Dear Dad,

Happy 73rd Birthday Dad!

I wish I could be with you to celebrate today, but since that is obviously not happening, I've settled with reminiscing instead. 

I've been thinking about my favorite memories with you.
I loved the summers we drove to Oregon to visit Grandpa Roy & Aunt Jean 

At every stop I'd jump out & buy a couple Pepsis' from the pop machine. Mom didn't let me have caffeine at home, so I made sure to 

get my fill while on your watch :) 

I loved collecting eggs with you & grandpa & then going to look at all the rabbits & catching frogs out of the watering trough with Cole. 

I remember their crocheted chicken that would "poop" jelly beans. 

Every visit I was hopeful & then immediately let down when I realized the whole thing was still just full of black jelly beans. 

I also love the times we went to stay with you in Battle Mountain. 
I remember when you bought a new computer & I was so excited to show you how to use it & download music. 

My very favorite memory, was when you surprised me by showing up to my 6th grade graduation after you told me you wouldn't be able to make it. I was so happy to see you out in the audience. I have a picture of us together from the day somewhere... 

That was back when you still had hair on top ;)

Speaking of surprises... remember when we surprised you twice in one weekend for Father's Day & to celebrate your 70th birthday? 

I took great pleasure in making your old man self cry.

Thank you for your example of hard work. Even now, at 73, you work harder than most people I know. 

Thank you for the legacy you have created for our family. 

I look forward to the day I can tell the boys all the stories I have heard about your rodeo days. 

Brooke gave Campbell the book "Cowboy Small" before he was born. 

In it she wrote...

"Cowboys are tough & brave. They don't let being scared stop them from doing what needs to be done. If a cowboy falls down he jumps right back up and tries again. They work hard and are not afraid of getting dirty."

Sounds just like you huh!?

Campbell & Emerson have the dirty part down. 

I hope they will be tough, hard working boys, just like their Papa Bill.

I love you dad!

I wish you a very happy day.

-Ivory

Adventures in Baby Food

While I was pregnant with Campbell, I knew I would make his baby food when it came time. 

Not only to save a little moo-la. I figured I might as well since I would be staying at home 

with my little guy all day with nothing to do. 

So the time came, I whipped out some pretty delicious pureed goodness 

& began stalking up my freezer. 

Fast forward 2 months. 

Campbell & I flew to Phoenix to visit family. 

I didn't want to mess with taking my frozen stock, nor with making any while I was there, 

so I just decided to buy some (not as awesome) organic baby food when we got there. 

I thought Cam loved food before. 

Well, he showed me just how much he liked the other stuff better. 

And then it happened... I felt the little dagger pierce straight into my super mom heart. 

And that was the end of me making baby food. 

We didn't even finish using what was already stored in the freezer.

My first mom moment... & he crushed it. 

I picked up my broken little heart, dusted it off & moved on. 

My next big idea. Just blend a small portion of whatever we eat in the bullet for him. 

He loved it & it forced Chris & I to be more health conscious.

Win, win!

We move on to real solids, 

Cam is feeding himself, 

he loves it even more.... the rest is history. 

Fast forward again.

Im pregnant with Emerson & know for certain I am not going to wast any time making baby food. 

We start with rice cereal, he likes it.

We move onto fruits & veggies... he loves it sometimes & then wont even open his mouth the next. 

Combined with a busy mom of a 2 year old who, lets be honest, 

wasn't really making the time to spoon feed him as often as she should... 

not much progress is being made. 

Then it hits me. My best & greatest idea to date...

I'll just give him small soft pieces of what we eat. 

Bad idea. Little fingers cant grab little slippery foods. 

Revised... give him big soft pieces of what we eat.  

You tell me if you think he likes it...

You should hear the moans of satisfaction that escape his chubby jowls while he scarfs down. 

He has never loved me so much :)

He is a gumming master already & it hasn't been a week.

Now before his grandma's worry about him choking, 

I would like to say that he hasn't even so much as gagged even one time. 

He is developmentally capable of stuffing his little face with just the right amount of food

...I've done some research just to make sure.

 

Along with that research I learned this is actually a real method. 

I'm not the only genius out there. Dang. 

It's called Baby Led Weaning. 

Genius I tell you! Even Campbell thinks so. 

It again, is forcing me to choose healthier meal plans for our family. 

I can say with confidence that we will go straight into Baby Led Weaning 

when the next little Mack-let joins our clan.

Calm down, I'm not pregnant... I just like to have a plan :)

*****

So far he has eaten:

Whole grain bread (slightly toasted, so it doesn't stick to the roof of his mouth. 

This morning I spread a little apple sauce on top. The ideas just keep coming.) 

Cheese (cut into small, thick chunks)

Steamed & speared, sweet potato, apple & carrots

Black beans

Avocado, Banana & Peach spears.

(When the banana starts to get too slipper to hold, I roll it in crushed whole grain cereal. 

I think I'll try that with the peaches next time too... maybe brown rice for the avocado?)

Happy eating!

30

As you know, my main squeeze turned 30 last week. 

He said he is happier than ever & feels good too!

It's a total coincidence that he woke up with an achy knee... or is it?!

A week or so before the big day, I asked friends & family to send me their favorite memory of Chris.

I typed them up, printed them out & attached them to balloons 

for him to find when he got home from work.

Lucky for him, he came home early. 

He would have been pretty embarrassed if everyone was here to see him cry.

More embarrassed than he will be to read that I just put that out there for everyone to see ;)

After a small sobfest, his family arrived for dinner & gifts

followed by a baptism in the back yard. 

That's right, Chris got baptized on his 30th birthday.

I'll let him tell you more about that :)

Since then, I thought I would ask Chris what his favorite memories are 

& then post the corresponding memory from family members. 

