Just in case. . .

I realized after I posted the last entry that perhaps it isn't clear that Anika is standing on a toy xylophone (a musical scale:-))

Kids say the darnest things. . .

I'm not sure Anika understood why I was laughing so hard and had to take a picture of this. . .

We were playing Doctor's Office and I told Anika to step on the scale:-) (We might have a prop comic in the making!)

Quiet Moment

What a day this was! Kathryn developed thrush so we were at the dr. in the morning. Then I don't think she was reacting well to the medicine so we had some crying. I was wrung out by evening when Andrew suggested the "Praise Baby DVD" that he found. God is GOOD! It worked like a charm to calm and distract. Then I was able to get the older kiddos to bed. So it might not be a great parenting moment (the electronic babysitter) but it was a quiet one.

All eyes on the tube:

Bathing Beauties

Our friends, the Schullers, invited us over for a pool party, dinner, and sod laying. (Lloyd helped Jim and some others put in sod around the pool - I told you it was a new pool :-).) The kids were ecstatic! We had so much fun and Andrew and Anika made some great strides in their abilities in the water. It was a salt water pool. Very cool concept -- not as hard on eyes, hair, suits, etc. as chlorine. Kathryn came along in her swimsuit (graciously given by the Schullers!) but didn't get in the pool. She is still a bit too young:-)

Kathryn's Baptism Day

What a wonderful day! It is always special to have Lloyd baptize one of our little ones. The church family really enjoyed it too. I had a number of people comment that they hadn't ever seen a pastor get to baptize his own child. Anika did really well and was excited to be a part of the event. I didn't prepare Andrew very well and he had a melt down. He didn't want to stand quietly by me and he didn't want to go and sit with Papa so. . . Nana had to carry him out of the sanctuary kicking & screaming for "Mommy". It was brutal but the church got such a kick out of it that I didn't get too upset over it:-)

Kiddos with Nana

Lloyd's parents were out this weekend for the baptism. It was so good to have them here to share the day with us. Anika & Andrew enjoyed posing with their Nana.

Kathryn Grace

Lloyd is baptizing Kathryn tomorrow. Our church puts a picture of the baby on screen at church so our photographer friend, Matt Visser, has been spoiling us by taking pictures of Kathryn. Here she is!

Daddy's Day

Daddy and his girls! (Their shirts both say "My Dad Rocks"):
Dad and his crew:

The Cage

We are dog-sitting for our new youth director and his wife who are kicking off their inaugural week here at teen camp. Trixie is a sweet, tiny little dog whom Andrew loves to distraction. The first day that she was here I discovered Andrew in this setting. (I confess to wishing that I could use this more often. . .)

Summer Fun

I confess to an impluse buy recently:-) I saw a popsicle maker/container thing in the grocery store and it bought back so many memories. . . The kids have been enjoying their cherry pops on these warm summer evenings. (I forgot how dreadfully red Kool-aid stains so my dear ones are enjoying their cool treats without shirts, although I subsequently discovered that it will stain their skin as well! I think I will try lemon ones next:-))

Big Sis

Anika is taking her role as big sister very seriously. She has been such a help to me. Even when Andrew brings me a book while I'm nursing, she says, "I'll read it to you!" Sometimes Drew resists her "mothering" but usually he is quite receptive. The below moment was one that didn't end in tears:-)

Kathryn's Shower

Our amazing church family had a BBQ and shower after church on Kathryn's first Sunday. We were blessed and overwhelmed by the out-pouring of generosity that we received. A dear lady from our church, Alice, made a special cake for Kathryn. (Anika and Andrew even received a few "sibling" gifts to make their day!)

Drew's Do

Andrew got his hair cut recently. Our hairdresser is a friend from church so she gave Andrew a blue mohawk to get a rise out of Lloyd. He loved it and so did Andrew.

Big Brother

Nana & Papa Visit

Mom & Dad Wicker left today (after many tears from Anika and Andrew). I've had help here for the last month so I'm just trying to get used to caring for three on my own. We are so grateful for our mothers and their willingness to help out.

Changing Every Day

Kathryn keeps changing. It is hard to believe that she is 3 weeks old already. We are so very blessed -- and so very busy. So, I apologize for not updating the blog as frequently but such is life right now.

I'm always amazed at those tiny fingers which hold so tightly to mine - utterly dependent!