The Summer of Three

It's hard to top the drama of the previous two posts, so I won't begin to try. The kids keep growing and changing though, darn it, so I'd better get down a few snapshots of these days before they are lost in the abyss of "history as remembered." It's a dangerous place to live.

Though she no longer naps like the little kids, Eden usually takes a "rest time" in her room after lunch each day. She generally uses this time to draw, play with her animals, construct intricate cut-paper and tape assemblages, read, or put together "set-ups." This particular afternoon, the set-up was moved outside the bedroom, and this is what I found when I came up to check on kids.

It's serious work being Eden. You can't do this just anywhere, without the proper work atmosphere.

Caught!

And it bears posting: a photo of Eden smiling, AT the camera, eyes OPEN and smile authentic. For the eldest child of a photographer, you'd think I'd have the most photos of her... but this one makes me work for the shot.

So worth it.

Eden and Judah find one another to be a near-constant companion, and as you can probably imagine, this is both a blessing and a curse. Constructing a train tunnel proved a successful, fight-free activity.

Judah, however, was quite concerned about my perch atop the coffee table to get the shot. "Mommy? I sink dat not safe... Mommy? Mommy.... I sink dat not good 'dea."

But the hose... the hose never fails. Fireman boots are icing, baby.

Judah is still enamored with all things fierce.

He reckons himself pretty fierce, as well.

(Parenthetical: see illustration below.)

At just about 18 months old, Selah is still funny.

And cute.

And kissable.

I might cry when I one day look at those legs and see the baby rubber-band rolls have thinned into slender kid limbs.

Today, this is the kid who greets me after her nap.

Come here, you.