In honor of Father's day and my baby's 8 month bday (which is when this picture was taken on 6/11) here's a picture of two people that I am so overjoyed to have in my life!!! They each teach me in their own way to be a more patient person, a more loving person and a more thankful mom and wife.

Yes, that's our Brayden sitting down at his end of the year school performance...which I have to say was mostly influenced by the kid that was acting out, sitting down next to him who was removed from the stage just before this photo was taken. Brayden eventually stood up...but he still was just not into it. This picture gives me hope of what life will be like someday. They each had their own toy, they sat quietly in Brayden's room playing together...making all happy noises. That is not the norm around here....Brayden is just not good at playing alone but this was a glorious moment.

Aunt Amy and Uncle Jason came for a visit and we went down to Malibu to see Aunt Marilyn. Maddie loved spending time with her family!!

Brady got to ride a pony at our dear friends the Postmas house. He loved it...

Brady had his first trip to the dentist and did great.

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.

Family day at home.

I love this girl. This picture was taken after she did her first 360 roll. She was very proud of herself! So thankful Maddie is such a sweet, happy babe.

Maddie turned 6 months old on Saturday and to celebrate we went out to dinner with Auntie Cocoa (Nicole Comella) and celebrated. Brady and I played our first video game together (driving the race car around the track which was my favorite growing up). He loved it, I felt motion sick after.

Here's a pic of my girls big gummy smile.She found her feet this month and as of last night can roll over from her back to her belly and back again. She did 360's last night over and over.One of the funniest past times right now is Brayden playing his kazoo for Maddie and her absolutely giggling hysterically!
These are some of my great friends I got to spend easter with. I am so so thankful for these women. Paige and Sarah already left -- I'm thankful for them too! :)

So my parents came to visit over my mom's spring break and my mom worked so hard in the garden! My yard looks 10 times better. We are already seeing the fruit of her labor -- like telling me 100 times to water my yard if I want anything to grow. Hmmm...great advice, after 6 months, I have blossoms on our apples tree in just 5 days. And here are the first signs of spring -- evidence that we will have organic lettuc very soon.

Maddie got so much cuddle time with papa! She loves to cuddle and so does papa. No photo of grandma -- she was too busy working!

So today I posted about a family outing to Ojai, Maddie and Brayden's latest happenings but the MOST EXCITING post I've made in a long long time is this one. After 4 years of Eric's career with Santa Barbara County Fire department, his commute to Station 18 is over come April 7. FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been a long time coming. He will now be at Station 14, less than a 1/2 mile from our house, be able to ride his bike to work, sleep in 30 more minutes, be home at 8:02 instead of 8:30, work with really awesome guys again (his old crew) and save gas money! :)

Despite the fact that we are ALL sick, I drug my family to the beach last night to celebrate! Good times...we needed the sunshine and celebration.
Cheers to Daddy!

View from our park bench...

My snuggle bunny...

Maddie had some cuddle time with the girls this week...she loved every second of it. I think Gracie held her for 30 minutes.

This is hilarious...Brady was watching Muzzy (learning Spanish) and I walked in and found Maddie watching it too...upside down.
Sweet girl is getting so big!

This is what consumes most of Brayden's free time these days...building his space shuttle on the couch, getting it ready to take off to the moon. :) He likes to steal my hat.

He got bunk beds!

Still loves the garden hose....