8 years...

As I browsed through the, oh...34,000 pictures on our computer this evening, for some reason this grainy, old, dark one spoke to me. I think the look on my face says it all.

Happy Anniversary Brent. Mi Lavem yu tumas!

Princess tutu + camping + fishing = Maddie's 4!

The princess awakens (at great grandma's house)

We read a favorite book that talks about a pig who gets a tutu and ballet slippers for her birthday. Maddie always comments the whole way through the book how she "wishes she could have a ballerina outfit and slippers;" this time, mom didn't disappoint.

Then the princess pig gives a birthday performance in her new digs...and so did maddie; a very very long one in fact.

Need I say more.

lots of family.

tada...presenting my very first princess cake. pretty good eh'?

Maddie had been asking for a "princess cake" for weeks...I'm normally a cupcake kinda mom, but I have to admit, it was all worth it when she saw the cake for the first time.

Auntie Andrea was there for the whole party via iCHAT.

Maddie got lots of great gifts from everyone (thank you); among her favorite was a new fishing rod and tackle box from pappy dave.

We went camping that evening, grilled dogs, ate smores, and chatted around the fire. The kids ran on to some pretty cool things.

use your imagination. brent sure did.

The next day it was four-wheeler riding, fishing, and swimming. What could be better!

reeling in a big one...

Princess Maddie turned four with a bang (as is always the case when you're born on the Fourth of July)! It was a great party with all the things she loves; I hope making her

happy is always this easy.

When Maddie was born Brent made a picture for her room, a Brian Andreas quote that reads,

"The Moment her laughter unfurled it's wings in the wind,

we knew that the world would never be the same."

...and it hasn't been. Happy Birthday Princess.

Yum...

When I got home from church this afternoon I noticed something red gleaming in the garden... upon further inspection I found one small ripe tomato, and a pepper!!! You would have thought I had just given birth; and all this excitement was BEFORE I noticed the larger than life cucumber in the second picture! I of course ran in the house and ate them all. It's gonna be a yummy summer is all I have to say.