An Easy Challenge

Some of you may not need to make this type of change, but I do!

I just read a blog post here about how we rarely are in pictures with our own children for whatever reason - mine is usually just because I'm the one who always has the camera but other reasons might be "don't like myself in pictures," weight, no makeup, etc. Do you suppose our kids will ever care about any of those reasons? Do you care about those types of things when you think of your mother? Of course not!

I went back to see when the last pictures of me and my boys were:

Calvin and I on September 21st

(not too long ago)

Hunter and I on August 1st

(way too long ago)

The worst is when I look back at pictures of special occasions; Birthdays, holidays, fun outings/vacations and there is not a single picture of me with my boys. This also goes for pictures of them and my husband as there aren't too many of those either. You can't have those special moments back to snap a picture you may have forgotten about. It makes me sad sometimes when I miss the special ones. This past Mother's Day I made Travis take a few pictures of me and the kids because the year before I had not even thought of it and was upset by it later.

The challenge is to take a photograph with your kids each and every month. That shouldn't be too hard. While we're at it, I need to be sure to get one of the kids and Travis every month, as well as one of Travis and I together (very few of those). I'll plan to post them on the blog, so if you aren't seeing them, remind me to get with the program!!!

Happy Birthday, Calvin!

(Cake by Aunt Robin)

Calvin turned a year old yesterday, but I didn't get my post done in time.  I'll just share some pictures from his Birthday party that was on Sunday.  Of course, leading up to and since that day, the weather has been beautiful - but since I scheduled his party outside, at a park, it was pretty windy and chilly that day (because that's how things work in our life).  We still had a great time and thank all of our family and friends who came to help us celebrate!  I can't believe it's been a year - the first year with Calvin seems to have gone by twice as fast as Hunter's first year....I guess just because now I'm trying to keep up with 2!

Ashleigh and Matt were in town so they (along with Tanner) came over to see the boys.  

Calvin had just woken up from a nap and he was not sure what was going on:

On the way to the park:
Hunter and Calvin waiting for our guests to arrive:
The cupcakes I made: 

*Cherry Chip cake with Vanilla frosting (orange) and a cherry on top

*Chocolate Fudge cake with Peppermint frosting (green) and chocolate chips on top

Homemade frosting adapted from this yummy recipe
Calvin didn't dig into his cake too much so we had to help him a little.  

He liked the cake part much better than frosting (doesn't get that from me):
Hunter, Brooklyn and McKade enjoying their cupcakes:

Uncle Burbs helped Calvin open all his great gifts:
This looks like one all the kids would like:
At least when it's windy you can fly a kite:

'Wordless' Wednesday

It's suppose to be wordless, but quick story of pictures - 4th of July we went to a pig feed potluck at Travis' friend Bob's dad's house (follow that?).  There were a couple of live bands playing and they did fireworks at dark.  We didn't stay for the fireworks, we came home and did our own.

Since I forgot to post pictures from 4th of July:

Pictures from Camping

Here are some more of my favorite pictures from camping at Deadwood last weekend.  

We went with a large group - 19 including our family of 4.  

Cast of Characters:

Grammy Karen and Papa Larry (Travis' mom and step-dad)

Ashleigh, Matt and Tanner (Travis' step-sister, her boyfriend and his son)

Luke, Maria and Dan (aka Chuck) (Travis' step-brother, his girlfriend and their friend)

Jamie, Becky, Payton and McKade (Lanninghams - Brooklyn stayed home with grandparents)

Annie, Stephen and Sophia (Lee - Sophia is Hunter's girlfriends...well one of them anyway)

We didn't get to the campground until around midnight.  Calvin and Hunter hung out by the fire while we got things set up - these pictures were taken at 2 a.m. when they were going to bed:

There were A LOT of mosquitoes so we applied layer after layer of bug spray.  Hunter only wore this hat of Grammy's long enough for me to get a picture:

In addition to the mosquitoes, it was also REALLY dirty:

McKade and Hunter

Payton and McKade brought their BB guns so we all took turns practicing our skills:

Payton showing all the guys how it's done

(Jamie, Travis, Dan, Luke, Larry, McKade, Hunter and Payton)

Hunter and Travis

Sophia and Stephen

Hunter and McKade

Though I didn't get a chance to ride the 4-wheelers at all, everyone else went on a ride or 2, and the 4-wheelers actually got the most action just sitting there while the kids climbed on them and used their imaginations:

Tanner, McKade, Payton and Hunter

Jamie, Calvin, Payton and McKade

(Calvin's first 4-wheeler ride)

Tanner and Hunter

Hunter, McKade and Payton

Sophia

Travis and Hunter

The last day we were there it rained off and on.  We had to build a rain shelter - good thing the Lee's brought their shade canopy thing and Stephen put tarps on 2 of the sides so we could stay somewhat dry:

Me and my little boys

Calvin and I

Sophia and Annie

Sophia and Hunter (who is bending down - he's not that short!)

Hunter in the rain

Some miscellaneous pictures:

Calvin

Hunter and Grammy

Calvin and Grammy