Seven Years Old

happy birthday big girl. 

Summer = Happy

1st Grader No Longer

Party in the Swamp

Another Year of Motherhood

Long days, quick years. 

Best decisions I ever made. 

Love this bunch. 

Celebrating Sue and Dave

Sue - you are absolutely lovely in so many ways. 

Always have been. 

I love that even though we're not every week or even every month

kind of friends these days that when we do get together 

it's easy, and genuine. 

I've loved being your friend from the early days of 

cruising and listening to Snoop dog,

to overseas adventures when we were young and carefree,

barefoot and wine buzzed and so so happy, 

to this crazy transition where we're supposed to be adults...

get married, have babies :) 

Dave - thank you, for making Sue a happy woman. 

Dustin and I are so excited for the two of you, truly. 

I felt so lucky to be a part of this Mexico celebration. 

Great location, beautiful people, good good times. 

(we all know how much i love to party at weddings)

For Dustin and I it was needed time away. 

Time to spend together and without kids, 

time to feel like free adults who can eat a late night dinner,

wander around without a plan,

or order one too many margaritas without judgement. 

time to miss our kids. 

I am still overwhelmed by the amount of photos 

that I took and someday hope to organize and edit. 

someday...

Flash

sometimes even The Flash cant keep from 

falling asleep mid day. 

To My Birthday Boy

how is it that you're five?

i love that you still sleep with your big sister every night

and tell us that maybe when you're 6
that you'll sleep in your own room. 

i love that you rock the costumes, daily. and that to you

costumes seem appropriate in pretty much any situation. 

mostly i agree. 

i love that your imagination runs wild and that you

can play with your "guys" for hours and hours. 

i love that even though you can be a wild crazy boy 

that you also have a sweet calm side that is so sincere. 

i love that you still love to snuggle.

i love that when i tell you, "you're the best" that you respond

"you're the best mom, mom".

i love you big kid.

Happy 5th Birthday Luca!!!

When your mom and dad go to Mexico for your birthday you get 

all kinds of parties. A friend party, a family party,
a grandparents party and a day after your birthday
because we're home party. :)

Luca again wanted a Superhero themed party, 

kids came in costume, ran wild, searched the backyard

for ninjas again, smashed up a pinata and ate several servings of cake each. 

I can't believe that my youngest kid is FIVE. Whoa. 

Happy birthday big boy. 

More Birthday Fun

In our house you can pick whatever you want to eat

for dinner on your birthday. Luca wanted chicken

on the bone, mac and cheese and corn. 

I love that in the second series of pictures here that he is

wearing the Buzz Lightyear jammies that has had since he

was between 2-3 years old. The sleeves are snug, his belly

hangs out, the bottoms are more like capris and 

the material is paper thin...but they still make him happy. 

Happy birthday my goofy kid. 

Leila and Tim = LOVE

Wacky Wednesday

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Smurf Family

Why wear a blue full body zip up snuggie?

(AKA "Smurf Suit")

because it's the Wallden Ice Fishing Extravaganza

(minus the ice fishing). 

...and because my mom has an addiction to Woot.com

and who could pass up buying these beauties. 

Ruby Roo...and Bella too

Ruby Roo has a new BFF. 

Bella is my dad's dog, 

a big, beautiful, smart and stubborn Newfoundland. 

She is healing after ACL surgery #2

and will likely be living out her life with us...

where she doesn't have to go up and down flights of stairs, 

be tempted to chase deer or get 

tackled by her 170 pound younger brother Beau. 

If you would like a summer weekend or two with Bella

please let us know as Dustin would be stoked

to not have to bring this beast on a row boat to the cabin. 

Seriously, call us. 

 fuzzy pictures but they still perfectly captured 

my toothless girls' goofy personality. 

Happy Valentine's Day Friends