A little something from the B...

1 hour and 29 years ago I was handed the most perfect gift. I had wanted a girl, been expecting a boy and after an all night labor had gotten to the point that I didn't care what I had...just have it!! Then this sweet little bundle (in our family there is always a bundle) was placed in my arms and life has never been the same. I had an idea of just what I hoped my daughter would become. I wanted her to have a good sense of self, but care about others. I hoped she would have a strong work ethic but could balance that out with a playful nature. I wanted her to push herself and try new things but to be careful. I hoped she would have a hint of spunkiness but temper that with caring for others. I wanted her to someday be able to receive half the joy she has given me by being my dear little Megalina. Megs my dream for you certainly has come true. It has given me unbelievable pleasure watching you create your own little dream. Happy Birthday to my "equally tied" most favorite present.

I'll love you forever, mom

Here we go again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEPS! Yes, another birthday. And today it's a wish to my dear cousin Pia. I love you because we slummed the streets of Frontier Heights together. You always let me pal along to Sunnyside's carnival without much fuss. We were ragamuffins at the Woodland Park Zoo together. We spent every October in the back of that dirty old station wagon heading to the Great Pumpkin Patch, only to get in fights over the best pumpkins (Kip usually winning). So many memories with you Peeps. You running inside to tell your mom that Cari and I were sinking in quicksand. You tattling on Cari and I when we made fun of your training bras and wore them around the house. You screaming for us to "RUN KIDS RUN" when a nice old man said Hi to us at the park. I could go on forever. I am so happy that you a part of all my favorite memories and so glad that we're cousins that got to grow up together. I love ya a whole lot and can't wait for Hads and Maddie to have the same stories with eachother and your China baby. Happy Day Pia Irene, we think you're great!

XOXO

Meg

Happy B-Day Big Bro!

Kipper, happy birthday to you!!! I know you'll never see this, since you're anti-blog and all, but thought I'd post it anyway (since I know your nice wife will pass it along). I love you very much and thank you for being such a great bro...thanks for the "typewriter" torture, thanks for the loogies that stopped just moments before they hit my face, thanks for the "one up, two down" hair pull, thanks for the charlie horses, and thanks most of all for beating up T. Cline when him and Chuck threw a pinecone/rock at my head. You've always been there when I needed you and made me tough along the way. I think you are such an amazing daddy and it's been so fun to see you wear that hat. You wear it well! Madeline is a lucky, lucky little gal and I'll remind her of this when she hates you for ALWAYS embarassing her with your loud stories, the way you dress and the wet-willies you'll give her in public. And Hads thinks you're a pretty great uncle too. Thanks for always being so excited when you see her, it means the world to us. We love you and wish you a hap, hap, happy day. You old fucker.

XOXO

Meg, Ry, Hads, and Rudy

No fighting, no biting.

This video is a tad longer than it needs to be, so feel free to stop it about 28 seconds in;). And if you can't tell, it's Hadley and Rudy "playing" on the floor together. Enjoy the chirps of our bratty little gal.

Practice playdate?

Sarah stopped by after her dentist appointment yesterday (she was that desperate not to go back to work:)). The girls were thrilled because she shared her lunch.
Hads with a fry, I can hear the plaque building on her little arteries as I type.
Enjoying their lunch date.
Sarah getting practice at this whole mom thing. However, both girls maybe have been a tad overwhelming.
Cute little threesome.

Jailbird.

Get me outta here! Actually she "stood" like this for quite awhile thanks to the entertainment of Rudy and Lauren.

Just like her Mama.

I
Lauren insisted on using the safety straps in Hadley's highchair as soon as she sat down. Val would be so proud.

Two little goofballs.

This great weather's making everyone silly.

Cooking with Zaide.

This last picture makes me smile every time.

Four eyes.

Is she too young for Lasik surgery?

Dinner with the Greats.

GG Shirley and her clone reading a book.
Grams with the babies. There is NO shortage of toys at this house. I think my Grandma still has every single toy in pristine condition since my dad was a kid.
Naked Hads and Auntie Lis enjoying some cuddle time.
The girls learning to share and sit on a chair way up in the air. Neither an easy task.
Cute little Madeline with some crazy hair.

The party.

Pretty Princess Tate waiting for the guests to arrive. She tried to fit into her party dress that she's been wearing since she was 2, but said it was a little tight in the arms.
The babies stuck on the floor.
Tate and her posse.
Aunt Sue with Maddie and Loggie. Look at Madeline's adorable teeny tiny pigtails.
Lootie and Hads sharing a laugh.

Daddy babysitting.

Oh this is safe. Could she BE any closer to the edge?
The perfect spot for Dad to set her while he turns his back and cleans his bike.
"Hey, anybody wanna see me flip this puppy out of park and roll down the driveway?"

I can't believe she's a full hand.

You've always had the best hair, even when you rocked the baby mullet. And the fact that you still fit into this Lowdie knit dress makes me smile.
And your sense of style...

...well it just gets better with age.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TATER TOT!!! I remember it like it was yesterday. Your grammy was helping us with our new house and got pulled away because your Mama was having you...early! We started to run around in a panic with lots of nervous excitement. We had all been wanting you for so long! You were the most gorgeous baby I'd ever seen and I loved you from the instant I met you at the hospital...although I was too nervous to hold you, you were SO teeny. You are such a fun, spunky, smart little gal. You're the best kisser/hugger in all the land and a top notch big sis. Happy day to the fanciest five year old we know. We love you Nini!

Ready for Spring.

We saw a hint of sun this morning, so out come the short sleeves and cuffed jeans.
Just wanted you to see her in ALL her roundness. What a little chunk!
Too cool for school.

Playtime.

Hads playing with her favorite toys.
Why do we even bother with the fancy smance stuff?
This is our new lazy way of crawling. She just scoots along on her little bottom, and now we scream bloody murder if we accidently get on our tummy. Go figure.
Rudy and Hads having a moment.
Even though she can't quite pull her self up, she no longer does the iron cross and will actually let us prop her up on stuff. She's so proud that her legs work.

Good Boy!

RUUUUUUDY, turned 5 years old!!! Happy Birthday to him! Seems like just yesterday we saved him from the Bellevue Humane Society, where he promptly puked on Ryan during the car ride home...twice. We love you buddy, even though it may not seem like it anymore.

Thanks!

Mom and Pop thanks for a great weekend at the cabin again!

Yikes.

We went hiking and saw a real-life avalanche blocking the trail.
Luckily we had the Avalanche Wiz Kid with us and she was able to explain everything....thanks to her two hour tutorial at REI.
It was crazy to see all the huge trees the snow took out.
Hads was unimpressed.