Spike

So I did it. The war is over. I finally lost my long curly haired battle. I have always loved little boys with long hair. Especially mine. Colton's hair was once long with curls along the bottom until he was two and a half or so. My dad did me a "favor" not long after Gracie was born and took him to the barber with him for a trim. Have I ever said how sweet my dad is? Well that sweet daddy of mine brought my little guy home with his scalp suddenly visible. He was not on my good list for awhile. A long while.

At his own will he eventually chose to grow it long again and kept it that way for many many years until he realized that shorter hair is much less work and tends to feel better.

So this leads me to Fletcher's story. He was gifted with that soft fine hair and just happened to have the curls that I adore so much too. I savored his hair as long as I could. Many times Josh felt the need to cut it but I'd always persuade him differently. It wasn't until my darling long haired boy (who often would get called a girl) continued to beg me for short spikey hair that my heart started to turn. It wasn't about me anymore. How could I look into those beautiful eyes of his and tell my him that no, he was not allowed to have a hair cut because his mama likes him just the way he is. Curls and all. What kind of message would that be teaching him. Not the kind that I want my children to learn. When it comes down to hair, it is their preference to how long or short they want it to be. I believe in picking and choosing your battles and this is not one that I'm going to pull out the big guns for. They are individuals too and as long as their father and I don't find it harmful to themselves or others or disrespectful in any way then it is their decision to make.

So spikey hair it is.

Doesn't he look so grown up and handsome? {weep...}

cousin love

Oh how we love our cousins being here. They say you don't realize how much you take something for granted until it's gone. Well I'd say that's pretty true. Thankfully Kelly has been so great about making sure to come back from Costa for many visits but they're not a quick ten minute drive away anymore. That's the part that stinks and is hard to get used to. One cool thing is that Josh's sister and her husband are renting their house so at least we still get to go over to their lovely house occasionally. It's been a labor of love for my brother and he has worked for over ten years making that house what it is. And it represents his artistic style very well.

These cousins love each other so........ much and the way that they embrace each other after not seeing one another for several months just makes my heart crumble. The way they hug each other so tightly not wanting to let go of one another and how they show each other all that has changed since they've last been together. Like lost teeth. Inches grown in both body length and hair. New talents learned.

Ava and Kaya really took to Maggie. They thought she was so cute and had so much fun making her laugh and of course holding and loving on her. She was in heaven with all the attention. That's one thing this girl will never lack.

We had a blast during our two weeks together and made the best of each and every moment.

This little miss is our water baby. She loves it and has never made a peep about going into a cold pool or having the water run down her face in the bath or shower. Go figure, she's the one who didn't wait in time for her planned water birth.

I adore this whale bathing suit from Gymboree. My mom bought this for Gracie and I have many pictures of her at this age wearing it. I should dig them up and do a compare and contrast of the two of them. I haven't done that in a long time.

She could sit here all day and watch the waves come rolling in. Reminds me of the man snoozing right next to me.

I love how the kids got clever with nature. Use whatcha got -- I love it.

baby prints (via mommy's help)

While we do sit here and wish they were back here at "home" permanently, we honestly are slightly envious, okay truth be told -- very envious of their adventures in Costa Rica. It is just a gorgeous country with beautiful people. A completely different way of living that is so unknown to most of us until you go there and see it first hand. I am proud that they are having this opportunity to experience living this life and I know they'll be forever changed because of it. I just think it's awesome that the girls get to go to school there and learn the language and to not be dependant upon all the material things like we are here in the states. They live in a very remote area and have to travel something like 45 minutes inland up into the mountains to go to a store comparable to a low key Walmart. Like what I'd imagine Walmart to be like 50 years ago. No fast food. No stop lights. No over population. But what they do have is lush green rainforest. Sloths and monkeys. Toucans, parrots and hummingbirds. Beautiful waterfalls. And waves galore. Surfers dream waves. Brian surfs twice a day often and he's as happy as a clam there.

But man do we miss them...

Ruthie and Matilda

We have two new girls on our farm and they are absolutely sweeties! We purchased these two little loves from an awesome Nubian breeder down south. I happened to stumble across her website late one night and started drooling over her beautiful goats. Not only are they gorgeous but they are treated better and loved more than any animal I have ever known. These gals (and guys) are her babies and she pours out her life to them and it shows. She has even accomplished the art of house breaking a few of them. How cool is that! Anyhow we were so fortunate that she was willing to part with a few of them and we are striving our hardest to pass on the love and attention that they would have received in her care.

So without further ado... meet our two sweet girls...

Ruthie...




and Matilda...




















Wherever I go they are right at my footsteps and I love it!

Ahh... life on the farm.

Easter 2010

Easter was extra special this year with our newest little bunny to celebrate with.




We dyed our eggs first then swirled them in a oil/dye mixture. Not quite like Martha's but we liked how they turned out.



I LOVE this pink and blue one. It reminds me of the speckled bubble gum eggs. Yum!








Josh's mom sent us the sweetest package in the mail with a variety of Easter crafts and decor to help get our house looking festive. We took these bunny cutouts and painted, punched holes in and strung a ribbon through to have an instant Easter bunny banner.


Now that we live on a farm we were able to get the kids Easter ducklings this year. Yay! Sadly the three little cuties only made it two weeks with us.



Our friends dogs were living in our RV parked out back by Josh's shop while they were in between houses. One broke out of the RV and Josh woke up in the morning to her attacking the last one but it was too late to save her and the other two were already done. We don't know why she did it because otherwise she was pretty friendly but we do know these guys were a part of our family for not nearly long enough. We had a sweet little burial service for them and said our goodbyes. Life on the farm I guess. These things will surely happen.



Maggie was quite puzzled at why she had to share her bumbo. She did find them quite entertaining though and I would scatter them around her seat to keep her occupied long enough to cook supper.


Here's the bunch on Easter morning. Again, their amazing grandma pulled off another set of adorable matching outfits for them all. Love it and so... appreciate it!
















The end!