So big

As I lifted you into my arms tonight, during your half awake cry you snuggled into me, tucking your arms into your belly, in between me and you, just like Lilly still does, and if I remember correctly, Luna used to do, I noticed it. Your little arms, just last month with their little fat roll tan lines, are now getting thinner, and your whole body is just so so long. You are growing up. You are just the happiest, most content baby. You love to just flop onto the ground if we trow a bunch of blankets and pillow down, you just roll around examining everything, taking it all in, and being happy. You toddle out from the bedroom after naps to find us, you look tired until you connect eyes with us, then a smile breaks out across your face, those two top teeth and their little gap, and you go as fast as you can to me, one step away and you lunge into my arms. Love, that is what you are.You will be one next month, where or where has the time gone???

Just a day

Lyra, you dance. You hear music and you give me a look as if to ask "is it ok, can I?" and you start bopping up and down. Then when you really get into it you raise your arms in the air like a monkey and spin in a circle. Which is also the new thing lately, for no reason, spinning in a circle around one set leg. Your walking skills have taken off and you never crawl anymore. You waddle like a penguin or an orangutang, but it is the cutest waddle ever! You LOVE to make people laugh, your favorite thing to do is give a big zerbert and stare me in the face to make sure I smile, then do your hilarious breath in laugh. Love love love is what you are, never a fuss, never a cry (unless I go in the bathroom after bath to get your sisters, I won;t let you in because you insist on trying to get back in the tub, so you stand outside the door and SCREAM!!!)
Lilly, you are the sweetest big sister. Now that Lyra is more mobile and fun I see you two sitting out in the yard together playing cars, or snuggled in a pile of pillows with your baby dolls. Your speech is impeccable you say the cutest things. My favorite has to be "Mama, you interrupted me!" or can I have a snuggle? I watch you follow Luna around as if you were her shadow. She has taken to sending you in as her personal messenger. Mostly to do or say things she knows she would get in trouble for doing or saying! You are quite the little athlete, we are thinking  you may need to join gymnastics! You love to tumble, running somersaults are a new favorite. You have recently been drawing things that resemble stick figures, and hearts, and you are learning letters, you really want to be able to spell your name!
Luna, you are getting so so big. I can not believe you will be 5 this year! Always the artist, you have taken to making books. Mostly about whatever has your heart that day (which does change every single day!) Today is Balto, the sled dog from Alaska. It is so cool to see you make the geographical connections! You have drawn a million scenes from the movie today! Your spelling and math are taking off. number recognition and adding and subtracting are coming to you like second nature. Your imagination is so huge, I love watching you create stories for you and your sisters to act out!
Everyone is getting so very excited for our trip to New York in a few weeks. Who knows what will happen, and who knows how we will ever be able to leave our family when the time comes!

You have this boys heart...

This boy is going to marry you. He told his family. You are going to have kids, they will all have red hair. There will be a boy named John. He says you will be a stay at home mom, and you will be oh so happy, because you will get to ride 4 wheelers with him :)

You have him wrapped around your finger.



*Though we can never forget Duke, who after playing at the playground with another little Luna we know told his mama "She is nice, but I like playing with the real Luna better"

Baker baker

hm, where did she go??

making bread

footprints

following the prints up the  couch

little hands

busted

sweet little baker

Camping trip!

We went on an AMAZING group camping trip this weekend. Three days in the woods with our friends. It was cold and rainy the first day we got down to Trail River, but none of you minded. Luna started taking off layers of clothes to play fairy queen. Lilly's hands were frozen but wouldn't stop for gloves. Lyra you just wanted to crawl, and eat rocks. You rode bikes and played
games. We walked to Kenai lake and picked rocks and driftwood. We took a stroll around the grounds and everyone got ahead of me and Lilly. I let you jump in every puddle, you were SO HAPPY! But of course when I asked you "Lilly, are you happy (something you ask each of us at randoms times during the day) You said "No". I said why not? You answered "Because you are not finding me puddles" I said what can I do to make you happy if there are no more puddles? You said "You give me sugar"
Always making me laugh little Lilly!
The nights were cold but the days were beautiful! After we packed up camp we drove a little further on to Seward and hit up the "real beach, with real shells" As Luna called it.
We just sat on the beach while you all ran and played, collecting rocks and shells. We were even blessed enough to watch three sea lions swim by! And amazing adventure with our girls!!! SO thankful to live in Alaska...

on our way

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