Happy 8th Anniversary Mike

Fathers

Happy Father's Day!
I am grateful for MANY fathers today. First to Mike who has provided our family with:

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SEVEN Fantastic years of Fatherhood

{Papa Zeke} 

Paul has given me years of hard work, patience and prayer as he worked to raise my Mike. He continues to be an exemplary father and grandfather.



{Grampster}

 My Dad, another Paul, is of course who I am most grateful for on Father's Day. He has always been my biggest fan and supporter. He faithfully calls me, gently gives advice and is truly a 'grampster'.

{Grand Fathers}

Grandpa McKean, and example of leadership 

Grandpa Ray, my favorite sense of humor 

Grandpa Lowell, a fantastic listener

Papa Campbell, unconditional love

Tia, what is that smell in your kitchen?

To answer your question, it's parsley. Exciting, right? Not so much?

I tore out the winter garden on Saturday, my mom helped us put it in last conference. Anyway, we needed room for the pumpkins (from mom's donated seeds). We probably planted 8 or 9 seeds in a 4 x 3 box. If they all survive we are going to have to find some friends to take a vine, we won't have enough room. But I am happy to have the vines spill out of the box and into that end of the yard anyway. So I filled 4 pots with parsley transplants, gave 2 pots away and dried what was left. Well, what I had patience to cut, wash and dry that is. All that work and I've got about 3/4 of my mason jar full of parsley smelling parsley. I'd say it is a success.

For those still reading . . . we also planted watermelon, sweet corn, 2 tomato plants and a red and a yellow pepper plant. I left some carrots and onions in the ground to use as we need them, which will need to be before the watermelon and pumpkins take over!

Grand success of this winter's garden: Snow peas. None really made it into the house, which was my intention, but we would frequently go out with the kids to munch on them as they were freshly picked.

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"