farm part 2

i had to include this photo just so we can have proof that Mae has been in a grumpy mood once. she's the happiest baby ever, but remember that one time she didn't have a smile on her face? ha!

this week

downs:
-the way Ruby has decided the camera is annoying. unless it's pointed at someone other than her. then she'll literally smash the camera in to my face trying to get my attention.
-teething. it's the worst. ask anyone.
-transitioning away from daily naps for Roo.
-the way my brain is working (or not) lately. i've been having the hardest time remembering anything, i can't form a cohesive sentence, i keep stuttering and losing my train of thought, and i can't seem to get out the door anymore without forgetting something important. like shoes. sleep deprivation is no joke!
-buying Ruby a new bike and having her be completely uninterested in it. "no thanks mom. i don't like bikes right now."

ups:
-Mabel eating solids for the first time like a boss. sweet potatoes, watch your back. (this is very ground breaking stuff over here)
-Ruby's confidence. i am kind of obsessed with how she will casually mention "i'm really beautiful/smart/funny/awesome and everybody likes me" at random. the girl speaks the truth after all! i may have to teach her humility someday but for now i'm thrilled with my confident 3 year-old.
-summertime!
-Roo's hip hop/tumbling class. it's completely adorable. for the first week, she thought it was called "hip hopping" and believed they were going to literally teach her how to hop. so funny how her brain works. now it's all she talks about and she is constantly "tumbling" around the house.
-Mabel crawling! it's the funniest thing ever to watch. she kind of swims around the room, using every inch of her body to propel herself forward. oh look! i have a video:

farm part 1

we went to the farm again a little while ago to spend some time with my sister. as usual, i forced her to take our photos while we were there. it's a good thing she's such a good sport.
things i've learned from taking photos as a family this go-around are: 1. i get super stressed about getting that one decent shot of all of us, and it can kind of take the fun out of it. when all is said and done, what really matters is documenting our family at this moment, weird expressions, dirt on our faces, messy hair and all. so… time to relax, rey. 2. our poor children may have inherited our unphotogenic genes. don't get me wrong, they're the most gorgeous children i've ever seen, buuut they haven't quite mastered the "camera smile". neither have i, guys. neither have i. 3. i have picked out Tyler's clothes nearly every time we've attempted family photos and i have chosen the same shirt every single time without realizing it! i guess i just really like my husband in that shirt. ha! 4. Tyler is just as camera shy as he was when we met. he always says "can we take more of those photos of just our feet? those are my favorite." at least he's willing to be partially in the photos, right?
it always seems like such a chore to get everyone dressed up, gather them for a photo at the exactly the right moment and then wrestle the kids like alligators to keep them in the frame, but it is so worth it to me to have these precious photos.