Dimples

Dimples are only cute on a toddler's bootie~

Slip-n-Slide

What shouts summer fun more than a Slip-n-Slide? And when you have older cousins that ride down the hill...you have a 15 month old keeping up with them-and head first too! Karsten has a bit of "adrenaline junkie" tendencies!

The Watering Can

Karsten was so excited to help Mommy water her flowers today. The concept of the watering can is still a bit of a challenge, but we had fun with it-even if more water ended up on Karsten than on the flowers!

Fun with Dawson!

Karsten is loving play time with her friends. It is nice to have couple friends that have kiddos the same age as yours. Karsten and Dawson have so much fun together and it is a special friendship as Dawson's mom Nicci, Chris and Britt have been friends since we were 15 or 16 years old! How crazy is that? It seems like we were the young ones just yesterday!

Water Baby

In she goes-fully clothed with shoes on too!

Guess she was ready to play and Mommy and Daddy weren't!

Mommy's beautiful peony flowers always make for extra great pool toys!

Kitchen utencils are also great pool toys!

The funnel is a FAVORITE in our house.

Makes for a super duper megaphone-doo, doo, doooooooo!

Brrrrr, I think my hands are bit COLD!

Anyone know how to Braid?

I have been having a hard time lately determining what to do with Karsten's massive amount of hair for such a young girl. So I asked my hairdresser last night what more I can do with it so that I do not have to cut bangs for her, still manage to keep the length and have it look nice. If it is down it drives her crazy and Karsten ends up pushing it out of her face, so it is typically in piggies of some sort. The new suggestions were braids and french braids among other things.

So Mommy gave it a shot this morning...and clearly she is out of practice when it comes to french braiding. It looks decent in these pictures, but by the time she got to school it was not looking so hot. Daddy and I laughed that she would come home from school looking like a fuzzy mess...can't wait to see that!

Read to Me, Mommy

It's not easy in this hustle and bustle world, but sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing, sit down right where you are and provide the attention and love your child needs...even if it means you are a little late for work that day!

Today there was nothing better than reading a book on the bathroom floor :-)

Jeepin' with Dawson

Daddy and Mr. Levi were playing Mr. Moms today and so my friend Dawson and I got a play date! While they were cleaning up all of the camping gear from their river trip Daws and I decided to play in Aunt Nickers Jeep.

WOOO HOOO...just wait another 15 years and we'll be rockin' this thing-and check out who was driving! Chicks rule :-) Love, Karsten

Smith River MT Float Trip

Chris did a 4 day sixty mile float trip with his family, family friend Levi Cushman, and his sister's friend Wes on the Smith River in Montana this past week. Unfortunately it rained for the two middle days so the camera was tucked away in a dry bag and the river was blown out so the fishing was non-existent. The Smith River could be classified as a National Park as the geological formations are amazing with many natural arches, caves, chimney rocks, shear rocks, etc that are simply unbelievable. We saw 10 bull elk(in velvet) running together, several black bears, countless mule deer and a few bald eagles. The trip is by lottery drawn permit only so there are a limited number of people on the river every day. The campsites are pre-selected before launch so there are no disagreements as so to which group is camping where. If you ever get the chance take advantage of floating this river.

The Road Called Life

We were in Kalispell, MT this weekend for Chris's cousin, Kaelyn's wedding. What a magnificent setting of a ranch wedding with the Flathead River flowing in the background and the snow capped mountains of Glacier National Park in the distance. A slight breeze and mid-70's weather made for a picture perfect wedding day! What a blessing it is to know generations before us and to gain wisdom from them. I was never lucky enough to know any of my Great-Grandparents. And within 4 short years I lost all of my grandparents. Thankfully I married into a family with the most amazing grandparents that have embraced me as one of their own.

The love they have for Karsten is simply unspeakable-you can not put it into words, you just have to witness it first hand. Looking at Karsten's tiny hand wrapped up in her Great-Grandpa's huge hand while walking down the wedding aisle caught me off guard. I got choked up thinking of the road we all travel on called life. There are ebbs and flows and joy and sorrow. But most of all, there is LOVE.

I got to thinking that in not too many years Karsten will be walking a similar wedding aisle, but instead it will be her big girl hand holding her Daddy's hand. And instilled in her Daddy, who will pass it along to her, is the wisdom that came from her Great-Grandpa. You see, Great-Grandpa had 3 daughters of his own, and you can see what a special place this little one has in his heart. As I said before, words cannot explain the immesurable love. You just have to see it for yourself...

Hangin' with my Aunties

Our weekend was full of family time which was fun for Karsten. She got to hang out with some Aunties and get some special love from Aunt T and Auntie Jenn.
A bumpy ride on Auntie Jenn's legs makes for a good workout! Smiles and giggles a plenty :-)