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We planted our garden this weekend. Levi has been helping his papa in the garden for several weeks now, so he is really into gardening. The weather was beautiful…it got me really excited about our garden and all the fresh vegetables we will soon be picking. Hopefully that excitement will last long enough to get through those hot summer days when I need to be pulling weeds and watering. 🙂
We planted sweet corn, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, cucumbers…and I am hoping to plant a few more things in the next couple weeks. We planted everything on Saturday. On Sunday while we were outside Levi pushed Griffin over to the garden to check on his plants.
 Then he pushed him back over to the house.
 And back to the garden again.
 Levi talked to Griffin about going to the garden and all the plants while he pushed. He was just talking away. I love listening to the conversations that Levi has with Griffin. Won’t Levi be surprised when Griffin can actually talk back…hopefully he will let his brother get a word in!
 He parked Griffin right on the edge of the garden so he could see.
 Then he walked to the very edge and put his hands behind his back as he looked. It was so funny. We have had many talks about how we can’t play in the dirt or ride his four wheeler through the garden any more. Bummer. It is hard work keeping your two year old away from the plants so they can actually grow!
 Levi wanted to put dirt instead of water on our new plants. He thought it would help them grow bigger.
 Each plant got a little handful of dirt and then it was back to pushing his brother again.
(Can you see Joel’s “big garden” in the background? His corn is just coming up. Levi checks on it everyday too.)
Griffin loved riding to the garden…Levi kept him quite entertained as they watched the garden grow together.
**For those of you who are wondering…No, my boys do not usually where nice clothes to play outside and tromp through the garden. We were just lazy and hadn’t changed out of our church clothes yet! 🙂
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  • Anonymous - OmIgoodness now that is adorable!! Your boys are just precious and I love your pictures! If this doesn’t make me want to get pregnant with my second, I don’t know what would!ReplyCancel

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  • Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Jess, this is so sweet. I adore the picture with his hands behind his back… what a little man!ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa - I love how the simplest of things can leave you with the best memories. There little conversations together are just the sweetest.ReplyCancel

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  • Jenny - Oh my word- Levi is just too cute checking on that garden! You can tell he takes it very seriously! So sweet.ReplyCancel

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  • The Bride's Maid - Jess-I am loving your blog and hearing about your sweet baby girl and adorable boys! Wondering two things: how far apart are the boys, do you like the age separation and 2 (or three really!!)-where did you get Levi’s rain boots..LOVE THEM!
    Blessings,
    MelissaReplyCancel

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  • Laura - This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyCancel

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  • Laura - They are just adorable! The hands behind the back are too cute!!ReplyCancel

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  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - Awwwww! They are growing so fast! It is soooo sweet to see them together “hanging out in the garden”….. they are going to be the best of buds! Thanks for the pictures…. it is so great to see them loving life!:)
    Still miss you all! Take care….
    AMIEReplyCancel

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  • Mum2twopreciousgifts - Did all the fresh air and being pushed around by Levi help Griffin sleep? Please say yes!

    I love, love, LOVE Levi’s little gumboots. Just too beautiful.ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - CUTEST post ever!ReplyCancel

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  • Amy Lee - your family and blog are so adorable…i’m a recent follower with a baby boy of my own. these pictures are just so sweet and make me look forward to our little Eli being a big brother someday. and where did you find that cute little airplane hoodie? love that!ReplyCancel

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  • Heather - My girls are 1.5 years apart like your boys and quite honestly, the youngest hardly ever got a word in with the older one and at 9.5 and 8 the youngest still has to fight to get her turn to talk! LOL LOVE the photos of a Kansas farm in spring!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Love your blog! Where did you get that airplane sweatshirt from?ReplyCancel

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  • Creole Wisdom - Your disclaimer is funny 🙂

    How nice to have such a big garden. Once of my favorite things about summer is all the fresh fruits and veggies and of course, canning!ReplyCancel

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  • Rach - How fun to share the garden with your little ones. What a great learning experience for them as well.

