Experiment 52, #20 {the hike}

Saturday finally came!!  we've been counting down sleeps for this bad boy to FINALLY get here.  Griffin has been so excited to get out there and hike "negro bill's canyon."  I showed him all the fun pictures of when we took him at 16 months and even the fun video.  This time he would be hiking it, not put in a backpack AND some of his friends were going to join us. 

Sidenote...tonight I had one of those moments where I missed that little guy.  16ish months is one of my all-time favorite ages.  He was just so darn cute and learning many things.  I only wish we could have had more videos of all his new words.  I came across this picture and I'm completely dyin' here folks...



Okay back to this weekend...

The day was perfect, high 70's and great friends.  Thanks to everyone who joined us, it meant a lot to have you all here on my favorite little hike.

This has to be said, the kids TOTALLY amazed me.  I'm pretty sure they hiked almost FOUR miles on their own.  We are so proud of you!!  Nicely done. 



Griff in '09



Griff in '11




picture take by Jayna Rosentreter...
We are lovin' the Ergo now!!



Experiment 52# 19 {The result of that weekend to do list}

Remember that weekend to do list that made me feel VERY overwhelmed?  We're on the other side and LOVED every minute of it.  It ended with the sweetest little moment in time with our little family at a park in a town that is not ours. But before we get there there's pedis and party and games to see...

 Mrs. Jayna, we love you and hope you felt as special as you are.  I love working with you on projects, I especially love it when you get so excited about blessing others.  It's very sweet to see.  Thank you for being such a great friend and for lovin' on my kids.  It's been a HUGE blessing to be in LifeGroup with you and your family.  We're so glad you decided to join us back then.  I hope that this year you feel even closer to God and even check off a few things on your bucket list :-)

This shower came together so sweetly.  The bast part: so many hands created it's beauty.  Mrs. Martha, it was our prayer that you felt the love that brought it together and the love for you.  It's only been a short time, but I feel like our friendship could grow into some laugh 'til ya cry stories and and very trusting place to land.  Thank you for being so sweet and sharing that with me.  Also, you sure have a cutie on your hands.  He's absolutely perfect.  You got this, girl, mom of two amazing boys.

i LOVE this picture, grandma and 3 aunts look over at this darling little man.  From the looks of it, he'll be gettin' some serious lovin'.



Miss Jordan with the bigs.



Speaking of LifeGroup, Miss Jordan watched our kiddos for a few years, but has just GRADUATED!!  Congrats to you.  THANK YOU THANK YOU for lovin' on ALL our kids.  It means so much to us to know that they are in good hands.  We pray that as you move on to your next adventure, you trust Jesus more and more and have so much FUN!!  It's a short chapter, the ol' college years, so suck the marrow out of that short time!!

 I just had to add this one, 'cause it reminds of our little Luke Strong.  Hello Luke with brown hair.  We miss you.


Miss Jordan with the littles.



Looks who is waving?  Love that little hand as it moves wildly back and forth.  Sunday we were on the move to gj.  Soccer field bound.  Our niece was playing in a tournament and we got to catch the last game.  Although we didn't get the "w" Lilli did great and has amazing ball control.  Great job, bird.

 Gotta love family germs.  Uncle Patrick was sharing his water with our little lady here.

                                                                     Nice form, girl!

Griff loves his cousin, that is for sure.  He thought it was so cool that they matched.  Oh man, I'm getting excited to be a soccer mom.  It's on my bucket list, along with a little league mom...

Thanks, Lil for being so good to these two.  She even gave Griffin the LAST popsicle from her coach, she didn't even get one.  Thanks girl.

 We never know quit what to do about letting the kids sleep on the way home, 'cause when we do they don't go to bed until 10 or even later on those nights.  SO...we decided to stop in a town half-way home at their park.  It. was. perfect.  The light, the air, the temp, the people.  I LOVE US.  They had this most amazing walking path in the trees and a great park to swing and play on. 



I'd like to introduce you to Ailee's "outside" face...oh my.  Hopefully, you won't see much of it as it's not one of her cute-er expressions.  LOL



LIFE.IS.GOOD.

Bring on busy if it means weekends like these.

ARRIVED  :-)

busy.

You know those weeks where you are so busy that it overwhelms you so much you don't know how you will get to the end?  I feel like that this week...

Every night we had something and still do, but you know what's cool about that? It means there's people in my life I love and love me.

