Mexico

Over the week of Memorial Day, the whole Booth clan ventured to Playa Del Carmen. It was so nice to spend a week together and have Julia, Maggie, Libby & John Henry together to see them all interact. Mimi & Pop were a great help and had the girls sleep in their villa every night, apart from a few bed-time melt-downs and other various events it seemed to work out great. That left Jane & Wyatt, Callie & Russell & Jeremy, myself and John Henry to a villa of our own.

I will be honest and say that packing all of the necessities in a suitcase for a 5 month old for an international flight was a bit stressful. It took lots of thought, planning, and a bit of re-arranging of stuff once we weighed our suitcases at the airport.
And once we got there, Jeremy and I realized that our "vacation" would not be a typical vacation. With kids at the ages of John Henry and Libby, it was a full time job of tag-team parenting...sun-screen, nap times, sun-screen, strolling, feedings, sun-screen, potty breaks & more sun-screen.

The up-side was that there was lots of help from everyone and we were in the midst of paradise doing all of these things...I wish it didn't come and go so soon.

Now we are spending the summer going to story time, the farmer's market, the town square, making puppets, painting, cooking, swimming, playing and trying to stay cool.

The big topic of the season is Libby's Birthday. She will tell complete strangers at the store, "my birthday's coming up...you can come to my party" She talks herself to sleep during nap time discussing  her birthday, who is going to be there and singing happy birthday to herself as loud as she can. Listening to her on the monitor is entertainment in itself...There is never a dull moment around here. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

The whole group - this was the last full day of the trip, we had a photographer for about an hour and he got some great pictures of the kids and some of each family - This was the highlight of the trip for Wyatt.

John Henry & Pop - poolside

Libby is a fearless little fish...she is fearless, but I am fearful for her...she could have a future on the swim team.

Libby kissing the monkey

Lunch - everyday Jane and I shared an order of fried shrimp tacos and guacamole...oh.so.good.

and even photographs well.

Pop getting the tangles out of Libby's hair, the story is that every night the tangle fairy comes and does a dance in Libby's hair and that is why we have to brush our hair every day. Dang that tangle fairy...

This was on the airplane on the way home...Libby's new thing is that "somebody is bothering me" and believe me, she is easily bothered...Libby announces that some body's foot is bothering her. The lady behind her was asleep and had her foot propped into Libby's personal space...in this picture she was telling us that she was going to touch it...we were cracking up.

Mimi & Pop

Janie & Wy-o

The little mermaid, Maggie moo moo

sweet sisters

waiting for that happy hour bell to ring...

Mimi, the girls & the pout pout fish

This is where John Henry napped, in the stroller, by the pool, in the shade of the umbrella, enjoying an ocean breeze....he has it tough

Jeremy throwing Julia

Russell & Callie, such a great aunt and uncle with lots of patience with the kids

Aunt Callie with John Henry & his shades

Libby wants to be just like Ju Ju, so naturally she wanted to "go up in the sky" too.

The whole fam, and although you can't tell in the picture, we are probably wearing 2 lbs. of sun-screen

Summer time!

Libby and Pop exploring in the backyard.

Watering plants

 Playing in the water results in a small flood.

Posing in front of the wheat fields at Jana and Julian's house

Swinging!

Libby's version of a cartwheel

Early riser in his jumper (pre-haircut)

John Henry and his unfortunate hairdo

I know now that I see these pictures, what a mess his hair was, However, I think we should consider the facts. He is 5 months old....I mean, what mother is really ready to have the first haircut at 5 months??

Libby was almost one year when she had hers. It was easier to just put a bow in her hair and let it be a little crazy because she was a girl. But after a few months of hearing, "Elizabeth, it's time." From a few people, I gave in and I am so glad I did...

It's kind of weird when you are putting tangle spray in the hair of your 4 month old...and he is a boy.  So here are the pics.

yeah, it was time alright...

not to sure about this situation.

I call this one "bad Elvis chops"

still a bit of a mullet...

Look at the handsome devil...much better!

Lately...

We have had  a lot to celebrate lately, Easter, Jeremy's birthday, Mother's day, John Henry turned 4 months, Libby tells us everyday that her birthday is coming up and we are looking forward to a vacation right around the corner.
John Henry has moved to his room and started rice cereal and after two weeks of hating it, he is starting to come around and realize that solid food could be okay after all. He is weighing in at 18 lbs. When we are out and people ask how old he is I say, " He is 4 months old, but he is a big for 4 months..." because I know they are thinking it and want to comment on his size but not be rude, so I just say it for them.
Libby is a very "hands on" big sister. She loves to help bathe, change diapers, and she is practicing her discipline on John Henry. Just the other day she told John Henry to "get back in mama's belly!"
Here are a few pics of the latest...

Me and my little shark

All dressed up for Easter

Daddy is 32 years young!

Happy Mother's day!

Spending some quality time with Uncle Buzz

Not too sure about this

Nate and Johnny Cash came for a visit.

Sadly it was for a funeral, but we loved spending time with them.

Libby and John Henry visiting Jana - for a post Mother's day visit

Nate and John Henry...Nate could give us some hair tips.

Julian and John Henry.

Julian is glad that we had a boy...too much estrogen among the great grandchildren...9 girls and soon to be 5 boys

Happy Easter

We are looking forward to this weekend with family and friends. I wanted to get a post in to show what we have been up to lately. Enjoy!

This was John Henry's first play date with Brody -

Lindy and I prepared for Ashley's baby shower and they kept each other company.

We can't wait to meet Banks and add him to our clan!

This is the look of contentment - I believe Libby was napping so, John Henry had some peace.

Look at those dimples in his hand...so sweet.

This was the day we bought sandals for our Easter dress - natrually we had to wear them all day.

Then we got home and I needed LIbby to try on a bathing suit to make sure it would get her through the summer...so we had to kep that on too and accessorize with the garden gloves!

Playing with Ford could also be called "bossing Ford around"

He loves Libby and is great at sharing...Libby told us the other day she was going to put Ford in time out.

Being maternal...

Before the Easter egg hunt at school.

Dying Easter eggs during the witching hour.

This event about shot my nerves, Libby loved it and is now fascinated with hard-boiled eggs and the "yellow ball" in the middle.

It's been too long...

Life is moving right along these days. John Henry and Libby are both growing up so fast it is scary.
Libby is growing right into her big sister role and learning to boss everyone around. John Henry LOVES her and lights up whenever she is in the room. Libby is very attached to him and doesn't like to go many places without him.
Jeremy and I are adapting to parenting two little ones. The night time routine has become a fine art and from the moment Jeremy walks in the door it feels like a 3 hour sprint with supper time, bath time and bed time.
We love our life and are so blessed.....So, while we don't want to wish these days away...we do wish we could nap more often.
Here are a few pics from the past few months.

Here is the little man, or should I say BIG man...size 3 diapers already!

I could just eat him up!

Libby & Momma playing outside in this great weather.

Feel asleep playing....oh  the life...

Love this face.

We took Libby to a Grizzlies game and had 4th row seats.

If a basketball game brings her this much joy and excitement - then we may need medication the day we take her Disney World. It was so fun to watch her light up.

Picnic with Juju and Maggie Moo Moo in Columbus

Holding Elvira (her baby doll) in the Baby Bjorn