There are quite a few gorillas at our local zoo and this particular April day, they were super social. Several of them were quite interested in Emmie.
She was quite taken with them too.
We picked up a strong man, Malachi on the trip too.
Choo-choo
I have got to remember to get these pictures when we get there rather than when we are exhausted and ready to go home. As it is, this was the best we got at the end of a very fun, long day. After I snapped a couple of pictures the child who is visibly distressed (names hidden to protect embarrassment later) cried louder, “You didn’t take our picture!” Um, yes, I did. You just can’t tell because you were in curled up ball of over-exhaustion happiness.
These girls!
She would try to hit it a few times and then give up and just put it in the hole.
We could see Stone Mountain in the distance.
Liam, the climber, enjoyed the view from up high.
The road less traveled.
We also got selfies…
And Mom got in with her.
And she was happy.
These wrinkly feetsies are our evidence that Emmie not only got a first bath but that she totally enjoyed it! It’s great to see that she loves the water even more than she did last summer!
When Emmie first came home without the halo, she was unsteady on her feet. But she fit in to a smaller stroller! She still helped do the dishes though!
The pantry is a great place to hide from mom and dad (and open a bag of chips nearby for a quiet snack.).
We got a new tricycle for Emmie that has sides on it. More for our peace of mind than hers.
Just taking a picture with The Godfather of Funk. Our city has undertaken a great art project. Local artists were commissioned to paint the light boxes all over the city. When we visited downtown in March, the kids had to get a picture with the James Brown box.
Our annual PJ Day at Bruster’s Ice Cream. If ya’ll have one near you, every March, they offer free ice cream if you come in your pjs! It’s totally worth the embarrassment.
Emmie received this crocheted bunny rabbit as a gift from a neighbor. This bunny has been through a CT scan, surgery and many other things faithfully. Emmie named him Hop Hop and loves to take him on adventures. The other day, she had Hop Hop holding hands with Baby so they could take a nap. I really need to see if I commission our neighbor to make an identical one so that Hop Hop can get a bath in the washing machine without causing major trauma to Emmie.
This breaks my heart even now. Emmie fell out of chair in March. It scared me deeply and meant an extra trip to the neurosurgeon and extra x-rays. About twenty minutes after the fall, she was doing this. She had gotten up, walked over to the cat toy and sat down to play with Winter.
Ceili Rain was proud of her wedgit tower!
Emmie. And chocolate. Enough said.
What happens when you brace yourself on wooden poles while moving a heavy object upstairs. Ya’ll take a guess who did this.
Teenagers and their teenage friends.
Date day. Made possible by great friends who willingly take on all eight of your children.
Schoolwork.
This was the first time Emmie has actually sat down to play with someone other than her family. It was so fun watching her play with Miss T and interacting with her. 
Cuisinaire Rod Art by Josiah
Yes, you have my precious.
Toothpaste Man.
Um, Odd Man Out?!
Thoughtful CeiRai
Queen Armadillo (I know that’s not her name but take quite delight in messing it up so the kids can correct me)
Rocking it with smiles the day affter surgery. She has two bows in her hair because that’s what she asked for.
Naptime on mommy. She was still feeling the effects of the meds the day after surgery.
Emmie had had her surgery. We were through that hurdle. We were waiting. Watching. Healing. And then we see the rainbow. A reminder that God is there. That He is in control. Every time I see a rainbow, I am reminded of God’s everlasting love and care for us. No matter what we go through, He is there.
I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. -Genesis 9:13
So, we welcomed a little 10 week old kitten and he quickly became Smudge (he has a smudge of white on his forehead and smudge of black on his chin).
Smudge is very playful and he loves attacking big sister, Winter until she tells him it’s enough. And feet are never safe if they get near a dresser or couch or are covered with blankets.
Football…
with dad… 
is awesome!
Mark had jury duty a week before Emmie got the halo off. He had called and explained our situation to the court person and she assured him that nothing big was coming up and he needed to come on in. He had to go in on Tuesday, got called back and then promptly sent home. He was home by 11 and we got bonus time with dad. The kids introduced him to our picnics on the front lawn. We have been doing these even before we moved in to this house. 
Emmie decided she needed to take daddy on a walk and show him the place.
