Happy Birthday to Me!

I can't believe I'm 30!! For my birthday Brett surprised me with some old momentos and then we went out to breakfast at my favorite place: The Maltby Cafe!! So yummy!!! We finished off the morning with a fun trip to the school to ride bikes and play at the playground! I love being with my family, they are just the BEST! Brett put together "some things we have collected through our years." I thought it was kinda a cute idea. My favorite shorts are in this pile, I don't know if you can see them that well, but I loved them! Again, my camera's falsh doesn't work, so unless we're outside, this is what the pictures look like! My girls are so cute coloring while we wait for our food! I ordered the California Eggs Benedict. So yummy!!! Outside the cafe with my angels. They can seriously cheer you up at any time. I love them so much!! Brett and I looking kind of silly, but I love that man!

Unforgettable

I was looking through my scrapbook the other day and found these cute photos of Chewie starting from when he was a baby til older. You can tell how he was really part of our family. What a sweetie! Yes, he even had a girlfriend: Cassie! We love you so much Chewie!!! (I was pregnant with Rachel here...crazy!!)

The girls and I did some late Mother's Day photos and this is how they turned out. Yes,I know I looked retarded, literally!! But the girls look cute!

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!

Rachel was so excited to bring daddy breakfast in bed!! We made him his favorite: hootenannies, sausage and orange juice! Then he came downstairs to open cards and presents. My camera is being a stinker...the flash isn't working so this is what happens. This should justify me spending $600 on a new camera, right? right? :):):) Brett and his girls! Brett's yummy breakfast. I know it doesn't look that good, but it is yummy! Brett's card from Rachel. So cute! Rachel was so proud of herself:) What a sweetheart! Brett's present: a much needed shop vac and a pair of shorts that Rachel picked out so he could look handsome:) Unfortunately his day ended there. he has to work after church and so there was no big dinner celebration, but we love you daddy!! You are the best! And, yes Camille, he's wearing a Fox shirt!

Good-Bye

As many of you know, we lost an important member of our family Wednesday night. Chewie has been with us for eight years and has literally been the best dog imaginable! He's always been loving and tender with the girls. He was always there when we needed him and he knew just the right moment to come lick our faces or to just snuggle. A week ago he started having some problems with anemia and a low blood platelet count. The vet put him on steroids and sent him home. Wednesday he wouldn't eat, drink and he could hardly move. Brett took him to the vet to see what was wrong. After some x-rays we found out he had cancer on his liver, spleen, stomach and intestines. The surgery would only give us a few months to a year and the quality of life would not be good. We made the hardest decision possible. We had to put him down. We brought him home for one last night of snuggles and love. After snapping a few photos we realized he probably wouldn't make it through the night. He was breathing so hard and wasn't able to stand. HE got worse so fast, our hearts were hurting for him. We took him in that night while the kids went to bed. Five seconds after the doctor injected him, he was gone. He was surely ready to go and I know he is doing awesome now, I just miss him more than anything! Here's the photos of Wednesday night, the poor guy! We love you for always Chewie! good-bye

Fun, Fun!

We are enjoying the sun wwwwaaayyyy toooo much!! Brett takes the kids for wagon rides and they absolutely love it! Jordan likes to push from behind, he thinks he's helping! I just love this picture of Jayden. She is very independent and will just play by herself if no one else is interested. I took quite a few of her on the bench, but I like this one the best! My modeling Rachel! She looks so grown up here! Jayden, not so much of the modeling yet...but I can put her hair in a full ponytail!!! She is growing way toooo fast! It took about 30 shots to get this one and it's not even that good. If only Jayden was in a better mood! We're scheduled to get pictures taken on Wednesday, so hopefully those will turn out better.

Rachel Graduates Preschool!

I can't believe Rachel is done with preschool! Her teacher is amazing and we are going to miss her sooo much! For graduation the kids meet at the park, play and then graduate! Play first... Graduate Later! Before the actual ceremony the kids played a popcorn song with the parachute. They were in heaven! Next they sang a song that I learned in girls camp. Can you guess what it is? Time for the ceremony...doesn't Rachel look a little large here? Rachel and Mrs. Snyder This was Mrs. Snyder's last year teaching. She has been doing so for 19 years! A few parents planned a surprise celebration after the ceremony. She said, "that was a sneaky surprise!" I love her! Each parent participated in making a scrapbook page to go in a special album for her. It was amazing and she couldn't stop looking at it. It was exciting to see students she had taught 19 years ago and their families. There were over 100 people there to wish her a happy retirement. We'll miss you Mrs. Snyder! Ashlyn, Rachel, Kennedy and Preston! Pigging out on only the sweet treats! Rachel, Mrs. Snyder and her best friend Julia! Jayden being her cute little self! Our happy family!