5 years.

Five years ago, I married my best friend. It was a day much like today, cloudy skies and rain. Almost every guest told us not to worry, that rain was good luck. Well, I was quite bummed because it meant very few pictures outdoors. Maybe they were right, though, because we have been pretty "lucky" (if you want to call it that). We are so happy, have 2 beautiful kids that we adore and wonderful friends and family. Life is good.

And, I'm looking at the rain with a positive outlook today. Maybe it will continue to bring us good luck. That, and I know that I get to leave it behind tomorrow for a much warmer and sunnier state! :)

Summer Nights.

Despite the cruddy July weather, we try to spend our evenings (from post-dinner to bath time) outside. Ky loves playing with the neighbor kids, we love socializing with their parents, and Gav just is along for the ride! Thankfully, he seems to be an outdoors kid as well and is always content just chilling out there, whether he's being held, in the stroller or kicking around in the grass.

We were finally able to pull out the Dora Sprinkler the other night (where are my 90 degree temps?!?!)

Kylie Rae breakin' in her swimsuit for the beach in a couple days!

Daddy and his kiddos...

And, look, they have a MOM!

My little man... getting SO big!

The boys

Hanging in the grass...

... and enjoying every minute of it!

Gavin and KyKy

Canine Love.

Kylie has always been in love with dogs. Her best friend is, and always has been, her doggie, Carmen. Most dogs that she knows are very friendly and patient with her, so she, unfortunately, has no fear of dogs in general. We have been trying to explain to her that not all dogs are nice and she cannot just run up to a random dog and wrap her arms around their neck.

Case in point, one day we were on a walk and there was a dog on a leash. The dog looked friendly enough, so, like typical Kylie she starts to run to it with her arms extended as if they are long lost friends. The dog starts growling, hair standing up on it's back, teeth showing, etc. The owner informs us that this dog doesn't really like kids. Yea, that's obvious. But not to Kylie, she is still trying to approach the foaming beast. I get her away from the dog and we continue on our walk as Kylie tells me, "that doggie was happy to see me!" Um, hardly honey, it looked like it wanted to eat you for dinner.

But, anyway, the reason for this post is to show her with some of the nice doggies in her life. These photos were taken last month at Tim and Pat's house. Ky had a great time with the "big doggies" and I'm sure they appreciated her generosity with the treats.

Buddy, Kubota, Maxi and Ky

Giving treats with Grandpa Tim...

She was saying "Look at me, Maxi!"

More treats...

Wrestling with 100 lb. dogs... in her glory.

Nice Buddy

He's got me...

...soooo wrapped around his little finger!

I cannot get enough of him.

And those toes. I am obsessed. I play with them all of the time, admire them, kiss them, squeeze them and photograph them non-stop! And I'm not a foot person! :)

They're just so curly and perfect. And in the back of my head I know that some day they will be big and hairy and stinky, so I'm enjoying them now!

Everyday Snapshots.

Even though it may seem like it, I don't carry my camera around all day taking pictures. I do, however, almost always have my phone on me, so if I feel compelled, I will pull it out and take a picture. I love flipping back through these pictures on my phone because they are purely candids, nothing fancy, just real snapshots of our everyday life. I've decided to post some of these pictures every once in awhile. There are some amusing ones in the bunch!

A shot of the kiddos cuddling...this happens a lot throughout the day. Ky loves her baby brother. And I'm pretty sure it's mutual.

A picture that I sent to daddy at work to show him Kylie's 1st official smiley face! She drew it all by herself on her chalkboard. Pretty darn good, albeit slightly alien-ish!

And a shot of Kylie eating lunch in one of our garage picnics we had last week. She thought this was a grand idea and I'm all for a lunch with little clean-up!

Sunday Funny.

I just have to share this cute Kylie story before I forget it. She says the funniest things lately and I wish I would get better about writing them down... I know that years from now we would get a kick out of reading all of them.

So, last night, Matt was getting Ky ready for bed... (it's their little nightly ritual... bath, lotion/massage/pjs/storytime) and this conversation took place:

Ky: "What do you wish for, daddy?" (assuming she got this from a neighbor friend because she isn't usually so intellectual :))

Matt: "I wish that mommy's and Gavin's and your dreams all come true."

(Excellent 'Miss America' answer, honey.) "What do you wish for?"

Ky: "Me wish to be a cat."

Hahaha! You gotta appreciate the 2 year old way of thinking!

So simple! I love it! And, her!

Flashback Friday.

Flashing back 2 years, to a happy, chunky, not-yet-walking, adorable little 10 month old Kylie Rae.

These photos were some of my first with my new camera (when I got my first Nikon)... and the addiction truly began now.

Always smiling!

I LOVE the crawling stage!

Where has the time gone?!

And to think that Gavin is only 7 short months away from being this age! Whoa.

Fish & Corn.

Gavin is loving the fishy playmat. He is a squirmy little thing, and I think is getting close to rolling over.

I'm trying not to rush it, though... I would like my little guy to be stationary for just a while longer!

"Who's that stud muffin?!"

"Hey fish, check out these lips!"

Nothing says summer like good ol' corn on the cob and Kylie is taking full advantage of it this year.

She can put it away, too!

Baby JJ

I had the pleasure of photographing my new little nephew, JJ, when he was only 6 days old. He was such a little angel and slept the entire time, even with me moving and manipulating him like crazy!

He's only 11 weeks younger than Gavin, but it was a shock being around such a tiny baby again. It seems like Gavin flew right past this stage so quickly that I can barely remember it. Hence, the importance of these photos!

My favorite:

Laying on the hope chest that our Grandpa Bill made Stacy when she was in high school.

So content in mommy's arms...

Kenny, Sydney and Steven checking out their new baby brother:

I love, love, love photographing newborn babies... especially when they are as cooperate as this little guy was!