Happy Birthday to Liz

I truly think the best thing about birthdays now is watching it through my kids eyes! I can't believe I've just turned 44, doesn't seem possible, I don't have time to feel 44 chasing after 2 young children!

Here is Kaitlyn singing me happy birthday. Her voice continues to get louder, but still is clearly quiet due to her left paralyzed vocal cord. This just brings joy to my heart and makes birthdays all that more special!

Here are some other recent pictures:


We just returned from a wonderful 5 day camping trip in the Sierras at Gold Lake. You have to 4wheel drive into this lake, but it was the first time I felt I was at a serene, private, back-packing like lake since I had children. It was soo amazingly beautiful. But camping with 2 young children isn't the easiest thing to do, but it was 100% worth it! Thanks for "dragging" me out kicking and screaming about taking care of 2 kids with no running water or bathrooms, Brian - I loved every minute of it and would do it again in a heartbeat! :)


The kids at a recent local air show. I knew they would be so excited, because every time a plane flies overhead they both go crazy!

Kaitlyn flying the CHP plane!

And trying out a Navy helmet.



Quinn REALLY loving to imitate his dad mowing the lawn! Too cute!

Quinn's 2nd haircut! He did great and got a "big-boy" haircut, which was sort of sad for mom.

Quinn eating lunch in the back of my car, LOVING having a tail-gate camping, great for diaper changes too!

Mom and Quinn out on a little stroll in the Sierras!

Mom, Kaitlyn and Quinn at our private lake-side camp site. (Kaitlyn has blue face paint on her nose)

So beautiful and peaceful!

At our friends campsite next campsite where we did all the cooking and hanging out at night.

so beautiful! I haven't been at a private, serene lake like this since I've had children (lots of memories of Brian and I back-packing trips)

The McCarthy's camping A bit too cold for me (and for the kids, as they went 5 days without a bath, I at least did jump in)

Dad and Kaitlyn!

Kaitlyn and Jordyn in the "buggy". Brian and I took his friend's Sean's Buggy to go way up 4wheeling, a nice little break from the kids. My heart was racing the whole time!
Don't think I have the "nerves" for 4-wheeling some of the terrain we went on!

My Land-cruiser (thankfully made it to the campsite) parked near the 4-wheel buggy.