Spring Photo Shoot with Gma Penny

Just another tradition to record:

Every spring since the beginning of time we've taken a yearly photo with Gma Penny.  It's fun to watch the kids grow up and change from year to year.  This year the photo was taken on Easter Sunday in her backyard surrounded(as you can see)by potted tulips.  The tulips this year were perfectly timed for Easter.  We couldn't have asked for better weather or flowers. 

A photo from the past... Super Super Cute

I was looking through some old photos and came upon this one taken at Thanksgiving point when Grace was still a baby, it must have been 2008.  I love how candid this photo is.  I love how small my children still are.  It's not fair how quickly they grow up.  How quickly they decide to become their own little people with very distinct thoughts, opinions, ideas, and senses of humor.  I do love the relationship that continues to grow and cultivate as they get older.  Some relationships are harder then others.  But each just as important as the others.  It's interesting to me how our relationships change as time goes on.  For instance, I use to have the hardest time with Isabel.  Almost every time I was on the phone with my Mom I would express to her my frustrations about said child.  Some tears would be shed and I didn't know if I'd make through another day.  As she has grown and matured, I find that I appreciate her more and more.  All the good qualities that were hidden by her louder, meaner self have emerged.  She has always been confident, and gave some nice compliments.  Now, I can't go a day without hearing a kind word from her.  Isabel loves to clean and is constantly helping me keep certain areas of the house clean.  What a relief it is.  She has told me on several occasions that one of her hobby's is cleaning.  In fact, one morning she was goofing off with Annika so I gave them extra chores to keep them occupied till it was time to go to school.  Isabel very matter-of-factly told me,"you realize mom that this isn't a punishment for me since I like to clean."  Sheesh.  Don't get me wrong though, Isabel still has her moments that send me reeling.  Life has always needed to be fair to her, and that seems to never change.   Maybe one day she'll use that passion to fight for those that don't have a voice for themselves.