Ninja Cobra, Ballerina, and El Guapo

 Happy Halloween!  Here's just a few shots of our fun day  

 Our pumpkins!  River (our buddy) did the cat face.  Wren picked out the cat sillouette.  Judd wanted the ghost.  Mom did the witch silouette (the pumpkin had huge wart-things all over it.  totally perfect).  And Daddy carved the spooky haunted house.  

 We had three families over to help us celebrate.  Steve was on call all night (BOO! --you know, in the sad-he-missed-it way and not in the I'm-a-spooky-ghost way--just to clarify.)  But we are so glad we have awesome friends that came and made it fun.  Somehow I got through the evening with only this one picture of everyone!  We made some witches brew and had it over homemade ice cream.  It was, of course, Heaven! but I wish I had been a little more shutter happy.....

 Allow me to introduce you to our ghoulies this year.  'Dis ees El Guapo.   He has a very sweet spanish grandma that watches him while I work out at the YMCA.  She speaks to him in Spanish and tells me, "I know he understands me because when I call him El Guapo, he smiles."  She also likes to tell him, in spanish but I don't know the exact words, "You live the handsome." And so he does.....:)

 The Ballerina. Up until one week before Halloween this graceful dancer was going to be a green faced witch, luckily, she realized her true vocation and let mom know in enough time to switch costume prep.  She is actually in a dance class and could not be happier about it.   Neither could I. 

 And finally, the Snake Ninja.  Modeling here, for your enjoyment some classified ninja moves.  

 And another one.  Its a dangerous job but he does it, and with style.  Did I mention that we live and breath Ninjago legos around our house? (sometimes that is extremely literal for Ford......A crawler who puts EVERYTHING POSSIBLE in his mouth.  I might have a heart attack before he learns and likes to walk!)  Anyway, possibly the coolest costume ever seen.

And finally, an attempt to capture the spoils.....not my best work but there you have it. River (purple coat) and her mom Kathryn are some of our best buddies here.  They played with us all night and even helped clean up.  Could not ask for better amigos (as Ford would probably say).   

Hope you all had a Very Happy Halloween as well!

A visit from the Gran and Grandpa

Mom and Dad Lawrence came to visit us the end of July.  

 Just look at these beautiful faces!  It had been almost a year since we had seen Grandpa and we were beyond excited to have them be with us.  We met them in Nauvoo (more about that later) and then we caravanned up to our home in Wisconsin.  

 Where we went to a baseball game and almost sweat to death.   

 Grandpa helped Judd put together some new legos

 And Grandpa finally met baby Ford.  I think they look alike :).

 And while they were here Ford had his first cereal at 5 months old!  He loved it and Wren was a great helper

And of course there was lots of loving and hugging and just being together.  Thank you Mom and Dad for making the treck.  We can't wait to see you again at Christmas!

Happy happy "birfday"!

Fordy-baby is lookin' to crawl.  This is how we see him most of the day--on his tummy with a smile and a little drool on his lips just army crawling like nobody's business.

The Judd making a silly face. 

Judd helped me wrap Wren's presents (and then threatened the tell her what was in them.....:)  What do you think of her name that he wrote on the box himself?  He was proud as punch over his big R.

And the present was......Cheer me up Cheerilee!   Wren's fourth (that's right I said 4th.  Don't judge us :))  My Little Pony baby.  But this one is also a doctor set.  Win-win.

And Grandma Chris is the best.  Ariel has not left Wren's side since last night!

Baby Fordie is really happy with just the bag.  Its so neat.

And Judd is showing us the last present, a mouse Calico Critter family which turned out to be a huge hit more with the Judd man then Wren.  He has plans in the works to buy the monkey tree house set.  

Three years ago yesterday little Wren was born in Oregon.  I remember looking out of the windows of the hospital just before she was born and seeing the morning mist sitting on the rolling hills.  Beautiful and one of those weird times when one small moment during a huge event is the thing you really remember.

We love our Wren-bird.  She is sweet and happy.  She loves to play with her brothers.  She will usually do what Judd wants to avoid a fight :) but when it comes to Ford Watch Out!  She  pretty much pretends he's a doll and moves his hands, ears, mouth, legs, arms, whole body.....you get the picture.  She still sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button.  She loves bags, "houses" (piles of everything she can find), painting her nails pink and eating tomatoes straight off our plants.  She is a cuddler and the best talker around.  She is so precious to us.  Happy Birthday to our Wren-a-len!

Preschool Graduation

Two weeks ago Judd-man finished his first year of preschool.  And his little graduation was one of those parent moments I can't get enough of.  I was almost bursting with pride at his little song performances even the "Ants Go Marching" song that went on....and on..... Judd jumped up and down with every "Hurrah! Hurrah!" and my mommy-heart just melted with his sweet enthusiasm.)  I remember last fall I wondered if I was making the right decision putting him in school when I knew he'd have another year of preschool after this but it turned out to be wonderful.  Judd loved his school and his teacher.  I loved spending time with first Wren and then Wren and Ford not to mention all the great/easy shopping we got done.  We can't wait to start again in the fall.

 Judd and his best buddy at school.  That's Judd's "Smile!" smile.  :)

A little sample of the singing. Judd is on the end. 

 A pretty cute fellow spectator.  

Another spectator that REALLY wishes she was a performer!

Brother becomes the photographer

Judd has figured out how to use the camera...kinda. ( Who doesn't like a good shot of the photographer's feet?)  And he takes his duties seriously.  He has some definite ideas about what kind of pictures he wants ("Take this picture of me and brother, mom." or "We need a picture of his feet!").  I love it because it might mean I actually have a few pictures of ME and this baby.  I truly regret that I don't have more pictures of me and my Judd and Wren babies.  I seem to be the head photographer around here....not that I'm a very good one :).  But its so easy to forget just how tiny and sweet a newborn is.  I so love, LOVE this newborn time and want to soak it up and remember it as much as I can.     

Two brothers

Just a little photo shoot from Sunday, March 4th.  You can tell Ford was really into it.  But just look at his cute hat!  Doesn't he look like a little munchkin?  Thank you to Carly who is unbelievably talented and made us that cute head wear.  Love it.   

Judd is a really sweet big brother.  He loves Ford and is so gentle with him (unlike a wild little blond girl we know--not that she doesn't love Ford.....in fact I would say she violently loves him).  He is always willing to help get diapers or pick out little clothes.  I can even leave Judd alone with Ford and not come back to a screaming babe.  In fact, Ford adores Judd and always swings his head around to look at his brother.  Judd's favorite thing to do right now is have Ford lay on his chest so he can hear his "heart beep".   I think they are going to be good buddies.

The Circus

We went to the Circus!  And took Little Bear (more about him later...) with us.

 Daddy, Sister, and sister's Baby.

Three rings, of course.   And that's right, those are the tigers all caged up and ready for the opening show.  And they were pretty fantastic.  Judder's loved the performing elephant, Wren loved the "rope girls", and Steve loved the crazy ring master's death-defying act.  This was actually Stevo's very first circus, as well as Judd and Wren and baby Ford's.  I'd say it was a roaring success.  The only part that really was disturbing was the man who shot himself out of a cannon.  After leaving the show, walking to the car, and getting all settled and ready to go (quite the time-consuming exercise with three....) Judd was still thinking about it.  Out of the blue Judd asked me, "Why'd he do dat?"  And I just don't know.

P.S. Baby Ford and I were there, too.  We just were the picture takers, I guess :).