If we ever get a dog ...

Sylvia wants it to be just like this cute one, Milo, who belongs to the Roneys.

Tractor rides

Christie's sister was in town with her husband and kids, so everyone got a tractor ride.

Last day of school

The school threw a party! It was so fun. Sylvia was so excited that Paul could make it, too.

Magic

Kaleidoscope with Esther and Elizabeth

We only see them a few times a year, but we love having them in town.

Levi is so big

Last night of Pete's visit

She put all the toys to bed

Dedication ceremony for a new labyrinth

My friend Andrew organized and fundraised for this beautiful new labyrinth in Gilham Park, near the Pilgrim Chapel. All of the plants will attract bees and butterflies. The kids put their thumbprints on the butterflies' new drinking bowl.

40 is very fine

Liz's 40th birthday party

Grandma Betsy birthday! ❤

Sneaky baby

Sometimes Levi wakes up really early, a little before 5, and he can't seem to fall asleep again. He just lays in bed, talking, rolling around, and after about an hour of this I pick him up and bring him downstairs.

Instantly - instantly!! - he starts acting like a terribly aggrieved person whose only desire has always been to fall peacefully asleep in a dark comfortable place and not bother anyone. He rubs his eyes, he whimpers, he buries his head in my shoulder. About five minutes later, he's asleep in my arms.

And I am wide awake.

Coffee's on.

Sylvia's new trick

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Available until Jun 14, 2017

Nelson stroll

Mother's Day nap

I'll take one on Father's Day.

Mother's Day at the Nelson

We packed a picnic of leftovers and whatever else was in the fridge. It was pretty darn perfect.

High in the sky

Andy's!!!

Crawling technique

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Available until Jun 12, 2017

Cabbage Patch Kids

The Toy and Miniature Museum has a doll as round as Levi.

New (thrift store) kicks

She took one look at these Converse high tops and swore she'd never wear them. That was yesterday.

Mother's Day, early

Today I went to pick up Sylvia from school and was totally surprised to find that she had made a mug for me (scribbled all over with pink and purple marker) and a card. The card was a fill-in-the-blank about Mom, and as we sat together at home in the kitchen and I read aloud what she had filled in, she smiled and nodded in the most endearing and sweet way, very proud and happy with her answers. It was one of those moments that remind me there is a lot more to motherhood and parenting than the day-to-day things I sometimes rush through or worry over. There are magic things like this, where your child's view of you is reflected back at you. It's humbling and surprising and incredibly precious. I don't ever want to forget it. 

Retirees and their wards

The guys

Car seat swap

Trying out each other's seats for nap time.

School trip to Shatto Milk Company

Petting the calves was a big hit.

Sylvia says the darnedest things

Tonight I let her brush my hair before we went to bed. She had me sit on the couch so she could stand behind me. First, she lifted my hair to look all through it and then said, "Good. No sticky scorpions in there."

I had not known that was a possibility! 

3 generations

The two dons

Notes

Levi has started crawling, a little. He can move forward now (just slid backwards before), mostly with one foot under him and one out to the side. He also undeniably takes toys away from Pia, who is visiting us this weekend while Matt and Charlie take all the big kids to the cabin. 

They do seem to delight each other, Pia and Levi, making lots of eye contact and grinning and babbling at each other. But then Levi ruins it by grabbing at her clothes. Or her face. And poor little Pia cries. She just needs to learn to pinch. 

Sylvia is away at the cabin with her cousins, big girl that she is. I really miss her. I've been trying to cuddle her a lot more lately. And kiss her and tickle her and make her laugh. I don't think there is a better sound in the world. 

Fun at Crown Center