pals forever

is it wrong

When my family visited recently I got to hold baby Joshua and visit with him for a few minutes. When no one was looking I had to take just one picture.

If it is wrong just tell me. Seriously maybe I need to go to rehab to be separated from my camera. But in my defense he is just so stinking cute and he was just sleeping there all warm and cuddly in my arms. I wanted to hold on to him forever. You know the old saying, "take a picture it will last longer" well, that is exactly why I had to take his picture. He has already gained over a pound and before we know it he will up walking around and being silly with the rest of his cousins. Sigh. You are just way too sweet little man, way too sweet.

fifty two on friday ~ week 26 (independence)

My kids constantly remind me how big they are and I am reminded daily of how quickly they are growing up. They struggle daily with their independence. From one hour to the next they can go from being a scared baby who needs me to sleep in their bed because, "there are snakes in their room" to being a bigger guy or gal who can get dressed all by themselves, pour their own juice and stick their heads under the water in the pool.

As I was sitting in the computer room I listened to them chatter among themselves and I realized they were playing together completely independent of me. It was the sweetest sound to hear them playing together, and not needing anything from me. They love to play in Jordan's closet and pretend that the closet is so many different and amazing things.  From one minute to the next they can be in the cockpit of an airplane, the cab of a fire engine and even an elevator at the library. This quiet and imaginative play defined independence for me this week.

By the way... I have a new nephew!!! He is a doll! I am madly in love with our little man. He is the complete opposite of independent. So many memories came flooding back today when visting him in the hospital. Sweet memories of my own little ones and I was once again reminded how lightning fast time flies. Congrats Costa family, we love you! He is perfection.

Be sure to head on over and check out what the lovely and talented Amy Mae (Bowman) Photography, Nampa Idaho Photographer has in store for us this week.

what i know about my dad

age 4

My dad is forty forty eighty five years old. 

My dad works really hard. His job is to get bad guys. 

My dad's favorite thing to do with me is to kiss me and hug me. 

When he wants to relax, my dad reads books with me.

My dad's hair is black, just like you made our toast get black. 

One thing that makes my dad happy is to give him hugs and kisses.

When my dad grows up he wants to be a fireman.

age 2 1/2

My dad is four.

My dad works really hard. His job is to work.

My dad's favorite thing to do with me is to play.

When he wants to relax, my dad watches movies.

My dad's hair is black.

One thing that makes my dad happy is pretty me.

When my dad grows up he wants to be an airplane. 

My dad is amazing, hardworking, kind, sweet, intelligent and thoughtful. 

My dad works really hard. His job is to be awesome.

My dad's favorite thing to do with me is to make me happy.

When he wants to relax, my dad sleeps.

My dad's hair is silver. 

One thing that makes my dad happy is his grandchildren.

When my dad grows up he wants to be a millionaire.

Happy Father's Day! 

if you wondered

Were you wondering where we got our inspiration for Jordan's SUPER cute new summer hairdo?

We were so excited to have a few of our favorite people on earth visit us this week. Our SUPER cute swimming guests were styling some cute locks (or lack of really) and we just had to copy. They say imitation is the best form of flattery right?

This green eyed beauty may not have a mohawk but she sure is a doll. Just as sweet as can be.

She was the inspiration for our little lady to take a plunge of her own...

Swimming in the pool, all by herself. She kept telling me over and over that she can do it now, "just like Lauryn."

looking forward

So, I am editing some pictures I took for my sister-in-law many weeks back and I have just touched the surface (nothing like waiting until the last minute, sorry Mel) and I had to share. I am in love with her. She is just GORGEOUS yes?

We are so excited to see everyone this weekend for Lauryn's birthday. There has been a ton of discussion in our house about her and my nephew Mikey's birthday (they share the same day) because it is so close to Jordan's big day and he keeps asking who's birthday is next, and then who comes next, and then who. So we go through the list of who I can remember. I am really terrible at remembering birthday's so it is a short list. Sorry all.

 Leah cannot stop talking about her cousin Lauryn and how she is going play with her. Any outfit she put on this week she would proclaim, "Lauryn will love it!" and when we pulled out the jumpy house to play she kept asking me when Lauryn was coming over to her house to play in her jumpy. Half the time we can't tell if she is saying Jordan or Lauryn but it is cute cute cute all the same. So so excited!!

four frames

was all they were up for and I got "technically" bad pictures
from a really great day!

 horrible lighting

 heads cut off and blurry faces

 and I will cherish every. single.one.

 Even though I look like a complete dork.

We had so much fun making party hats. Then I set up the camera on the couch with the timer mode to take a picture in our hats. I managed to eeek four frames out of the little buggars but that did not give me enough time to actually set up the camera correctly. Either way I LOVE them and wanted to share our silliness.

I had such a wonderful birthday! Thank you everyone who called, emailed and sent cards!! I am truly so grateful to have so many wonderful friends and family who love and care about me.

october

at a glance

we went to a pumpkin patch

 and picked out the cutest little pumpkins

we painted pumpkins (and ourselves)

 this year

so the kids

could be part of the fun

Trick or treating was quick

and to the point.

Daddy was working

we met up with him

the kids went to a few houses

it was more than enough

for those cute little legs

October really was filled with fun!

in the sky

Jordan has been pretending he and Leah are helicopter pilots nonstop since yesterday when we saw three Black Hawk helicopters up close and personal.
They were so loud when they were flying in and landing!
They made Jordan a little nervous but Leah was trying to run right up to them and
I had a hard time holding her back.

There were so many fun "things that go" at the airport.
Jordan saw a dump truck off to the side that he just had to check out.

There were so many cool airplanes.
Jordan wanted to take his picture with this orange airplane.
The coolest plane was the little red plane that Drew and Jordan got to copilot.

Everthing was ok,
I thought I was ok
excited even...

Until the plane started to taxi down the runway and I felt a lump in my throat and my heart started racing.
I said to Big" Papa, " I don't like this" and he agreed.
It was a good thing the plane did not go far and did not stay in the sky long.
We both watched the plane the entire time until our guys were back with us.

Leah was so mad, she wanted to go for a ride too! 

I was so grateful that she was on the ground with me and I had someone to hold on to until 

my guys were back with their feet on the ground.

Of course the dare devil  got a chance to sit in the airplane.

Maybe next year she will get to fly too.
That is only if Mommy can handle the stress!

happy mother's day

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day, I sure did! This one is for you Grannie!

somebunny special

I had no intention of showing off this picture, but how could I not?

The smile on Jordan's face says it all. He was all geared up to give the bunny a hug but as soon as we got up there he froze and he would not go near him with out me sitting up there too. Leah was rolling on the floor crying she was so scared.

We were excited to see we had a sweet surprise when we got home.

There were two cookie pops left behind by Aunt Mindy. Sorry we missed you, the treats made our day.

Can you tell we enjoyed them? XOXO Thank you so much!

amazing grannie adventure

sweets for her sweets

Grannie surprised us with some sweets this afternoon. It really was quite a treat!
Leah loved, loved, loved the donuts! Mommy is going to love, love, love getting the donuts out of her hair! She hates to get her hair washed, she screams like a wild woman the whole time her hair is being rinsed.

She had SO much fun eating the donuts and visiting with Grannie AND Thomas. She was following Thomas all over the family room. If he would move she would move, it was cute.

Thomas thought he was being sneaky eating the donuts. He ate at least 30 of them before he said he was done. Oink! Oink!

Thanks Grannie, you always know exactly how to cheer us up!

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