summer fun

highlights.

though i tried to mentally prepare him for the change weeks before hand, joe still was uncomfortably surprised when i walked through the door. but by next morning, he was quite fond of the new look. and to me, it's a refreshing change from dark brown. though in this picture, the highlights don't show up much. that's otay. they're fun. any of you girls out there have summer hair plans? :)

sweet birthday boy

my sweet husband had his 24th birthday today. and, as we had a week-long sleepover with wendy and the boyz this week, they threw him an honorary birfday breakfast! man, they can party.

this was right before t-bone used an egg to test gravity and inertia. you can see him contemplating the drop here.


justin, age 5, makin' coffee. smart boy.


two sweet boys

i just love the binky, superman jammies, and readi-wip! it's Travis through and through.

in my parent's magnificent backyard.

gassing up in san fran, we both got a kick out of the small irony found here. yes, this gas station is THE standard for comfort and convenience, boy howdy!

Malibu Grand Prix: it was THE windiest day ever, and what with the freeway a golf swing away, it wasn't the most peaceful game, but it was great fun.

heading home on highway one...a birthday for joe wouldn't be complete without a drive on the 1.

Joe also surprised me for his birthday and drove us to IKEA. it's a delicious world in there.

honey, i delighted in your day. i was honored to swing the clubs, play air hockey, buy lamps, eat organic strawberries, and drive the coast with you. i pray the Lord to give us many, many more May 15th's. i love you forever.

bonne jour des meres!

we had a huge family BBQ at my parent's house for mother's day! trudy and donovan, grandma mae, and joe's sister and her fam: kim, chris, ethan, nik, natalie, and erik! it was great fun, and so good to be together. the weather was perfect too.

happy mommy's day, mommy. i love you.

nik with grandpa donovan

joe's sister kim and two of her four tykes, nik and erik

this is the third intsallment of this pose with joe and his grandma...the first time they took this, he was shorter than her (i know, hard to believe)! that was in grade school. the second time they took it, he had passed her up. now he's just showing off.

the paradisos come to town and we visit mrs.hughes

thank you, mrs. hughes, for the pleasure of your company. we pray God's strength for you. you lifted our spirits and sent us on our way blessed in soul. we cherish you!

jake

alex

kat and vince - we had such a blast with you guys! thank you for taking time out of your "vacation" to be with us. we love you!

what the beach does to my hair

this was at the halfway point on our walk. i arrived with happy, straight hair and left with curly.

but the sunset was worth the pain. :)

papa: giver of monsters

papa and nick are buds. they have the same smile. they're both equal in mischief, but not in age. papa gave nick a monster...a monster schoolbus!

thanks, papa!

wanna play monsters?

monster grave digger

monster schoolbus

just monsters

happiness is eating shark

shark attack!!

"whatever are we going to do, kris??"

"have no fear, kris koomas is here!"

"simple, bite him before he bites you"

"aaaarrgg! i am shark conqueror!"

new threat: auntie's earring


thanks, joni and paul, for a delicious birthday dinner on a relaxing sunday afternoon!

love you

at the well

on April 21, there was a wedding. nancy gamble joyously became mrs. jason utley. this was a beautiful, blessed event, long-awaited for in the hearts of us all, and much longer awaited for by the bride and groom. i appreciated so much the realness of the day. no pomp and circumstance, but a sober understanding of the work of God in a covenant of marriage and a full celebration of true joy with laughter, tears, fellowship, and beaty. jason also was paying more attention to his "crown of jewels" than he was to the pastor and didn't hear his cue for the "i do's". but everyone knew why. he was overcome and overjoyed. joe and i were honored and blessed to sing in a quartet for the ceremony, and it was a delight to sing to the Lord with them.

i LOVE how they hugged (they kissed too, i think). it's exactly how we've all felt after the vows are said and the rings are on: we're finally married! it's a rest like none other.

pastor steve and wendy watkins, our good friends. steve officiated the ceremony, and wendy assisted the wedding party down the aisle in musical bliss with her flute. she rocks!

who else could this possibly be?? :)