zip zip.

We recently spent a weekend in Couer d'alene for the Miller family reunion. We had so much fun. We camped with some of Ryan's family at his great Uncle Paul's property. It was a kid heaven. Beautiful acreage with a fort, swing set, trampoline, monkey bars, kid cabins and more.

One thing stood out above all the others for Lily. The zipline! At first she was nervous to go, but we assured her she would be alright. She for whatever reason, trusted her daddy, and away she went.

The zipline is pretty high up and you soar over a dry creek bed, making the drop pretty substantial during certain parts. The ladder climbing up the tree is just propped against it. Lily would climb up and, turn around and dive for the handles. It's a good thing she never missed.

at first she was stiff as as a board each time she went, but it didn't take her very long to advance to "wiggling"

 

then "amazing" tricks, and not long after that, it was pretty much all she wanted to do.

early morning or right before bed, she loved it! I am continually amazed at her strength and her abilities. She is one brave little girl, and she trusts her daddy so completely she will do anything he encourages her to do. I sure do love this little girl, and after the initial shock and worry it really was quite fun to watch her.

4th.

finner 4 months - first parade

cannon beach parade

family bbq

swimming

fireworks

flag cake

perfect!

dance recital.

Lily recently participated in her first "real" dance recital. She was so excited to wear make-up and a costume, but I think her favorite part of the whole show was receiving roses. Her grandma sent some to her backstage and we gave her some when the recital was over.



Lily's class started with over 8 girls in it and by the time recital rolled around there were only 3 that were still there (due to moving, loss of jobs etc). They were adorable on stage and so brave to go out there in front of all those people just the three of them.



They danced to April Showers and Golden Afternoon both songs from Alice and Wonderland. I think Lily loved both tap and ballet equally.



I have to say I was highly impressed with the recital as a whole. They had some amazing dancers. There was a "pirates of the caribbean" number that was absolutely spectacular. I can't wait for both girls to be a part of the dance company next year, and to see what kind of incredible show they put together. It was the best three hours of my weekend!

berry picking.

We recently drove out into the country (the farm close to our house was not country enough for Ryan) to do a little strawberry picking with our cousins.

The kids loved it! 

and filled their buckets full..

and felt this sad when we combined their berries into one bucket to pay and go home.

*the drive to the country was totally worth it. The berries tasted like candy and were so inexpensive I couldn't believe it! I wish we'd picked 10x the amount.

a father.

"A fathers love is a quiet thing.. like the fall of footsteps on green grass and the sound of hope in the human heart

Dear Dad,

Thank you. Thank you for a lifetime of incredible memories. Thank you for your kindness. Your never ending love and support. Thank you for your generosity, for your example, your patience. Your quiet confidence in each of your children. For always giving us the benefit of the doubt. For laughing with us, for teaching and guiding us. Thank you for being calm in the face of adversity, for listening and for caring.

Thank you for your love and support of your grandchildren. For playing with them, swimming with them, making sure they have "culture". For thinking they are cute and funny when they are secretly (or not so secretly) kind of annoying. For spending hours as prince eric, or philip, for being a unicorn and a monster, for sharing your diet treats (peanut m&m's and licorice).

Thank you for keeping life fun. Always looking on the bright side. For going along with all our crazy ideas. Supporting them and playing a part in them. Thank you for laughing with us. Treating us to things we wouldn't otherwise be able to be a part of. 

But most of all, Thank you for constantly blessing our lives. There is no one else I'd rather have as my dad. We love you!!

Dear Daddy,

I love you. I want to see you do some nice things for me back from the breakfast we made you. I love you so much, I'll love you forever, I'll like you a lot, as long as I'm living my daddy you'll be. Dad thank you for taking me to disneyland in October. I love you so much. I know that you like blue so I want to make blue for you. I want to go to another ball with you. I love you. goodbye.

Love, Lily



Dear Dad,

Happy Father's Day and I love you. Happy Valentine's day. I like adventures with you and Jesse and storynory and prayers.

Love, Stella

dad,

I can't wait until you teach me to be as stellar of an athlete as you are. I really hope I inherited your amazing good looks and athletic abilities, if I did.. my life will be complete.

love, baby finn.

june '09 beach trip.

We've spent the weekend at the beach. We came for this..

and saw these..

and did this..


and can't wait for the next trip to the beach..

THE END.

soccer wrap-up.

We wrapped up our soccer season with a team party.

the team minus two players who couldn't be there

waiting to run through the sign.

thanks for a great season coaches!

*I realize these pictures are super washed out, but I'm too lazy to upload them to an alternate source and link... so imagine them in their bright, vibrant color. They're much better that way :)