    My daughter and her swim buddies are currently ranked 2nd in a Parents Magazine Photo Contest. If you think it’s the cutest Pic please vote!

    http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/1251586?esrc=nwphotofaves1

    Thanks!!ReplyCancel

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  • Lexie Loo, Lily Boo, and Dylan Too! - What a sweet big brother!
    I am jealous of your garden-it looks amazing!ReplyCancel

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  • Lauri - Your blog is my fave to read! Your kids are just so adorable! Love the brotherly love. Does Levi not give you “the look” anymore? lol. Loved that! You and your sweet family are such a blessing! Been a reader for years coming from Kelly Stamps blog. Love from NCReplyCancel

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  • Kristin Milius - Griffen looks sooooo much like his sister. All your kids are simply gorgeous!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Angela :-) - So sweet!

    Angela 🙂ReplyCancel

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This little four wheeler has been on loan to us from some sweet friends. It is the best toy that Levi has and we didn’t even have to buy it! He seriously rides it ALL THE TIME. We are constantly plugging it in to charge the battery. We were joking the other day that we are going to end up buying a new four wheeler for our friends when they need it back AND buy the boys their own four wheeler. Levi has definitely put the miles on this one. Lately he has been riding the fields to check out the growing corn…just like Daddy.
 But someone else in our house discovered the four wheeler the other day. I plopped him on the four wheeler while Levi was off playing somewhere else in the yard and he thought he was such a big boy. Pretty soon Levi noticed and he wanted to ride too.
 Levi told Griffin that it was actually HIS four wheeler.
 Then he tried to show him how to make it go.
And I’m really not sure what he was doing here…I had to intervene quickly. Let’s just pretend it was a little brotherly love.
 Levi moved on to something else and Griffin got to try riding solo again.
I think he preferred riding by himself. Maybe because he didn’t have to worry about any surprise attacks from behind!
I have a feeling four wheelers are going to be a major part of my life for a very long time. If Levi isn’t riding around our yard, he is begging to ride the real four wheeler at the farm with his daddy. My boys love to go four wheelin’ (and that includes the big boy in my house too!).
Have a great weekend!
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  • everydaymomma - Oh the pic of the “brotherly love” slays me I loooove it:) what cute pictures of the boys I just love how happy your littlest guy is on the 4- wheeler:)ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - That last picture is super cute! Such a photogenic babyReplyCancel

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  • Stef - your boys are SO darn cute!! I think if they were in a magazine, I’d buy ALL the clothes 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Toni :O) - Soooo adorable! Loved the photos!ReplyCancel

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  • The Hopkins Home - Boys do love their toys! My son started on one of these small ones when he was around 2 – he’s now 7 and has graduated to a bigger one but he is ALWAYS on it! Best money we ever spent 🙂 He loves to help dad in the yard by hauling things around in his four wheeler. Just a heads up though – they tend to be braver than a mama’s heart would like and I’ve had to run behind and bodily stop that thing at times! Your boys are adorable – they are going to have so much fun growing up together 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda - ahhhh, I love seeing this 4-wheeler getting so much use right now. It would just be sitting in our shed. And it doesn’t matter to us one bit if it gets worn out – we will be so happy your boys could get so much joy from it! If only Mason would let Levi borrow his big one – with the trailer on the back so he can pull Griffin around. You’ll just have to come play over here for that one! I love these pictures, and can’t believe Griffin is big enough to sit on there!ReplyCancel

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  • may - lol…. they are beautiful kids and so happy…God bless xoxoReplyCancel

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  • Becky - Your boys are so adorable and I’ve been reading for a few years and I LOVE all the pictures! You take great ones! I have my camera attached at my hip 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • ohsoblessed - What sweet pictures of adorable brothers!! They are too much! I’ve been meaning to ask you for awhile, but would you be interested in doing a short post on your photography? You take amazing pictures and I’d especially love to know how your indoor shots are so crisp and clear. Do you have windows everywhere and is the sun always shining? 🙂 I’d love to know what some of your settings are, what your favorite lens is, and any other tips you might have. I have a 2 year old daughter (a few days apart from Levi) and she’s always on the move. Catching a non-blurry image on manual isn’t the easiest, especially indoors. I’d love to know your secrets! (As a side note, we are expecting a baby boy due this July…we are naming him Levi!)

