Where have we been...

...you may ask. (not to worry, I'm well aware of the fact that a) no one is reading this so therefore b) no one knew we'd been scant on posts) The answer is...Alabama and Mississippi. One of my very oldest friends in the world got married two weeks ago in Hattiesburg, MS. Brett and I took advantage of my parents' willingness to keep the kids and we took our time about the trip. We drove 10 hours (hellooooooo old age) to Gulf Shores, AL for two days, then headed up to Hattiesburg for the wedding. We enjoyed our time away and our few precious days of sleeping past 6am but, please know, Will Nolen, that you are quite possibly the only person for whom I would make a 10 hour semi-cross-country drive at this stage in my life! We hope you and Laura had a wonderful honeymoon and wish you all the best!
Don't worry, you're all in luck. Brett and I managed not to take any pictures of each other lounging on the beach. Instead, we'll regale you with a few recent pictures of and quotes from the kids.

This was part of a discussion with Makena yesterday- she's big into the idea of twins and triplets ever since my friend, Elizabeth, had her triplets last month (she's also into being first at everything)
M: ...and I got here before Reese.
Me: yes, you did.
M: because I was in your tummy all by myself...before Reese.
Me: yes, you were.
M: because we are not twins. twins share a tummy.
Me: that's right
M: well...where was Reese?
Me:....(formulating an answer)...
M: God was holding Reese.
Why, yes, He was.

I love this picture. We often have to answer the question "where did she get that hair??". Truth be told, the closest full redhead in either of our families is my great-grandfather. Brett has red in his beard (when he lets it come in) and I have some red highlights in my hair when I'm out in the sun long enough, but that's as close as we come. Reese's hair has gone from auburn to fire-red to strawberry-blonde. I'm afraid she won't keep much of the red as she gets older, but I do love what she still has. (this picture doesn't show the red factor very well, but I still like it)
Just a few random other pictures