Annabelle is blessed with a daddy who cherishes her with the gift of his time. They have the cutest little traditions together, like washing the car on Saturday mornings, eating breakfast once a week at Winsteads, taking the puppies for a walk every evening, reading stories before bedtime. He is always emailing me ideas for our weekend family time together, asking me if I think she’ll like the Royals game or a trip to Science City to see the dinosaur display. Once he planned a roadtrip just so she could meet Barney “live” and in person. He’s already mapping out a trip to Disneyworld, all with the intention of helping her meet the Disney princesses she adores. I just love how much he loves her. She is a lucky, lucky girl.

And fittingly, he taught her how to ride a bike on Father’s Day this year. She came bursting inside to tell me she did it with Daddy’s help.

He looked at this photo the other day and told me it’s amazing to think how much he loved her on the day she was born, but the love that he feels for her now is more than he could ever have imagined in this moment.

It’s true, love only grows.

Happy Father’s day, my love!

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We arrived in plenty of time to enjoy the bouncy castles, and the amazing Face Painting Paradise artists also had a booth. Annabelle and her abiding love for dinosaurs prevailed and of course she requested one for her cheek.

Here she is watching a balloon launch. I love the sense of wonder on her face.

More balloons!

On Sunday, we went to KC Jiggle Jam, an annual kids concert at Crown Center and had a blast. We enjoyed Jim Cosgrove (aka Mr. Stinky Feet) and The DooDads.

And, of course, the splashground fountains. Fun times!

This one just makes me smile. Silly guy.

This teacup is a special one. My friend Emily gifted it to her bridesmaids when she married, and while I never asked her about why she chose it, I could imagine why she picked it. Her husband has a German last name, and the teacup itself is imported from Germany. (I love little details like that.) And today, when I’m still sick and fighting through this bronchitis or whatever has invaded my white-flag-waving immune system, something I LOVE is hot tea. Organic Echinacea  Elder tea. Soothing and supportive.

What else am I loving today? Mostly I’m just loving my family. My husband who ran to the pharmacy at 2am for much-needed remedies. Who came home from work and changed into pjs and snuggled me back to smiling again. My little one who dragged her dolls upstairs to play on the bed with me all day. The two of them who conspired to make me a fresh smoothie for dinner, because a) my husband’s cooking skills only involve turning on the blender and b) my throat “huuurrrttttts” (and I whine to him). I’m loving the opportunity to slow down, spend time and relax. And while I’d prefer to be breathing a bit easier while I do that, it’s impossible not to enjoy the little blessings that are sometimes overlooked.

I discovered a book the other day, written a decade ago and sitting in a secondhand bookstore. I plucked it from the shelf because the title moved me – The Shelter of Each Other. And in doing so, I realized it’s a book from a very interesting author – Dr. Mary Pipher, who also wrote Reviving Ophelia. She’s an anthropologist turned psychologist, and her insights into the family are straightforward and truthful, examining the culture we live in and the impact on family connectedness. I quickly bought it, barely even flipping through it, knowing already that I wanted to read it. Today I spent a few hours doing just that, thinking of how fascinating and complex and complicated is the dynamic of family – and being grateful for the two people who with me, make three.

Today, I just love my family. And a hot cup of tea. (Followed by a cold smoothie.)

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We did a little swinging.

And scootering.

They’re pretty wild about croquet. So cute!

…and football, too.

Leaf-throwing was a hit.

Aren’t they such a fun family? I think so too.

Here’s Dan and Allison:

Dan and Reid… who is quite the giggly jokester!

And then Allison and Drew… who is also a giggly jokester, but a little more sly about showing it.

I had such a great time with you guys! Thanks for being so much fun!

Yes, Annabelle at her finest – pretending to be asleep and snoring. This still makes me giggle, hours later! I especially love her “waking up” impression. Funny girl!

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(Moira woke up a milisecond after I took this.) Do babies get any more gorgeous…? She’s so cozy.

Little baby toes…

“Hi, I’m precious.”

Just stop being so cute. Stop!!!!

A little tummy time.

Moira regarded my camera with a puzzled face. A very adorable puzzled face.

So loved!

This is my lingering impression of Moira: slurping away on a mama-thumb.

All curled up together.

Some Ben-and-Emily cuteness.

Might this be a sneak peek at what Moira’s little foot above might grow up to be…? Ha.

Resting… so sweet. Except I know she’s trying not to laugh.

And here is Emily’s lovely mother, one of my favorite people to sit and chat with… holding her first grandbaby.

And finally, a cute one of Annabelle saying goodbye to her godmother.

So fun to see you guys! We miss you!

Blogged at http://www.blessedlifephotography.com/blog

What made me think of this today, you ask? Especially when it’s still swelteringly hot outside…? Well, as anyone might guess, Miss Annabelle is perhaps my very favorite little person to photograph, and one way I’ve documented her second and third years has been to capture her beloved pair of pink cowboy boots as they’ve traveled with us on her little feet amidst our many adventures. Annabelle has an abiding love for shoes, but the pink cowboy boots have always been highly favored. These boots always seemed to fit and even grow WITH her chubby little feet, despite other pairs of similar size being long outgrown. But today, as we set out to enjoy our day, she attempted to put them on and said, “Ouch! These boots are much too tight for me!” – and a little part of my heart melted, because those pink cowboy boots are a part of her, and now as the sun sets on summer, our season with these dear pink boots is done.

A friend asked me if I’ll keep her treasured pink cowboy boots or pass them on, and though I hesitated, it seemed like an easy answer after a moment. “Pass them on, of course, so another little girl can love every moment of these magical boots, too.” Because it isn’t the boots, it’s the memories, and luckily enough for me – the photographs I hold so dear will be what keeps my memories of this special time with her alive in my heart.

I looked through my archives and the photograph below is the last one taken of Annabelle wearing her cherished boots, nearly a month ago, on a pretty Saturday morning while outside taking a walk.  Exactly the sort of day I hope to always remember, when she is older… and her pretty pink cowboy boots (and all the fun we had while she wore them) are of the distantly faded past.

Afterwards, we went outside… and it promptly started to rain. So we waited in our cars, and then finally the clouds seemed to part and Bridget broke out the ukele. Louise was a singin’, strummin’, dancin’ fool. It was CUTE.

A little tickling and silliness.

After a little song and dance time, we took a walk around pretty Waldo.

I love this. Inquisitive Louise.

Still thinking.

We found this green chair in the back of The Gaf. I think she sat in it for maybe five seconds, despite my “HEYYYYYYYYYYYYY HOW COOL IS THIS CHAIR, LOUISE?!?!?!?!?!?!?” but hey, at least I got one pose out of it. She’s looking a tad unconvinced of any potential cool factor.

A little vintage processing. She was pretty into observing “the river” underground. Oh, and a WORD about those shoes: FABULOUS. They are apparently Louise’s “Princess Fiona” shoes. Straight from the ’70s, Bridget’s sister found them still new in the box and perfect for Miss Louise.

Now, for a few of Bridget and James together…. ahhhhhhhhdorable. I love this series. They are so cute and FUN. It was hot, sweaty and humid but they still managed to be super cute.

Ha. That last one just makes me smile and smile.

Thanks, guys! Fun session!