Days away from one!

 

Heaven help me!  The fastest year of my life - ever - has just flown by.

 

 

In a mere matter of days this sparkly, loveable, squeaky, curious boy will be one!

 

 

Where, oh where, did the time go?

 

 

On the one hand, we feel like we've known this guy forever.

 

But on the other hand, how did it all flash by so fast? 

 

Stay little.

 

Our Valentine's Bunch

When Hallie was born a tradition was hatched.  In truth, even though I still worked from home part-time back then, it didn't start until the evening hours. Chris and I shared only one car. And I found my little Hallie baby and I had a lot of time on our hands.  So, I took photos.  Lots and lots of photos.  When I set her up with props to do some Valentine's photos, I became hooked.  My most favorite photo shoots are the Valentine photo shoots through the years.  As the years have passed, and Claire and Grant have joined the family, I work more hours and do them throughout the day.  Three kids plus my chaufer duties keep me extra busy! But, save for a very pregnant 2012, I've been able to keep up the tradition.  However, what used to be a half hour ordeal now must be done in three minutes.  I kid you not.

Enjoy some of the pictures of our Valentine's babies through the years!

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

In 2012, I just felt much too pregnant for a photo shoot . . .

But I got back on the wagon for 2013. 

And we finally have a boy to add to our Valentine's collection!

 Oh those kids!

What more could I ask for on V-day?

Of course, they are sleeping snuggly in their beds so I am especially sentimental. :)

More favorites from our impromptu before church photo shoot . . .

blurry, but beautiful

and if you wonder why my some of the pictures are so blurry, or if you wish your kids would sit still long enough for pictures, this is the type of movement I was actually dealing with . . .

But I love this picture as much as the others!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Birthday bliss

I turned another year older!

And my husband did up my birthday like none other.

He rocks surprises.

 

He set up his mom to watch the kids and took me to Denver to see the Pompeii exhibit.

I have always been fascinated entranced ENTHRALLED by Pompeii.

Although it's a tragic story (entire cities eaten up by the volcano Mount Vesuvius) I still have just been taken by all that is preserved there.  I first found out about Pompeii in sixth grade, when I wanted to be an archaeologist.  So you can understand why I was so captured.

What gets me is how neoclassical the art looks when it really is thousands of years before!

The sculptures were incredible.

I've read every book on Pompeii that I can get my hands on.  So, I've seen this fresco numerous times.  To see it in person made me catch my breath!

  

And the dinosaur exhibit at the museum isn't too shabby either!

The inspiration continued when we went shopping.

My amazing husband had a small cache of cash set aside for me to spend.

Even the store windows had cool design ideas.

 

Of course we missed the kids so we were on the phone with them that very night!

And luckily our hotel was situated right next to a perfect restaurant.  So even though the temps were frigid, we took a moonlit walk in the quiet snow for a late night romantic dinner.  While we were there we talked about goals and ways to get more organized.

 

HEAVEN.

Thank you for making my birthday so sweet, Chris!