{ This Moment }

{ Our Children... }

{Easter 2011}

... have the BEST Daddy ever!!!

Happiest Father's Day to our Daddy, Pap & Grandpa!!!

We Love You!!!

{ Hurr Did }

{ Parking Lot }

obsessed. to put it mildly.

this kid can sit in a parking lot all day and point out the same model car in every different color.

in fact, we hung out for the first time with rachael for a few hours one day and in the next day or two we were waiting in a crowded parking lot and he said, "mom, that's rachael's car, but in red!" 

sure enough, it was a honda civic, rachael's exact car. he continued to point out about 5 more civics in different colors as "rachael's car" that day.

at 3 years old. {last year}

he loves to watch cars leave and asks me to stand and wait with him while people pull away.

he loves to watch people open & close their trunks.

he notices when things are different about cars he is very familiar with...

like the day mimi lost a hubcap, you bet he is was the informant with,

"why does mimi have one black tire?"

he points out everyone's car that he knows, both parked in lots and while we're driving. 

especially when he sees grandma's "white car that aunt andrea drives now" or "the black car."

he knows cars. it's definitely his thing.

in utah last summer, out little family lived with grandma and grandpa for most of the summer

{total blast}

uncle yoshi was visiting soon-to-be aunt jessica out in utah as well.

we were waiting for uncle yoshi to come over to grandma's house for a haircut and maddux was looking out the window for him. he says, "that's uncle yoshi's car!" it was minutes after i just hung up with him to arrange the haircut so i knew it couldn't have been him arriving yet. but, maddux was over at the window, pointing. i walk over and there was no way he was even close to seeing the driveway. here, he was pointing up at grandma's picture board and sure enough, there was a picture of jackson and in the far corner of it there was just the tire of the car uncle yoshi drives at home, that maddux hadn't even seen for months bc uncle yosh lives in va and we are in pa. yet, we were in utah and he was driving jess' car. he totally identified it, from memory. just turned 3 years old. floored me!

every time i just look at him and ask, totally amazed,

"how do you know these things!?"

he always responds, "i don't know!" 

he loves to stop and read off the numbers & letters on license plates, too. 

he currently loves vans and mini-vans and desperately misses "our old van" 

and tells me at least once a day that he "doesn't like our new S.U.V."  

you better believe he points out every nissan quest he lays his eyes on while we drive.

apparently, his dream car. ha he's so cute.

everything about cars he is all about.

neatest thing ever.

the car gene definitely runs in the family. on both sides.

he's double whammied with the gene!

i cannot wait to see what he pursues with his talents, abilities and knowledge.

of course, for now, lightening mcqueen and tow-mater are at the top of the list!

{ Got Milk? }

and, seriously, who eats any other ketchup but Heinz...

{ We're Getting There }

{ Ingenuity }

 "I won't need lunch money all the way until 5th grade now!"

{ Over the Top }

{Feb. 2010}

~~ Royal wedding/Cinco de Mayo inspired ~~

{ Showcased: Second Grade }

{Fall 2010}

Open House + Klingmans + Turleys + Rits'a Italian Ice = Open House Tradition

Unbelievable that third grade is just around the corner... .

Seems like just yesterday, at Roosevelt Elementary, I was in third grade in Ms. Skeddle's class trying to understand those darned fractions and playing 7-up if we were good...

living for recess and a great game of kick-ball despite my dresses and patent-leather shoes,

and scolded to quit writing notes to fourth grade boys!

Jackson makes it such a joy to be his parents. He is a happy kid. Loves to work hard and play harder. Is the best big brother around. Works on being obedient and teaches his mom and dad a thing or two in the process. We are proud of who he is and who he is becoming. And, most importantly, he is proud of himself.

{ P&J }

M~Style, of course!

{ Trail of Toast }

{ Spring Has Sprung }

{2010 Spring Season}

{ Daddy's Little Pumpkin }

{Sis 11 months old}
2009

{ Workshop }

{ Ghost Toast }

{ Starry Night }

Jackson~Style

{ Target is Forgiving }

{ Sometimes we act like we're in walmart }

{ We Don't Bite }

Seasons are usually determined by weather... in our family it's by Jackson's sport schedules...

Goodbye basketball & hockey { Winter, please take the hint }

Hello baseball & soccer { Spring, please don't be so shy... }

{ Happiest Birthday Boy }

Happy four years to our wonderful, lively little boy Maddux De-von.

What we love about Maddux is that he has a soul set on fire. 

He is the shooting star across our sky, born to stand out. 

He gets messy {A LOT} and teaches me that this is the way he doesn't just learn, 

but comes to understand his surroundings.

He imagines up his world each day and teaches me that to have dreams is more important than just going through the daily motions of life. 

He challenges me to really LIVE, to dig in and get messy and make mistakes

and that truly, this is what success is. 

He teaches me the value of a single moment and helps his busy mom to slow down and enjoy it with him.

That the little things are really the important things,

like bare feet in the grass, fresh-picked flower bouquets of dandelions and tiny violets, 

bubbles in the bath, and being held to fall asleep.

What is better than that.

Nothing is better than love, real love.

And, the way a child loves is always real.

~~~

Maddux, especially today, but everyday we want you to know that we love you so and adore you.

You teach us everyday how to enjoy life.

It is a joy to be your mother and a sweet challenge to enjoy life 
the way you do. 
{Simply and Courageously}

Thank you for your shining example, my 4 year old little boy.

{ Always Kiss Me Goodnight }