moving...

The time's come to close the "Dougal Family Blog". We'll be shooting for a little more anonymity in the future and as such, will be changing our address to mygardengrowing.blogspot.com/. Hope to see you there!

Love,

Niki

A house full

Except that they all stayed in a hotel. But theoretically.. in the daytime anyway, we had a house full. They came for O's blessing and it was such a nice weekend! Everybody left too soon and in the end, it just left me wanting more.

More family.. more beach days..
more time together.
This picture makes me laugh. It's my sister and I with all of our kids. From the back you really can't tell the two of us apart. Come to think of it, you can't really tell us apart from the front either! I love how it messes with our kids heads. See how I am? I enjoy the simple pleasures in life. You know.. cool sand on my feet, a salty ocean breeze.. and messing with my kids heads whenever possible.

windows to the soul..

In case you haven't noticed, I've been messing around with portraits lately. Trying to get closer and closer and closer! Which is hard when your kids are so darned wiggly. And start crying and dodging and beating themselves about the head as soon as they see your camera. *sigh*

I just love those super shiny eyes. And Owen's are especially fun to look at. They're just.. well, huge really. And so expressive. He's smiling and laughing now which completely slays me. I get nothing done when he flashes me those eyes and starts flirting. The kid is merciless. And I absolutely love it!!

red, white, and blue

Since I seem to have no life other than washing, teaching, cleaning up after, and obsessing over my children, (oh.. and loving them of course.. lots of that) this was the best I could do for the holiday. A little red, white and blue to celebrate this glorious 4th of July.

There is something about the word freedom that pulls at the very center of my heart. I don't feel eloquent enough to do it justice. I love my God and I love living in a country where I'm free to worship Him however I choose. I'm just thankful.. so very, very thankful...

Owen

We blessed Owen this past weekend. Such an awesome experience! It's like getting a little glimpse into the man he'll be someday.

So here's to you Little Man. I don't think we could love you anymore!
Ok, maybe just a little bit more once you start sleeping through the night.
I'm addicted to these youtube videos the Church puts out. They are so good and make me cry nearly every time. In a warm, fuzzy kind of way.
Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

My kid's Dad..

I know it's sentimental. Ok.. totally, disgustingly mushy.. and I'm sorry. Really I am.

But I wanted to post some of my favorite pictures.

And a poem. He'll tease me about this. I know it. But he'll also smile later when he thinks about it.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

EBB

Happy Father's Day Punk. I love you!

And if you tease me.. I'll be even mushier next year.

Tell me a story..

Honestly, I can't really remember what the story was about. I was having too much fun watching her tell it.

I remember cheese eating dragons and something about bubbles.

Main characters: somebody named "Whatever", "Dum Dum", and Philip.. I think.

Whatever her story was... I can promise you..

it was very, very

Dramatic.