Happy Birthday to me!

What I woke up to.

Donuts from the best donut shop in town.

Smiles and hugs all around.

A 50mm f/1.4

This email from Aria.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! You are now 31. So lets get to Silverwood and get in the sun. We will have so much fun! P.S.


if you get this email later happy late birthday!




i love you
love aria . pps if you get this email even later happy even later birthday ppps if you get it soooooooooper late happy
soooooooooper late birthday.

And Gabe said...

"MOM! I have a present for you!"



"It's FISH LIPS! It's really good 'cause I practiced in the mirror for a long time!"

And now my kids are all sharpie tattooed with my cell number and we're off to a fun day with some of my very favorite people in the world!

Happy Independence Day!

We had a really fun 4th this year! We spent the day at the lake with my brother-in-law's family. The kids had a blast and what better way to watch the fireworks display than on a private beach? I mean, seriously! It was rad.

The rope swing was a huge hit.




As was the lake. Even though it wasn't exactly warm yesterday.


At one point, these three seemed to think it was a clothing optional party. But we got them dressed again and stuck them in the boat on the shore and they were happy.


They pretended to sail off into the sunset.


Which was very pretty, btw.


After nature's show, we enjoyed the fireworks display!

Our summer in pictures

We are having a super fun summer so far! Here's a sampling of it. :)

It started out quite rainy. So we splashed in puddles.










On Nathan's birthday we went to an open track meet and all the kids ran a couple races.

Here's Mae winning the 50 meter dash.


and the 100 meter dash. lol.


Poor Clara was terrified, but she just kept running!






Gabe giving it his all.


Aria is all concentration and determination.


Nathan. We couldn't find his shoes before we left so he's wearing his sketchers. They didn't do him any favors but since I cut them out the picture looks pretty cool. lol.


After his race he wandered around talking to a girl. I'm pretending I didn't see it even though I was all stalkery with my camera. lol


Then we had several hot days we set up Nathan's slip and slide and they turned the slide on the swingset into a water slide. They were flying down that thing. It was pretty awesome.