Eric and I love to bring out our playful side and re-live our childhood!  We love to take advantage of Educator Day at the zoo - what a great deal!  I hope they continue this program, since I was shocked at how pricey admission tickets had become.  The zoo was filled with families and their children on this sunny Saturday, children and adults oohh-ing and aahh-ing at the wild animals just feet away.  What will you discover about yourself when you let your inner child out to play?

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
― Gustave Flaubert

Sometimes you just need to get out of your regular life, your regular routine and do something new.  One weekend, we went to Bainbridge Island to explore and play.  We shopped, walked around, enjoyed the Farmer's Market, ate lunch overlooking the water, and found a cozy little ice cream shop.  It's refreshing to be in a different space, breathe different air, and meet new people.  It helps keep a marriage fresh and new as you explore a new place together.  And of course, we brought the puppy. :)

Birthday's are such special occasions - especially for children!  Every birthday represents momentous gains in their lives, filled with learning, growth, and happy memories.  Kaia is a fun-loving, happy, and determined to get whatever she puts her mind to!  Just look at those cupcakes - who wouldn't want more than one?  It's also evident that Kaia loves her family, especially her parents and grandparents.

How does the saying go?  A picture is worth a thousand words?  Let's see if I can come up with a thousand words for these photos: beautiful family, happiness, scenic, surprise, new baby, four, togetherness, big brother, growing...

Not quite a thousand, but you get the idea!  I took some family photos of Yong, Quentin and Joshua at the Olympic Sculpture Park on a cloudy but dry day in March.  Joshua had a blast running around in the grass, gravel, and up and down the steps!  We managed to get some good photos of him in between.  Although Baby #2 has yet to be seen, he or she was very cooperative for the first photo shoot!

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who have fallen for our country.  As I read articles and watch stories on the news, I am eternally grateful to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that I can live a life without fear, violence, or persecution. 
I was reflecting on this as Eric, Penny and I went for a hike on Squak Mountain in Issaquah.  Being in nature with the ones I love brings a certain peace and stillness to me.  Without distractions, I am free to focus on the little things like the beautiful scenery and a lonesome snail. 

I hope that everyone can find stillness...today and every day (even if it's just for 5 minutes).

Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.
~Franz Schubert
I've known Kyle and Bethany for a little over a year now, as I've had the pleasure of becoming their family photographer.  I was ecstatic to hear the news that they had gotten married!  Best wishes for a happy marriage and life for these two lovebirds.

“I think she is growing up, and so begins to dream dreams, and have hopes and fears and fidgets, without knowing why or being able to explain them.”
― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
It's hard to believe it's been a whole year that I've known Kaia and seen her grow!  She is no longer a little baby, but a running, talking toddler!  Kaia enjoyed being chased by her dad, the bubbles her mom was blowing, and hugs from her grandma!