Standing Tall & "I'll Love You Forever"

"I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always."
"As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Our little baby seems to be quickly growing into a little girl! She has been standing up on her own for about three weeks now, and is walking around using the support of furniture. She has also learned to push her toy-box-on-wheels around while removing toys, creating a trail. It is so much fun to watch. But if we watch for too long, we are finding ourselves chasing after Maddie to catch up to what ever drawer or bookshelf she has decided to reorganize.

Another fun story to share is our bathroom story. Madison loves bathrooms, and today I found a "kodak moment," that until now, I thought only existed in story books: Madison discovering the fun of unraveling toilet paper. Enjoy our "I'll Love You Forever Pictures."

Locks of Love

Before During
After
Cass, Maddie, and Jaime, all with short hair

After a year and a half without a hair cut, I (Jaime) took the plunge. My friend, Cassidy, and I decided back in June to donate our hair to Locks of Love, and organization that makes wigs for children battling cancer. We needed at least 10 inches, so we waited until Cass got back from Ecuador last week...

... Two hours and 12 inches later, my hair was in a plastic bag and I learned what it felt like to have a short. This has not been the case since my hair grew to my shoulders as a toddler. I was worried, but now I may never go back. For those of you who know Cass, she has a better before picture on her blog.

Check this out! She can dance!

Not bad for 8 months. She's had a lot of lessons though. Everytime Dad hears a beat he moves his head. Now Madison is doing the same thing and more! I have to say she has good taste in music.

Glacier Lake on Labor Day

Before ...
... Talk about a view!...
...mmmm cocoa...
... Glacier Lake...
...After (still smiling)

If you want to be overwhelmed with beauty, camp at Glacier lake! one of God's masterpieces is the Sierra Mountains. So vast and vibrant with deep blue lakes and pure white granite! This labor day we backpacked in the Tahoe National Forest. There is said to be over 120 lakes in the Grouse Ridge area...we saw about six and camped on two.

The first night we found a secluded spot on Glacier lake about 40 feet from the water! second day we had small Island Lake all to ourselves. I (Jaime) discovered the difference between relaxation of the mind and relaxation of the body...the only thing we could relax ,while hauling 80+ pounds between the two of us, was our minds. It was difficult, but worth being surrounded by serenity.

Maddie did great; in fact, she was the only one not cold on the second night. I think she may have finally gotten tired of bananas though by the end of the three days!

Daddy and Maddie

All Smiles!

mmmmm Banana!
This summer Brian and Maddie have trekked over 5o miles together in the Kelty Pack! Here are some pictures from two weeks ago. The father/daughter hike was nine miles of bonding time. Daddy, hiking, and a banana, what more could a little girl ask for?

Mt. Lassen by Moonlight

Now we know what a "moonshadow" is (besides a Cat Stevens song). Hiking adventure number two was WAY past Madison's bedtime. As we approached Mount Lassen National Forest, so did a thunder storm. After anxiously waiting it out for an hour, we met up with the Robinson's and began hiking at 7:30 pm and began our trek up the moonlit slope of Mount Lassen. Madison squealed with delight the entire journey, and turned into a snuggle bug at the top. It couldn't have been a more beautiful night with the full moon rising up through the clouds. It was, as Emily's aunt put it so perfectly, "dramatic."

With a water bottle of red wine making its way from friend to friend, and the cool crisp air of late summer on our face, we couldn't ask for a more wonderful evening (well except for the fact that Emily was feeling ill).

We made it back down the rock at 11 ish and were snuggled up in bed by 2am.

I love when God's creation is enjoyed in unusual and spontaneous ways.

The County Fair

Ah, there is nothing like delicious junk food, Brian's dad's band playing vintage rock & blues, and the smell of fresh (and not so fresh) saw dust. Especially when you are enjoying it for the first time with an 8 month old!



Maddie's first county fair was a delightful experience. (It was three weeks ago, but we'll pretend it was yesterday). The animals were the greatest thing since bananas in Madison's opinion. The goats and sheep were among the favorites. We even spotted one of "Lamby's" relatives.