There's home group to coordinate. Food to order, games to play. Grateful for these friends that are like family.
There's a birthday party to plan, pedi(s) to get and C&C to eat, maybe even a drink ;-)  Love the birthday CHICK!
There's a walk date tomorrow and breakfast to be enjoyed together.  Love the common bond of Mommas.
There's a baby shower to plan, food to make and place cards to create, and my heart to share with her.  Love this Momma and little man!
There's a friend that's graduating high school and a party to attend.  Love that she has loved on my kids this year.
There's a niece to cheer on in soccer.  Family, love it!
There's a ONE year old that will be getting her picture taken.  Love old connections and 1st birthdays.

So yeah...I'm excited to love on those I love :-)  Bring on the busy.
Happy almost Friday.

oh yeah and I love the 15 minutes of sunshine and 3 new float wraps that arrived today! 

FYI...these coloring utensils are officially called "chalk walkers" by our little man and all that enjoy them with us.

Experiment 52, #18 {a cold in may?}

A quick note from Griffin:

ccccccccjjjjjjzvvvvvvvvbbbbbb bqqqqquuuuuuuuuooooooowwwwwweeeeppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiioooooooooooooooooooo..............................vvvvvvvllllllllllllssssonoonnn gggg jjjjj

That's all for now folks...

What is it about rainy days, that makes me love our clothe diapers?  I meticulously clean the container, wash them with love and let the covers air dry right in our kitchen.  It makes me feel so...well...natural.  The truth is, I really only use them when we are home.  I'm not quit as adventurous as I was with Griffin, also truth be known, I'm not a big fan of the LARGE panis it gives our little girl.  (panis, stomach fat)  I just can't get past it when she has a really cute outfit on and it looks she's wearing one of those swimming rings around her tummy.  Anyway, back to the warm fuzzies in regards to our fuzzy bunz, I love to see those colorful bunz crawling around our house. 

I don't have much else for ya other then a pile of tissues in every room from a cold that hit Ailee and me like a freight train.  I think we are coming out of it, but it took us down fast.  OH MY WORD...Griffin just sneezed and wiped his nose on his shirt sleeve...stop the madness.

Last week was crazy, I'm pretty sure we went out every night of the week. I was doing some of this:

  and this:

 and this!!

I absolutely love being able to use photography as my creative outlet.  I have a feeling, I've only just begun to tap into this passion.  Thank you, Lord, for being so creative and sharing that with us.

Although we've had some sort of cold, we've been sleeping great as of late.  Ailee is sleeping from about 730 to 630 and Griff, who has really been struggling with staying in his bed has done so for two nights straight.  Secret: the XBOX.  Don't underestimate the power of xbox supercross game.  The best part, picking out their clothes, helmets and bikes.  He doesn't even play, just watches...but if he gets out of bed, no games at night.

 

He is OBSESSED with changing their clothes, what does this mean?  I wish I could see into the future and see what this looks like later.  We love this motorcycle, crazy guy.

And for good measure...

I heart faces

{Motherhood}

Be sure to visit I heart faces to see more photos.

 

Experiment 52, #17 {Mother's Day}

I'm thankful my story includes these two. (Pound to that, Ailee)

Happy Mother's day!

Ailee and Momma went to Elyana's ballet recital.

9 Months...

Okay, I have to steal this from Andrea G, because I feel the exact same way and really never put it into words...

"Am I glad God gave me a girl? I think the more appropriate response would be that I am grateful that God gave me (Ailee Mae)." 

 In the 9 short and fast months that have passed since this little gal came into our/my world, she has already done so much.  I love to see her brother light up when he sees her, how my heart is softening, and how her daddy has taken on a whole new level of protection for his kids. 

Ailee, in your ninth month of life you are now able to:

•  use a straw
• wave
• clap
• pick up small pieces of food
• transfer items from one hand to the other
• give EVERYONE huge smiles
• CRAWL
• Eat almost all food introduced, except smashed peas, green beans and spinach

You know weigh 17.4 pounds and are 27.5inches tall.

 
Look what our sister is wearing!  I do believe that is her first clip.  My heart is singing.  Girl, you wear it so well.  I was just telling my cousin how excited I was to do her hair, and she reminded me that it took her daughter 2 years before she had enough to braid.  Oh, I can't wait for that :-)

I wish she was blowing a kiss on purpose, no such luck.  BUT it's so cute anyway!

 Hello blue eyes, I can see heaven in you...

Well, of course I had to add this one, 'cause it's...well i want to.

Okay, little angel, let's work on sleeping through the night in the next month, K?  No more of this 11 and 4 business. 

Experiment 52, #16 {claps and crawls}

Oh my, it's happening so fast...and I LOVE it.  She's on the move and we couldn't be happier for her.  AND there's a chance she might have some rhythm, which we all know didn't come from me. 

9 month pictures to come :-)