Family Pictures 2017

As I mentioned in my last post, we did family pictures last weekend and they turned out great.  I was a bit nervous for two reasons:

1. We had to find a new photographer this year, since the lady who did ours the last two years was too busy this year.  She gave me some recommendations, but I was still a little hesitant.

and

2.  We had them scheduled for a weekend at the beginning of October, but had to cancel because of the weather, and I was concerned we wouldn't have another nice weekend until, oh....next August!  But, as luck has it, the weather last weekend was gorgeous so we lucked out!

And I have to say, I am really happy with the photographer and how the pictures turned out. 

See for yourself!

And believe it or not, this is only a small portion of the ones she sent me.  I really wanted to attach more, but I figured I stop at about 20.  

Skate Park

The day we did family pictures, Kayden asked to go to a skate park, so on our long journey home from Gold Bar we stopped at a skate park in Monroe.  He got a hand me down "cool" scooter from a friend over the weekend and he was dying to ride it!  And let me be the first to tell you, this kid has some moves.

He really loved being able to ride the jumps and do the different tricks...sorry for the vague descriptors, I'm not down with the skate park lingo!  And I'll be ok if I don't learn them.  And I'll be even better if Kayden doesn't end up hanging out at skate parks.  There are some questionable fellows that hang out there.  And I don't want Kayden to end up being one of those questionable fellows. (insert winking emoji here).

We lucked out with nice weather for our family pictures, as well as, Kayden's scooter riding!  I can't wait to show you our family pictures.  Hoping to get those back this upcoming weekend.  I'll be sure to share asap.

Kayden's Eighth Birthday

I may have just wiped a tear or two away before it cascaded down my cheek while I typed the title of this post.  Eight, people, EIGHT!  How?  When? Where did the last eight years ago?  I remember crying when Kayden was two weeks old thinking, and ultimately saying to Kyle, "Wow, he is ALREADY two weeks old".  And Kyle looked at me and with a grin and a chuckle said, "He is ONLY two weeks old"!  And I think it was at that moment that I knew time would really fly with this little one in our lives, but I truly did not know how fast it would go, and it seems the years go faster the older he (and I) get.

Ugh!  Please stop growing Kayden and continue to stay little and sweet and innocent, pretty please with a cherry on top!

And we celebrated Kayden's eighth year with a shark themed birthday party!  And I have to say, I think it might be one of my favorites to date!

I wish I would have taken a pictures of the above decorations with the final table layout, but I put it together several days ahead of time and didn't think to take another picture on the day of and with the table decorated.  Bummer.

Didn't Charlie do an amazing job with the shark watermelon?  When Christy asked me if Charlie could make it, I was like "heck yes"! I was going to attempt to make it, but when Charlie was willing to do it, I was all game!  And she nailed it!  Way to go kiddo!