a welcome and a birthday

check out all the kiddies and babies! don't you just wanna smooch them?! don't worry, i did for you. goodness i loved being home and hugging and kissing every single one. i met four of my nieces and nephews that i had never met since i have been living on this beautiful island we call home. it was so precious seeing all their cute faces in real life FINALLY! i guess with age i have really grown to love little kids, especially since being a nanny. here in hawaii i sorta feel like i know tons of the kiddies since i babysit so dang many of them haha. i guess i have a "in" with the cool crowd (surfin' mamas) ;). and it doesn't hurt to have lots of lil' babes that are related to me too, to love on even more.

my oldest brother bridger now has three girlies: bennett, madelyn, and josie sue. it was josie's birthday this day, she turned the big 1! it was my first time meeting her too so it was a special day. we ate some awesomely good chocolate cupcakes together. my other brother chase has two girlies: harper and aspen. they're not in the above pictures, but i  finally got to meet aspen and she was as cute as a button, literally. her nose is always rosy and she has the most beautiful eyes ever that i can't decide if they are gray or some hue of green, and not to mention the world's best eye lashes. my youngest older brother jedd has one happy little boy, peter. he is 2 now and i just got around to meeting him as well. too bad i missed the baby holding stage, he is full of energy and a hard one to catch ;). last but not least, my megan has one cute lil' baby boy, van. it truly was the best welcome home, to celebrate my nieces birthday and have a delicious home cooked meal with my family. truly a blessing.

and lets not forget to notice. did you count the dogs? and this isn't even all of them! there are six in total, but i swear jilly boo (named by my nieces) the great dane counts as three dogs at least. she is taller than the dinner table and runs like a deer! if i were smaller i think i would go buy a mini horse saddle and ride her around the yard haha. she is the coolest, nicest, most well behaved dog ever. i guess there is a reason they call them gentle giants. if a dog is on your wish list, go get a great dane :).