Besties

BFFs forever!

Puddle Jumping

These pictures make me laugh out loud every time I see them! Crazy Guys!

We've Gone Bonkers!

Hanging out with our cousins is always super fun, but it's even more special when we go on an adventure together! Erica found a great new place to play called Going Bonkers. It's cheap. It's air conditioned. And it's crazy fun!

These two are often mistaken for brothers. Even though they are a year apart, they are just the same size!

It was pajama day. What fun it was to wear comfy pj's to play in!

We could not keep Baby Elliot off the stairs! Poor Erica got quite a work-out chasing her active Boy.

Snuggling Jonah.

We had a blast and will have to go back before school starts for sure!

Mr. Handsome

is three weeks old today!

And whether we call him Jonesy,

Sweet Tomato,
Tweedle Dee, or

Tiny,

we love him with all our hearts!

Brotherly Bonding Time

It absolutely warms my heart to watch these three together. The love that is growing between them amazes me. I pray that they always remain close and see just how richly blessed they are to have each other. I know how richly blessed I am to have them.

Venturing Out

Jonesy's very first trip (of many, I am sure!) to our neighborhood park. O and Noah were super excited to show him around. He fits just right in the hand-me-down double jogger that Julianne gave me years and years ago. That thing has put in hundreds of miles!

Park Date with Noah

I just can't get enough of this kid. He is bright and sunny and full of boundless energy. I got to spend some wonderfully special alone time with him while O was at Gigi's and Yaya kept Jonah. I never tire of hearing what is going on in Nosy's heart and mind. Usually it has something to do with balls of some sort. It was so much fun to do exactly what Noah wanted for a whole day. I love him so very much! I pray he never ever feels like an over-looked middle child. He is one special Guy.

Camp Gigi & Papa

Every year, First Baptist Church of Garland puts on a spectacular array of classes and fun days for kids. They are all either free or very affordable. When the list came out this year, the cooking class caught O's eye. He is quite the little chef in our kitchen and often can be found whipping up some delicious recipe in his playroom kitchen. I signed him right up for the class! To sweeten the deal, Gigi offered to have Owen and his cousin Mia spend the night and go to the class together the next morning. Whoo-hoo! O could hardly wait!

Gigi planned all sorts of exciting things for Mia and O to do.

First up: swimming! I love how both kids are just a blur. That is very indicative of the energy level of these two five year olds!

Movie night

Uh-oh. Owie looks mighty sleepy in Papa's cozy lap.

They are ready to cook!

The kids made homemade donuts. I seriously think O packed away a good dozen.

Next stop: The Purple Cow to meet up with Julianne, Ally, Maddie and Will.

Poor O. He was too full from devouring donuts to eat a meal. He could only manage some chocolate ice cream.

O made memories he will treasure forever, especially getting spoiled rotten by two of the people that love him the best. Thank you, Gigi and Papa!

Nosy Gives a Bath

Nosy is one hands-on big brother. He never tires of helping me out with the baby and asks to hold him multiple times each day. He loves his baby! With Owen gone to Gigi's for a slumber party, Noah and I got to spend some time pampering Baby Jonah.

What a terrific big brother! Jonah is so blessed to be this loved.

Cousin Mia

Mia reminds me of myself at her age. I could never get enough baby time. She could hardly wait to get her hands on her tiniest cousin. Here is Mia with two of her favorite things in the world:

a baby and a sucker.

Sacked Out

Precious Baby, you are two weeks old...and I have never been more in love. From the top of your downy, lavender-smelling, fuzzy head to the tips of your peely, Halpin-long, red toes, I adore every single inch of you. You are so laid back and easy-going. You have slipped right in to our lives with no trouble at all. If I stay up late to nurse you one last time, you only wake up once at night (usually around 3:00) and then you sleep until morning. What a champ! You put up with quite a bit of tough love from your doting Big Brothers without a peep. You are tolerant and snuggly and peaceful. My favorite thing is to cuddle you and rock you and sing to you in the wee hours of the morning when it is just us two. I never tire of staring at you, memorizing all your sweet baby parts. I continuously thank God for you. You are the joy of my heart.

These Two

I love these two goofballs more than words can express. May I soak up each and every day I am able to spend with them for there is no greater blessing.

Blurry

I am so frustrated that this picture of perfection turned out blurry! What sweetness.

I have got to take a class or something...in my spare time!

Happy Half, Halpin Style

And that means with icing...lots and lots of icing.

Just kidding, but it does always seem to be the case. What sugar heads we all are...mostly me!

We had a great time celebrating Nosy's 3 1/2 at home. Jeremy is so patient to indulge me since he does not acknowledge happy half birthdays as technical holidays. He just smiles and goes along with it. I love any reason to celebrate these Boys of mine!

Icing our Funfetti cupcakes.

It takes total concentration and great skill!

Just in case we ever wondered where all the icing ends up, I have proof in the pictures!

Sprinkle time!

Delicious!

Owie drew a wonderful picture of "pretty decorations" (O's words) for Nosy and we wrapped it up to make it super special. Here he is proudly explaining his gift to little brother.

What did he get from Mom and Dad? Another soccer shirt! Hooray!

Huge hugs for the most loved Daddy ever!