Jennifer Crum Photography & Design Blog

My mom wanted to get a picture of all of the grandchildren together, since we haven’t done that since, ohhhh…ever.  Aren’t we a motley crew!!

These are all of the great-grandchildren on my mother’s side of the family.  A normally happy lot, but the 102 degree heat and the sun shining in their eyes made for some cranky kiddos!

Little Miss Alaina.  Perfectly content to hang out on a blanket on the ground, watching all the action unfold around her.  One day soon, she’s going to be in the midst of it all, and a much happier girl she will be!

Colt had his first actual slice of watermelon this weekend.  I usually cut it up for him, but big slices are just too much fun!  You couldn’t have pried that slice from his hands if you’d tried.  No, sir.

This is Colton’s first time on a water slide.  He was a bit shy at first, but then he warmed up to it later on.  Then you couldn’t keep him off of it.  He loved it!

We had a couple of birthdays in the family, and the parties my cousin’s wife put together were a blast!  She’s the greatest at party planning, and she made sure that everyone had a good time.  Here are a few pics from her son’s 5th birthday party:

My cousin and Lanie~

Colton hanging out with Nana and Lanie~

My husband’s father raced cars.

My husband raced cars.

I’m determined to break the cycle.

Colton ran straight to the horsepower exhibit as soon as he saw it.  He loved looking at the giant engine, and seeing how the parts interact with each other.

This is the end, I swear to you.

We went to a science museum while visiting family last weekend.  Colton was in heaven pushing all the buttons to see how things work.  We lucked out and a worker brought down a baby alligator (‘a-ger, as Colt says) for the kids to pet.  He loved it, and so did Nana!

My brother and his wife are great parents.  This translates into being a wonderful aunt and uncle to all of their nieces and nephews.  They love to play with them, and getting down and dirty in the process doesn’t phase them at all.  Little Lanie loves them right back, too!

My mother grew up on a cotton farm in Louisiana.  It’s where I learned about cotton; where I learned how to drive; where I learned about planting, harvesting and growing.  It’s also where I learned about the best farm equipment on earth.

Colton was trying on all of his great-grandfather’s hats, and he saved the best for last.  My grandfather would be proud.

They grow up so fast.  One day you’re holding them in your arms listening to their first cries, and the next day *poof*, they’re little people that aren’t so little anymore.

He cracks me up.

He cracks himself up, too.

The way he laughs…it warms my heart.  I don’t know how I ever lived without it.

This is one of those moments that makes my heart smile.  I happened to catch her looking down while she was smiling just a bit.  Those lashes are going to break hearts some day.

Colt was such a happy baby that we were sure that it wouldn’t be possible to have another baby as happy as he was.  Well, we did.  Lanie is the happiest girl I’ve ever seen!  I know I need to live it up now, because here in about, ohhhh, 11 years, she’s going to hate me.  And everyone else in the world.  Can I just skip the teen years, please?

How could you not love this face?

This is Colt’s new friend, M.  He has the blondest hair, the bluest eyes, and an infectious grin.  He and Colt have become fast friends, and despite the normal toddler tiffs, they have a blast when they’re together!  They played outside today while Lanie watched from her seat on the porch.  I looked at Colton and he seemed to grow right in front of my eyes.  When did he get so big?  Who authorized that?!

My boy.  He makes himself laugh like no other.  It’s good to know he can entertain himself in a pinch.

Aunt J and I took the kids to the Arboretum, thinking we’d get some fabulous pics while the blooms were in beautiful form.  The kids had other plans in mind, and none of them involved looking at the camera or standing still for 2 seconds at a time.  I’m pretty sure I can forget about documenting my toddler’s life in pictures, ever.  I did manage to get a couple of pics of him before he dug up an entire bed of azaleas while I turned my back to check on his sister.  And before we lost Jo Jo.  *sigh*

We wanted to get pics of the kids before the bluebonnets went to seed.  Unfortunately, they weren’t as grand as they were last year, so it was tough to find a patch that was really nice looking.  It didn’t end up even mattering, since the kids were holy terrors.  JoJo wanted to go home, and Colt screamed almost the whole time.  The only one that was good was Lanie, and I’m sure that’s only because she was stuck in her Bumbo chair and couldn’t move.  Ah well, maybe next year…*sigh*

We went to run an errand yesterday, and when we got back, Lanie was asleep in her car seat.  I just loved the sweet little smile and the bubbles on her lips!

Here’s Alaina with her namesake on Easter.  Don’t they look beautiful?