get my camera out and I haven't been taking the time to take snapshots of my kids. I have to say, even though this was unplanned it was soooo much more enjoyable than the other shoot with them the other night. And I love the photos so much.

Evan ran inside and got the toy doctor kit and band aids when Makiah scrapped her toe...

Look how tall Evan looks in this picture, he is growing up on me...

I can't get enough of this photo. Makiah's cute little pose just makes it so perfect. This one might just win a spot on my wall. I know I will especially love it in a few years when they are all grown up and things are different. They are so little. Oh I love this one...

Daphne isn't walking yet, but she can stand and push things around. She took 3 steps the other day, but hasn't since. She is so close! I really can't wait till she figures it out. Tonight she wanted to be right there beside the kids, but she couldn't keep up and it must hurt to crawl on the cement! She is a busy little baby, I really love it. 

Evan is getting used to his new schedule at school. He loves going and he is getting better at coming home happy. Some days are better than others. Makiah misses him so much while he is gone, but she is enjoying her time alone as well. It seem like she is getting along so well with Daphne, it really is cute. She talks to her with a sweet little voice (you know the voice girls use when they talk to babies? That voice) and she takes such good care of her.

Right now our battle is bed time. The kids all share a room and it's been hard. They are getting into a routine though, and they are learning to do what they need to... so they don't wake up the baby. Dallas and I find that they do so much better if we go in their room with them at bed time and just lay down with each of them for one minute. Then we can usually leave without them throwing a fit (and waking up the baby). It's a work in progress. One day we'll have a house... with more than two bedrooms :)

Life is good. I especially want this fall to just go slow... I love this time of year and I am not ready for a long cold winter. I am loving every minute I can get outside right now.

Saturday mornings...

One of the big reasons I don't get to sleep in. Somehow Dallas sleeps right through it all.

Lark's Visit

Dallas' sister Lark came to see us during her spring break! It is always so exciting when we have family come to see us. We had a good time while she was here. The kids love her and talk about visiting her again in Utah. Here are some of the things we did while she was here...

Tour around Purdue (we were oh so lucky to run into the Zombie War going on that day... crazy).

Celery Bog.

Tapawingo park, pedestrian bridge, train station and down town Lafayette.

Clegg Botanical Gardens

Something I love about Indiana is the fact that we don't have to drive far to get to places like this. We may not have mountains, but we have woods everywhere and so many pretty places to walk!

Campfire in our backyard :)

Lark brought the kids books and they loved them, they also loved having Lark read to them (lots and lots!).

Lark's birthday was this month, so we got to celebrate with her :)

We miss you Lark!

Everyday life...

Could I have made this post any longer? Yes. But I had to stop somewhere. 36 37 photos. I could have posted 60... but I didn't (lucky for you ;)). For March our 12 for 2012 theme is Everyday Life... The technique (or style) is Documentary.  I am SOOO glad I did this project. I am even happier that I have these photos. This is our day (in a nutshell... I may have left out some crying... some tantrums... teasing... fighting... but it's kinda hard to take pictures of such times). The pictures aren't perfect, but this is us. Our day. What we do. 

Now I am thinking of all the things I could add to this. Evan's school day, driving in the car, going to the park, playing volleyball, doing art projects, playing with legos... just some of the things we do throughout the day. I am so glad I took this challenge! I love that I will have these photos to remember these times.