    Thanks!!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy Harris - those boys are too cute for anything. eeeee!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I check your blog every now and then and have never left a comment. As your children get older, it amazes me how similar the baby is to your little Cora. I’m sure it was God’s plan to remind you how blessed your little boy is. I only hope I can remind myself to appreciate my little ones as much as you do.ReplyCancel

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  • Christina - Darling! I love the “brotherly love” pic, too. 🙂 Maybe Levi was looking for a little Evel Knievel action…riding without looking? ha! They are too cute!ReplyCancel

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  • DianeTaylor - So adorable, Jess – I love all the pics. What a fun toy to have access to!ReplyCancel

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  • Lexie Loo, Lily Boo, and Dylan Too! - Griffin is so adorable!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Lyssa at Living Simple in the South - SO CUTE! YOUR PICS MAKE ME MISS MY PARENTS FARM SO MUCH! MY HEART ACHES A LITTLE BIT THAT MY KIDS WONT GET TO GROW UP ON A FARM LIKE I DID. 🙁 BUT GOD HAS OTHER PLANS FOR MY LITTLE FAMILY AND MY HEART RESTS IN THAT!
    I TOO JUST PUT PICS ON MY BLOG LAST WEEK OF ALLY AND WESTON RIDING TOGETHER….http://lyssandcam.blogspot.com/2012/04/best-friends.html

    DO YOU THINK GRIFFIN IS DOING EVERYTHING FASTER TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH LEVI? SEEMS THATWAY AT OUR HOUSE…I CAN BARELY KEEP UP!ReplyCancel

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Can you believe how big he looks sitting up in the highchair? Me neither. All of a sudden Griffin is seeming like such a big boy. Keep your eyes on the cute baby…just pretend you don’t notice the very dirty floor. It looks like I should add sweeping to my to-do list tomorrow.
All of the kids have had sweet potato puffs for their first finger food. Cora loved these things. She went through many, many cans. It was awhile before we let her have Cheerios. I was a first time mom and was so worried about her choking. I’m pretty sure that Levi only got one can of sweet potato puffs and then it was straight to Cheerios for him. He ate tons of Cheerios…and they were much cheaper.
We will see how long Griffin gets the special puffs over Cheerios. He sure likes the puffs.
And they keep him busy for a really, really long time…at least a long time for him. Thanks to the puffs I might actually start getting something done around here. Maybe I should start with sweeping. 🙂
Don’t you love how the puffs stick all over their face and hands when they are first learning to eat? So cute. I thought Levi might want to eat Griffin’s puffs too, but he informed me that they were baby food and he was a big boy. He told me that big boys eat pizza and apples and ice cream (it’s from his I’m a Big Brother book). But the funny thing is that he doesn’t even like ice cream! 🙂
* * * * * 
A few people were asking about the sara + abraham giveaway. I have not been able to come up with a solution to the comments problem…seriously, no one seems to know what to do. Isn’t that crazy?! Right now it is looking like I might have to do some major blog changes which will take me a little while. But hopefully in the end I will be able to see all the comments and finally chose the winners. And then I can host more great giveaways too! I am so, so sorry about the LONG wait. Thanks for being patient with me.
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  • SaffaKate - I have that exact same high chair waiting to be unpacked in about 9 months time (I’m due to give birth to our 1st baby girl any minute now) and I am so happy I added it to my registery because it looks so gorgeous in your pictures.ReplyCancel

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  • Katie - Aww! He really is adorable. And, don’t worry about the floor. You got two kids, I am the oldest of five. We have got REALLY messy floors!!ReplyCancel

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  • Mandy - So adorable! My little man is 9 months and really seems to like the Gerber yogurt melts!

