Thirty One.

I am sure if you were to ask Jonathan about his birthday this year he would say it was slightly anticlimactic. I think the year after an over the top surprise is probably to blame. These are the birthdays of the real world, after all. You can't do something like that every year (although it is tempting).

This year the thirty-first birthday was quite simple. We ate a nice little breakfast together as a family before Jonathan headed out the door to Christ Clinic for the morning.

We had a lovely dinner out with some friends before the Fernando Ortega Christ Clinic/Kitchen benefit concert - and celebrated after with some chocolate peanut butter dessert :).

And we gathered with family over the weekend for a little BBQ pizza (my new favorite meal on the planet) and strawberry rhubarb pie.

Hurrah for thirty-one years of life for Mr. Jono. I am thankful for him always. And I love him more today than I did twelve+ years ago when I met him - if that's possible. When he was twenty nine I listed 29 things I loved about him. When he was 30 I counted down to his big day with thirty surprises (one being our big trip to Yosemite). This year I got him a bright shirt to run in (I've been getting nervous about him running when it's dark), which he didn't ask for. And some new cologne, which he also didn't ask for. I am pretty sure I struck out this year. So I will just say THREE things I love most about him, right now on April 30, 2012.

#1. He is such an incredible dad. Honestly he walks in the door and plays with Clara until the second her head hits the pillow. Her eyes light up when he comes into the room and I am SO blessed that my little girl gets to have him for a daddy (and let's not forget Calebo. He loves him too. It's just a little less hands-on at this point in time).

#2. He works harder than anyone I know. Although this trait seems to also make me the most angry with him, I am very blessed by his work ethic and desire to improve in all areas of his life. No new goal or ambition would surprise me right now. It makes me crazy, but I also love this about him.

#3. He lives life like it's an adventure. Life with Jonathan will never be boring, even though this too makes me nuts sometimes. I will never be surprised by any new sport/skill/instrument/etc. he wants to pursue - and most of the time I truly love this about him. I just remind him from time to time that he is just one person, not two. So if he thinks getting certified to climb with a rope sounds interesting, great. He might just not have a lot of time to pursue it ;). In all honesty, though, I am so thankful for this or I wouldn't list it as my top three right now.

So there you have it. It's all I've got. Happy 31st, my love!

And A Niece too!

Exactly one week after Mr. Hunter made his debut into this great, big world, Harper Vaughn also made her grand entrance. Born to my brother, Devin & his wife Larissa, Harper came a week and a half early and was born about two hours after they checked into their hospital in Portland. Whew! She was due on Clara's birthday (May 3), but since her brother Everett was two weeks early, we weren't counting on the girls sharing a birthday (although that would've been so cool!). Here she is...

She weighed exactly what Clara did: seven pounds even. But it seems impossible to me that Clara was ever that little. She's just so teeny tiny and precious. I can't wait to cuddle my new darling niece. Stay little until I can meet you, Harper!

Jono to AZ

I have certainly had my share of solo trips in the past year or so. Colorado in March of last year. Nashville in August. Cali a month ago. And a trip planned in a few weeks to the midwest. It's not like we're keeping score around here, I just knew my husband was due up for a little time away from the family.

So when he mentioned wanting to visit his friend Nick in Phoenix, I told him to go for it. He was only away for a little bit over 48 hours - and he had a blast reconnecting with a friend he doesn't see very often. They packed quite a bit into their two+ days together (sleeping in, hiking a few times, golfing twice, hanging out at pubs late in the evening - basically the kinds of things he does not get a chance to do around here very much). And he experienced what life as a thirty year old bachelor might be like. Thankfully, he came back excited to have a wife and two kids (and a massive amount of chaos) awaiting him. We were, of course, thrilled to have him back. I am so thankful we're a tag team because I have no idea what I'd do without him.

Here are some pictures of his time in Arizona...

New Nephew

 Hunter Aaron was born last Tuesday, April 17th. Now Caleb has a little boy cousin just 4 1/2 months younger, just like Clara has Sophia.

Actually it's kind of scary. Sophia is 4 months & 16 days younger than Clara. Hunter is 4 months & 10 days younger than Caleb. And he was taken via c-section one week early. Slightly crazy, huh?! Two girls followed by two boys. We feel pretty lucky!

