to My Love

On this special day:

I just wanted to let Mike know that I am thinking about him.

xoxo

tia

Sunday Morning Photo Shoot & Kiddo Update

{AnnaB}

She's six now, lost her first tooth and has to do homework each afternoon. Please, make time stop. She is growing up quick, but in a lot of ways she hasn't changed. She still laughs easily, giggles like a maniac at her own jokes, talks without stop some days, loves making friends (even if she cannot remember their names), and she tries to watch out for others.

Notice the missing tooth? She let me pull it out. I love doing stuff like that.

I guess this picture could be considered an out-take, but I've seen this face enough times to know that it was no accident.

{Asa Base}

My sweet rascal boy. He is a charmer with his big blue eyes and a smile that seems to take over his entire face. But don't let him fool you, he takes a real delight in mischief every once in a while, especially if it involves getting Anna's attention.

Mike says he told him to say "I love Mommy" and that this picture was the result. This boy melts my heart. He really does have me wrapped around his little finger most days.

{KaiKai}

Kai has proven to be his own self. Not to be confused with any other of my babies. He has been the most content, the most independent and curious. He'd rather be scooting around on the floor (no crawling for this guy) than in my arms. He'd rather eat table food than any puree I have tried. He had 8 teeth by 9 months no more hair than when he was born.

This is is scrunch nose stink face. I get this face constantly. Sometimes he makes it in displeasure (as seen here), sometimes he does the scrunch with a grin. With the grin I think it looks like Elvis when he curled his lip up.

Tickle fight and Kai is done with pictures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIA!!!!

Here is your present from me.

I love you and miss you!!!

Mike

I'm Baack!

After an unacceptably long absence from my blog I am back and ready to update this thing. Be prepared for an embarrassingly large amount of pictures of my kids and vague details about the last 4 1/2 months!

* Being OCD about chronology, I have post-dated my posts. Scroll down and enjoy!

4 months

Kai is 4 months old today. What a sweet baby he is. I love his chubbiness, smiles and joy. 

Thanks for letting me be your mama little mister. 

Eyelashes

Asa has eyelashes so long I am certain he could sweep the floor with them.

Easter Morning

We had a fun Easter morning. I really enjoyed finding them each of the kids a little present that I knew they would enjoy. Annabelle was thrilled with a pink rimmed fedora and Asa, who is currently in love with Mickey Mouse got a new stuffed animal. 

 I just love Annabelle's bed head!

 Of course Kai wasn't left out, but he didn't care too much about the glowing sea horse in his basket.

After church I noticed that Annabelle has just grown leaps and bounds since she wore this pink dress to David and Clara's wedding a year ago {Happy Anniversary you two!} . It's almost as if she's sprouted new legs ;)

Kai Kai's First Camping Trip!

Who could resist gorgeous Sedona for a little spring camping? Not us! Once again we camped at Oak Creek. This time we mostly stayed out of town, played by the river and went for one of the greatest hikes we've ever taken with the kids.

Kai did great and didn't mind being all snugged up in the wrap while we explored. It was fun to take him camping for the first time and to use Mike's new birthday tent for the first time as well. Awesome night shot of the tent here.

No matter what else is on the agenda for a camping trip, if there is water, we've gotta go get our feet wet and throw some rocks into it. Oak creek is perfect for just such an activity.

Who needs toys when you're in a meadow? 

These two played all morning next to our campsite.

Kai was our sleepy head, the last one up in the morning.

As I mentioned, this was the greatest hike I've ever taken with the kids. Annabelle and Asa had their imaginations going full speed the entire time. Every bit of terrain that we encountered turned into something else (i.e. fallen trees were elephant bones, ditches extending out from the river were where witches were hiding). It turned out to be quite the adventure.

Asa pretending to eat the popcorn

To our surprise at one point we came upon a grove of popcorn trees! Not much imagination needed here. We played and sang "Popcorn popping on the Apricot Tree" a few times before moving on from this favorite spot.

"I looked out the window and what did I see?"

Mike took some gorgeous photos of Cathedral Rock at Sunset. 

And I took this one. You can check his out here and here.

Our latest family "portrait"

Easter Egg Hunt 2011

Success! Besides the unwelcome heat, our Easter Egg Hunt was a success. My great friend Julie and I teamed up together this year and threw an Easter Egg Hunt and invited all the primary kids in our ward.  The fathers met earlier in the morning and hid a couple hundred eggs - the kids came excited and ready to find 'the golden egg'. 

Look at this turnout! Mike caught most everyone that attended in this huge group shot, as we gathered up the kids just before setting them loose (youngest kids first of course).

Annabelle and two of her friends that attended, just chattin' it up.

We had a great time. Unfortunately because of the heat the chocolate melted (causing some eggs to be infested with ants before the kids could get to them), and we didn't end up playing field games after a yummy lunch because everyone just wanted to get out of the sun - - but the hunt was a success, a big potluck lunch was fantastic and we got to socialize with lot of friends.

Thanks Julie, I'd do it with you again in a heartbeat.

New Lens = Instant Gratification

Mike's other birthday present came in the mail yesterday, a new lens. The kids and I were in the backyard when he came home with it and was ready to try it out. I can't believe the amazing shots he got of the kids who were just standing on the porch. The technique he used is called "high key".

My beautiful girl! 

In case you didn't know, this boy stole my heart.

And my baby. I just can't get enough of this chubby, happy little guy.

 For any of you curious photographers, this is how Mike described his process: "I had the kids standing in the shade, in front of a wall that was in the sunlight. I used the pup up flash, which limits the shutter speed to 1/180 of a second. This makes the sunlit was go to bright with, which makes for some fun images in the style called high key."

Yeah, I married a photographer stud.

Exhausted?

Asa just couldn't last another minute tonight.

Official 3 Month Photo Shoot

Mike took some "3 month" pictures of our little Mr. on Saturday morning. 

This is the best smile we were able to get. I think he was flailing around a little to much to enjoy laying on his back, but I love his comfy pajama look. It just makes me want to snuggle him.

 To get a new perspective we tried him in the bumbo, which was fun but he just couldn't help but lean. 

Haha, poor babe. He really is a good sport with all our picture taking. 

I just want to kiss those cheeks!

3 Months Today

Happy Three Months little Kai Kai!

You looked so darling in your bath today I just had to grab the camera and see if I could capture your sweet face, blue eyes and contentment.

 Asa jumped up on a chair to help you and love on you a little too. Who could blame him?

 You put up with us for a little while, and then you were done.

We sure are happy that you are in our family.

xoxo