Your Friendly Neighborhood Firefighter

...Of course we all had to get a picture with our new favorite firefighter!

This blog post is in honor of my super awesome brother who just became a super awesome firefighter!  ...Seriously guys, my brother is cooler than yours...  Ponder it, accept it, and let's move on.  Pair him with his wife, Ashley, who is going to nursing school, and you've got the poster of public service right there!  Man alive!  Way to make the rest of us look bad!

Cameron is going to fight wildland fires this summer and Ashley has a year of nursing school left.  Next on the list is to find a firehouse (is that what you call it?) for this guy to settle in to.  Any firehouse would be lucky to have him because he ALSO happens to be one of the best cooks I know!  True story - He told me that one of the other firefighters on shift once tried to put a head of iceberg lettuce in the crockpot!  Luckily, Cameron was nearby to help diffuse THAT emergency situation!  So if you hear of any job openings, you know who to call up.  Let's be honest, in the event of an emergency, you want THIS guy busting your door down, right?

Miss Lily Laws

Guys....just look at this face!  Is she not the cutest thing ever?  I had to slap a bajillion pictures up here because I just can't get enough of her!  Miss Lily may not crack a smile for the camera very often, but she can strike a mean vogue pose.  The flair...the focus...the thigh rolls!  I love it all.  Although, all that focus might have been a result of sugary bribery.  We may or may not have chucked sixlets in the bottom of that bucket.  Hey, whatever works, right?

On another note...today we hit a total of 1,000+ page views!  That may not be a huge number in the blogging world, but it sure makes me feel like keeping this thing going.  Thanks for the support, and stick around for some more gems coming your way!

Pie and Sunshine

Well, we've finally returned from our month long vacation in Oregon.  Our visit with family and friends was the greatest!  It was packed full of pool days, play dates, family celebrations, and last but certainly not least....pie.  Yes, we definitely loaded up on some amazing pies.  Cheeks even got her first taste, and second, and third.  I think it's safe to say that Willamette Valley Fruit Co. has another adoring fan!

We're a little sad to be back in Utah.  Mostly because that means it's time to face reality...and the reality is that it's already really hot here! Ugh!  That also means that I have to start packing because we live too far away from Ben's work.  Oh yeah, and we have to find a place to live...just a minor detail!  

So, goodbye for now, Oregon!  We may just have to return to see you in August for the little one's birthday!

Family Picture Pandemonium

With all of our crazy busy schedules these last couple years, it has literally been impossible for all of us to be together at the same place and the same time.  Last week we were finally able to rectify that!  So, of course, we had to document the moment with a family picture!  You never know when the next opportunity might be.  It's been awhile since our last family picture...and when I say awhile, I mean three family additions and two more high school graduates, awhile!  Yeeeah, our last picture was 8 years ago.

Finding a photographer for the one day we were able to do this shindig was proving to be a challenge.  So naturally, I offered my services.  After all, how hard can it be to snap a group picture that you also have to be in?  Yeah, I can hear every photographer in the entire world laughing at me right now.  Ha!  The answer is: not that hard....as long as you're okay with, a) a screaming baby, b) 2-4 people sneezing, blinking, or talking, c) the backs of 1-2 heads, or d) all of the above.  Otherwise...not so easy!  I was playing photographer, while simultaneously performing mom duties for the baby that was screaming for no apparent reason, and trying to make sure I was included in the picture!  Forget getting myself ready for the picture...I'm just lucky I even got eyeliner on both of dem eye bawls!  Needless to say, I learned my lesson!

All in all, I'd say the pictures turned out pretty decent, given the circumstances!