"My Bester Friend"

We are very blessed to have many friends and even more blessed that most of those friends have kids the same age as our kids. We have so much fun getting together for playdates. But there is definitely something to be said about having your best friend live next door. We met Zoey over 3 years ago when we first moved to this house. Max was 18 months old. They go to preschool together. They play basketball, soccer, and baseball together. We go on fun excursions together. They go swimming together. They play together most days in the cul-de-sac, riding bikes, driving their power wheels, playing dress up, drawing chalk pictures, laughing, fighting, hugging, snuggling, wrestling... growing up. They are going to be 5 years old this year... I said it... I can't believe how fast my little boy is growing up. Every night recently, I've been asking Max what his favorite thing he did that day was. Most nights, it has something to do with Zoey. So the other night, Max was going on and on about Zoey...

"Zoey is my best friend. She's my better friend than my friend who lives in the blue house. She's my bester friend. I love Zoey."

Here are a couple photos of them riding bikes today...

Ava the staller

So Ava has really become a master staller at bedtime. She simply will not go to sleep until it's dark outside, which this time of year is after 9 p.m. We've actually had to move her bed into our room because she kept keeping Max up at night. Now that she's out of his room, he typically will go to sleep within 20-30 minutes of going to bed. But not Ava! She will lay in her bed talking to herself, reading a book, rolling around, whatever she can do to stay awake. And she's not much of a snuggler, except at bedtime... coincidence? I think not!

Lia in the playpen

So, Lia is really a laid back little baby. When I play outside with the kids, I usually put her in her playpen in the shade with some snacks and some toys. Since she's not walking yet, she can't really get around too well on the cement. But she is just content to snack and play in the shade. Here are a couple of photos of her being happy in her playpen....

Favorite Things

So I was snuggling my kiddos at bedtime the other night and I asked each of them what their favorite thing was from the day.

Ava said, "I had a popsicle mom... A green one!"

Max said, "Playing fire trucks with Ee."

Lia vs. the Lion

So Lia is a happy baby, this we know...
but when the mean lion (Ava) tries to attack the crazy photog (me) she ain't afraid to throw down :)

Love my little Lia

LOVE this photo of Lia Josh took the other day...