durango

enjoying the high life this week up in durango.  Love being with family and enjoying each other this week.  just a few shots of the fun.

cousin Dakota

what's this mom?

oh, i'll smile for you!

cade is feeling left behind after the quads leave without him.

gettin ready to fish in the backyard pond.

....WAIT!......WAIT!........Conner wants a ride!

up in the mountain meadows riding quads and eating lunch.

Lynnea...aka 'Neah.  Kaylee's bosom buddy

wahoo!

3 day weekend!  

have a nice memorial day too.  

remember those who have fought for what we are able to live...and enjoy...and continue to fight for it.

...and because ever post deserves a pic...a little friend we met at the park...

teacher gifts

my amazingly creative sister Corin has done this for her kids teachers when they are young...in the earlier grades.  I thought it would be a fun tradition to start as well.

I got some pretty flowers from the store and created a name and information about the plant...specific to each kiddo.

Cade had his last day of school on Tuesday...and his teacher Ms. Becky got this cute flower from Cade.

(if you can't tell by those puffy eyes...I just woke him up for the bus!...now, why don't you sleep in on the weekend?)

what Cade's card said:

Cade Williams
Chunky Cheek-ina snugglemolia

This handsome flower has been known to smile at any and every fun thing with a twinkle in his eye.  His sweet hugs will make you to never want to let go.

Description: Hazel almond shaped eyes, bottom toofless grin, and short brown hair.

How he grew: Showered with lots of love from his wonderful Preschool Teacher. Loved coloring and playing and making little friends.  He can't wait until next year!

Related Species: Kaylee and Conner

Kaylee had the wonderful Mrs. Pierson.  She is going to have her first baby and it's a girl...hence the little bear gift along with the flowers.

Kaylee LOVED LOVED LOVED kindergarten and especially her wonderful teacher.

I remember when I was younger that I loved my teachers too.  Glad to see that carry on with her.

(mom, the sun is hurting my eyes!)

what Kaylee's card said:

Kaylee Williams
singing and giggle-ina dancermolia

This precious flower has been known suddenly please the ears with sweet tunes and demonstrate graceful dances.  Her sweet smile is only sweetened by her coloful hugs.

Description: Dark brown eyes framed by pinkish glasses...to only accentuate her eyes.  Cute brown hair cut in a bouncy bob.  Almost always is adorned in pink...a favorite color.

How she grew: Showered with lots of love from her wonderful Kindergarten Teacher. Loved SINGING and playing and making sweet little friends.  She's excited for 1st Grade!

Related Species: Cade and Conner

graduate

Kaylee has her Kindergarten Graduation on Tuesday. 

She LOVES LOVES everything to do with school...her friends, teacher, show n tell, popcorn fridays, computer lab, P.E., getting to school early to play and swing.

Now on to First Grade.  I hear it's a lot more challenging for the kids in the beginning...due to amount of work.  She'll still love it.

sorry about all the headshots lately...I've been practicing on my new equipment and lenses.

these were f1.4!

hi, my name is chunk

my momma's chunky

my daddy's chunky

and i'm chunky.

(just a funny little thing we use to do when we were growing up...)

chunky hunk

haven't posted a photo of Cade lately.

He's been battling some type of allergic reaction to something...probably outside.  He has tiny little bumps all over his arms and face.  poor little kiddo.

don't forget

kisses

if you need one, take one.

soccer pros

Kaylee and Cade have been enjoying soccer through the city of Maricopa.  Their team is BRIGHT NEON GREEN, and we're called the Tornadoes.

We've had fun going to practices and cheering them on in their games. 

Here is Bella, a friend on their team, and a fast runner...and great player.  She's my friend Tami and Jakes girl.  As sweet as she looks.  Jake has taught me all I know about photography, and I'm his photography slave assistant.  Tami and Jake are are great friends.

Tami and Jakes little girl, Scarlett.  She likes to come and sit on my lap.  I guess I look friendly! :)

She's a sweet little one.

Kaylee...sometimes the daisy picker, but she really enjoys the action.  Their first game she scored a goal...although in the wrong net, but hey...she's new at this, folks.

She tends to kick the ball when it comes to her, and is usually unaware of which way we're going.  

left to right...Isaiah, Cade, Kaylee and Austin...not sure why we have so many Tornadoes in one place... I'd call this an F4 Tornader.

Cade the sport.  I loved watching him run after the ball.  He would look at me and smile while running towards the ball.  He's a great dribbler and runs the ball to the goal pretty well.

nothing gets Cade running faster than a Ball.....or yummy treats.

Cade the sport.  What fun we had.

sunday

after dinner, and tubbies.  wet hair....we were going for a wet dog look.  

still cute.

i've been trying to get use to my new equipment...and Kaylee was a perfect model tonight.

in a typical day

just a few of the emotions the kids, and I feel during our week together.

and imagine many many more.

new glass

wahoo!

as promised

some pics of the recent trip to chicago

the view outside our room...17th floor (actually, technically the 16th since there is no '13th' floor)

garden right outside the Chicago Art Museum

I loved how beautiful it was.  The branches all met at the top, connecting the trees.  B E A utiful and peaceful.

buckingham fountain

at the cloud gate....aka....the bean.

on a walk at night, on the way back to our room.

v

beautiful night after a beautiful day.