Churchill

This is a picture of our puppy, Churchill.  My husband got him for his 30th birthday a few years back.  How can you not love a face like that?

Easter {Weekend}

Don't ya just love makin' memories with your kids?  The best part is you get at least 3 years where they won't remember a thing so you get to figure out how you want your holidays to go...

This is our last year before things start getting remembered, our last dress rehearsal.  So, next year is the real, deal. :-)   

Enjoy our pictures, let them tell the story:

Saturday:

Egg dyin'

Not without a little drama, just as we set out the cups to add the color, I realized Griffin had smashed all the colors together to make one beautiful brown color.  So, off daddy went to grab a new package of colors.

 Happiest of FIRST Easters to you our sweet little, Ailee Mae.

Sunday:

7AM

So excited about his new stuff.

Off to church 8AM...

I love this picture 'cause it's a good one for like 20 years down the line.

I love this boy, my firstborn, cutie!

Look at these cuties, they are getting so big.  Griffin had a BLAST playing with these three on Sunday.  He's blessed with some really cool cousins.  We're all looking forward to playing outside at Grandma and Papa's this summer.

Happy Easter and thank you Jesus for loving us enough...

Experiment 52, #15 {Park Date}

Flying through the sky, saving women and children, may be hard for some people, but for our "super" hero, it's just what a guys gotta do. 

Griffin: (on the way back to the car) "Momma, too bad I didn't have my underwear!"

I'm assuming he meant on the outside of his pants, 'cause I made sure to check and he had some on under his pants :-)

Gettin' our Hike on {mica mine}

Last weekend, our fam and the Freeds went up to GJ to "get our hike on."  I love that we are so close in any direction to some pretty cool outdoor activities.  This was Griffin's first REAL hike and he did GREAT, all 2.6 miles of it.  He did the whole thing and had fun doing it.  Okay, are you dying over this picture?  Look that those two cute girls...they are getting their pose on :-)  I'm pretty sure, even if Griff was paying attention, he couldn't pull something like that off!

 Look at our little Ailee girl, she was a total champ.  I wasn't sure about the Ergo for our independent girl.  Facing in didn't last long in her curious, uncuddly ways, BUT I tried her on the back for this hike, and she loved it. 

We even caught her catching a few ZZzzzZZZs.

Favorite picture, by far, of our day.  Love the angle, color and friendship I see in these little ones.  They are going places, that's for sure.

Loleeta

Three years ago, we attended Jeff's Grandma's 80th birthday party with the WHOLE extended family.  Being relatively new to the family and having just had Griffin 2 months before, I was excited to catch up with all his cousins and aunts and uncle and for them to see our little guy.  There was one family I didn't know very well, Dave and Leeta's...  Well, guess who I got sat by?  Loleeta.  And boy did she LOVE on our baby.  We both had these little boys, her's 13 months and mine 2 months.  I remember telling her some of my new mom worries and I'll always take away from that night the sweet encouragement that she gave me. 



This picture was taken 7 months after the birthday dinner, but it's the oldest one i have of the two little guys



Her love for my family and me has never stopped.  She is constantly thinking of ways to help us out, give us date nights, bring us freezer meals, watch our kids and just plain love on us.  Oh and if I do happen to watch her kids, she always has a Starbucks in hand upon drop off.  I'll never be able to pay her back. 



Loleeta, you are a true gem.  Seriously.  I love that we are family and friends by choice.  Whenever I see you, you brighten my day.  I love your authenticity and your sweet heart.  I'm blessed to be in your circle. 

Much love to on your birthday.  Thanks for letting us love on YOU this time.  Hope you enjoyed your brunch!

looks who's lovin' on my baby AGAIN!

props to Jayna for hosting and decorating :-)

Experiment 52, #14 {20's Party}

Brace yourself for a ridiculously good time...

Last night the kids {us} went out.  My friend Jayna and I were asked to volunteer our photo skills at the CASA event in town..  It was a good excuse to make it a date night.   As guest arrived we took their picture in all their 20's get ups, we later printed them and they were sold.  Martha, you did an AMAZING job on this event.  Also, just know that DAN or JAYNA ROSENTRETER took most of these pics. 

 Have I mentioned before how much we love our friends??  If not, we DO!!



Experiment 52, #13 {Mimi}

We love our Mimi.  Yesterday our family visited her in her new "apartment"/assisted living home. 

