Once in a while I surprise myself with my photo taking. Now, I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but from behind the lense I am NOT skilled whatsoever. And our little Fujifilm digital camera is far from professional grade...in fact it frustrates me every time I use it. Anyhow. Occasionally, during multiple attempts, I get a keeper. This one of Maija is definitely a favorite. This was taken during her inaugural toe painting session (see further down in the blog posts for that story!) She was so deep in concentration. Carefully painting each tiny nail (and toe and fingernail and hand) with a swoosh of bright pink paint. This profile picture is so sweet, innocent, and beautiful. I'm pretty sure it will need to be enlarged, framed, and treasured for the rest of my years...

Thanks, Mother Nature...

Golden Boy!

It's crazy, crazy, crazy to believe that Caleb just celebrated his 10th & GOLDEN birthday this past Sunday... Where have those T E N years gone?? Wasn't he just born? Wasn't he just 9 lbs. 10 oz. and 22 inches long??! It seems nearly impossible that it has gone by this quickly. I woke up on Sunday morning, and was brought to tears thinking that today Caleb would be blowing out T E N candles on his cake. Amazing. I often think back to when he was a newborn... I can vividly remember Dr. Rounds placing him on my chest for the very first time. The absolute instantaneous and steadfast love that rushed through my body and soul was overwhelming. I knew in that moment that he was a miracle. He was a gift. He was meant to be.

Over these ten years, Caleb has grown into this wonderfully special boy. He is so caring, considerate, soft-hearted, incredibly smart, incredibly talented and just incredibly awesome. I cannot imagine life without his smile. How did we get so lucky?

Needless to say, we had a fun-filled day celebrating our amazing boy! He deserved every minute and so much more!

Happy GOLDEN Birthday, Caleb!!!

We love you so very much!

she paints

I can admit that I am a bit of a control freak... an occasional perfectionist... and perhaps downright anal about how some things just HAVE to be. I try very hard NOT to be this way. Unfortunately it is a battle which I usually fail at in some way or another. So, that being said...

The other day, Maija and I were digging through the nail polish stash, and she settled on a bright pink color for her toes. As I was preparing to paint her teeny, tiny toes, she grabs the bottle and declares, "I do it myself!" Of course my first notion was to deny said request and state the alternative option to either have Mommy do it or have no paint at all. Fight. Fight. Fight. Instead, I exhaled the rush of control freak-ismy air that had filled my lungs, and decided to accept her bold decision to, "do it herself". This is going to be a mess. There will be paint all over the chair. All over her. Ugh. Ok, ok. RELAX. It will be fine. OH, and get the camera!

So, with Mommy, ahem, helping (controlling!) with the polish to brush ratio, Maija carefully began her very first toenail painting adventure... this is how it went:

I'm glad I was able to give up on perfectly polished toenails, as it was so fun to watch her attempt to do it herself. The pictures are priceless...and even though I doubt she will remember the experience, it is one I will never forget.

Sometimes it is better to be an observer... To let go of the steering wheel... To surrender to imperfections... granted in this situation we're only talking about a little paint, which is easily removed. But the lesson that lies within is a good one nonetheless. :)

FUN in the SUN!

Welcome, Summer...

we truly hope you will stick around

for more than a few days!

* * * Breaking News! * * *

This JUST in!

Brady Gust Saari, age 6 years, 7 months and 10 days,

has lost his FIRST tooth!!!

After weeks, if not months, of curious wiggling and constant examinations in the bathroom mirror, Brady's first baby tooth has finally let loose! He was super excited and so proud! It's already safely tucked underneath his pillow - - awaiting the infamous Tooth Fairy's arrival!

Congrats, Brady!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

If you give a Maija a camera...

...she's going to want to take pictures.

And when she takes the pictures,

she might get her finger in front of the lense.

Or take a picture of the ground.

So she'll turn the camera around,

and take a picture of the sky.

Seeing the sky will remind her that,

she's goofy!

So she'll probably smile.

And chances are,

if she smiles...

She's gonna want to take

more pictures!