Smidgies

Smidgies are my favourite. Big or little, I love kiddos and my life is full of them. Am I always the patient and ever-lovable momma? Nope. Man, has God got me learning life-altering lessons with small people. But, I do adore them. I've been called a "baby-licker". I think that's a compliment? :)

Here are a few of my smile-inducing photos that didn't quite make it on the blog yet. I don't know how I missed them because they're so very precious.

Gratitude: 

1977. standing back and watching them care for her

1978. these two and their shenanigans

1979. celebrating Ameen's first birthday!

1980. Parker is not far behind!

1981. my two Shifra girls

1982. swimming with the MacLarens

1983. when they just know what to do when she cries

1984. for how many times I actually get to type that big kids help little kids regularly

1985. jumps of all sorts

1986. that he was a baby just yesterday and is now leaping into a pool with no life-jacket--hardest to imagine with this sweet boy

1987. how she came along after those twin boys and made our world an even better place

1988. how Leanne and I birthed all these babies that look like a crowd of people! Oh yeah, they are!

1989. our built-in life-guard :)

1990. it bears repeating--biggers helping littles

1991. end of the walk exhaustion and the upcoming nap

We Didn't Know

She stops suddenly just before the bottom of the slide and she looks up at me and giggles... every... time. She thinks it's hilarious that her body jolts to a halt right at that same spot each time, as though it's a surprise to her. I can't help but laugh too, and then, up she goes to do it all over again. We didn't know this little girl would occupy such a vast place in our hearts, but she earned prime real estate in all of us. Gratitude gushing, because we just didn't know His plan for us included her.

"I Go Africa!"

This little girl, with the hair-ballies (as we call them) and the Ivorian heritage, kept singing out all morning, "I go Africa!" We'd told her during her bathtime that we were going to see lions and zebras that day at African Lion Safari and our excitement bolstered hers. It was a zoo of crazy, noisy, elated kids in my kitchen as I wrangled water bottles and snacks for the ride. Mama, who began this tradition when my sisters and I were young, came along for a nostalgic adventure and, for some kid-loving :)

So we "go Africa" as a reward for the end of our unit (still enjoying some learning but finishing up). It just seemed like the perfect day to get a wee taste of the savanna and rainforests of that great continent. So very thankful for how God opened our eyes this year to the vast and intricately woven tapestry that is Africa.