On the way over to Anna & Aaron's house the other day, we wondered if it could be possible for Caleb to love Hunter as much as Clara loves Sophia. Both Jonathan and I agreed it would be nearly impossible. But that is just because Clara loves Sophia so much it borders on obsession ;). We know Caleb will adore his cousin Hunter - even if he does tower over him at this exact moment (by some 10 lbs.). We know Mr. Hunter will catch up! Future BFFs...

We love you so much already, Hunter!!

Tennis Trip

This past weekend, after arriving home from California, we hit the road as a family of four to watch my little brother play tennis in Missoula. We caravanned over with my parents and stayed one night. Although it was a short trip, we were able to watch two of his matches (vs. Eastern and MSU).

On Saturday it was beautiful - and they played outside. I love the outdoor courts. They're right in the middle of campus and on a sunny day, it's a hopping place. The University of Montana beat Eastern and secured their spot as #1 in the league for the first time in many years (it's never happened in the 30 years Ethan's coach has been coaching). It was fun to be there to celebrate. Ethan has had an awesome season (he was 8-0 in conference as #5 singles for the Griz) and it was really fun to watch him play both singles and doubles.

On Sunday he played against MSU at the indoor tennis facility and we watched his doubles match before making the trek home. Here are some highlights...

One of my favorite pictures ever of the Hook boys - at a rest stop along the drive

The man of the hour

I'd say he's ready

Grampy is even more focused than Ethan, if that's humanly possible 

The cheering section

The crew (minus Jono), including Ethan's girlfriend Michael, (the nicest person on the planet)

Somebody LOVES her Uncle E!

This guy does too - he just might not completely know it yet

Go Grizzlies!!!

Ridiculous play area  -she didn't want to leave

How many Grampys slide down a tunnel slide with their granddaughters? This one does! 

At the indoor match on Sunday - Caleb adores his Grammy 

And Clara is pretty much obsessed with Michael too

She said her hair is just "like Tangled" - which is about as high a compliment as this little girl can give ;)

 And that was our weekend of tennis. We were so spoiled to watch Ethan play a couple times of week in high school. The past two years we've made it over just once a year to watch him play. Maybe we'll shoot for two times next year ;).

Sister Time!

My sister had a late spring break this year (she's a 6th grade teacher at a private school in Santa Ana) and we decided we needed some major sister time. It didn't take much convincing for me to decide that going to visit her in California was the best plan. It has felt like a very long winter up here (for more reasons than just weather, of course) and I jumped at the chance to take just Caleb for a week in the sunshine with my little sis.

About the time I decided to head her direction, Leah decided she needed to see our little brother, Ethan, play tennis at the University of Montana. So she flew to Spokane Thursday night, drove to Montana with our parents for a little tennis weekend, and then she came back to the Kan. We spent one day together with Clara before boarding a plane late Monday night (just Caleb, Leah and I) for the OC for the week. Whew!

It ended up working out perfectly. She got to see Ethan and my parents. And she got to see the Claranator (ie, spend the entire day with her while I packed, fought off a bad cold, took Caleb to the doctor because I was afraid he had an ear infection, and attempt to get life in order). Plus, we got to travel on the plane together, which was a nice bonus! Just a couple activities she enjoyed with the Clara girl...

Our time together in California was so great. We literally had nothing on the agenda before the trip. We just wrote a small list of a few things we wanted to do together once I got there. Like eat out at some fun places. Walk along the beach every day. Shop leisurely (I can't begin to remember the last time that happened). Get pedicures. And so that is what we did...

And I'm not joking when I say that my brain literally shut off for four days. I'm serious. I was responsible for keeping my four month old son alive and that is basically it. I never knew which direction we were traveling. I never remembered which drinking glass was mine (I swear I used about seven different glasses each day). I can't tell you where we parked. Ever. And I don't think I even lifted a finger to help Leah make dinner two nights in a row (I was nursing, I swear, and she's fast!). It was such a wonderful break. And only reminded me how much I miss my sister. I hate living far from her. HATE it. Someday we will live close, I hope.

And while I was away, Miss Clara had the time of her life. She was with her nana, grammy, and daddy. Of course she was in heaven. She did MOPS with nana. A baseball game with her grampy. And a whole "day" of kindergarten with grammy. And on Jonathan's day off work during the week, he somehow fit in a bike ride, time at Mobius, the carosel downtown, swimming at the Y, a track meet of a cousin, and dinner with grandparents. No wonder everyday life has seemed a little lame to the Clara girl ever since. Sheesh.

The pictures my mom took almost make me teary. She looks so big!