Cam-a-rams

Cam-a-rams and I took a little walk together, just him and I.
I love having one-on-one time with my kids...
I find myself wanting to soak up every last drop of them
and "squish them to pieces"
(...you know, those too tight, almost desperate, mama hugs.)
I think Camden enjoyed it, too.
He stayed right by my side for the rest of the day...
even though we were at Grami's.


















His signature "facial expression session"...









































































He hates the bright sunshine. Whenever I ask if he wants to go outside with the rest of us he's always sure to check the "forcast", exclaiming "it's bright!" if there's even a hint of direct sunlight streaming down, and adamantly refuses to join us. If ever I do coax him out he grabs his little chair and sits in the shade.

This is over-blown, I know. I'll have to see if I can fix it...

























What an angel...now scroll down a couple more...

















































Uh-huh...This gives me the chills. Why, you ask?
Because this is the "exact" expression I received
from my father whenever I envoked his wrath growing up..

























Here, let me show you...
























Ha! I really love that I can see both of my parents in my children..
even if it does give me goosebumps.
For those of you wondering...
Camden was mad because he couldn't get his hands in his pockets.

Ju-Ju-B

I think Jude has finally gotten over his "camera-fright".
This was the best session he's ever given me.
It was so much fun and only took about 10 minutes!
He has fallen in love with this little rusted truck he
found at Grami and Grandpa Jim's.























He looks so much like when he was first born in this photo...























Hiding behind his little truck as Aunt H.
relentlessly teases him about playing with his hair.
She tortures him all the time by messing with his hair...
he hates it! But I can't blame her...
Jude has the coolest hair I've ever seen...
too bad he's destined to lose it all.























Cute lil' stinker...
















Aunt H. yard is overgrown with a special kind of weed these days...
little boys!























More teasing from Aunt H...























Trying to pluck all the lilacs from Grandpa's bush...sorry Dad!

This little guy will be the death of me yet...I cannot resist him!
Have I mentioned how much I adore that he looks just like Daddy?

Storybook Setting, continued...

I think she is just so gorgeous...

I re-worked a couple of them,

but they still don't look as good on-line.

Storybook Setting...

I've been waiting for two months to take these!
I think it was worth the wait...I'm so in love with them!

Spur of the Moment...

We took a quick trip last night to show the kids the dams...
(No jokes in front of the kids, please.)
It was very spur of the moment

and Ryan and Crystal decided to join us.
We had a blast!

The water was roaring pretty good at the Cabinet...

Camden and Jude get the their first glimpse...

They were impressed to say the least.

Camden was having too much fun to stop and pose for the group shot...

The "men-folk" yackin it up while enjoying the view...

The photographer in me hates that I didn't get any catchlights in this shot and the fact that it's slightly out-of-focus. The Auntie in me loves her beautiful coloring and the way her eyes match her shirt perfectly...Aqua is definately her color.

I think she is just blossoming...

Then we went to Noxon and we were all impressed, to say the least!

That was an amazing amount of water...it felt like we were in a fridge.

I love how they are both hiding behind the fence like that!

That's all mist that you see in front of them...

Jude isn't quite as leary...

Miss M showin off her cartwheels...She's almost as good as I used to be! (;

They had an amazing park area here. The kids loved running all over the place.

We all found ourselves wishing we had come earlier in the day for a picnic.

It's always nice to get Mommy shots...

Miss G...love those eyes!

Love that hair! I soooo hope it stays this color.

It kinda looks like it's growing in blonde though.

Right before we got back in the car...

By the guilty look on those guys' faces I'd say they were taking a leak!

Thanks for comin with us guys!

I get such a kick watching the kids run around together!

They had a blast!

A Tribute

Today Daddy helped Jude "throw away" his precious "baba".
It's not that Mommy liked that thing.
It's grimy, stinky, dingy...perfectly yucky in every way...
No matter how much we wash it.

But it's Jude's comfort.
When he goes to sleep.
During church when Mommy can't always hold him.
In the car on long trips.
Whenever he's feeling uncertain about a new situation.
To snuggle with during a video.
It's the only thing he's never had to share with his sister.
And so, Mommy hesitated to take it away just yet.

But I think daddies often know when their little boys
are all grown up long before we mamas figure it out.
When I walked in the door after shopping this morning
Jude proudly walked me over to the trash and showed
me what a big boy he really is.

He didn't feel quite so big at naptime.
But he's bravely making it through his very first day
without "baba" by his side.

Pray for Jude.
Pray for Mama...

Ol' Spud Head

My kids love them some spuds!

Well, not the kind ya eat. No way.
They hate 'em....In any way, shape or form.
(Except french fries, which they've only gotten maybe 3 times...ever.)

No. I'm talkin about Mr. Potato Head.

They love him...






Camden is very particular when it comes to putting together his spud.
Everything must be "just so"


This is Jude's all-time favorite "table-time" activity.
He'll sit aroung putting together potato heads for hours sometimes.


Gwyneth just likes to play with the cute accessories...


My goof-balls...





Way to go! Idaho!...