Elise looked like this when she was four months old

Why yes, she is 7 (and a half) months old now. This picture was half of her life ago. But go me for remembering to take it. Here's what I recall about this picture: Braden was TDY in California and I had no milk for her and was feeding her every hour around the clock, while juggling the rest of the household and kids. Which lasted 6-8 weeks. It was not my favorite. BUT, it's hard to ever feel too bad about anything with this wee babe smiling at you all the time. Not to mention the reverent arms and fingers which she seems to have shown up with.

Hey future Elise, I LOVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE HEART! You were a sweeeeeeet baby. 

Sayin it with Krylon

My sweet little niece Sammy plays club soccer and her team traveled to Park City for a tournament in August. We decided to go. And paint shirts. That spelled her name, collectively. Just in case she ever wonders who's side we're on. It's good to let little people know that you're in their corner and you got their back. Plus, who are we kidding, I always love a reason to use spray paint. It's the Colton in me. 

                                       
                                        

NOW she's one of us

Play-doh faces. Our form of initiation. A pliable form of hazing that leaves you smelling like a bucket of fun. She passed. She's in. It's official.

When Elise met the G-parents (of the Connor variety)

My parents were planning to come when Elise was born but my Dad had some health (or lack thereof) concerns that week. So when she was three months old I decided enough was enough and took her there to slobber on them.  

We always love to see Steve & Paula on the way down. And sometimes we like to stop at the farm and inhale thousands of pounds of cow crap. It has a way of putting baby poo in perspective, which one needs from time to time.

Yep, the cows are that way.

Ever let a calf suck on your hand before? I laughed and heaved simultaneously. 

 She is even quirkier than usual on road trips.

Meeting Grandmother!

Within 7 seconds of arriving at my parents house my kids commandeer Granddad's (excessive) stash of flashlights. And shine them in peoples faces. And leave them on so the batteries die. And don't put them back. Maybe THAT'S why he owns 34 flashlights. But I also kind of think no. 

Hi Granddad!

I love that if my Mom has 5 spare minutes she goes all kindergarten teacher on the girls. They love it too. 

Cousins at the movies!

These are the things I'll miss...

Last night Braden and I hung out with Elise on the couch after we put the other girls to bed. She gets riled up at night and we had a great time listening to her babble and blow spit in our faces and squeal. I was watching Braden watch Elise and the thought came to me, "This is what I'll miss".

 The official deployment list came out for his squadron and he's on it. We are also supposed to move next year so we're not sure how that will play out with the deployment. But I can't lie, I feel sick over it. It's not that I can't do it, I know I can. He's been gone an awful lot it seems in the past few years. It's nights like this that I'm sick over. It's the completely ordinary stuff, the time you never get back, that breaks my heart. I guess what it also does is make a typical weeknight dinner of spaghetti feel like a holiday. It's part of the reason I am so behind on my blog-life is so busy and if we have a chance to just be home and hang out together, there's not much else that I'm willing to do. The other night as we were climbing into bed I asked Braden if he thought other people ever feel so lucky just to have dinner together. I really don't think if we hadn't joined the military that we would value family time like we do. It's a hard blessing.

What you didn't get the memo? Camo is IN. At least at our place. Big time.

4th of July

This was the first time Braden has been around for the 4th in a few years, which I really loved and  appreciated. I love the 4th of July. It's a holiday that is meaningful, involves zero snow, good food, and blowing stuff up. We went to a parade with Jeff's family in the morning, went to Jeanne's for a BBQ that afternoon, and then spent the night at Paula's.