Thirty-Something

Happy Birthday to this husband and best friend of mine,
who I believe got his favorite gift last year,
a sweet baby GIRL.

Hard to top that gift.

Now he admits to me weekly of how lucky we are to have a girl
and how he is going to SPOIL her.

When I think about it I am pretty spoiled myself to have such a
nice
patient
understanding
FORGIVING
intelligent
easy going
hardworking
lovable
GOOD man by my side.

Back To School

It was BACK TO SCHOOL for these two today...with a whole three weeks off for summer vacation. That is the life of kids in year round school. Not so fun in the summer when all their cousins are on a traditional school schedule, but it pays off during other times in the year when they get a three week school break. Just enough time to have some "out of school" fun or family "getaway", but not long enough to forget what they have so recently learned.

Already ONE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet baby girl.

That year went by fast!
Sometimes I wish I could just pause time and enjoy them as they are.
This is one of those times.
ONE thing that I love about Miss M is ...
well, I can't think of just one so here are twelve,
one for each month she has been with us.

• her infectious smile
• the way she has her DADDY wrapped around his finger
• her tolerance to a sometimes jealous three year old brother
• her desire to be outdoors
• her plump, healthy body
  
• the snuggles she gives me and most everyone that will pick her up
• her CURLY girly hair
• her reaction to seeing her brothers when they get home from school
• the pretend cry she gives me when she wants something
  
• those beautiful blue eyes
• her love of ice
• that she is part of our FAMILY
  

Nine Mile Canyon

We followed the LONG dirt road into nine mile canyon,
(that was actually a lot further than nine miles),
to find these amazing petroglyphs.

Then in the middle of our journey we came across this old building with
green doors and I just had to take a moment to
capture the children in front of it.

It was worth the DRIVE.

Children

BOY oh BOY...This isn't what we had in mind when we started out having children, but I know that we are blessed just to have the chance to be parents. And now after having a GIRL join our family I know that we are even more blessed. Time seems to be passing faster and faster with the start of each new school year and I am just now beginning to realize just how short of time we have left with our oldest. Hopefully with this blog we can capture some moments in life that we can someday look back on and smile, laugh and maybe cry. So come with us as we look to find the JOY in the journey of raising four boys and one little lady.