"8"

So my little miss is officially 8 years old. Its time for a little Audrey love-fest!

It was a very festive week in our house and she proclaimed it was the "best birthday of her life". Cue giddy girl bouncing around house in state of bliss most of the week. I mean, honestly, any day that starts off with M & M's for breakfast has got to be good!

If you don't mind, I must start by strolling down memory lane for a second. This girl.....born an old soul....loving, intuitive, kind, smart, creative, not afraid to speak her mind (which I appreciate most of the time)! So stinkin' cute!



And just as a sidenote as she reads back on this some day, I asked her again on her birthday how she would describe herself in three words. Her response......"smart, kind and fashionable". Audrey - I would have to agree!

I would add "self-aware"!

Your spirit never ceases to amaze me. I just love the multi-faceted you!



I got a little inspired after she went to bed birthday-eve to give her a little surprise to wake up to!
We have a birthday tradition in our house that mama decorates your door after you go to sleep.
I obviously got a little carried away!


Audrey has become quite a lover of all things swim the past year so of course she chose a pool party!!
I think they enjoyed themselves !


Initially, she wanted this party to be "girls only"
But she was swiftly reminded that she has a brother who was not about to be left out!
And then I advised her of something that she'll hopefully remember as they grow up......
"if you invite a friend for Nate, he will leave you alone"....
"if you don't - watch out".

I think she chose wisely. 
He and his little buddy 150% enjoyed themselves. 
Oh, little brothers!


GIRL POWER!

Happy 8th Birthday sweet pea!
We adore you!
And yes, I realize that you are 1/2 way to your driver's license. 
Thanks for the reminder! 

And this little guy equally enjoyed celebrating every second of his big sister's occasion. 
Honestly, his eyes. How does one resist?

Nate - you are so lucky to have Audrey. 
You two were SO meant to be siblings!


Hope you have a great weekend!

-Stacy (mother of an 8 year old girl who is 1/2 way to her driver's license, and a 5 year old boy who has proclaimed he's closer to 5 1/2 which means he's starting Kindergarten soon).

Bren Family

Little people.

Never a dull moment!

I adore this family of four!

Watching them become parents has been fun! They are the sweetest and a great team!

Two under 20 months......I was sweatin' after this one!! Kidding - well not really - I was! But seriously - some of these are just TOTAL classics!

The days are the long and the years fly by! Its so true and I'm so glad we caught this moment for them!

This has got to be one of my all time favorite pictures. There are so many potential captions for this....but really, Andy, you are just loved and the father of two girls under 2! Its a classic and it should be somewhere big in your house. Pretty much sums up this time of life, right?!


And yes, I'm taking your picture again!
Your expression is hysterical!  


And boy does she love her sis....




And she so loves her daddy!



And this little one - holy smokes - so precious! And clearly loved!



These pretty much sum the Bren's up at the moment!
I love these so much!

                






Teeny cries.....



Is this a toddler big sister or what?!?!


 Such curiosity!



Love! The foundation is laid!
















         













I loved my time with you four, per usual.

So grateful for you.

Love,

Auntie Stacy

Cabin Fun

Well hello March - I cannot believe you have arrived already! 

As you have probably guessed from my last few posts full of helmets, fields, creeks, skiing and outdoor recreational vehicles we have been spending some good, quality time out at our cabin lately!
Lazy days, family time, quad riding and dirtbike mayhem. That's right...I used the word mayhem. 
My 5 year old is crazy on it and every other little person (or big person for that matter) that hops on seems to become instantly obsessed. 

It sure makes for some good blogging!

This past weekend we had some fun out there!

This look here....this is the look of a small boy discovering the love of the ATV! 
Oh yes, and his dad seems to be enjoying the process as well! 


And please don't EVER underestimate the girls and their equal craze for the great outdoors! 






Eric clearly enjoyed his time with his kiddos....as it should be! 





Love these two! 


 So I looked at this picture and thought, "Classic...this will be in his wedding slideshow".

But then I thought, 
"Wait - by the time he gets married I'll have about 300 shots just like it across varying ages"

The boy digs his dirtbike! 


And finally - its his turn. 
Dad gives him some quick advice and he is unleashed...
I really wish I had a shot of his mom as he took off....hands covering eyes! 
But he did great!


Clearly the beast is unleashed!


Yes, that's mom chasing him down! 

 All the ladies had a blast! 






There is something about this place....
It just brings out a whole new kind of fun! 


And here is our sweet Theo. 
As you know if you read this blog, he recently lost his big sister. 
He's healing...slowly.
He's relaxed out here.
He feels happy and has fun and feels at peace. 
Really, we all do!


And if you don't know, I, at age 39, became a skier this year. 
Wait, I'm becoming a skier. 
Ok, I'm learning. 
And improving. 
We had fun this weekend. 
I love hanging with this crew! 



Happy first week of March!

-Stacy