And Some New Photos to Boot!

While I'm signed in to Kathryn's blog, I figure I should add a few of my favorite new pictures.

Here's an old one of Matthew that Amanda made super-awesome.

He loves basketball. Today it was about 65 degrees out, and they both wore their b-ball outfits--they just don't care! Incidentally, he doesn't look quite as handsome these days. Yesterday at church, Sam Putz was giving Gabe a piggy-back ride and Sam lost his balance. Sam fell forward and Gabe landed with his face on the sidewalk which resulted in his forhead and nose getting roadrash. What made the situation worse was that when Kathryn was holding Gabe, she went to go get a paper towell to wipe up the blood, but Sophia was in the way, so she knocked her over and poor Sophia's head landed on a strip of metal.

We brought the kids to see some ofthe flooding last weekend (3/22/08) with the hopes that they'd learn some of the power of God in nature as well as appreciate the story of Noah. When we pulled over to take this picture, a police officer asked us to leave. When I mentioned the cars already parked there (not in picture), he said that they were ferrying supplies out to stranded people. This is off MO-30 near 141.

This is the intersection of 141 and I-44.

Same intersection. My estimation is that the water was about 6 feet deep.

Not that we celebrate Easter, but egg painting is fun and the kits were on sale.

Best buds working together.

Here's the finished product.

We found Matt and Gabe sitting together watching a movie and Gabe had his arm around Matt. By the time we took the picture, the moment was just about gone, but this gives you the idea.

Two New Videos of Anna and Sophia

I'm not sure which one is better. What do you think? The one of them laughing, or the one of them eating?

Laughing

Eating

New Pics

Anna sharing her throne with Sophia -- she's such a kind queen.
Sophia in the stroller last week when it was in the 70s!!!

Anna's Profile -- funny, it looks just like it did in the ultrasounds.

Gabe racing Matt back to the house. Gabe has inherited Matt's old bike since Matt got a new one for his last birthday and LOVES it! It's all he will ride now.

Matt racing

Matt blowing bubbles. I was trying to get a shot of the bubble coming out of the wand, but my shutter is too slow. (BTW, Laura, my camera doesn't have a fast shutter....it took me probably 5 minutes to get the skateboarding shot and I had to take the picture a few seconds before it'd actually process the image. I'm trying to save up for a nice camera someday, maybe in the next 10 years. haha!)

Gabe blowing bubbles. I love how the bubble is still attached to the wand!

I'm trying to get better at posting pictures. I haven't been taking too many pictures lately because the kids have been ill, not the flu or anything really bad (thank God!), but still feeling lousy. The girls are going to be turning 1 year old in a month!!! We've got some vistors from cold country (Kathy) and beach country (Brian) coming out for the occasion and the boys are sooo excited. Plus, we're planning on taking a trip to NY in June, Lord-willing! I'm very excited about that! I've cut my work hours down to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday -- so it's nice to be home that extra day each week and I've been 'homeschooling' the boys. They really like it and I hope it stays that way. I'm so not the creative type to come up with all these neat projects to do for school, so we basically go through flashcards and a school book we got from Wal-Mart. Thanks to an awesome website (www.starfall.com) Gabe can do all his letters, save maybe 2 he's a little rusty on. Matt is the most inquisitive child EVER! He asks questions 24/7 -- it's amazing how his brain never stops. Well, that's all the time I have for now. TTYN

Fresh Photos

Anna found out how to climb up on the gate, and make funny faces while climbing.

Do they look like twins at all?

They are REALLY beginning to play together and have a good time with each other. However, they do their fair share of fighting over whatever toy the other has in their hand.

This is one of Kathryn's favorites.

Gabe jumped from the couch onto Sophia's head.

She's finally back to normal after a lengthy illness--lots of smiling and grunting.

This is sort of Anna's throne--she sits in it whenever she can.

Kathryn thinks he looks like a skateboarder. Only problem is that he doesn't have a skateboard.

Sophia is walking now. Anna would be as well, but right when she began taking steps she got sick and lost all energy for almost 2 weeks to really give it any more effort.

no captions for tonight.....

I did post...........

I posted something on Matthew, but since it was in my 'draft' file for 2 months it was filed under 12/23, so check there. ;)

Photos

I (Ben) am guest-blogging so I can get some pictures up for my mom. Here are some that I like.

This could be evidence that vanity is natural to women.

Prior to getting her hair colored, it was my thought that, had I not seen Kathryn have Gabe, I would have thought he was Allison's son. I'm glad he's mine.

Here is the second hat Kathryn made for the girls. Although Sophia is modeling it, it was intended for Anna who refused to wear it.

Here is a Cooper's Hawk (I think) eating a Mourning Dove for breakfast. It was cool getting so close to it.

I got Matt a bow and arrow for his fourth birthday. Don't worry, he can only use it with me.

Oops. I was wrong. Anna had her hat on for a minute.

This was last November at Rockwoods Reservation in Eureka. Gabe walked across that whole log with almost no help from me (there was a lot more to it than the picture shows).

Gabe is looking down at a cave at Rockwoods Reservation.

Here is the entrance to the cave that Matt and I went about 4 feet into. We didn't have a flashlight, and, well, caves are dark!

Hair.

Cheeks.

Matt & Gabe's new swing...

...here.

This is all Ben's doing, but the boys love it. Gabe has since gotten the hang of it.

four

Can you believe this is Matthew at 2 days? Now here he is at 4 years old! These pictures were taken at his birthday party. I tried to recreate the Battle of Bunkerhill for the cake. It didn't turn out like I wanted, but he seemed to like it.

(FYI: The army men on the 'ship' are the red coats. Also, did you know the American's ran out of gun powder in this battle? *A fact my son taught me.* )

We decided to wage war on the cake (it seemed fitting) and since it was only our family at the shin-dig everyone went at it.

Matthew LOVES his Auntie Allie.

Excitement over opening the 'Jenny' cd. Thanks Grampy and Grammie Kate!!

Fun Facts:

Matthew is the sweetest kid! We had Gramma Patti and Uncle Max over the other night for dinner and everything was on the table. I couldn't find Matt, but I heard commotion in the basement. I yell for him and he says, "Yeah!?"

ME: "Come upstairs, it's time to eat. What are you doing?"

MATT: "I'm getting a chair for Gramma Patti."

He had gone downstairs to get a fold-up chair for my mom - no one had mentioned anything about us needing another chair - he did it all on his own. The amazing thing is he actually carried it all the way up the stairs by himself. I admit I was quite proud of his gentleman-ly behaviour!

Matthew loves having races in the basement with his brother.

He loves the American Revolution and has watched the A&E documentary many times. He could probably quote it by now.

He love his rope swing that dad put up for him in the basement.

He's very affectionate and loving. In the morning he snuggles with me on the couch while I read.

He loves the Lord and talks about wanting to obey and please Him.

He REALLY wants to play the trumpet like Quincy from Little Einsteins.

Acting like a cheetah is an everyday event.

He wants to have a farm with animals and crops.

He is a great helper! He puts up with my requests for diapers and wipes numerous times each day. :)

There's much more that could be said about this beautiful, sweet child! He really is such a joy to watch! I love him so much and can't imagine life without him!

I don't have any recent pictures - the cord seems to have been misplaced. I'll continue the search.......