a pirate's life (and Wally turns 5!)

 Baby Bardez in a pirate costume...doesn't get much cuter!  

 Pin the patch on the pirate.  

 Walking the plank.

 What's a birthday party without a melt down?  Sad and tired pirate!  

 Treasure hunt throughout the house and yard.  

 Pirate's booty with lunch.  

The kid's loot. 

I absolutely love celebrating the lives of my little boys.  Thankful doesn't really touch the surface of what I feel for them, their sweet souls, their big personalities.  It is a feeling immeasurable to mark the passing of their 4th and 5th birthday.  Where that time has gone I have no idea.  I hope they will remember this day, I certainly remember the days that this party commemorates.  Love my pirates!  

mr. fritz turns 4!

Golf clubs, dinosaurs, legos, pizza, cake, swimming and friends.  What more could a boy want?  

snapshot of the woody

@ the Deschutes River.  

more gooder

A conversation with my (today!) 4 year old, Fritz.  Some friends of ours have a baby and Auntie Bridget just had Baby Dutch.  Fritz is somewhat enamored with babies.  He tells me all the time that he loves them.  When we are with them he holds them and talks to them and brings them toys.  (Wally pretty much says hello because he's been told to and then moves on...)  He spent all day yesterday telling me he wanted to turn zero on his birthday and be a baby again, because he loves babies.

Mommy:  "Today you are 4!"
Fritz:  "Yes, and now we have a baby cousin and that is more gooder.  We don't even need a baby.  We get what God gives us."

flip book of funny

Something about these boys together just cracks me up.  Every now and again I find a series of photos in my camera that are so good together I just can't see fit to delete even the poorly shot ones.  I wish I were clever enough to know how to make these photos play one after another like a flip book.  In leu of that, my imaginary, made up captions will have to suffice.  

 Walter: "It's really awesome, Ryan.  Come on!  You'll love it!"

Ryan (peering over the edge):  "Well..."

 Ryan: "Ummmmm....I'm really not sure about this.  What do you think, Dad?"

 Ryan: "OK, this seems ok. I'm big.  I can do this."

 Ryan: "Well, now that I think about it again...I'm not so sure..."

Walter: "Faster!  Faster!"

Ryan (screaming): "I hate everything about this!!!  Whose horrible idea was this?  Uncle Matt and Walter, you are to blame!  I'll never forgive you!"

Walter: "That WAS awesome!  I told you it would be.  Let's go again!  Again, I say!!"

dd ranch

$5 per kid and parents free every Friday at DD Ranch in Terrebonne is a screaming deal if you ask me!  This place was awesome.  No crowds, just our families and one other.  A tractor pulled hay ride through the fields with a bit of ranch family history thrown in for good measure.  Two kids play areas, garden, vintage trucks and tractors, friendly dogs, picnic tables, and the most gorgeous modern barn I've ever seen.  They also have a petting zoo with goats, a donkey, chickens, ducks, a fat pig, a baby bunny, and turkeys.  We will be back.  

 Buckin' bronco practice.  

 My favorite part...I loved this donkey!  Cutest thing ever!

My cool guy getting ready for some steer roping.  

best shots of the day

 Ryan conquering one of his first ice cream cones.

Fritz and Kermit.  Matching smiles.  

juniper junction

Grandma Kelley lead us to this ice cream pilgrimage site last summer.  It is a place she has gone since she was young.  Based on the steady stream of traffic pulling up for a cone, I'd say she isn't alone.  On this day, the (dare I say) wacky old guy who runs the ice cream window and rock climbing store was not in when we arrived.  A few impatient preschoolers ringing the bell finally brought him out of hiding.  As Auntie Ali said, I'm certain the only reason he made an exception to them being closed was the intolerable cuteness of said preschoolers.  And so it was that the boys had their huckleberry cones and licked up the gooey drips as we dispersed the bad news of no ice cream to group after group that pulled into the driveway.  

at the "ocean-river-beach"

A few cups, couple of kitchen bowls and shovels...we could have been happy on this sandy "ocean-river-beach" for the entire day!  Love to see these three boys playing together.  

july 4th

Hooray for family time!  The 4th of July was a big hit this year with a long visit from Uncle Steve, Auntie Ali and Ryan.  We had a tremendously good time with lots of exciting activities, good food, and down time for important car, train, and wrestling cousin play.