I have learned he is really obsessed with his kids :)

I actually texted him that he needed a life other than me & the kids. 

He replied "you are my life"

That will either make you say "aw" & smile 

or make you want to gag. 

It makes me smile.

So... his favorite memory of all time (as it should be) is our wedding day.
Both of them, I hope.

"April 11, 2006, I remember getting dressed in the Henry’s basement with my mom. 

I was nervous & excited. It was all happening much faster than we had planned due to a little 

health scare. I was ready. My mom & I began up the stairs to meet everyone that was 

waiting for the show to begin. I peeked around the corner & saw you standing at the “alter” 

with Papa & pretty much lost it. I was so anxious & excited to marry you & become yours forever, 

but also had a million things running through my head. I pulled myself together & began 

walking to you. I remember the look on your face well. You still look at me that same way & when you do, 

I know you are really happy. Thank you for stepping up to the plate 4 months early. 

I am glad we will always have those extra four months together. "

-Me

"On April 11, 2006, I was blessed to be able to attend your first wedding at Kathy & Blake's house, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ivory looked so beautiful, and I'll never forget the look of love on your face Chris as you looked at her before and during and after the ceremony. I thought to myself, "Ivory is a very blessed woman to have such a magnificent man as her husband. He is not only handsome, but sensitive, and isn't afraid to cry. Ivory is in good hands. Thank you God."

-Polly

#2 & #3 are a tie between February 25, 2011 & August 26, 2012

The days our boys were born. 

"My first memory with you is the day I was born. I remember being so excited 

to finally come out & meet the world I couldn’t help but cry. I

t was a good, happy cry. Everyone left the room for a 

little while so you and mom could be alone with me for a minute. 

That’s when you guys named me Campbell. Thanks for not naming me Emerson. 

That would have really been awkward when my little brother 

Emerson was born. "

-Cam

"One of my very favorite memories is the day we became a family of four. 

I love that we decided to just have the 2 of us in the room while Emerson was being 

born. I also love that Campbell was able to come in and meet his brand new 

baby brother before anyone else. That moment while the four of us sat on my hospital bed, 

introducing our boys to each other is one I will never forget & will always be thankful for. 

My heart was so full & happy. I am grateful to have had you there by my side & 

to share this awesome life with you for the rest of our lives. "

-Me

The others don't have stories to go along with them. 

They range from finding out I was pregnant, to trips we have taken, 

to characters we have dressed up as, to milestones the boys have reached. 

I know he would agree that his first 30 years have been pretty crazy good. 

He & I both are excited to see what the next 30 have for us. 

I foresee lots of awesomeness. 

iPhone Purge

Something I need to do a little more of!

Look at little Campbell in the top left corner.

That was taken just days before I had Emerson. 

He is so little. 

These boys of mine, rock my world!

Last Bath

The first of this month we moved out of our first little house,

which made me all melancholy & sentimental. 

It's a good change. 

Necessary for our next step... 

that we aren't quite sure of, but will surly know in time. 

Anyway... in the middle of the hustle & bustle er... boxes & bubble wrap,

I tried to document a few of our "lasts".

So without further adieu, 

here are the boys taking their last bath in their first bath. 

Lots of fun memories were made in this little tub. 

Like this...

 this...

 this...

 this...

 oh yes, & this...

On to bigger & better... hopefully with jacuzzi jets ;)

Easter | 2013

Now that we finally have internet again, I can finally show you all 

(by ALL I mean the 2 people other than Chris & myself that actually read this baby) 

how cute my little nuggets were in their matching ties. 

The ties that were suppose to be bow ties.

They ended up being obnoxiously long & looked sloppy, but whatever.

I know who not to order from next time. 

I told ya. Freakin cute!

The picture below gives you a pretty good idea of how the morning went. 

Cheeks & hands full of candy at all times. 

That is when Minnie & Daisy weren't being forced to kiss each other. 

The obsession has only intensified since I last mentioned them.

This was pretty early so he didn't have any chocolate running down his chin yet. 

 I joined Campbell in bingeing on candy for breakfast. 

It was heavenly after going 40 whole days without a single piece. 

Well... maybe I accidentally ate 2 pieces. 

Both times truly were unintentional! Cross my heart :)

I won't be giving up candy or speeding for Lent again, anytime soon. 

After digging into their baskets, Campbell hunted for eggs in Emerson's (almost) empty bedroom. 

Inside because it had rained the whole night before

& an empty room because we were moving the day after Easter. 

Cam pretty much loved it. 

He just so happened to have an obsession with eggs so it was perfect. 

I now realize we took not one single picture, but recorded the whole thing instead. 

Oops!

Next, Barry met us for church & then we were off to Nene's for lunch & more hunting. 

More cuteness so get ready...

It was a pretty perfect day!

Ok, one more.

Who doesn't love a photo bomb?

Dear Crystal-

30 years ago, you were giving birth to your first born.

A perfect little red headed nugget. 

A son. Christopher Michael.

Thank you for bringing such a blessing into the world.

He is a great man, husband, father & friend... in large part due to you. 

You raised him well.

Thank you for keeping him close to Papa & bringing Barry into his life, when his own father lived so far away. 

Good male role models are important for young boys. 

He certainly had strong ones to teach, influence & guide him, near & far. 

Thank you for teaching him to love the Lord.

A love that would ultimately guide his life... & mine.

Thank you for loving him with your whole heart & always being his biggest cheerleader.

Even when it meant being the crazy loud mom,

searching for him in the middle of the night when you knew he was up to no good,

or breaking blood vessels in your hand. 

Thank you for letting me make him mine. 

I love April 13th.

I love that  we get to celebrate him. 

I love him!

I really do love him, with my whole heart. 

-Ivory