The Birthday Girl

I can't believe it but my little baby Riley Belle is 6 human years old today! It seems like just the other day I bought her as a puppy with my traded in school book money. I don't know how I could have gotten thru the past few years without her. She's my buddy, and as much as her hair and constant need for being touched annoys me, I couldn't make it through daily life without her. Here are a few images of our adventures together over the last 6 years!

This was taken a few years ago with her former roomie Ruby, the bagel. I've always thought that Riley thinks Ruby was her own baby puppy...she'd let Ruby pull and tug at her ears all day without so much as a growl or snap. I think she misses the Roo.

Here she is mortified and overall unsure about her new life jacket. Girls ready to go out on the boat!

Here she is being a good girl and sitting in her new bed so mom can take a picture. It was the first and last time her tail touched that bed...oh well, more beds for baby brother Axel.

Here she is enjoying a weekend retreat at grandma and grandpa's...girlfriend loves her some snow!



Happy Birthday Ms. Belle (even though you are blissfully unaware of birthdays much less your own)!! Momma and Bubby love you!


Just a Blonde's Take

The Big Unveil

I have been dying to share this with you all (all 3 of you who read this poor excuse for a blog, but I won't go into my hangs ups I have about my lack of posting), but out of respect for my sister-in-law (and my brother) I have waited until I was certain she was OK with me sharing these...without further ado, I would like to present to you...Sawyer, my first, favorite, most adorable baby nephew!

*Taken by Christine Burke, post processing by yours truly

This is my absolute favorite picture so far of him and his mom. She is one brave and tough gal. Her husband, my little bro, is over in Afghanistan with his fellow Marines and has been there through most of their marriage and her pregnancy, which means he has yet to meet his first child. God willing, he will be back in the states in mid April and will finally get to meet his little Sawyer! I'm sure Jamie will of course let him catch up on all the diaper changing he's missed. It's truly amazing to me to see this remarkable young woman deal with such a tough situation, for all intensive purposes she's been a single mom these past months, and I couldn't be more proud or in awe of her. She's had a lot on her plate and I can't imagine myself enduring the things she has. She is a lady, and a wonderful mom. My brother couldn't have picked a more fabulous girl to be apart of our family. Although I'll take her knees out if she throws a Wii remote through my flat screen**haha just kidding Jamie**

I am a little sad today though...Jamie and Sawyer will be leaving soon to meet my little bro in California and won't be back until August! I am however excited that Tony will be back and will get to be with Jamie and the baby. It will be so nice to know he's back and out of harms way. This blonde girl sends all her love, respect, and thoughts to all those soldiers over seas and their families they must leave behind. It's truly one of the most selfless jobs. Hooorahhh!

As for Tony, he's a pretty awesome dude and I can't wait until we get to go climbing together again. Although, since he has military grade muscles he makes me look bad hanging from the grabs and shooting up the wall like a monkey...on second thought maybe I won't go with him right when he gets back. **Jamie, if you could please fatten my brother up and make him loose all his arm and legs muscles my climbing ego would really appreciate it!**

Here are a few more baby pics to tear at your womb strings... (for those of you with wombs)

*Again, taken by Christine Burke, and post processing tinkered with by me

*Ditto

* This one is all Christine

Just a Blonde's Take

ReVisit

I thought I would revisit an old picture I took of one of my favorite subjects...my main man, Axel. Between my home and office you can find this picture in no less than 3 places. It's one of my favorites! And as I was playing around with the colors on it the other day, I somehow managed to make the new edited version my new favorite picture! It kind of has that cool old 70's vibe...which I'm finding to be a new favorite aesthetic.

Just a Blonde's Take