Birthday Celebrations

Charlz's birthday.
He had help blowing out candles.
But he still made his own wish.

I forgot candles for the cake.
The closest I could get to 40 was 32.
But he's so hot nobody will even second guess it.

And the birthdays roll on....

Birthday Boy

A year in the life of Charlie Van Derven...

Happy Birthday, buddy.
You sure are loved.

Cupcakes

Chances are we are making cupcakes today.
Because somebody has a special birthday tomorrow.
And we are going to celebrate.
HARD.

Daddy

I love his smile.

Mother's Day Love

The reasons why Mother's Day is awesome.

It wouldn't mean much without these people.

 

Dad's Birthday

Here is everybody waiting for him to blow out his candles.
I LOVE how Zeus is watching too!


Madee is INTO making you a cake or pie or whatever you want for your birthday. She picked this one out, helped me make it and decorated it all by herself.

Literally, in this picture, Eden said, "Daddy I need a spoon."


I think Madee has her "ohnoyouditten" face on for fear of it being gobbled up in one munch.


I think everybody here has wishes on their faces. And at least 2 of those wishes include being left alone with this pie.

Dad

He's so cool.
And his smile just melts me.
How much fun do they have?

Dad jumps SO big.
And he inspires little jumpers.

To make BIG jumps.

Dad is always cool for wave jumping.
Even when Mom's not.
Even on jellyfish days.

These are his girls.
They love their Daddy hard.

Lucky lucky little girls.

Girls

They grow up SO FAST.

I love pictures like this one.
It illustrates how soon they start to run away from me and towards their own futures.
I want the best for them.
I also wish they could have stayed babies a little longer.


I mean, this bracelet? not a baby bracelet.

Oh, E. Don't grow up. Mommy needs you here, cuddled up to her middle and playing with her hair.

"Why ME? What did *I* do?"

Ha. First vacation picture at a whipping post!


They are really becoming a "team". Often an opposing team to the parent team.
Cute and annoying - their specialty.


Eden puts this little fairy crown on her head and says, "Wook at MEEE! IMMA PWINCESS!"
Then I die of the cuteness.
Again.


Shhhh. This is not a REAL shark. But the kids don't know.


Pwincess and the Daddy.
Too much cute for one mom to bear.


Thank GOD they get tired and revert to being my babies again. For NOW, at least.

Oh Madee. Don't ever stop being Mommy's baby.

Fairy Tails and Owwws

Eden's bangs are all out of control lately, and I refuse to cut her curls.
Come to think of it, Madee's bangs are pretty long lately too, they have been sporting the same little Pebbles Flintstone ponytail on top of their noggins.

Madee calls them "Fairy Tails" and takes hers out right away.

Eden calls them "Owwwwws"


They are really enjoying the beach these days. They could play in sand and water till cows come home.

Also? BOATS!
and SURPERS!
and FWENDS!

It is a total score!

And Boom Boom is getting the hang of this surfing thing. So he looks all kinds of happy at the beach too.

"Take me surfing, Daddy?"

These girls are total beach babes now. With their little princess wings? They have the confidence to take on all the fishes!

Gorgeous beach bum smile.

"I go surpin TOO!"

I like to bite this chin meat.

Madee just looks so natural on the beach. Her hair, her swagger, like she was made for surfing.

I die of her cuteness DAILY.
Seriously. Somebody pull out the paddles.

Looking Back

Some things never change, like our love for chicken wings!


Sometimes I start flipping through our hard drive pictures, and I AM SO HAPPY I AM SUCH A SHUTTERBUG.

Boom Boom and I have had an awesome life together so far, and almost every day seems documented. I can't tell you how happy this dude makes me. And it is none of your business anyway, but seriously, we seem to have covered a LOT of ground since we first met...

The "itis" - you get it so bad, there is just no cure.
Back off ladies, THIS IS ALL MINE!


OUR TIMELINE

2006 - met
2007 married

2008 - baby #1
2009 - baby #2
2010 - ? I just don't know yet!

My favorite picture Boom Boom ever took of me...


We have been busy, to say the least. We have changed and grown and in love and in numbers. We have lost a dog together, delivered babies together, stayed up at night crying from the sleeplessness together.


Nothing quite tenderizes a man like than having little girls. He LOVES them. HARD. They make him laugh and cry and scream and smile. (And sometimes they make him drink! STOP CRYING BABIES!)

But mostly, they make him more amazing to me. That he made them, helped me get them here, and he does more Dad duty than ANY GUY I KNOW.


He's not perfect. And I am sure I remind him of that ALL THE TIME. But he is perfect for me. And, well, that is a way harder bill to fill than general perfection.

And if the last 4 years have any indication, then I must be a smartypants, because he is the best thing I ever followed my heart on.


I LOVE YOU BOOM BOOM! Thanks for all the babies and the love!