I haven't been able to shake the thoughts of how our body ages and betrays us.  No matter how well we fuel it and exercise it, it breaks down.  It hurts emotionally, physically and spiritually in some ways because of the unknown next stage.  Yes, we have faith in what the Word tells us about heaven and being there worshiping the Lord, but it's still a VERY large unknown.  I'm a tangible person and closely connected to my family, where I find much peace.  I think, in all of this, I want to learn to hold loosely the things I hold tightly: my family and our health. 

After Mimi had a few moments of sadness, she perked up and really enjoyed seeing our kids play around her room.  Jeff was super sweet to remind her of her amazing legacy she has created.  Fifteen great grands that wouldn't be here if it weren't for her. 

Ailee took her walker for a spin, played in her laundry basket, leaned on her footstool and leaned a bit too much and bonked her head on a chair on the way down.  OOPS.  Griffin brought her a motorcycle picture that he colored, ate her chocolate, and showed her how to play Angry Birds and his motorcycle game on my phone.  Once I saw this happening, I knew my camera was a must. 

Family, it's so important.  My prayer is that as my body fails me, in say like 40 or 50 years, I will have loads and loads of family around me to hold my hand, talk about God's faithfulness, and remind me of the legacy that has been created.  Oh, and teach me the modern day version of Angry Birds.

Mimi, well done.  We love you.  As you live out your last days, just know that you have left a loving mark on my heart, and I'm only a married in grand kid. 

we love you at 8 months...

Oh Ailee...

I love that you are 8 months old.  We all can't get over you.  The coolest new thing (to me) is your wave.  There's the "milk sign" wave, the praise Jesus wave, and the wrist twist with a shy head rested on my shoulder wave.  I adore them all.  Our friend, Mis, got the first wave.  A special friend for a fun first...

You sure are working on LOTS of new sounds, the funniest being, "cah cah."  I like to refer to this as the crow sound instead of a reference to poo...thank-you very much.  Also you are perfecting the "bah bah" sound for your sweet bah, bah, brother.  Every ONCE in awhile we'll hear the attempts of the "m" and "d" sound, but maybe you'll save that for next month. 

Your new desire to stand, makes you the most proud.  You are loving to pull up on things, although haven't been able to get all the way up on your own.  The problem isn't your strength or ability, it's the object you are pulling on.  Some are too small, some will topple right on top of your or some are just too high.  We'll find the right thing for you to practice on and you'll have that down in no time.  BUT once you are up, you TOTALLY love it.  It's been a joy to watch you smack away at whatever is there to hold you up.  Sometimes with a little too much force which brings you quickly back to your bum.

Speaking of your bum, whenever placed on it, you don't stay there long.  You are quickly getting in the crawling position, minus the one leg that gets stuck in front of you.  You mommas know what I'm talkin' about.   You haven't let that slow you down, you just continue to lean forward and all the sudden you are flat on your tummy.  Then back up again ready...ready...and then back on your tummy, which is just fine by me.  You add in a few stationary swim moves and you are back up.  You go around in circles and backwards, but that's as far as this last month has brought you.  This next month, you'll be movin' forward, sister.

Ailee Mae...Let's make April the month you master/enjoy sleeping through the night and eating food?  K?  Glad we had this talk...

It's a good thing you are so stinkin' cute, 'cause in the morning when I come in to get you and you are lying there kicking and smiling it helps me forget that I've already seen you, on average, two times since I put you to bed the night before.  Oh, and this month does mark the first of not being swaddled.  So we've strategically placed at least 3 pacifiers around your bed to help you find them in your hour of need.  Let's hope it helps. 

And food...well, not much has changed.  We know you don't like Earth's Best, deal with Gerber DHA, and enjoy the real deal.  SO, this month, we'll be baking, steaming, and  pureeing many fruits and veggies, WHICH I planned on doing, and love, but didn't want to buy it all and not have you eat it. 

One last thing, you gained 1/2 a pound from last month, so that puts you at 17.5 pounds.  You are so big...

I love the feeling  that we've always had you, you've never not been in our family.  We simple melt at your sweet, shy new ways and brace ourselves for your spark of sass that you've been showing us. 

I just want you to know that you have a brother that continues you love you more and more.  Whenever we're out and meet someone new, he, without hesitation, says, "that's my baby sister, Ailee"  When he accidentally throws something and it hits you, you not only get one kiss at point of contact, but the kisses keep coming one after another until he's sure you know how sorry he is.  He loves you, girl, and for that we're thankful God hears our prayers.  Oh and it's an understatement to say, you are head over heals in love with him too.

Experiment 52, #12 {3ys 3m}

Tonight I showed Griffin how to make a cup with his hands, having the water from the faucet fill them.  Arrived. He drank and drank, almost choking because he thought it was so funny.