3 Cheers.

Cheers to the "flag blue and white."

Cheers to another Tehachapi 4th of July!!

Hip, hip, hooray for small town parades!

White fire engines hold a special place in our parade hearts.

Cheers to being with Cait on Independence Day for like the 3rd year in a row!

(Don't quote me. I didn't do my research on that one.)

Boo on the lifeguard float and their water guns.

Sorry Bennett, apparently being a little baby didn't help our case like we thought it would.

Squirted you right in the face. Dummies. 

He loves his Papa. 

Proud American parade junkies.

Como te llama?

Cheers to sleepy babies that sleep during festivals.

Tehachapi was the perfect place to celebrate this year

 because we were invited to Kyle's fire station for the first time!

Proud. So very proud.

Cheers to another memorable 4th of July.

Boom boom boom. Boom. Boom.

June Going-Ons.

Oh sweet summer. You were so great to us.

Let's just take a looksy at what was going on 

while the memories, and heat, still linger...

There was that one week we were way over 100 degress...

We pulled down the blinds and locked ourselves inside.

Brothers bonded over Dinosaur Train.

And probably hair product.

Graham and Kyle met Uncle Zach for a birthday present Dodger game.

Handsome smiles, even when the stands were empty...and the boys were 13 games back.

(Take note: Emphasis on WERE)

One Sunday in June, on the way home from church, 

we told Graham his supposed Bible verse and kind of chuckled to ourselves. 

"Psh. 2 year olds getting a memory verse."

But the Lord was probably chuckling to himself 

when later that night we told Graham it was time for his Bible story 

and he said, "Be strong in da Looooooord". 

Our hearts lurched. 

Who were we to doubt this growing heart, mind, and soul?

We looked at each other and knew the true responsibility

 of having these boys was realer then ever.

San Diego anniversary trip!

Happy 4 years of marriage, KCU. 

You are THE most incredible man I know.

And you're mine. 

Summer Recap: Hume!!

I can't tell you how relaxing and refreshing our week at Hume Lake was this year. 

To be on vacation with our 1208 family of 5 just felt right...

and then add in Miss B, Papa & GG, Steve and Grace, 

a night with Kyle, and the 2 cutest little boys on the planet?! 

Sigh. Hard to beat.

Dear sister, we were completely spoiled by getting to spend a solid 6 days with you.

Dear brother, I love being on vacation with you and your beard. But mostly you.

Sibs, I love you love you love you.

I mean...come on precious police.

So thankful for quality time with B. Finally.

How wonderful that we also wait until lounge/walk day to take a family picture. 

Eeesh. 2 bright sides: Family and Chad's new look.

Hello little worker bee. What would they do without you?

We looked forward to Dad getting here all week. 

"Oh hi fish. Wat to pay besbol?"

So many things running through these minds. We'll never know...

Graham asked for french fries all week.

JACKPOT: The corn dog kids meal came with fries AND a juice box.

I'm not sure he took a breath.

Again we are so incredibly thankful for these two.

They love, they give, they play.

Best. best. best.

This Hume trip was special.

It just was.

Until next time, Humer.

Summer Re-Cap: BLACK BUTTE!!

Oregon Vacation with the Cunninghams and Swens!

"1.2.Can-ny!"(Candy)

We made the 12 hour drive with three naps, only TWO stops, and one bloody wipe out.

We bundled up and walked. Bundled up in June? Sigh.

After a day or two of figuring out coffee drinking and breakfasts on the deck, we got our acts together and went adventuring. We had an extensive Ranch to-do list to check off after all...

Fish Hatchery!

"I feed shark. Rrrrar."

Power walks!

We need "a nack, a nack!"

Matchy matchy sweatshirts. Re-living 14 years ago. Sister wives.

I have the bestest friends. 

Thank you, Cunninghams.

Thank you, Black Butte.

These boys loved vacation.

"Mo-back?"

Almost Twooooo

Dear Graham,

In two days you'll be two.

I can't believe it. It doesn't even seem possible.

You keep telling people you're "omost threeee".

Slow down there, Mr.

I'm soaking up this last day of my one year old.

My one year old who...

...told me "Mom, hit with driver".

...can fill in the words of "Splish Splash", "Ball Game", and "Come thou Fount".

...cheers when he sees "Big Jaff", makes a putt, or gets to watch Dinosaur Train. 

...says sorry about evvverything. (I wonder where he gets that?)

...asks to pray for Bennett or Mickey Mouse nightly. 

You are a precious soul, Graham. So smart, so silly, so darling.

Almost 2, but not yet...

Hello Bennett.

Hi there, 5 monther.

Woooooweeee. What a month for you Bennett Scott.

First haircut! It was time. There was some mullet, dread lock, and rooster action. 
Mom buzzed. Dad distracted. And now you're blond! And so very handsome.

You started grabbing your feet along with anything put out in front of you! 

You can flip back and forth from tummy to back! 
We leave the room and come back to find you three feet 
from your blanket and jabbering away.

 Sometimes you just squeeeeal with delight. It's hilarious. Even when you hit record high octaves while you dangle and kick in Winco. Embarrassingly hilarious.

Guess what else? You can sit up! You're pretty wobbly. And you come crashing down in less then a minute. But you are getting so much stronger! 

I feel like all of these things are happening before I even have it anywhere near my radar. All of a sudden you're an interactive, excited, delightful five month old. What happened?

Life kept happening, that's what. 
Your brother is concerned with your whereabouts at all times. He makes sure we don't forget you when we leave the house. He tells us where you sit, sleep, and play. 
We've overheard him on the monitor saying "Want to play ba-ase ball with Bent". 
We thought that was the sweetest thing of all times... until he started asking to pray for you. 
Every night. "Bent. Bent. Bent" 
Sweetest. thing. ever.
And my sweet prayer is that the Lord will continue to 
grow and shape a deep, loving, protective, brother-bond. 

Behind the scenes bonus. It's not all brother bonds all the time over here.

Especially when G decides B needs a helpful shove off the chair. (Notice the ready hand?)

Graham thought it was the funniest thing ever. Bennett, not so much.

Happy 5 months, BSU.
You are a true charmer.