Happy Birthday Brittlynn

A year has come and gone so fast and I can't believe how much you have changed our lives.  You have the sweetest personality that brings a smile to anyone that sees you.  Its hard to be in a bad mood when you are around.  You are very content doing things on you own, which is really nice for  mommy.  You keep your sister occupied and you have brought out the best in Emily.  She really enjoys taking care of you, a lot more than your big sister.  Your hair is finally growing, you won't let me put cute flowers in you hair anymore.  The doctors are a little concerned that you aren't growing fast enough.  You are no longer on any of the charts.  I think you weigh around 15 lbs.  I love you so much.  Life is a little crazy, but we love having you around.   You decided that crawling isn't for you so you decided to scoot across the floor when you need to get some where.  Its the cutest thing to see.  

We got you presents for your special day, but I never got around to making you a cake.  We went to Utah for a baptism so we decided to celebrate your first birthday with some family.  I am so glad that we did.   Grandmere got to be a part of the celebration.  Savannah was so excited for you.  It is clear that you have inherited your mommy's concentration tongue.  I love you and happy birthday.  We hope to have so many more with you.

Happy Father's Day

What a great day to celebrate someone who is so wonderful.  I don't know what I would do with out such an amazing man in my life.  More than that he is an amazing father.  I love how much he puts his family first and how excited he gets just to be a dad.  Father's day has always been a little more difficult for Eric, because his kids are gone.  It has been nice to be able to share his day with 2 of his kids.  Savannah gets so excited to spoil her dad and give him so many things.  Eric has been having a golfing itch since we moved to Colorado.  He didn't golf enough in Texas and he feels like he needs to make up for lost time.  So as his request we adorned him with everything that has to do with golf.  He was so excited to spend his day doing what they love best, spending time with family.

Brittlynn is One

I love taking pictures...especially of my girls...especially on their birthdays.  Looking at these pictures shows her personality so well and I am so grateful that I took them.  Its something you don't get when you take your daughter to get her pictures professionally done.  A flower was a must with a one year old with no hair.  It was hard to keep it in her hair.  I love her and I love her personality.  I can't believe how quickly a year goes by.  She was so little and so full of energy in life.  I love watching her with her big sister.  They are truly grate friends.  

Ring Dance

The end of each year at the Air Force Academy there is a special ceremony that celebrates the graduation of the cadets into becoming a Lieutenant in the Air Force.  Its is an emotional ceremony for most after 4 years of hard work and service.  Part of Eric's job is working with the cadets on a regular bases.  He was asked by a few of them to be the one to give the first salute.  Brittlynn was too little to take for the night and I couldn't leave her with anyone else.  So Daddy took his girls with him.  They got all dressed up for an evening with their daddy.  

The Incline

There is a famous hike here in Colorado Springs that is only 3/4 of a mile but it inclines up 2000 feet.  It is a place that people go to test their physical ability and once you go, you wonder if you will ever go back.  Its a challenge and one that not everyone is willing to take.  We decided to take it on as a family adventure.  I carried Brittlynn on my back.  It was more than I could have imagined.  I wouldn't do it again with the family, but I have and will continue to do it again to test my endurance and ability.  On this trip Alex and Eric were the only ones that made it to the top.  The rest of us bailed at the half way point.  Savannah ended up on daddy's shoulders more than one time.  Eric hurried his way to the top and somehow he managed to make his way down fast enough to catch up with the rest of us.  Alex was the first one up to the top and ran the whole way down.  He only stopped long enough to give me the water he was carrying on his back.  Savannah enjoyed going down a little to much she had to explore every rock and tree around every corner.  It was my way of trying to keep her moving.  I am hoping that we can continue to do thing like this as a family.  Perhaps some way we can keep our family together.