Yard progress.

We were so excited to get our yard looking more like, well .. a yard, this year.  Here's Dominic working hard on getting the gate set up, and the girlies breaking it in for the party ;).

Ali's Wedding & Kayden's Birthday

August!  (Yaaaay) =D Haha! 

Last August, my bestie and MOH got married!  Her and her husband, Adam, got married on August 4th, which was the day before Kayden's birthday!  I totally got the best of both worlds - being able to second shoot their special day, and attend as a guest - so here is a few from the beautiful wedding, and a couple of the girlies the morning of her birthday.  She was so excited to hang with her little bestie.

In traditional birthday fashion - we headed to the zoo!  All of us love it, always.  

We had a great time.  It's the zoo!  Haha, honestly, I'm a bit sad that I've waited over half a year to document this =( and I don't really remember any quotes or goofy little things that I'm sure she did.  I remember we put her zoo hat on her, cause it was stinkin hot, and that she took it off and had "crazy hair" (term in our household. truth.)  Haha!!  We made a point to stop by the giraffes because we had fed them on her first birthday - but for some reason the zoo only lets you feed giraffes on the most random of days .. and this year, it was not her birthday.  But, we said hi to them anyways =).  I really do wish though, that I would have written things down earlier.  I need to be better about that.  She is growing so incredibly fast .. and I never knew that documenting about her birthday so long after her birthday would be just as emotional as her birthday!  She is just growing so fast, and she's such a sweet, loving little thing.  We often just stop as comment to each other, about how nice she is, or how generous she'll be, even when we're giving her a hard time.  Dominic, especially, ;) likes to push her buttons and see how far she'll let him go, and it is more often than not - further than we expect.  She'll share her favorite treats, and scoot over until she's so squished.  She's just a little sweetheart, and I hope she forever stays that way.  

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Kayden, my beautiful baby,

You have grown quicker than I can ever imagine, and I presume that you will continue to grow faster than I'd prefer.  I am so proud of how you have grown, you are truly beautiful inside and out to me.  I love the way your face lights up, and how you get excited and squeal and say "yeahhhh!".  I love the way you are so giving, and sweet - to everyone.  I love how lately, you reach your arms out and don't say a word - just a big smile - and when I go to hug you, you hug me so tight and rub my arm, and giggle when my arm is bare from wearing a tank-top instead of a t-shirt.  I love how you have started to share your emotions, you tell us when you think we are / something is silly .. or frustrating.  I love how love to give little diganoosises (diagnosis'), and want to swim with fishies when you're big.  I love how you call us mama and daddio and say "I wub you tooooo!"  I love how you will randomly tell us and whoever, "my name kayen, mama name mama, dadie name dayio, happy family.  happy home.  dozy, riey.  know dat?"  It kills me.  My heart sings, and dances and jumps for joy.  I could go on forever with the things I love about you, truly, I could.  But to make it short and sweet (ish), I love love love that I am your mommy.  I love that I get to stay home with you and see you grow and learn and shine.  I love you, more than I could ever explain and more than you could ever imagine, and I will love you, just as much, forever.

Love, Mama.

colorado in september {grandmas & babies}

Colorado!  Back in September we went up to Colorado - Grandma VanWinkle had traveled allllll the way across the country from Minnesota, to celebrate a few family birthdays and get a 5 generation picture.  It's incredible to me, that at the ripe age of 93, she is able to not only travel across the continent, but play with all the great-great-grandkids, joke around, and beat us all at cards.  I'm so thankful that we got to see her, and that Kayden got to meet her!  She is such a wonderful person and it was great to spend some time with her!! <3 

(PS, for those who don't know that side of the family - Grandma and Grandpa VanWinkle celebrated their seventieth anniversary -- yes 70!!! in 2010 while we were pregnant.  We weren't able to make it out to the celebration in Minnesota, due to my big belly.. but we think about them often - especially during our wedding planning - and how amazing it is that they were together for so many years, and built such a huge, beautiful family.  Grandpa has since passed away - so unfortunately Dominic nor Kayden were ever able to meet him, but I am so so thankful that we all were able to spend time with Grandma =).  So much fun, and such a wonderful memory that I will always cherish.)

Another huge thing happened while we were there.  BABY BENTLEY WAS BORN!!  =D  Baby Bentley is Tara and Ryan's cute little nugget, and Tara is my lifelong friend.  Our moms have been friends since they were in 2nd grade, so Tara and I have been friends since birth.  It's so incredible to grow together, to be happy for each other, and to watch one another's family develop.  I was so so so happy that we got to go see them and their one-day-new baby boy ... and I can't lie - my emotions came over me a bit.  ;)  To see my Tara all grown and holding her brand new baby with such joy and pride was so precious!  Congrats Ryan & Tara!!!  (Over-due, of course) ;)