Ruthie goes to Mt. Vernon

I entitled this Ruthie goes to Mt. Vernon because she was the star of the day. She was so excited to wear her new colonial dress and everyone wanted to take her picture or be in a picture with her. They all smiled and said, "I love your dress!" and Ruthie learned to say "thankyou" and answer a few questions for kind strangers. I liked all the attention not for the attention's sake, but for one, because I know she didn't wear the dress to get attention, she wore it because she loves it; and two, because it forced her out of her shyness and taught her to step out of her little "Ruthie zone" and speak to people. I was proud of her, and I think it was a good thing for her. She did get tired of all the attention, but maintained her politeness throughout.

This was my first solo excursion with all four kids, so it was a victory in that sense, and just fun to be out in the lovely springiness of this area. We packed a lunch, walked up our trail and had lunch, where we providentially met one of Ruthie's favorite creatures, a chestnut horse, ridden by a friendly US Park Police lady. It made Ruthie's day and she was very bold in petting King and getting her picture with him. Stay tuned for her big debut at Pony Camp this summer! She can't wait. Mt. Vernon, of course, "was robed in the loveliness of Spring," and we enjoyed the colorful garden and green lawn and baby sheep.

Ruthie and King.

Ruthie and her friend Patsy. ( I think this is actually Patsy's daughter Nellie, but we pretend she is Patsy.)

The boys will not pose for pictures anymore.

The beautiful, lush, wooded trail leading to Mt.Vernon.

Winter Project #4

Presenting Peter's baby quilt! I wanted to do a quilt for sweet baby #4, and my friend Andrea was glad to help- in fact she did most of the work on it. I picked the fabric and did some cutting and sewing, under her tutelage, and then she put the whole thing together while I was in the hospital having Peter. I love how the quilt turned out, and it will be something I hope he'll use for his babies in the future. Don't you just love a bright, cottony, cozy quilt?




Peter is trying to be a quilt patch. Very still. Very bright.

Easter 2011

He is Risen!
We had our friends Beau and Malia Powers and fam over for Easter lunch. It was a lovely day, and we had an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard, after the meal.

My two surly boys. I think they get this from Jay.

Our kids with the Power's kids. A super-fun group. (except my surly boys)

BFFs Sarah and Ruthie.

Lil' Peter Cottontail. His first Easter! I tried to do some quick artsy pics by this tree, but they all look awkward, plus there was a spot of sun which made Pete look too shiny. I need to try again with more time and better light.

For the love of Pete

Attempting to get a picture of all 4 is nearly impossible. They all look drugged in this one.

Harry loves holding Pete.

Mac is so sweet and protective.

Ruthie is in love, and she is also my biggest helper.

Happy 2nd B-day, Harris!

Awww, Mom!

Little buddies celebrating with pizza, Harry's favorite food.

A baseball cake...

Harry with two new faves, his Leaptop and a cozy chair.

The Laundry is Piling up but who cares? I'm snuggling my 6 week old.

Spring has Sprung

All winter the flower bed looked barren and empty...


Then green appeared...


Then pale yellow tulips!


The tulips close at night, and on rainy days, but in the sun they open wide, welcoming the warmth and welcoming the bees!

I need to plant more this fall- they are so easy, and I can look forward to them each Spring (or whoever lives in this house...)

Peter's Nursery

I'm so thankful to have this little nursery for Peter. I've tried to do a special room for each baby, just changing things like crib bumpers and decor, simply and inexpensively, and two grandmothers are always so generous in helping me! This time I purchased these cards from Amazon.com and stuck them around the room. It instantly added a nursery-ish baby-ish charm, I think. A new diaper changing pad cover, and voila! new nursery for baby Pete. I used the same bumpers that were in Ruth's crib- (I tried to sell them on Craigslist with no luck) they are white with yellow ric-rac. I just need to pick curtains!

Fingerpainting

I must confess I dread when the kids ask to do fingerpainting- it is just such a confounded mess. But I don't want to quench their little artsy spirits so we do it occasionally. This is Harris' first time, which IS sad since he is almost 2- but I think we just usually do it when he's asleep. But he can find consolation in the fact that he's gotten everything else way before the other kids- like sugary foods and movies and popcorn- things you can keep away from kid #1 and kid #2 way more easily than kid #3. Peter will probably get a lollipop next week at this rate. Anyway- I enjoyed Harris' seriousness as he engaged in this tactile experience. He was a bit unsure of the gooeyness. At the end he tried a paintbrush out too. You might be wondering about the Navy shirt. Courtesy of my Dad. I must say I will always be partially a Navy girl.

Spring on my street...sigh of delight

Big Boy Bed for a Big Boy!

So big! Wearing Mommy's shoes. And his snazzy haircut courtesy of Daddy. (This is back in Feb.)

About a week before Peter came we decided to move Harris into the big boy bunk bed in the boy's new room. It was super-easy, probably because Harris loves his big brother and loves being in a bunk bed with Mac overhead. He never made a word of protest, and never looked back at the old crib. We built up to it, of course, talking alot about the big boy bed and his new room with brother, and referring to his old room as Peter's room. Harris is really such a BIG boy- it seems the crib was already outdated. He talks so much and runs with his big bro and sis doing whatever they do.

I love their new room- it has taken a long time to get it together, and there is still work to be done on it. The bunk turned out just the way I wanted it- my favorite things are the wall book shelves so the boys can keep books to look at without them being all in the bed and falling on the ground. I also love the Coast Guard Life preserver pillow- I just had to get one. The room is sort of a transportation motif, but I don't like to be too themey. We're leaning heavily to the aviation side of things anyway. More pictures to come when it's all done.

Pre-baby Flashbacks

Here is the belly, about two weeks before he came. A little boy at church asked me, "did you swallow a basketball last night?"

Our Covenant Group threw us a surprise baby shower- they gave several hand-made gifts such as these burp cloths...

And a knitted Auburn hat and booties! Not pictured; some handmade thank-you notes and a onesie with a little airplane stitched on the front. It is so sweet to receive some special things for baby number 4, who will most likely always live in hand-me-downs.

Cupcakes in bright boy blue...and there was even a sugar-free cheesecake for me to enjoy! We are so thankful for the community we have found through our church family.

Baby Peter's Birthday

Peter Alan Hodges

Born 3-15-2011

8:45 a.m.

8 lbs. 11 oz.

19.5 inches

What a sweet baby boy! Two weeks old tomorrow, which is hard to believe. More pictures to come of his first days at home.