Why We Never Have Decent Family Pictures

In a family of seven, it's hard to get a picture where everyone is looking good at the same time. Drew, a.k.a. Jerry Lewis, never helps our cause. Keep in mind, I usually set up the self-timer so I don't see his shenanigans until after the photos are taken. These are some of the images I find:

The Stone Face


Wiggle Worm

The Purple Nurple

The Fonz

The Elvis

The Karate Kid

Tiny Eyes

The Mentally Challenged Child

No Teeth

Again, Mentally Disabled

Mentally Disabled - Yet Again

Tough Guy

The Bulldog

Making Pootie Noises

Again. Disabled.

The Over Smile

The Fake Smile

Closed Eyes

The Tilted Head Over Smile

The Smirk

The Gopher

Apathy

Thank you, Drew, for making our family photos memorable.

Fantastic at Four

Four years ago this little bundle of joy joined our family. Mallory has been a blessing from the second we saw her! She is possibly even sweeter than she looks. If all kids were as pleasant, obedient, funny, and kind as her, I might just give Michelle Duggar a run for her money.

Mallory - 1 day old

2 months old

3 months old

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

We celebrated by having a combined birthday party with Aunt Annie on Easter day. On her actual birthday on Monday, the kids were off school and Edward was off of work. We spent the day in St. Louis at Krispy Kreme, The Magic House, and Golden Corral - all requests of the birthday girl.

Elizabeth was sweet enough to give her one of her favorite porcelain dolls. I think "Emma" might be Mallory's favorite gift. She hasn't left her arms much this week.

Mallory got a few more toys, books, and outfits. She also got a new bike. She was so cute when she got it! Unfortunately due to all of the rain we've received, she has only been able to ride it indoors.

Happy birthday, Sweet Girl!

Easter 2011

4 Months Old

Little Lucy is 4 months old!

At her check-up today she was 15 lbs. 5 oz. (78th percentile) and 25 inches (65th percentile). So far she is following in Elizabeth's big healthy footsteps. Elizabeth was always the 95th percentile in weight and height, for the next oldest age group! And Mallory was always in the 15th to 25th percentile.

Lucy is such a smiley, happy baby! She is a giggly little thing, too. I often hear sweet cackles coming from the back seat. And she and Mallory have squealing contests. Mallory will shriek and squeal, and then Lucy takes a turn. So cute!

She is very curious and intently watches all of the crazy happenings at our house.
She is usually a slobbery blob because her hands are always in her mouth now. She is trying to put EVERYTHING into her mouth. Time to start making sure the carpets are always clean again!

And her quick little cat-like reflexes have her reaching for everything too!

Crazy Things Heard This Week

*You are not a legend, Mom. (Elizabeth - said when I reminisced about my superb April Fooleries of past years)

*Ross, quit trying to pull an Aaron. (Elizabeth - said when Ross was teasing her)

*Do you think Lucy will be special needs when she gets bigger? (Drew - said because... I don't really know)

*Quick! Somebody grab the cannoli! (Drew - said as we were sitting down to eat homemade cannoli when the tornado sirens sounded)

*You know, when the blood went into my mouth, it tasted kind of like chicken. (Drew - said after a nose bleed)

*What happened to the back of her head? Did an animal bite her? (Woman at church - asking about the bald spot on the back of Lucy's head due to sleeping on her back.)