Ready, jump.

Before he started crawling, diving from high places, and generally being a daredevil (which he does now (June 5, 2012)) I would leave him on the bed with Adelaide to watch him for a minute, in order to complete 90 second tasks (such as using the restroom or stirring what's bubbling on the stovetop).  

I come back to find her using him as her hurdle.  Bitty says, "LOOK MAMA, look, check it out, I am a SUPER jumper!!!"  Mama replies, "What happened to your pants?" Bitty emphatically states, "They were interfering with my jumpiness." Mama counters, "Really?!!?!!! How 'bout you STOP using Buster as a jumping hurdle, put on your pantalones, and read him a story?" Bitty retorts, "He doesn't know about stories, he's a tiny baby, he likes to watch me hop around!" Mama, exasperated and slightly amused, says "Fine, but if you squish him - it's big trouble for you." Bitty, always one to get the last word, states "Don't worry Mama, my jumpiness is awesome."

(I journal here and there and this is one of those moments that I felt needed recording for posterity.)

The motley crew...

Playday

Dana, Salome, and Mariel came for a visit.  Dana is a kindred soul and we always have a ball.  We took the munchkins to the park.  I took a lot of photos, however - unbeknownst to me, the camera was in nightime mode most of the time and they were nearly all garbage.  Bummer, dude!  Here's a few.

Miss Mariel LOVING the swing. She is such a happy little gal.

Adelaide and Salome (Bitty & Nini) were more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

Monkey see, monkey do!

Pals

LindyJean & Bitty, on most days, wake before Buster.  When he starts to peep, one (or both) of them crawls into his crib to keep him company while I warm his breakfast.  

Here we are watching race cars.  For some reason LindyJean was refusing to get dressed.

Things had become very quiet in the girls' room as I was washing dishes... I come in to find this!  LindyJean, the monkey.

easter

He is risen, risen indeed!  

It was a lovely day for us.  We went to church in the morning and then spent the afternoon at Bob & Trudi's house.  

The Easter bunny brought a basket of goodies, each kiddo had his/her own bag in the basket along with things to share.  

Dressed and ready for the walk to church.

Cheese!

The menfolk watching the girls scoot about hunting for eggs.

Miss Bitty and her stash of eggs.

Gunnar enjoyed sunning himself, the new sensation of green grass, and watching his sisters run amuck. 

Everytime LindyJean got an egg she wanted to open it and devour its contents.  Hunting for more was not a priority.

Fun with Dad.

Bob & Trudi treated us to homemade vanilla icecream, quite a treat indeed!  It was unbelievably delicious.  

In fact, they have had the same ice cream maker for forty years!  How's that for durable goods?

Hats off to you, Gammy!

Happy, happy Birthday to Trudi!  We had her over and I prepared a meal to her specific instructions; rotisserie chicken, potato souffle, Caesar salad (I make the most delicious Caesar dressing and croutons), and bread.  For dessert, I made Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcakes, which are straight from heaven. Make them and then I challenge you not to eat 9 of them. Eric likely ate 15.

Here is my table... spring in mind, come on sunshine!

Happy birthday to you! I do believe that the expression on Bitty's face is her "you couldn't torture it out of me, go ahead and try!" 

A testament to why you should not expect much when trying to photograph this bunch with the timer... cheese.

Go fly a kite.

The Stagglets were gifted a kite by Santa Claus and finally in March the stars to aligned and both weather and schedules merged into a day that was conducive for kite flying! Abril, Jacob, and Amelia joined us.

Jacob and Gunnar hanging out in the stroller.

Mr. Stagg, rigging up the kite!

Here we are wrestling with the wind.

Amelia and Bitty, flying the kite.

Jacob crawls already... poor Abril! He also has teeth.

"I'm gonna eat your face!" 

Jacob's expression is great.

Random visit to Aunty Staci's...

Whenever I go home, it seems its always centered around my parents place.  Bitty informed me that she wanted to do an Aunty Staci sleepover, where we would "sew, make & eat cupcakes, craft, and maybe do some more fun stuff."  Aunty Staci, Activities Czar, did not let Miss Adelaide down in the least.  It was two FULL days.

Here we are at Payton's... wrecking Ashley's (Payton's Mama) house, but looking fine doing it!

Sewing, check! 

Cupcake making and eating, CHECK!!!

Trying to frost cupcakes without LJ consuming half of your work is very difficult.

Serious Boss is pleasantly and surprisingly silly with little people.

Here the girls and Boss are taking MadDog for a bit of a stroll.

Gunnar and Aunty Staci.

Getting crafty, check!

The girls painted these plates (at the Art Garden) and then we wrote their names on them, LindyJean's is red and orange and Bitty's is green with a touch of pink.  They eat almost all their meals on them and turn into complete crabpots at the table if they are not clean and available.  Particular little buggers.

Thanks Aunty Staci for a lovely couple of days.  We adore you... lots.