    P.S. He is my first and I’m terrified to give him cheerios 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Meggie - He is oh so adorable!! We have the exact same I’m a Big Brother book too… I recognized the pizza, apples, and ice cream. =) My littlest man is 7.5 months and I’ve yet to try puffs. I may have to soon. =)ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Floors can wait. If I had waited until my house was clean enough to take pictures when they were little, I would only have a few, instead I have tons of pictures with messy floors and crumbs on a table or toys strewn everywhere.
    P.S. What we really think when we see your pictures is, “Oh my, what a beautiful family!”ReplyCancel

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  • Miss G - Don’t worry about the floors. It goes with the territory. My sil told me about brown rice puffs $1 for a huge bag at Wal-mart with the cereal, top shelf at mine. They aren’t sweet at all but they’re kind of yummy. I’ll even pop a handful in my mouth now and then and they still have a puffy kind of consistency. Plus, we were making a recipe that called for panko bread crumbs and I was really avoiding having to go to the store to make dinner so I just crushed those up and it was great! KellyReplyCancel

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  • Jill - Puffs are a love hate thing for me. I love them because they can go with you everywhere, but then they get everywhere. I’m happy when it happens at home, because we have a dog and he likes them too. But in public, it can be a mess.

    Griffin is just so cute in that chair and his orange outfit! I love it!ReplyCancel

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  • onlymehere - HE does look like such a big boy in that chair! Love the pictures of the puffs all over his face.ReplyCancel

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  • Melissa Joy - I love your children, Jess. I love that you share them with us here. And I love how I see Cora in her little brothers. It brings joy to my heart.
    God bless you today as you tend to your sweet boys and all the other things God has put into your hands.ReplyCancel

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  • Allen and Debby Graber - We have Puffs and Cheerios in the nursery so I know Griffin loves being there!ReplyCancel

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  • Creole Wisdom - So, so cute Jess. I love his chubby little hands.

    I wanna know how you write so nicely with chalk. I am horrible at it!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - griffin looks just like Cora 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • seaschell - What a coincidence! I just gave my 8 month old those same puffs yesterday. She didn’t know what to think about them, just stared at one that was stuck to her hand. I put a few in her mouth and she made a face, ha! It takes her a while to get used to new things. I love that high chair! I wish I’d chosen a classic one like that.ReplyCancel

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  • Lora - My 11 month old LOVES puffs. We’ve had some feeding struggles, so it took her awhile to be ready for Cheerios.ReplyCancel

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  • House of Collinsworth - I agree with Sarah above…Griffin looks so much like Cora! My 13 month old also LOVES those puffs! They are always stuck all over her hands and face.ReplyCancel

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  • Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama - one of my grandbabies is the same age and she has been eating those too.. she loves them and so do I… LOL.ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - I have been thinking the same thing since he was born…he looks sooo much like his big sister!! He’s sooo dang cute!! I love your blog! Love seeing pictures and reading about your ‘babies’! Levi looks like such a ham!! Love all his facial expressions, too!!ReplyCancel

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  • Aimee - He is just adorable! He looks so much like Joel!ReplyCancel

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  • Maria - I can’t even handle HOW CUTE THEY ARE! 🙂 When did Levi start riding the 4 wheeler…is it electronic?ReplyCancel

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  • Tara Long - I just can’t stop thinking how cute your boys are every time I see their pictures. They are Adorable!!
    And by the way…I did only notice that cute baby until you pointed out the floor…then I had to go back and see if it WAS dirty. But then I saw a few crumbs and thought, oh good…I’m not the only one who has crumbs on the floors sometimes! Lol.

    Thank you!ReplyCancel

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  • Lexie Loo, Lily Boo, and Dylan Too! - Such cute pictures!
    Don’t worry, girl, my floors look the same way. It’s a full-time job keeping them clean!ReplyCancel

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**We are safe. Thank you to those who left a comment or sent an email to check on us after the tornadoes. It was definitely crazy weather here in Kansas. We are so thankful for the Lord’s protection and are praying for those who are dealing with the aftermath of the many tornadoes this weekend.
Before grocery shopping one day last week, we took a little trip to the park.
Going to the park is a big treat for Levi. We don’t go into town very often just to go the park.
 Don’t feel bad for Levi. Instead of playing at the park he is usually busy driving tractors with his daddy or riding his four wheeler through the fields. You know, normal kid things.
But when we do make it to the park, Levi thinks it is pretty great. He was running and climbing everywhere.
 And Griffin was just chillin’ in his car seat watching his crazy brother run circles around him.
But that didn’t last long. Griffin got tired of being trapped in his seat, so I plopped him down on the ground and he was a happy little boy.
 This was one of the first times he had sat up by himself for a long time without toppling over.
He was smiling and talking away. I think he likes the park too.
Before I know it he is going to be chasing his brother around the park. They both will be running circles around me. I hope he stays immobile for just a little while longer. I’m okay with just sitting at the park.
 Have a good week!
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  • Lacie and Stephen - What is your definition of mobile? My just turned 5 month-old has discovered how to roll everywhere to get what he wants and to get where he needs to go. Lol! Still working on the sitting thing. It makes him spit up, so we rely on the Bumbo a LOT! Glad the weather missed you. Love checking up on your little family.ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - Glad you’re safe and sound! Cute pics. This playground looks like so much fun. I love the big, safe structure for Levi’s age.ReplyCancel

