Instagram

I've been taking a lot of picture on my iPod lately.

I can't help it, the Instagram app is fun!

They don't look great on the big screen... 

but here are some snapshots of what has been going on the past month or so.

Cookie Dough

This is what Sunday Evening Cookie making looks like when mom is taking a nap.

Dad was so sweet to let the girls get the cookies ready themselves.

Only... the girls (and Daddy) probably ate more dough than what made it to the pan. 

Oh, and I'll have you know that the cookies were NOT actually baked on this
old, rusty cookie sheet. 

YUCK!

(I really need to get some new ones... but for now covering them with foil works when I bake)

They were yummy cookies... not as good as when G'ma Lisa makes them though.

Maybe sitting at room temperature for an hour had some play in that.

Thanks for letting the girls have fun making cookies Ry!

My lil' Dirndl

So after I took pictures of Zak in his blessing outfit (see HERE).
I took a few pictures of the girls. 

Oh, here is one to remind you.

(for those like me who are too lazy to click the link)

Tangent: I had a few comments on how great these turned out. Thank you. It was just beautiful lighting. All the pictures were straight out of the camera, no photoshopping... so I really didn't do much at all other than click the button.

Must all be do to my super cute model. ;)

Okay... back to the original post.

My lil' Miss Sarah is big enough to fit into my Dirndl.

(or is it yours Brooke?)

Doesn't she just look adorable.

When I was younger my dad was stationed in Germany and while we were there my mom bought the girls some dirndls and my brothers some lederhosens. Oh so fun!

Well, she was adored at church. Several people commented on how darling she was in it.

I was of course glowing. It was so fun to she her in it. And I agree... she was adorable.

Abby wanted to get in on the picture action.

By the way. This is one of Abby's FAVORITE dresses. 

I think she must think it is like Belle's dress (her current favorite princess). 

If it is dirty I have to hide it at the bottom of the laundry basket or she will pull it out and wear it again.

She LOVES it.

There have been many a tantrums about this dress.

Although that above picture was pretty cute... 

here are the faces we went through before we captured that one.

Can you guess who she is looking at in all of these pictures?
Yup, big Sis. 

Although Sarah was being so helpful trying to get Abby to smile and laugh...

she didn't realize that Abby would just copy her actions.

Silly Sisters. 

I sure do love you!

Smart Like Dad

So my mom bought this cute little outfit for Zak after I told her we were expecting.

It says, "smart like dad".

Well... Zak is already fitting into it (3-6m) and I wanted to take a picture to send to my mom.

Only... the nerdy side of me came out.

Yup... I made a felt goatee so he could match Ryan. 

I was going to make them both some glasses like in the shirt... 

but we had to leave so there wasn't time.

Doesn't he look so sophisticated.

Father and son.

"smart like dad"

Zak thought it was pretty funny. 

He keep scrunching up his little nose and grinning from ear to ear. 

Of course Sarah had to try it out too.

Even "plug" compatible. 

Oh Zak... I don't know how you put up with your CRAZY mother.

I love you!

Abby's BFF

Abby is finally really getting to the age where she actually plays with other kids. Not the side by side stuff, but wants to play pretend, toys, run around with other kids. 

So who does Abby choose as her first best friend?

Why, none other than Emery's little sister... Naomi.

These two little girls are just darling together. I love watching them play.

(Which needs to happen more often Joan!)

The are so sweet to each other, and even do some of the same things I've seen Sarah and Emery do.
Remember THIS post?

Yup, these two spent a good ten minutes or more taking turns brushing each others hair. 

It was adorable.

 Here are some cute pictures of them swinging at the park together.

Laughing and giggling at each other.

Oh having a best friend is oh so much fun!

What better way to enjoy the sunshine?

We recently took a day trip to Kirtland, Ohio and the Taylors had planned a visit the same day so we met up for a couple of minutes to say hi (more on that trip later). As soon as Abby and Naomi spotted each other they ran across a field into each others arms and just sat and hugged each other for five minutes. I was feeding Zak in the car and missed it, but I heard it was adorable. 

Maybe I'll steal a picture of it from Joan's camera sometime.

Love these little girls and their sweet little friendship.

Packages and Snapshots

A couple of weeks ago (I'm behind) we got a sweet package in the mail from Great G'ma Sandy.

The girls were thrilled and instantly showed off there stuff to Baby Brother.

 Sarah: "Hiiii Zak. You wanna see the sucker G'ma Sandy sent us?"

It was a sweet package with some awesome burp clothes that have already been well used. 

Thank you so much G'ma Sandy!

We love you.

And of course I can't leave a post with only two pictures.... so here are some more.

As I mentioned earlier, Zak has been learning to smile.

Of course, he is really good at it now... but here are a few pictures of me attempting to capture it.

 Almost....

There it is!

Oh how I love this lil' boy and his cute smile.

I'm always feeling like Zak is HUGE!

I mean, he is a big baby... but I need to look at pictures of him more, because look how little he looks sitting up against the couch.

Thought this was a cute little face he is making... I think he was cooing at me.

The big sisters are still very in love with their baby brother. 

Here are Sarah and Zak talking during after a diaper change.

Abby loves to rub his little cheeks.

Of course Zak is back and forth about how he feels about this sign of affection, 

but here is a moment where he enjoyed it and was smiling at her.

He is going to out grow you Abby... watch out!

Oh, this sibling business is so fun. 

Love it!

I couldn't resist...

I usually try and keep up on my blog and only post pictures in order.

But...
Cute lil' Boy + Beautiful Lighting 

=
I couldn't resist skipping ahead and posting these pictures first. 

Enjoy!

This past Sunday, March 4th, was when we gave our little Zak his name and blessing at church.

It was the first time we've blessed one of our children way from family.

It was a little sad not having family there... but it was really nice to have it be a simple, fairly normal Sunday and focus on him and his blessing.

I had all of these grand plans for a darling outfit...

but stumbled upon this sweet sweater at a secondhand shop, and was handed down the pants and onsie.
So I rolled with it.

(although I am bummed I didn't get the little bow tie made...)

He still looked pretty handsome to me.

Crazy hair and all.

This little man is really into chewing on his fist. 

I'm sure if I lost his plug for a day he'd instantly replace it with his thumb.

This last one is my favorite.

Oh... and this one too.
(love the bubbles on his lips)

And what is a sweet, blessing day photo shoot with out Batman?

We love you Zak!
We're so glad to have you in our family. 

Forever.
xoxo, Mom