Summer was...forever ago...and SO FUN

How can I choose which shots to show??? Well, here goes...some of my favorite 2011 summer pictures...
PRESENTING...

Beach Bums on the Oregon Coast
Ode to the men in my fam! Gotta love these boys!One of the only King Crab caught!We have this same shot from when they were 1 year olds...wish I had it to post Catching itty-bitty fish in the tide-pool with Aunt Trace
Our get-away in COSTA RICAWe did not plan the 3 different hand signs--still laughing
Lorin Outgrowing Great Grandma Costley
a childhood fav--notice Granny pluggin her ears :)
Lorin and Ali learning to wakeboard at BEAR LAKE
Izzy dumping Aunt KK and CoCoSuch a proud mom!And a tribute to Texas Sun and some of the coolest friends ever found and to finding more in Virginia, our new home.

Graf and Cory share their first birthday together

My baby boy is ONE YEAR OLD!! I can't believe it! Here's what he's been up to the past few months:

Graf started running (not walking) at 11 months. His first words are uh-oh, all done, and da-da. Peekaboo will make him full-on belly laugh every time!

He loves books!! If I am reading a book to anyone, he will come and push them off my lap until he is front and center and pointing at all the pictures.
Daddy and Graf are two peas in a pod. From basketball to soccer to Cory's favorite game of "punch-punch" (sure you can picture that), these two are all boy!
His sisters...well...I can't decide if they spoil him or torment him more...this shot, to Cory's dismay!

He has learned to get what he needs...fourth child syndrome. He eats a lot!

His specialty? Getting into everything!! The shot with the bubbles...this covered half the kitchen floor and he had a good 'ol time sloppin' around in it for the video camera :)already knows when to ham it up for the camera Happy birthday Graf...oh yeah and Cory too :) (don't worry, he got completely spoiled--a daddy well-loved).

Ryan turns 5!!

Ryan is 5!!! Lorin woke up first on Ryan's birthday and had a special breakfast prepared for the birthday girl complete with her favorite bowl of cereal and a happy b-day note...so sweet!

We partied like there was no tomorrow. Queen Ryan got to hide eggs for her guests. They found them and then had to do what the note said--basically entertain the queen in some really funny ways. It was a good 'ol time. By the end of the day (after Chuck E Cheese) she was exhausted!



Some fun tidbits about Ryan: She says things like "Yes, Izzy is a little more distracted than I am" when I asked why she was the only one with her pj's on like I requested. She also catches lizards and HUGE spiders and tells them how cute they are while petting and manipulating. She's a one of a kind. We love her!!

Graf's Blog

Check out Graf's new blog (and get a glimpse of the whole family)! grafcostley.blogspot.com His birth, blessing, 2 month photo shoot and a quick peek into his 8 months of life are all there for your viewing enjoyment :) Thanks for being patient.