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  • Kelsey - Glad you are safe!! These are some of the cutest pictures 🙂 What cuties!ReplyCancel

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  • Kristi REDISKE - Glad to see the your area did not get hit by any tornados-i watched the weather channel all night because I have family in the area too. I love that park, we would come visit and go to that park all the time, best area for kids. My grandkids love it too. Now I want to come back for a visit, its home for me.ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - Love that last picture of Griffin. Glad to hear you are all safe!
    Sarah @ This Farm Family’s LifeReplyCancel

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  • Nicole - I’m glad you posted a note that you all are safe. I was thinking of you when I heard the storms had went through your area. (Your boys are darling!!)ReplyCancel

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  • Selena - Oh, my goodness, they are SO cute!! I love the pictures, esp the black and white one of Griffin… And I also love the “normal kid” things that Levi does with his daddy… I grew up doing the same things and have such fond memories; I know he and Griffin will, too.

    Thanks for sharing these sweet pictures… Enjoy the rest of your week!
    Love from Tennessee.ReplyCancel

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  • Krystal - Omgoodness, your boys are stinking cute!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Gail - Your kids just get cuter and cuter, Jess!ReplyCancel

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  • Mary R - I enjoy seeing pictures of your sweet boys..they always bring a smile to my face ! I enjoy your blog and wanted to Thank You for sharing your sweet family with all of us !ReplyCancel

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  • Erin - Yours boys are both absolutely adorable! Look at Griffin sitting all by himself! Such a fun time of discovery for them 🙂 glad to hear y’all are alright in the wake of the tornadoes!ReplyCancel

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  • Katie - “You know, normal kid things!” 🙂

    That is a great post. I love the last photograph the most. 🙂

    http://www.katieskornerhere.blogspot.comReplyCancel

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  • Mindy Harris - THOSE BOYS are so gorgeous! can’t handle it. eeeeeeeeeeeeee!ReplyCancel

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  • Rebecca at Cotton+Wood - What fantastic pictures!!ReplyCancel

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  • Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - I am so glad to hear that you are safe. The boys look like they are having a blast! So wonderful. Jess, I hope you have a wonderful and precious week!ReplyCancel

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  • Alyssa Hollis - what sweet boys!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Jessica I LOVE the black and white of baby Griffin – he is drop dead gorgeous!! You should give him a baby modeling job!! Levi is such a boy boy and as handsome as Dad 🙂
    love seeing the kids thanks for keeping friends and family up to date love you guys
    SharleyReplyCancel

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  • Paula from NY - I am so glad you are safe! Tornados are so scary!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Griffin looks like an even split between Cora and Levi in the last photo. You two make some beautiful babies! Levi suddenly looks SO big now 🙂

    Regan from Ontario, Canada (Near Niagara Falls)ReplyCancel

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It’s been awhile since my last Insta-Friday post.
Here are some of my favorites from the past month or so.

1. still crossing those cute pudgy feet 
2. the best donut date
3. if only it was really that easy to conquer the laundry
4. good morning blue eyes

5. smiley baby
6. smiley baby who thinks nap time is a joke
7. baby toes
8. goodnight stories

9. grouchy baby
10. if only he knew that sleeping helps the grouchies go away
11. happy hippo
12. grouchy baby {take 2}
13. logging in many sandbox hours already
14. one of his favorite things…helping papa in the garden
15. picking “flowers”
16. baby skillz…such talent!

17. hello baby boy
18. sleepy heads
19. big boy!
20. even bigger boy!
Happy Friday!
life rearranged
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