Mop my floors or hang out with my baby

It is summer time and my floors need to be mopped so badly. The thing is I know that as soon as I mop them someone will spill juice on them or track dirt from outside on to them. Therefore I just don't really have the motivation to do them. Then of course just as I was finally going to mop them this little guy woke up. So do I mop floors or play with my baby boy. I bet you can tell from these pictures what I decided to do. The fact is that my sticky dirty floors will still be there tomorrow, but this little guy seems to grow bigger each day.

Ken thought his eyes might turn brown. I don't think so daddy, they're going to be blue just like mommy's.

He has got this finger sucking down, plus it is a good signal that he is starting to get tired. I have never had a finger sucker and I think it is pretty adorable.

The entire time we were taking photos he kept trying to do this with his tongue. Maybe some teeth are working their way in?

I love these below pictures. I took them holding the camera off to the side and just playing around. Often I know we can be critical of ourselves in pictures, but I know that I need to take some of myself playing with my kids. The fact is that it is moments like the ones below that I love the most at this age. Kissing soft skin, making him laugh, having his eyes light up when they focus on my face. There is a wonder that happens between a mom and a baby. This child is half me. The dependency of a child on a mother is overwhelming and awe inspiring all at once. For this period of time you literally are the world to this child.

My husband is such a good sport. He doesn't even roll his eyes anymore when I tell him that I want some pictures with him in them. His reply today, "Now what do you want me to do?". My reply, "Just play with him and make him laugh." Always easy for daddy to do.

I got baby Huck's 4 month information from his doctor's visit.

Huck Length 25 1/2 in. Weight 16 lb. 4 oz.

Midge Length 25 3/4 in. Weight 13 lb. 10 oz.

Leo Length 26 3/4 in. Weight 19 lb. 12 oz.

Little Miss Length 26 1/2 in. Weight 15 lb. 14 oz.

Our Summer Beach Trip

This past weekend we rented a house on the beach in Coos Bay with my parents and brother Patch. We had so much fun together. We came home today and all of us are exhausted from everything we did.

Here is the house.

It had a fun walkway up to the front door.

We tried to follow the motto above the door.

Ken said the smell of the kitchen reminded him of the beach house he used

to visit when he was a kid.

Little Miss showing off the breakfast nook.

On the first day we went to the Game Park in Bandon. We all loved it.

One of the major highlights was being able to pet and hold a 3 week old tiger.

We think Little Miss just thought they were pretty kittens with sharp claws.

Midge has such a way with animals. The whole experience was amazing for her.

We also got to pet and hold two 5 week lion cubs.

I think my dad was wishing he had worn pants!

When we first got in the animals come right up to you.

Little Miss's first words were, "well hello"!

This is the sight that greets you when you first walk in the gate. The kids were amazed that so many animals are walking around next to you and you can touch them.

These capybaras were so curious and cute. I had never seen one in real life and had no idea they were so big.

If you look closely you will see that the cheetah in the background stalking the goat. The cheetah would try to pounce on the goat despite the fact that there was a chain link fence separating them. The goat couldn't have cared less.

Baby Huck wasn't too impressed. He was just a long for the ride. The cheetah seemed very curious about baby Huck.

They also had baby animals you could pet and hold. This was a groundhog.

I can't remember the name of this, but it is a relative of the raccoon family.

Yes she is petting a skunk.

Midge did a report on the Roosevelt Elk this last year in 3rd grade so we had to get a picture of her standing next to one of them. My parents had one of these in their yard last week.

Midge thought it was amazing to feed the goats. She wanted to take one home.

This panther did not like Ken. Any time he walked up to the cage it would hiss and show its fangs.

My parents had one of these in their backyard as well.

Midge tried for 30 minutes to allow this baby goat to let her pet it. It was only 12 inches high and was adorable.

This look on Midge's face pretty much sums up the amazement she had the entire time we were there.

This donkey liked Midge and would follow her everywhere.

I loved the white tiger. He was so beautiful.

After the park we went to Old Town for a seafood lunch.

Then we stopped at a place that had over 30 different flavors of soft serve ice cream.

That night we cooked s'mores in the backyard.

The next morning dad and I went canoeing. It was fun to go along the water way and see the boats. We even saw a float plane land on the water.

I caught these two having a conversation out on the front porch swing. Little Miss loves her Papa. She likes to call him at work and just talk. The kids were so excited that we were going on a trip with Papa, and Mimi, and Uncle Patch, and the dogs.

That afternoon we headed to Winchester Bay to enjoy the beach and great weather.

The kids insisted that the water was warm, and they were so upset that I hadn't brought their swimsuits. I think they were nuts.

Regarding the below picture my mother said, "Only (Little Miss) can make the Oregon coast look like Cancun."

Ken and my brother did some crabbing.

While they pulled in a lot nothing was legal size.

The last morning dad made us breakfast.

I asked everyone what their favorite thing about the vacation was:

Midge loved flying kites.

Leo loved playing on the beach.

Little Miss loved the water.

Baby Huck loved swinging with his Papa (and Mimi)

I loved holding a 5 week old Lion, and spending time with the family.

Ken loved the Game Park and seeing the look on the kid's faces.

Overall it was an amazing trip and we had a great time.