At 7 1/2 months, just 2 months after starting solids, Maddie doesn't have much interest in being spoon fed baby food. She wants to do it herself. So yesterday she fed herself bananas, toast and beans. Today she fed herself oatmeal and pears. She is an absolute mess when she's done but she is awfully proud of herself.

Silly kid...not much of a performer.

On Monday, Ms. Maddie turned 7 months. She has 2 teeth and is pretty much always a really bundle of love, joy and snuggles.

Daddy is still at work...11 days and counting! :(

What's mothers day without Super Daddy home??

I think this is Maddie's first hug. I don't know if it gets any sweeter. She was in her chair eating when Eric walked in the door and her body language expressed her utmost joy that daddy was home!!!

Sun glow...ash covered flip flops...

Maddie's big smiles continued once daddy was home...she really only smiles that big when her boys are around.

I keep asking myself why am I enjoying summer so much this year. I wake up every morning and literally think, why am I so happy right now. Then it dawned on me... this is my first summer in four years that I am not experiencing something really challenging. In 2006, I was miserably pregnant in the heat of summer and caring for my dying brother, 2007 I was missing my sweet brother (UGH!)...summers were so much more fun with Matty around, and 2008 I was miserably pregnant again and Eric was gone a lot on wild fires.

So it's my first summer without any of those sadness's in my life (joy!) AND I have two fun kids I get to play with! So here's what we've been up to...

A fun overnight to Morro Bay...(yes, Brayden is smashing Maddie's face.)

A fun night of friends...spontaneously made dinner for 5 adults and 8 kiddos! This is probably Brady's best friend - Chloe. In this photo she is nursing her baby (under the hooter hider of course), playing guitar and singing. Can you say multi talented!?

A perfect play date at Goleta beach....Brady and I both didn't want to leave.Sidewalk chalk and new easle.


Pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed = Bird feeder! One of the first crafty projects around the Eacker house...not so good at those.

So I'm thankful this year. Thankful for our family's health, for two sweet kiddos that make me smile everyday (and get frustrated), and a wonderful husband who at the moment is out fighting yet another wild fire.