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 Putting away your laundry like a big girl.

And it's back to school! You were so excited, ready to get back to seeing your friends everyday. 4th grade is gonna be great!

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 A family date night at the fair. I love this. I love that you can see your daddy's shadow waving back at you as you zipped past.

You discovered my remote trigger. And I don't mind one bit. If you could just take over this project for me that'd be great.

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We went on our longest  hike yet, 6.25 miles round trip. On one of the hottest days of the year. This is probably somewhere after mile one. You were hot and tired and just wanted to get to the cool swimming hole we promised you was just around the corner. With lots of snack breaks and carrying you on our shoulders a few times, we made it.

You were so brave! I thought for sure you wouldn't go near the natural water slide at Opal Creek, but you rode it probably 8 times! This is your very first time! Way to go buddy!

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You guys called to me from the other room. "Mommy! Come take our picture!"

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Beach baby! This is probably the first time you've actually really enjoyed yourself at the beach. Most times you don't like the wind and the sand and water but this time you jumped in and really played. You did get cold at one point and a snuggle under the towel fixed that.

And you, well you could have stayed at the beach 6 more days straight and still not had your fill.

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Almost every night, just before bedtime, the two of you switch from being each other's antagonists to the happiest of playmates. Perhaps united by the mutual enemy of bedtime, you conspire to make it nearly impossible for me to break up the fun and send you off to dream land. The tickling, the silly, newly invented games, the sweetness and snuggles and giggles on top of giggles, how can I be the bad guy and stop it, when the majority of the day I was the referee, breaking up the squabbles over who touched who's stuff, who was laughing at the other's misfortune, who had the bigger pickle. So tonight, instead of hurrying bedtime, I let it be. I let the giggles soak into me, and pulled out the camera.

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A camping trip to the lake with cousins and aunties and fun in the water and the woods. You braved the swimming area with your tightly fastened life jacket and kept inching deeper and further, clinging to me and yet testing how much you could float on your own and then looking up at me with giant eyes saying "I'm being brave!!" And then out came the inflatable orca and you hopped on with auntie and braved the deeper waters.

My little sailor. Off you went with Grandpa and the boys to zip across the waves. You returned soaking wet and saying "That was Epic! I rode on the hull the whole time!" 

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VBS all week meant dancing and spinning with friends to the music and making smiley concoctions with a mohawk for Crazy  Hair Day. Since I was the photographer all week, I kept popping in and out of stations where the two of you would be. It was so fun to see you both doing so well and learning and enjoying. Another successful VBS week in the books. 

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My water loving babies. One prefers a shower(or sprinkler in this case), the other a bath.

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Swinging in the sunshine with daddy.

Your teacher asked me to come take some photos of her students since your class was her first and you guys will always have a special place in her heart. I'm sure you have your own special spot in her heart as well. Your sweet curiosity and goofy enthusiasm and excitement to learn. Every time she has such praise for how well you're doing and I'm so very proud.

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there it is. my whole entire heart. in one picture. the love of my life being loved by the children our love created.

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oh my gorgeous children. I feel like I'm always saying the same things. You're beautiful. You're full of energy. You bring me so much joy. And I'm just gonna keep saying them, cause they're true, over and over again, in new ways, each day. I'm so very blessed and so in love with you both.

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 You told me you were going to go plant flowers. You told me "We have to wait and wait and wait for them to grow!"

You and your sister set up a little restaurant window in her bedroom doorway. Puma was one of your first customers.

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 Spring Program at school and you did great with your little sticks. Listening intently and following directions. Then the whole school got up there with you and sang a few songs which you didn't move a muscle for even though everyone else was doing the hand motions. You were a rock. When we asked you why you didn't sing or do the motions afterward you said "I didn't want to."

Mush, little sister, Mush!

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 Give this girl some music and a mirror and you've got yourself a dance party.

Sprinkler! You were the first one to run through and you were the one cheering each of your friends on as they braved the cold water.

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 Your smile. It can wipe away the frustration of a cranky morning and usher in the sweetest joy.

Seeing you with all your classmates at your field trip is such an interesting look into your personality. You are most definitely an extrovert, always talking, always making someone laugh, always wanting to play and joke and be the center of attention.

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What a little cheese ball you are. You and Daddy were playing sorry on the floor and you kept giving him your best grin.

Jiu-Jitsu boy! Oh we were so proud as you completed each test to get your new belt. And even better than that, you were so proud of yourself.

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First campfire of the spring! And with the example of your brother, you learned how to make the end of a stick glow and then write in the air with it. And your parents watched nervously, letting you walk that line of risk and caution.

Puppies! My cousin's dogs had a big litter of 11 puppies and she asked me to photograph them. Lucky for you and your sister, I let you tag along and get some serious snuggle time in with the little bundles.

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You were fascinated by a little tiny slug that was slimeing it's way across the lawn chair. When he slipped between the slats and began hanging from his own slime you were still fascinated while the rest of us were quite disgusted.

Your energy level baffles me. Climbing, running, jumping, climbing some more. Always at full speed. Where do you get it? It's certainly not from the tiny bit of food I can get you to eat when you've paused from running for a few moments. Off you go again. Oh if only we could bottle that energy.

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Easter egg hunting. You found maybe 4. But you loved it still :)

Oh the birthday party of the century. Taking you to the Ropes course was amazing. You had a blast. Watching you enjoy something that was so much a part of our lives before we were even a couple was so crazy cool and slightly surreal.