when abby came to visit!

abby andrews, huzzah!
one of my very favorite friends, of all time people... came to visit us a couple weeks ago, and it was both wonderful and much needed! lifelong friendships are seriously a dime a dozen, but charlotte thankfully, blessed me with a whole handful of them, and abby is one of those few. days, months, doesn't matter the length of time that's passed, we have a pick up where you left off friendship + it's so special to me. we showed her around fort collins some, and stayed home some just doing life together. she loved on my kiddos, we stayed up late talking about any and everything, and my soul was seriously refreshed... we also stayed up late getting her hooked on suits, but that's another story for another day ;)
abel of course fell in love, she's blonde and beautiful, and i know that's his type and all, but really who wouldn't... he cried real tears when she left and has talked about her at least once a day since... "abby is my friend." --- heart be still, yes she is buddy.

^^^took her to the vintage whites market, where i wanted to buy a million things, and we ate edamame + dumplings to our hearts content
^^^sweetest scene
^^^she joined me on a photo session + snapped this sweet photo of me. we made and ate an entire batch of muddy buddies (or puppy chow if you ask her)... but i mean are we even in that photo anyway? :) we ate lunch in the car (in my yard) while the littles napped, and were questioned by police for it-- again, another story for another day :)
^^^we showed her around town + bought 18 (okay 8) mary's mountain cookies, because the buy 6 get 2 free deal is a really hard one to pass up.
^^^we had abel take our pictures the day she left + these are my favorites
^^^and my sunsets from my living room/deck helped me talk her into visiting again sooner than she planned, score. ;) i love you abby! thanks for spending time with us! xoxo

abel's third birthday day!

this is three ladies + gentlemen!
we had a happy morning at home, complete with waffles, balloons, and party hats (per his request)! he thanked me no less than 8 times for his "party"... i mean, balloons and breakfast + he's calling it a party... i love him so! he got calls from all of his favorite people, and even got video messages + was able to "face" some of his very favorites. it was sweet to feel how loved he is by many, and I'm again reminded how lucky i am to call these two kiddos mine... and now a few photos from the day!
tiny kitchen help is the cutest^^^
later, we took abel bowling for the first time! he had fun, and it was so cute watching him carry and push that huge ball down the lane. oh! and his cake was a hit, both with him + with others.
^^^the face with the eagle is priceless, even in the second photo- still not so sure
besties.
what a happy day!

happy birthday abel love

i write this on the eve of your birthday, and when i wake up you'll be three.
...and it really feels that way ya know? that fast. like, I woke up and it's three years later. 3 years? no way. where in the world has three years gone, and how have you gotten so big and brilliant? you know your full name, and you love your little sister. you say things like "absolutely" and "i need my privacy", you encourage lucy with "good job, baby girl", and tell me when you don't need a bath because you "don't have toddler stink."
abel, there aren't even words to express our love for you. our firstborn, our son... you're everything and more. i've always loved the perfect mix of sweet & gentle, and wild boy that you are. your snuggles are the very sweetest, and when we pick you up from leaving you anywhere (even for 5 minutes) you immediately tell me, in your most endearing voice, "i missed you mommy." you never turn down a kiss or a hug & are one of the kindest and caring three year olds i've encountered. this all said, you're still out to give me gray hair early with every couch plummet, furniture scaling, and tooth cracking (no really... not one time, but TWICE in the time between your last birthday & now you've broken your front teeth... oy). you're wild and wonderful, and my prayer is that you always are. stay adventurous like daddy & continue aging me with your courageous & curious spirit, and stay sweet too. the best men in the world have a gentleness to them, and no matter the age, have never been embarrassed to hug + kiss their mamas ;)

tomorrow you'll wake to balloons & waffles, and you've requested an m&m cake, and like i am now, i'll cry a little because i just can't believe we are here again... celebrating another year gone by, another birthday with you! how incredible. after those real ugly cry few glistening tears, i'll spend the day (and every day) celebrating your most precious life, and all of the joy it has brought to ours and the people around you, every single day since you took your first breath and i held you in my arms. i love you abel... you're the very sweetest cake of life. praise God for you.
...and for a couple of my favorite photos from the year... but honestly, as i've said before... every photo has been my favorite photo at one point or another... so back scroll the pages of this blog to see some of them, a little trip down memory lane never hurt anybody :) 
**abel's 2nd birthday note & his first!