Pomp and Circumstance

I am guilty as ever of being a picture procrastinator. If I'm lucky I download maybe once a month. This spring has been no exception. But seeing as I was 'forced' to catch-up in order to make/order a photo book for Andrew for Father's Day, I will now take the time to actually post a few. It really is quite pathetic when my life revolves around sales...(gotta get this done/go shopping before this sale is over...) Oh well, no matter the motivation, it's getting done :o)
Here is Lily graduating from preschool. Two years and she's already moving onto Kindergarten. Because of a year-round school schedule here she will be starting in less than two months, before she even turns five. Is this really my baby? Perhaps I've had too much time to reminisce due to the picture project album I put together for Andrew. I spent hours reviewing pictures I've taken from the minute Lily was born to the present day...almost five years of pictures. And the cliche is true...each subsequent child seems to get a little less of the camera light. Not because I find them less important or loved, just because I am more busy and am often too harried to be thinking about picture moments. I am trying. I guess on the flip side, it makes for less photos that have to be scrapbooked.
So here is Miss Lily...Preschool graduate, on to bigger ponds called Elementary school. She is my sensitive one. She hates it when other people are upset and will do all in her power not to get in trouble or be the one to diffuse a tense situation. She is very conscious of her weaknesses and has a strong desire to develop good traits that she sees in others. She LOVES to play with friends and will forgo eating to just play. We all went to the Discovery Gateway as her last preschool field trip, and I am always amazed at how quickly she can play with random children and make friends in a few short minutes. She has no fear in that aspect, and I admire her greatly for that endearing quality. She didn't enjoy soccer quite as much as I thought she would have, but she is very active and loves to be outside. She is growing up so fast, and I lament that I often take for granted the everyday, the mundane and the 'regular' part of each day. And here is my Zoe. She is my baby-lover, be it doll or human. She is my little home-body buddy and prefers to stay home most of the time. She has tried to branch out a little and will venture on one or two play dates with Lily every once in a while. She loves to play in (and still eat) dirt and water. She is terrified of dogs but is not phased by horses or other big animals. She loves to sing especially during sacrament meeting when the hymn is being sung. She'll crawl on my lap and ask me to point her finger at the words as they're being sung. She will then hum/mumble the words with me. She is my little limit-tester. She has no desire to just be told when something if off limits or not such a great idea. She'd rather do it anyway and reap the consequence/experience. She definitely keeps me constantly sharpened when it comes to be creative with discipline techniques. (And I still seem to be searching for that perfect one) She tends to be a little more tentative in play-group situations but has no fear of making friends with adults and willingly talks to whomever will listen. Her thumb and her blankets are still some of her favorite possessions and are her constant comfort objects when she's nervous. She is my little helper and loves to cook and eat. And last, but definitely not least, is my little man, Beck, at 7 1/2 months. He is starting to be quite the little mover and gets around via rolling and twisting like a clock. No crawling yet, but I always find him in a different position/place than where I left him. He loves to eat as well and enjoys all kinds of baby food and gumming down Cheerios. He hasn't quite got the hang of the sippy cup and would rather chew on it. No teeth yet but his hair is growing quite fast and is no longer sticking up like it used to. His cute little fuzzy halo is becoming more coarse and thick. He likes to bat at things to get a better idea of his orientation with them and loves to babble and laugh, especially at Zoe, who feels it her daily duty to find a new way to tickle his funny bone. He is getting sick again after only enjoying a few weeks of being healthy after his last cold. Definitely not my favorite thing for this little guy. He's usually pretty laid-back and happy, and we like it that way.
This picture is a typical one around here. Lily watching her tv show (her current fave is Tom & Jerry). Zoe with her thumb not really wanting to cooperate for the camera, and Beck just loving the fact that Mom is so close and actively engaged. Sure do love my peeps!