A TRIBUTE TO DADDY!!!

I was reflecting the other day how lucky I am to have married such a great father...I didn't even have a clue what an amazing dad Kristian would be! Thank you honey for being the kind of dad that the girls just cannot get enough of! We all love your guts and think the world of you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! ********************************************************************************** The proud pappa with Avery a few days old... and Finley about a month old.

This picture is a classic!

His two precious pearls... we love you daddy!

So this was taken back in January when Adriane, Erica, Carol, and Rebecca and her family all came down to Tucson for brunch...I included it because daddy is sharing one of his finer poses with us! (look how young Fin is:)

And Now Father's Day!!!!

Oh what a happy day it is when daddy is around!! The girls cannot get enough of their daddy and we got to spend all day with him which is unfortunately not to common of an event these days!! And Grandma Ackerman made a trek down to celebrate with her only son and we all had so much fun! Daddy woke up to a treasure hunt in search of his presents which really involved Avery bringing daddy his treasures as he read the notes...then Grandma came and we all went down to Tubac which is a little artist colony south of town! We hung out at the beautiful Tubac golf course and enjoyed time together! It was a great day! ***************************************************************************** Yes...this is Arizona...maybe not Tucson, but not that far either...isn't it stunning? I couldn't believe my eyes either! So picturesque! A walk with Grandma on the greens... So this is terribly back lit...Kristian kept telling me it would be...but I had to include it because it is Father's day and this was the only picture I got with daddy and his girls on the actual day...they are there...I promise! Grandma...what is this green stuff underneath us...it is amazing...I have never seen such a thing in all my almost ten months! It's grass Fin explains Avery...you walk on it! So here we are (not back lit because Kristian took over) sweating profusely but enjoying each other and the day none the less! Avery became our little wild west model So this picture just captures Fin to a tee!! She is generally really laid back and is always kicking up her leg and makes herself right at home where ever she is! Daddy getting to spend some time with his youngest admirer... Sweet Fin got tuckered out from all the fun! And...Avery is wired as can be...she is the type of kid that just gets really "tired crazy" when she doesn't get a nap...and just a bit less than obedient...but she generally does better than mom does when she doesn't get enough sleep! Mom just gets really cranky! ******************************************************************************* Finley longs to hang out with her sister all the time...in the afternoons Avery goes outside for a bit to play usually while mom makes dinner and Finley well...watches out the window dreaming of the day she is big enough to play with her big sister! High five sister! Nothin like hangin out in a box! A few days later Avery and mommy painted it pink and made it into a fun little desk/seat!

Fun in the sun...lots of sun...

As the summer heat sets in (104 today) we do one of two things here in Arizona...we play inside...or we play in water!!! Here is a bit of both... ************************************************************************** We did a Father's day craft today at playgroup (act surprised daddy!)...Sabina got little picture frames and the kids had fun coloring them and pasting foam cutouts on them! Such a fun idea! Gluing is one of Avery's favorite activities!!

Avery and Josh...these two seem to get along pretty well...it's so fun for Avery to have so many good buddies!

Here are Finley's little friends...the "baby" playgroup...Lauren in pink and Hannah in red...only little Kylee is missing! They all are within about 4 months of each other...the same as their older siblings! Just perfect!

For church playgroup yesterday we went out to the Holmes house to play in the sprinklers...most of the kids were a bit nervous about the sprinkler thing, but had so much fun just playing in the little pools and pouring water on each other!

Mom is just not fast enough for the really great shot...at one point they both were smiling and picture perfect! But hey...still cute as can be!

Just loungin in the pool!

Can't catch me Emma!

Hey maybe we can all fit!!

So as she gets older, Avery is more and more independent...today she wanted to wear this very large (down to the ground on her) shirt that is reserved for painting and a pair of plaid panties that go with a dress...you know the cover up things...I wish I had taken a picture. I guess one of these days mom is going to have to let go of her control entirely and let her go out the door as she pleases...luckily she still lets me give her a few reasonable choices and doesn't make to much of a fuss... but nighttime is usually all her... the other night I asked her to go and get ready for bed and this is what she chose to put on! She looks like quite the 80's workout superstar doesn't she!