Watching Toddlers Share Popcorn

Karly and Eliza Pickett spend a lot of time together, and it's been so fun to watch them grow up together.  They are still about 6 weeks away from turning two, but these two have figured out a way to communicate enough with each other.  It's very cute to me to sit back and watch them play, or in this case, to share popcorn.  I love it.

Eliza's cute little hands are so precious.  Karly just wasn't sharing fast enough, but Eliza was being very patient.

For the record though, they aren't always this patient and sweet to each other.  :)

Eden's Ballet Recital

While waiting for the recital to start, Karly and Olive were happy to provide the pre-show entertainment.  They were up there dancing away putting on quite a show for everyone.

Bentley got in on the action too, but only close to our chairs - not out for everyone to see.  :) 

Eden is the cutest little ballerina ever.  She has become so confident up there and it's so fun to watch.

At this point in the dance, she came under the tunnel of girls and slid forward on the ground and saw Bentley sitting on the floor in front of her.  When they made eye contact, they both had the biggest smile towards the other.  It was so cute.

She did such a great job.  I felt so much pride and love for her.

I'm so grateful to be her mom.  I love watching her bloom and grow. She has become such a beautiful dancer.

Lunch Date with my Buddies

Every once in a while, we are able to take the little girls to co-op on Monday mornings while we do school work.  Then we always make time for a little lunch date together.  I sure love this time with my big kids.  I'm so grateful for this new school we are in and the increased amount of time and involvement it gives me with these two.  I love them!

Karly and Her Friends

She isn't even two yet - but Karly's already quite a social butterfly!

She loves being with her friends, and she is also pretty bossy - I mean, she is a leader.  :)

The picture above is Eliza Pickett, Aubry Divett, Karly and Jude Haslam.  The picture below is Aubrey, Karly and Eliza just over a year ago.  Crazy how quickly things change!

Everyone Wants the Middle Seat

Whenever we turn on a show, they all really love to have the middle seat on the couch so they basically sit on top of each other in order to be as close to the middle as possible. 

Cute and cuddling - and all in the middle!

The Compassion Experience

We had a really neat opportunity to take the kids to an exhibit called "The Compassion Experience".  We were able to use headsets to listen to two separate stories of children growing up in 3rd world countries.  As they told their stories, we walked through rooms set up like their homes and schools, and the child in the story talked about things they ate, and what their life was like.  It was an incredibly humbling experience imagining what it must be like to grow up that way.  I hope my kids were as touched by this as I was.  We are truly so very blessed and we take so much for granted.

I hope I can raise these four to be compassionate and generous. We are so blessed and have so much to give.

School Pictures

School pictures are the best.  The funnier the expression the better.  For this year's pictures Bentley definitely takes the prize!  He is making the funniest expression. Every time I look at this picture it makes me laugh and love him even more.

Here he is - Mr. Handsome!

And the beautiful Eden.  Is she ever going to have an awkward tween phase?! She is just too stinkin' cute!