Happy Valley, again.

Sure, the Pennsylvania hills are pretty and all, but they're nothing compared with what I imagine is a tanker truck filled with the world's best coffee. I mean, that has to be what this is, right? Oh, wait, that says "on the Interstate." Interstate's best is not = world's best? Shoot.

Like last year's visit, this year's included a visit to Brandon's parents' house, "in the country," as my kids like to say. I think that to their minds, "country" means anything that has a farm or farm animals within a couple miles, so this fit the bill well enough. As soon as we pulled up, the kids leapt out of the van and disappeared into the woods, never to be seen again. Well, until dinner and dessert, and until they ran back to tell us about all the berries they'd found in the woods, or about how one or the other was bugging one or the other of them. Actually, though, this was a pretty quiet portion of the evening for us adults who stayed on the porch. Bliss.

Kisses for Baby Lucia; ice cream; and memory-capturing, in action.

Father's Day.

Maybe this photo would be cuter if it didn't include a smashed quarter of an avocado, but that look on Iohan's face is awesome.

Berkey Creamery: A clown with his very own ice cream, and more kisses for Baby Lucy.

Here's Jude, eating pretzels straight outta the tub. Here's Jonah, acting casual, until he sees his opportunity. Afterwards, he ate his captured pretzels, victorious.

You might guess from the above photos that we had a water-based outing during our visit. The Swishers took us to a nearby waterpark on our last full day in State College. It was great seeing the kids having so much fun, and I think that Gabe and I both had more fun than we could've anticipated. We were even able to sneak away for a bit to go down the giant slides on tubes. It brought back memories of childhood outings to waterparks -- good times! Jonah spent most of the day scooting around by himself, while Manny required Gabe's assistance for maximum fun. He was scared to do much of anything by himself, but he didn't even mind going through the "water blast" as long as Daddy was holding him. So sweet.

Manny and Ezra.

Ioey and Lucy.

7 Month Sunshine

It wouldn't be entirely accurate to say that Iohan has only two speeds, Happy and Asleep, as these month-old pictures might suggest. It is however, at least somewhat accurate to say that. Jonah and Manny were both excellent babies, demanding in their baby-ways, but un-colicky, un-fussy, interested in their surroundings and pretty friendly. Iohan, though, has apparently determined to be The Most Excellent Baby, and he is. I'm not sure if it's inborn personality, or if he's already adjusted to being lost in the shuffle of three kids and has adapted to a forced low-maintenance lifestyle. (This latter option makes me sad, especially since he's right now my most enjoyable child: He doesn't talk back or throw fits (yet), he still nurses and therefore cuddles, and he always has a smile for Mama. He deserves lots of attention, not leftover attention!) Whatever the cause, Iohan is great joy to have around. I find myself hoping that his middle name ("Hilary," meaning "cheerful") is prophetic. God should be so good.

Sand in our toes

Someone I know recently commented that there is no place like Michigan during the summer -- so true! We visited Grand Rapids a bit before summer arrived, on Memorial Day weekend, but the weather was great and the effect was pretty much the same. Ah, Michigan...Just shy of 7 months.

Few things are cuter than chubby little baby feet, except for the chubby little baby himself.

It's always a hike from the car to the beach, and one can't be expected to make that journey again just because a little boy's hat was left in the car. My sister was nice enough to let Jonah wear her hat. I like to think that he looks hip, not that he looks like an almost 4 year old boy in a woman's hat. J's man enough to pull it off. Right? Right? Jonah loves, LOVES "rhinoculars." Apparently Kara and I broke this pair of my dad's when we were kids, so by dad wasn't too bothered when Jonah dropped them in the sand as he ran off in pursuit of something more interesting than close-up looks at the surf.

Iohan loves the water so much that he was barely phased by the cold May water. He stayed in it with Gangee till his chubby little feet turned purple, brave soul. He's a stoic one at this young age, undoubtedly learned from living with two crazy older brothers.

As often happens, Manny finished the day without pants. I don't think that any of us really knows why this was the case -- Manny was wearing trunks, then, suddenly, he wasn't. The child is a living cartoon and has no shame, two of the many reasons we love him so much. Our lives are incredibly brightened by Manny. Yes, by Manny and his glowing white buns.

White Sox night, once yearly

My boys willingly and happily sit in the back of the bus. It is going to take them a while to understand Rosa Parks. Train platform. City kids.

Jonah with Southpaw, the Sox mascot. I asked J if he wanted a picture with Southpaw. He seemed surprised, but then ran right up to the creature and (as you can see) posed happily. Manny, on the other hand, has always abhorred live and lifesize mascots; he was not letting go of his grip on Gabe. J, in older sibling fashion, talked several times throughout the night of having his picture taken with Southpaw and wondering aloud, "Why didn't you do that, Manny?" (Implication: "You big wimp.") "Next time," Manny reassures us.

(Yes, that's a plastic bag that I'm letting Iohan play with. We live dangerously 'round here.)

To cut down on concession costs, I packed a "snack sack" for the older boys. It was almost magic. I filled it full enough to last through several innings and we faced barely any requests for ballpark snacks. Next time, the snack sack will be even bigger and better!

Jonah's reenactment of an amazing catch that we saw. Can you feel the magic?

First solids

These pictures were taken mid-May, a few days after Iohan was 6 months old. I finally caved and gave him solid food -- one more meal to prepare, but I can't make the poor child survive on mama milk forever. He loves me all the more for letting him grow up. He's also growing out, thighs chubbier than ever, belly nice and round. Just the way a baby should be. Avocado was Iohan's first food. I look at these pictures, and all I hear is, "Squish, squish, squish."

Hot diggity!

At the beginning of June, we celebrated Jonah's last day of play class with a stop at ye olde weiner stand. Sadly, it only served to remind me why I don't eat hot dogs, but I didn't let my rebelling senses rain on the boys' parade. They were so happy that Manny willingly shared with Jonah. Now that's somethin'. Actually, no, now that I write that I realize that "somethin'" would be if Jonah willingly shared with Manny -- Moosy is fairly generous -- but you get the point, right? They loved it. Possibly atomic relish. I won't use vulgar language, so as to protect the sensitivities of some of my readers, but I will say that I only let my kids eat this, ahem, STUFF once in a while. It was painful to even look at. It actually colored Manny's bowels. Atomic!

Cutest. Kid. EVER!

Three bears

As I sit to post these pictures of barely-clad children enjoying our backyard, I find myself looking out the window at a very gray day and thinking about the fact that the apartment's radiators were warm this morning. Not unrelated is the fact that I just switched over the boys' winter clothes for their summer ones. Doing so it simply an invitation for the cold weather to return, I'm pretty sure. Maybe it I pull out their winter clothes, the warm weather will return? If there's no improvement in a couple days, I may have to try it.

Jonah said about the first picture, "Iohan looks angry." Really? I would've gone with "silly." Or even "exasperated," especially since it looks like Middle Bear is trying to bite him on the head. It may have been a kiss, now that I think about it.

Hmmm, my eldest piled atop my youngest? Some parent is slacking on the job. Poor Iohan. If his babyhood doesn't kill him, it will certainly make him stronger. (Strong enough to pop his brothers pretty good, I'm thinkin'.)

Here's Iohan's disgusted face. He's tired of Jonah intruding on his personal space. Really, Jonah better look out. It may take a couple decades, but Iohan will have his revenge.

We call Manny "Angel Baby" for his looks, not his personality. Personality-wise, we just go with "Crazy."

Awwwwww.

Not a fan of the burrito wrap, eh, Io-Io? Let me take a few photos, then I can help ya.