Hmmm...

So Patrick made it home from his 30 days in Buffalo and let me just say, it is good to be able to take a step back and just breathe again. I certainly enjoyed my time with the kids the past 4 weeks, but things just aren't the same around here without my husband and I am quite thankful he is back. As somewhat of a side note, I need to say thank you to all the friends and family that stepped in and gave me a hand throughout the time that Patrick was gone. The help, company and friendship is so greatly appreciated. We are very blessed.

I haven't had a whole lot of time for just me lately and simply couldn't wait for some down time tonight to get on the computer. I literally have folder upon folder of images sitting here waiting to be edited. Believe it or not, I have been able to find the time to still take pictures...just not much time to do much of anything with them. Just to prove to you all that my camera hasn't been too far out of my reach these past weeks, here are just a few I thought I'd share:

The path to literacy is growing leaps and bounds for Ella these days. Her writing, especially is really taking off. This week, she wrote "Mommy" and I couldn't be more proud.

Gabriella lost a little something last week...her first tooth. She is simply growing too fast.

Can you guess what she brought in to school that week for show and tell?

Here is Brody in bed one day. He was supposed to be taking a nap, but it just wasn't happening. Yes I know, he is picking his nose. Not very flattering, but the kids in our house these days, they seem to think it is quite amusing.
"Little Joe" is not so little anymore. I can't even tell you the number of pictures I have of him on his belly like this. Would you believe it if I told you he is even starting to move around?! He rocks back and forth on that big ole belly of his and is actually able to maneuver a little here and a little there. He is by no means crawling yet, but gosh is it adorable all the same.
Ella has these little monkey stuffed animals her and Cassidy like to carry around the house all day. The other day I was sitting on the couch nursing Joseph and looked over to see Ella rocking her monkey babies to sleep. She certainly has not neglected her "motherly" duties.

I love to capture interactions like the one below between my children. They are such great brothers aren't they?!

Okay...last but not least...one of our precious Cassidy; playing dress-up. She makes the cutest little lion. You should hear her roar!!!

I have so much more to share...just not as much time as I would like to share it in. Off to tackle some laundry. I am sure it is not much of a surprise to some of you to hear that I have a heaping mound of it waiting for me right now in the family room.

:)