Classic Hilton's

This guy again? Dear Grayson, At six (nearly 7!) months old, you are a delight! You are right in the center of the golden moments of baby hood, where you recognize people and things and you respond to us, but you can't move around too much, so destruction is still pretty minimum.  I love watching your wheels turn as you practice picking things up, holding them, and putting them down. You have figured out that moving those things attached to your body (your arms and legs) accomplishes different things and you are now in the process of putting together all those pieces. You are on the cusp of crawling and moments away from your first tooth, I'm sure of it! You've been eating solid (and I use the term "solid" loosely - pun intended!)  food for about a month and half and you are a true foodie in the making. I cannot believe how intense you are! Eating is a full on contact sport for you and I'm pretty sure your motto is "let no surface go uncovered b...

A doodle...inspired by Brooklyn My bed time routine is important each night. It can't be too dark and it can't be too light. It can't be too busy, too quiet, or loud. I can't be alone but there can't be a crowd. I need my good pillow, my blankie, and bear. My teeth must be brushed and no bows in my hair! We must sing a song and we must say a prayer.  A kiss and a hug from each parent is fair. Yes my bed time routine is important, that's right. The very best way of just saying good night. 

Bed time is not my favorite these days.  Bed time right now means tears, attitude, yelling...in general, a headache.  Last night, after an especially heaping dose of defiance from a certain little girl, I sat her down and very calmly said,  "Brooklyn, you are five years old. You do not get to decide when you are ready for bed. That is what Mommy and Daddy are for. Trust me. Life will go much smoother if you trust me." In worship today I realized that God was saying the same thing to me.  "Jaime, you are my child. You do not need to decide what you are ready for. You see this little bit of the picture, but I know the whole story. Trust me. Life will be more abundant if you learn to trust me." I spent a lot of time today thinking and talking about the anxiety in my life, but the truth is that I am in a very good place right now.  We have been taken care of. When I look back over the last few months, I can't even begin to tell you how it has all worked out. I ...

Our last night in the cabin, we gave Brooklyn the camera and set her loose. Some of them are actually good!  Gigi, are you ready for your close up? A bear lamp. I would use this to decorate my cabin. If I had a cabin. At a lake. Daddy getting some work done. The porch - a sweet haven, surrounded by beauty! Brooklyn. A self portrait. Bob Bob. 'Nuff said. Bob Bob's bad influence. Little cabin in the woods... The Grayson Dinner series...  She really captured him ;0) Brooklyn the Beauty...  I really like this one. If I had photo software, I would blur the background. Hi Nana! Okay, truth: I really like the way my legs look in this picture. and my nails. There, I said it.

My day started at 5:30am - breakfast for Grayson. At six, I went by to wake Jenna up, only to find her bright eyed, bushy tailed, and headed for her shower. I practically force fed her a slice of toast with peanut butter (she took maybe  three bites) while we got hair and make up done. Groomsman Jason came by looking for his tie and socks (Jenna's response: We gave it to them 12 hours too soon!). Other than that minor snaffoo, the morning went on without a hitch.  Jenna exuded a calm excitement.  As Ron (the pastor) had said at the rehearsal, the details were all set.  Now was the time to relax and take it all in.  We met the bridesmaids at the church and found they had finished decorating the sanctuary, which was breathtaking!! Jenna and Brett picked Little Church in the Pines (in part) for its simple, natural beauty, but the little touches they added -- tin pails with yellow pom poms and navy ribbon, the communion elements -- really made it sparkle.  ...

It's difficult to put this last week into words. At least without grossly overusing adjectives like "beautiful", "wonderful", "awesome", "rockstar", etc.  But I will try. Here goes. We flew into Fresno on Sunday, did our shopping, visited with family, and settled into our cabin by Monday afternoon.  That evening (September 5th) we celebrated Mom and Dad's 30th anniversary with friends and food. Good times were had by all!  Tuesday we spent at Yosemite (see previous posts). Wednesday was the official start of "wedding week", complete with projects and crisis! Mom, Jenna, Aunt Suzanne, Brooklyn and I went into Oakhurst to get our nails done. Now I don't enjoy getting my hair or nails done unless I have a friend or relative to talk to. So who did they leave alone in the salon to make small talk with the mountain people while they went to Sky Ranch to check on details? ME!! To be fair, it was the good folks at Sierra Sky R...

More highlights from our adventures in Yosemite: Awestruck gazing at the mountains!   Grayson and Brookln beneath the mighty sequoia. Sassy Ms. Brooklyn models the latest in teepee bark. The path builders must have been momentarily distracted. Oops! Jaime: Who lives in the residential area of Yosemite? Dad: Mr. Beaver, Mr. Squirrel, and yes, Mr. Deer! Jenna and Brooklyn at the tree

Of course the landscape was spectacular, but truly (and I know this sounds sappy!) the best part of the day was the company... Grayson tells Bob Bob all about "it". Grayson was not super impressed by the view. The Hilton Four in front of Half Dome Mommy and Brooklyn climbing rocks. Jenna and Grayson gettin' tired!! Grayson studies the trees.