the aunt farm

The kids that were there that week (l-r): Carson holding Maddie, Ezra with Eliot, Asa holding Gemma, Marlow, Bailey holding Moriah and Marley on the back of the couch.


Marlow and Eliot with Grandma holding Gemma, sitting on her bench under the newly dubbed "snake tree." Earlier that day we watched helpless as a large black snake crawled into the bird house on the pear tree next to the front porch -- you can't see the tree in this picture but they are sitting in the shade of the tree. The little bird house had some newly hatched little birds that were eaten by the snake. A sad lesson in nature. The kids all wanted to kill the snake once it emerged, but we explained that snakes have to survive somehow, and that this wasn't a dangerous snake.


Marley playing ring-around-the-rosies with Marlow, Eliot and Moriah.


Aunt Marley playing with the little ones.


One morning mom and I ambitiously took the kids fishing -- eight kiddos all together on the dock and amazingly nobody got knocked in. The girls are getting so grown-up and were a huge help keeping an eye on Marlow and Eliot. After a while grandpa came down to give canoe rides.


Keith holding Eliot, Bailey and Asa. Asa was bit nervous to be in the front but he really wanted to row. Look at him...such a brave face.


We were so lucky that pops had a few days off work while we were there. In addition to canoeing, the kids got tractor rides too. Every time he came around to give someone a turn Eliot thought it was his turn again and would start to head over for another ride. He loved the tractor.


Although it is kind of hard to tell because he looks so serious here....and he has that pacifier in his mouth.


Marlow eating her typical breakfast of yogurt on the front porch.

We had a lovely week with beautiful weather. The kids played a lot and the adults got in some good visiting time. We got to see Marley in action at one of her softball tournaments. And it was super cool that Michelle and Jeremy stayed out there several nights and I got to hang with Michelle and her girls during the day. Jamie and Luke came over, Grant too and Lica was there for the weekend. We saw Papa and Nana on several occasions too....mostly because they came out to us, but we were in town one night and dined at there house. Good times. Check here for more pictures from our NC visit.

since May 1st

Here are a few pictures from the past two weeks since Gemma was born. She is a great baby and is growing and changing already. I wish I could keep her in the newborn stage longer then it actually lasts. I am just trying to enjoy it since I know that in no time she will be running around with the other kids and talking my ear off.

Gemma, one week old


Almost 2 weeks old.


Deja vu, eh? I know it looks just like the picture above, but it is what she looks like a lot...and it is so cute. Those pictures were taken on different days and she is wearing different outfits to prove it. Early on she slept quite a bit, but lately she has been spending a more time awake looking around. I'll try to get a shot of her with her eyes open one of these days.


Marlow and her little sister...


Oh, here we have one of Gemma with her eyes open.


When the drywall for the house was delivered two years ago, the truck parked on our front brick sidewalk and left a dip in it....it has always bothered me. So for Mother's Day Joseph and the boys pulled the bricks up (shortly after the boys ran down the street to play with a friend) and Joseph leveled it up and replaced the bricks so we have a nice flat walkway now.


The girls relaxed on the porch while the boys worked on the walkway.


The big kids playing with their new water baseball game. Some thoughtful friends brought it for them when they brought a baby gift for Gemma.


Eliot has seemed a lot bigger lately. He is still super sweet and loves all his siblings tons....he loves to point to Gemma and say, "Baby." He can say everyone's name except for hers, but he'll get it soon.


Marlow playing in the pool.

And finally a parting shot of Gemma and one of her many cousins... I think we are up to nine cousins now, of which five have been born in the past year. Lots of buddies to play with: Max, Ian, Gage, Calliope and Maddie (Plus their older siblings: Mason, Moriah, Zoe and Jack).

Calliope at three months old and Gemma at two weeks old. It seems like a big difference now but in a year they'll be running around together.

First few pictures

Here are the first few shots of our newest little one. More to come soon.


The whole family crowds around....


The girls.