Blogging guilt

Blogging guilt is silly. Ladies, should we shirk our blogging duties, let us squelch that wheedling little voice that points out said shirking by drinking a beer.

Done. But I miss the connection with my five other readers and reading their blogs! This is true, and this is why I'm back. 

For now. Man! This summer has been a crapstorm of first world problems! We're in the midst of a major remodel, for one.  It's all I can do to get through the day. Plus I haven't uploaded photos to my laptop in months. 

That said, there's been lots of hot fun in the summertime around here. Maybe I can slowly recap. The kids are lovely. Ben is still Mr. Sweet-n-easy with a face that scrunches into a million creases and dimples when he smiles. Re: Anneke: I have decided that being four is much like being in a foreign country for the first time. So much to learn and experience and adjust to and soak up!  And I feel like her tour guide, which is deeply satisfying and...okay, tiring.  

Dave and I are basically taking turns melting down. But taking turns is good, right?

First steps, for the second time

The video and title speak for themselves.

 It was a little less than 3 years ago when we posted this.

Anneke's first big girl birthday party

Birthday Madness

When you have two birthdays to go through in one day, you kind of have to go all out. Here are pictures from the day.

Green eggs and ham for breakfast.

For Benny too.

Benny got a card from Anneke for his first birthday.

Anneke got her first bike with training wheels.

As a final treat, Anneke got to view the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus through the telescope, even though daddy was too lazy to take the telescope outside (hard to justify after pajamas are on).

Double Happiness

Exactly one year ago I was at this computer, posting about Anneke's birthday eve and thinking, "hmmm. am I in labor?" Indeed I was, and thus started the new March 7 birthday extravaganza that is to be in our family. Tonight I am wiped out after another long day of hausfrauing.  I got to make spaghetti sauce with Anneke, and during Ben's morning nap I lingered in the chair after he fell asleep in my lap just soaking in his cuddle-bug-ness.  Doesn't this place sound the epicenter of domestic bliss? A domestic bliss-quake, if you will? Yes, this is why Anneke has started saying frequently, "Ben, I need some space," or, "Mommy, I'm going to have some alone time now." Definitely scratching my head at where she learned that kind of talk.

Ben and Anneke, what wondrous love you bring into our lives.

Heck yeah, Baby Ben!

Our eleven-month-old heartthrob has a special message just for you:

Ten months old! now with macro lens!

The title says it all. Dave's cheesemaking avocation bought us a macro lens, which I used for the first time today. Oh, what a difference a lens makes! I'm going to have lots of fun with this bad boy…or bad girl…or whatever.

Ten months! Today was cold but sunny, and we made it to Mt. Tabor just as the light was perfect. We included the picture of him and his alligator chomper walker because we wanted to show the world how he loves to walk with it, but today he felt like sitting with it. Update on Mr. Ben: he is just sweet and easy. Don't I say that every month? Well, it remains true. He's still just our sweet, cuddly guy.

What's brown and sticky? I don't know, but I have five teeth coming in at once, so I'm gonna find out!