5.7.11

July 4th...

it is my favorite holiday, i think! it makes me feel a wee romantic and a lot nostalgic because my man and i have been watching the fireworks from nearly the same location for 16 years. it also makes me wish i knew how to run a camera.










we love this land of liberty! happy 4th!

A preview of Em's 4th Birthday Carnival













How lucky was I to have two photographer friends at Em's carnival? I am loving these pictures so much!!! So far I have 380 and they are all awesome! Thanks, girls! Carson deserves a sportsmanship award for wearing the clown costume. I am sorry about the water balloons, Carson. I had no idea that activity would take soooo long. ;) Happy Birthday, Emerson!

More pics to come. Maybe a video of spring and early summer? Between attempts at getting this home ready for the market, we've been having fun.

Andrea: This one of you and Eric made me giggle. I can hear your exclamation. :)

24.6.11

Pappy Pirthday Po Poo!

I don't know how it happened but our girl is 4 today. I do know how she came to be, I just don't know how she came to be 4 so soon. Ryker informed us last night that in six years he will be 12, Emers will be 9 and Pipes will be 6. It stopped my heart cold. After today, I'm not going to think about six years from now. It's not good for my heart. On our way to Em's birthday breakfast, Ryker sang "Happy Birthday" 26 times. Each word in each version started with another letter of the alphabet. It was lovely.

 

 
I will do everything in my power to make sure four is good to you, baby doll!
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20.6.11

Sarita and Troy

It was amazing. It was hands down the most fun I've had at a wedding. If I hadn't already been holding back tears, I'd have told them how proud we are of them both during open mic. I'd have told them we love them more than words can say but I think they already know. I'd also have made sure everybody in attendance understood I have dibs on their first born. We can't wait to share in the rest of your story, sweet cousins!









14.6.11

It was a privilege to celebrate Grandpa and Grandma's 60th wedding anniversary earlier this spring. One of my favorite childhood memories involves Grandpa wielding a wooden spoon and chasing Grandma around the island in their kitchen. She always tried to pretend she was annoyed by his antics but we knew better. I love it when my hubby swats my bottom and I know this memory has something to do with it. It's a sure sign of the kind of love that lasts, I say!












Have I mentioned how excited I am about my sweet cousins getting married and having babies? Considering the enormous number of cousins I have, I'll have babies to love on for a really long time. Yes!!! I'd planned to bring Kayden home with me and keep him forever but he didn't have a passport at the time.

27.5.11

Oh baby!


I don't know how I'm ever going to stop having these things. It's those eyes...and the holding on for dear life. It is the sleep marks on the cheeks and the drool. The giggles. That sweet smell...it all gets to me man!

4.5.11

Easter

Loved feasting and hunting eggs with some of our favorite kiddos. If you look closely at the one of Gabriel, you'll see he is holding one of the mantis nymphs Ryker hatched. Ryker fed a few of the nymphs to his lizard, Ali Al, and the rest he released. There were no fewer than 1000. Our neighborhood will be aphid and fruit fly free this season!






27.4.11

Just like his Dad!

I felt a tap on my shoulder as I worked with a student in Ryker's class this week. A sweet girl wanted to share her writing project with me - A love letter intended for Ryker. It had been colored pink and cut in the shape of a heart. I told her it was very nice and watched as she found Ryker and gave it to him. He read it, giggled and put it on the table beside him. I heard her ask what he was going to do with it and he answered, "Nothing." The girl then told him he should collect all the notes she writes him. "I do." he replied with grin. "In the trash can."

If I didn't know how much he likes Libby, he'd have serious consequences for being mean! And when we talked about it later, Ryker assured me that Libby likes that he is so funny. Oh dear...this sounds very familiar...

21.4.11

kids these days!



Emerson has figured out how to work the timer on Ryan's camera, among other things, and I pulled this self portrait off his camera. When Em grows up, she want to be Ryker. ;) She keeps me on my toes! Just recently, she helped me fix something and when we were finished I exclaimed, "See? That was a piece of cake!"

"No." Em corrected. "Piece of STEAK!"