A month in pictures...

At the end of April we were able to visit the Woodburn tulip fields in bloom. They were amazingly beautiful, as usual!

And given all the rain we've had, the boys had a blast!

We came semi prepared with rubber boots

and boy did they have fun.

Although, it looks as tho' there is such a thing as too much mud.

I guess, not as long and you're bigger than it is.

Why else would there be ditches between every row, besides for jumping over?!

Uncle AJ and Aunt Ruth came along,

as well as Grampa and Gramma.

The diversity of color never ceases to amaze me!

On the first of May, Jeffy, (whom we more often call Bugs these days) turned 2!

We got to celebrate at Uncle Dave's house, which was great fun.

As it was Uncle Dave's birthday, 2 days before Bugs.

Juls getting a "ride" in the wagon from Grampa.

She made the 3 month mark at the end of April.

"My Sweetness"
one of her many nick names.

Chubby toes so fun to munch on!!

Investigating her brother Leroy's offerings for play things.

New shoes!!

Happy Mother's Day, which we enjoyed at Uncle AJ and Aunt Ruth's

Mom and her two granddaughters

Two cousins waiting for Uncle Dave to hurry up and come in.

Our Monday night laundry pile, which we tackle while listening to recorded ministry, or something motivational !!

The boys view of their Dad :)

And some sunshine at last, which has the kiddos in the yard most days!!

"Pride goeth...

before a fall"...
when your brother backs up in the truck you're standing on.
(tho' he landed quite safely from this one)

And right now we're in the middle of a rather horrible throw -up flu , which this small man started for us. He was actually in the middle of it when I took this picture tho' you'd never guess. He was starting to come out on the topside after having lost it at least 6 times over the course of 9 hours.

I didn't feel quite so chipper when I got it two days later. :P Mr. Tech got a light version yesterday night and now Phi's down with it today. So far Leroy and Beans are holding out!! It seems to be catchy for up to two weeks after you have it, so we will probably be laying low for a while here. So, that's another month in the life of the Soares. Plenty happening, not so much time to stop and think about it.

I read this in an old book from the 1800's the other day, and found it "food" for thought:

"Time is so precious, that there is never but one moment in the world at a time, and that is always taken away before another one is given." Hawes

1 month

Time certainly has been passing faster these days, it was a surprise to realize this little lady was a month old last Sunday!

Her most devoted caretaker...he goes running when she cries with an
exclamation of "uh-oh Ulia." He is actually very handy at putting her binky in for her. :)

Hanging out with Daddy and the boys after bath time one night watching Daddy draw pictures on his Slate.

Sweet dreams...she still is not smiling directly at people but getting closer everyday. She will look pleasant but that's as far as it gets.

Our little Juli-bean with her wild mop, this is how it looks after a bath and it's pretty hard to get it under control.

Thoughtfully sleeping...

Bruder Leroy had a birthday this month and turned 3!!

He requested a train cake which is exactly what he had last year but that made it easy for me. Brownies and MnM's make it easy and delish...

Here's everybody helping with the "car shooter" Uncle AJ and Aunt Ruth gave him.

And this little lady can't wait to see her cousins and Aunt and Uncle who are coming to see her for the first time!

"My who"

"Oh those ones"

"I'll try to look proper"

"No cross eyed stuff and all"

We'll be very pleased to see you"

"Good night for now"

Things have gone so well thus far with four, we have our busy times on occasion when several of them need attention at once. But most days are pretty much the same as before with a little extra time taken for feedings and such. The boys all love her to pieces and often request to give her hugs and kisses. She does love to be held which can be challenging but is also a pretty good sleeper most days so we get quite a bit done during those times All in all we have been very blessed!!

1 year

...Since I last posted, well not quite. But this little man

turned 1 on the 1st of May! It very hard to grasp that it's been a whole year since this.

and this.

He and Unca Dave shared the party since Dave's falls at the end of April.
The birthday boys.

So here's Jeffy's cake.

And Dave's, a Applesauce Raisin with cream cheese frosting. So yummy!

And here's the cake's demise. First the candies, Phi did the exact same thing only being the first and careful child he had to be told, yes go ahead and eat the cake too. :)

Not so with mister third child.

He knew exactly what to do with it.

No questions asked...

Diggin' in for more.

and then the inevitable sugar overload/time to save some for everyone else.

Opening presents with Daddy. Grandma was distracting the brothers so Jeffy actually got to open his own gifts.

And play with them for a bit uninterrupted.

He was 23 lbs and 29 inches tall at his 1 year check up. Still our little peanut as we call him occasionally. He is quite the talker, not words but baby gabber that sounds like 'what is it" and he'll go on chirping out sounds like a little bird. He does say Daddy and Momma. He loves to clap his hands or feet when he's in the car, hence the nick name Happy Feet. Daddy sings him "if your happy and you know it clap your feet". He doesn't walk yet alone, but loves to walk holding a hand. He will have the most serious conversations with people, making earnest eye contact and chatting away, only all in baby gibber. He's still our snuggliest little man and we love him that way. Happy first birthday little man!