one: part two

Dear Kiley,

For your first birthday we gave you some toys you'll soon forget about. But more importantly, we spent a lot of time with you, showered you with love, hugs and kisses, and had all your friends and family over for a super fun party. I hope these blog posts will someday mean more to you than any party or gift, or piece of paper with dollar signs on it. You certainly don't appreciate it now, but hopefully someday you'll recognize the value in me sharing your personality in pictures with the web.

You have blossomed into quite the young lady. Your dad and I were trying to think of the right word to describe you... grumpy? No. Independent? Not quite. Sassy? Getting close... You certainly are vocal about getting what you want, particularly when it comes to food and things Jaxon has. Otherwise you are generally the cutest, brightest spot of the day with a smile that lights up the room, melts hearts, and makes people want to bite you (grandma walker in particular).

I find myself just watching you... you're catching on to things now and starting to tease your brother quite a bit, playing peekabo on your own, working on standing all by yourself, walking with toys or along furniture, climbing up all the stairs, hiding in my clothes in the closet with a very mischevious grin, saying 'nigh nigh' and 'yum yum'. You can eat a whole cheeseburger from McDonald's all on your own- we now have to buy another meal when we go out instead of sharing because well, you just eat a lot. You are so desperate to be able to run around and play, go down the slides at the park, play catch, and do all the things the other kids are doing. Sometimes it leaves some nasty scrapes and gashes on your forehead right before a big party weekend and family pictures. I think you're going to be a handful someday...

But for now, I'm just going to stare at you and soak you up. Take way too many pictures of you, and give you some big squeezes just to make you giggle. Listen to the silence as you eat (because you eat so much!). And enjoy your constant wonder at how things work. You are such a sweet little girl. I can't wait to get to know you even more. We love you. Happy 1st birthday.

Mom and Dad

Enjoy these pictures from your party!

Checking out the monkey hand puppet from Carol and Jeri.

Am I supposed to laugh? 

 What else is in here? Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa Walker.

 Before everyone got there on Sunday for the birthday party, Jaxon and Zoe took a spin in the driveway. Neither of them is a very good driver.

I can't wait to show them how to drive...

 Mmmm... Can't beleive mom worked so hard on these! Oh wait, that's right, she bought them. And they were good.

Showing everyone how you topple mountains at the water table.

And in the third outfit of the day... we did the Chinese tradition of having Kiley pick something on the tray. Each item represents her future somehow (calculater= smart, pen= writer/creative type, candy= like to eat/ foodie, toy= like to goof off, money= wealthy).

She picked the pen! Atta girl!

Then she picked that little piece of wrapping paper...

 And a cupcake to top it all off.

Approved.

 Double approval.

one

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

 You've gone from this...

 to this....

What a difference a year makes...

We love you Kiley and can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend!

happy father's day

A father's day message to the best husband around, who is such an amazing dad to his two kids. Hope you enjoyed your day on the greens. You deserve it. Though we missed you at Costco and could have used your threatening voice at bedtime.

And to my dad, happy father's day. I did not make you a video, but if I had, it would have said 'I love you dad. Thanks for all the yummy meals (often planned months in advance), the beers on the patio, and the neverending words of wisdom, love and support you always provide. You're an amazing dad. I am so lucky.'

The Loot

What does $500 buy you in Milwaukee in June? Only the prettiest, most charming, lovely little things called beads! I know I really shouldn't admit that I actually spend that much on something that can fit into the small side of my purse. But honestly, when you consider that some people spend that much on a wallet or a purse, or other silly things (golf clubs, boats, or tv's also fit into this category), then it doesn't matter so much.

They do after all, make me happy.

This weekend marked my mom and I's sixth year attending bead shows (we think, after a lot of really poor math and bad memories).

And we made it back to where it all began...Bead & Button in Milwaukee. We were much wiser than our first show (when we were calling our husbands three hours into the show, wondering how we go about getting some more money). We decided not to take any classes this year, having just been to the Weekend with the WireMasters in October. We also opted to stay in Brookfield and drive. And we made our own lunches- PB&J.

It was great. More time with each other, and more money for what else? Beads!

This years' loot boasted an obsession with rings and things...lots of color, but largely in the green and blue tones, and more copper findings and chain. With the price of silver being ridiculous, we tried to stay away from most of that. Though I did find myself splurging on a few charms and some chain, but I justified it with the fact that they were actually on my shopping list. 

Yes, we do make shopping lists. Albeit mine had about four very general things on it...and I pretty much forgot what was on it as soon as I saw some of these pretties. The photos don't really do them justice- you have to roll 'em around in your hand, look at 'em under a task light, and hear the clink clink as they jumble together. They'll make a great necklace. Or bracelet. Or something!

Here's those lovely little charms. Won't they be great in a necklace with a nice little briolette or a hand-stamped word dandle and a cute little bead from my stash?

At the end of the show, or actually around 5pm when we ran out of money, we stopped down at the classroom of one of our favorite teachers, Tracy Stanley. She was finishing up and we just thought we'd 'shop' a little more. She always has the best stuff. So I couldn't resist this beautiful bracelet she had made. Oh darn, went over my budget... good thing I had a reserve $100 in my head!

And so, until next year...(or November honey if you're reading this) time to play with The Loot.

Thanks mom for a fun weekend and for being my navigator (even if we did get lost just a few times).

reunion

It's amazing how quickly time goes and how fast the kids grow up. We went to a daycare reunion party this afternoon and saw some of our friends from 'Narlene's'. On our way there, Jaxon was so excited to see his friends Lily and Vance and Michael--crazy that I hardly even recognized them when we got there! My how they've grown!

And it was a little less than a year ago that we were at Darlene's with Kiley- one of her first backyard BBQ's. She was only a couple months old then. Now she is so big and eating her own cake. Yes, I know you are supposed to give them their first cake on their birthdays, but she is already a highly experienced cake eater. And she's not even from Edina. Well, I guess technically she is since she was born there. But I digress.

I thought Jaxon would be shy when we got there, not having seen his friends in such a long time. But he was same old Jaxon doing his 'ooh yeah's and putting on show. Always talking...' Reminds me of someone I know.

Kiley thouroughly enjoyed the swing. I realized when I got home too, that my camera really has a knack for focusing only on my kids...sorry everyone else--I hope you took your own pictures ;-)

Well, I got this one, of some of the kids eating dinner. Er, cake. Yes, our son ate cake for dinner. And mini donuts for lunch. So what?

It was really fun seeing everyone and what a perfect day for it!