Chris Jon - Through The Years (Sort of)

Chris came into our lives in early 2008.  That was when we met this new boyfriend of Amber's, from the Detroit area, for the first time.  When he arrived, Amber's uncles were doing some carpentry work for Beth and they put Chris right to work.  He proved himself then and he's been proving himself ever since.

Since Chris has only been in the family a little more than 4 years and since I don't have pictures of him - through the years, this post will be a little different.  It's just going to be about Chris and how we know him to be.

He wasn't around long before we suspected things were getting serious.  After all, he let Amber drive his truck.

And it wasn't long before our suspicions were confirmed.
 
 And there's that truck again.  (Actually this isn't the one I'm talking about but the pictures show how she felt about that one.)
 
Things evolved quickly after this.

We'll start with Chris and Jack.  Jack was their firstborn.  Things were good when he got to the hospital.

But they went downhill from there.  Neither was prepared for what was ahead and this was one of the few times when I felt like the dad suffered because he couldn't bear watching his wife suffer.  I can't look at this picture without tearing up.

 But he hung in there with her and the outcome was pure joy.

And then we'll move on to Chris and Dane.  Chris was a little more relaxed for this labor.
 
But his emotion and pride was just as evident after the birth.

And finally Chris and Aubrey.   With number 3, he actually showed his happy anticipation and optimism.
 
 And the outcome was, once again, so joyous!
 
Chris is very involved with his children and never passes up a teaching opportunity.

Including teaching them to appreciate piles of leaves in the Fall.

He's also skilled and helpful.  They happened to visit this Spring when I had just begun enlarging our small pond.  I'd laid the liner and then got surprised by an unexpected spawning.  What a mess!  Chris looked out and said, "Do you mind if I mess with it".  Of course I welcomed it and he got right to work.


He not only built a beautiful pond.


But installed a much needed flagstone walkway between the big and little ponds.


So here he is - family man extraordinaire and the grandson-in-law that most could only dream of.

 A couple of weeks ago they were in town so we took the opportunity to have a small, early birthday celebration for him.

 Of course he held one of his children while we sang.

 And then enlisted his help to blow out the candles.

Like I said.  He never passes up a teaching opportunity.

Finally I want to appreciate his infinite patience in my endless mini photo sessions upon their leave takings.

And when I think of that, I'm reminded that he, like Mary, insisted on taking pictures of Mr. Right and I as we left their house not too long ago.  And that's just the kind of guy he is.

What is it about these wonderful August 7th birthday people?

So, Chris, Happy Birthday!!  We're hoping it's your best one ever but only half as good as the many, many more to come.

Mary Addison - Through The Years

Mary was born on August 7, 2006 and I was lucky enough to witness her birth.  I didn't know then but the sweet, serene nature of her labor and delivery was to be a sign of the sweet, serene nature of the little girl she would become.  This picture was taken just a little over an hour before she was born.

Here she is - through the years.  (Since she only has 6 years under her belt, I'm showing pictures from approximately every 6 months of her life.)

 

Mary not only has a sweet nature, but she's generous and thoughtful beyond what you would expect from someone her age.

She adores her big brother, Ethan.

 

And one of the highlights of her life was when her little brother, Trey, was born.

She's tried her hand at gymnastics, dance, and cheer leading; does well in school and is a teachers' favorite.

And she loves good friends like her brothers and best-friend cousin, Tessa.

 

 

I'm including this last picture, not because it's the greatest picture ever, but to remind me always of what a thoughtful girl she is.  I'm always large and in charge with the camera.  I take pictures of everybody and lots of them.  The last time I saw Mary, after I'd taken a great many pictures of everybody there, she said, "What about a picture with you, Grandma".

And that's the kind of girl she is.

So Happy Birthday, Mary.  Hope you're having a beautiful day!!

You Capture - Get Down Low

Beth's You Capture challenge this week was to Get Down Low.  I like this challenge because it reminds me of how different everything looks from that 'way down low' perspective.

I started with one of this year's best hanging baskets.  (I got it for Mother's Day from Beth.)  Anyway, you'd never believe from this perspective that the most spectacular part of this basket is the red geraniums on top.

Next I explored how tall this bird house (that I got from my granddaughter) looks from 'way down low'.

 

And then I took a look across the water garden from ground level.

And while I was there I shot these birds.  They're so much cuter at eye level than they are when I'm looking down on them.

I went to the other side of the pond to see how it looked from ground level and here's what I saw.

And when I looked directly at the rocks surrounding the pond, I almost felt like I was back at the Garden of the Gods.

 
Finally I got down low to capture these rain chimes (a gift from my oldest daughter) and realized that it's much easier to look right up at the sun from such a low perspective.
 
So I put the sun behind me and it looked entirely different.


 For more 'down low' shots, visit Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry