Just Like Family

For my whole life, I've wanted to be surrounded and have my children surrounding by a plethora of friends who are like family.  I am lucky enough to have a best friend (okay, several friends) who will indulge me by getting our kids together once a month or so, until we remember that it's a foolish endeavor.  She has three kiddos:  one almost 7 years old, one 4 years old and one 2 1/2.  Now add in my rambunctious 3 1/2 year old and 1 year old and it's chaos in the making.  We stoopidly tried to take them all to lunch IN PUBLIC last   summer.  End of that experiment.  We now keep the chaos confined to our own homes.

Steph and her brood came over last week for a farewell visit before their annual trek to the Eastern Shores of North Carolina for the month of July.  I had the brilliant idea of capturing the friends-like-family moment with photos.  Ha.  Five children, aged one year to six and half, near bedtime.  Yes, I know what you are thinking--perfect photo-op.

*Please note Brooklyn's ever-sinking  posture & the progression of my dear Godson reaching his limit of seriousness in the pics.

Spaghetti! . . . and Watermelon?

My baby loves to eat.  Everything (except sour milk).  Seriously, the girl shovels food into her mouth by the handful.  I hope her "high metabolism" sticks around if her appetite remains on track.  The week?  Spaghetti.  Those eyes of hers are killer, and despite the fact that she sucks her bottom lip in, it is actually quite full.  I am a mom, which is confirmed by staring at my child in awe, amazed by her perfection.  I also figured I'd have a passel of brown-eyed kids, so to have a child with startlingly blue eyes is mesmerizing to me.

What?  Do I have something on my face?

Watermelon and spaghetti?  Why yes, those do go together.

This is her raspberry face.  She's good at making that noise.  

We DID Have Easter. . .

I just forgot to blog about it.  I'm not sure what this says about me.  There was a lot of cuteness, so here ya' go:

Brooklyn had her own lunch on the grass while we were waiting for Glammy & Poppy to get home from church.

The pouting face.  I call it his duck face.  

I love that they are both looking the same way.

Ell wouldn't sit for a pic with Mommy.  Brooklyn was corralled but not happy about it.

Manny & Griffin love.

Best shot o' the day.  Griffin and Poppy.

We tried to get a group grandkid shot.  Griffin wasn't having it.

Sit next to?  Sit on?  They're the same, right?

Sibling love here.  

Uncle Ben & G$