A TRIBUTE TO OUR HERO!

The best father, friend, companion & teacher in the whole wide world...that's the man I am lucky to call my husband and father of my children. You are a gem Brian! I am a better person because of you. I love you not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.

Happy Father's Day!

All my love,

The Luckiest Woman Alive

HAILEY'S TRIBUTE~

"I really liked your sparkly badge!"

" I remember all the times you took me shopping for mom's gifts."

"It is very special that I was able to be a part of so many of your fire ceremonies. I guess being the oldest isn't so bad."

"I remember bringing the first grade bear, T.C. home and taking it to the firehouse station for a visit. My favorite firehouse memory was when I hid on top of the roof in the dorms during a game of hide and seek. I was never found."

"During one of our many daddy-daughter dates I remember we couldn't get a mud pie so we ordered a not so good apple dessert. It was still very fun."

"Thank you so much for making a wonderful pen for my goats and always buying their food. You made my dream possible!"

I love you!

Hailey

BETHANY'S TRIBUTE~

Thank you for always making the firehouse a special place to visit.

Your tractor rides are the BEST, but don't tell mom!

You never seem to mind a little slobber with your root beer floats

... and you are always up for a Jamba Juice!

Sorry, dad, for crying in your ear. I know now that you were just trying to get me used to being on the water. Hey, it worked! You can take me out on the fishing boat anytime...we're quite the fishing buds!

I can always count on you to fix my gator, keep my batteries charged & pull me back to the house when my battery leaves me stranded on the back forty. ~Thanks, dad!

I love getting my hair curled fancy to go on a daddy-daughter date at Red Robin.

"I love you daddy! I love you SO MUCH!"

XOXO,

Bethany

KEAGAN'S TRIBUTE~

" I love to wrestle with you even if my sister becomes the victim."

"I love it when you give me airplane rides because you always wanted an airplane, too."

"No matter what dad does he always brings fun and joy into the family."

"You always let me help you even if it is a BIG job."

"I love it when dad lets me use his equipment even if I am not really going on a fire."

"I love working with you on my quad, trailer & boat. I also like shooting guns and bows with you. Thank you for being the best dad!"

Love, Keagan

A family tradition!

Thank you SO very much Grandma & Grandpa Warta AND a very BIG THANK YOU to Grandpa & Grandma McClendon for making this trip to the cabin possible year after year. Our summers would not be complete without a week at the cabin. The kids look forward to it all year long!

It has been tradition in the Warta family to set one morning aside for a photo shoot. I am always amazed at how we can get so many people ready in a timely manner.

For some of us, this may be "the" family photo for the annual Christmas letter.

Who knows what was said at the time this photo was taken! Tim & Brian had taken the younger children out exploring in the woods.

I just love this photo of my man and my little man.

All the cousins played so well together.

Keagan spent most of the time around the campfire tending to the fire...

Or shooting his bow.

Bethany found a friend in Matt, Aunt Kate's boyfriend.

Aunt Kate has always had special place in Bethany's heart.

Bethany was so fascinated with the caterpillars and the butterflies. The only problem was...she often forgot where she had left him to play.

Looks like a pretty mischievous hand shake.

Grandma and the girls. I just love the smiles!

Bethany & Hailey had their hair french braided for the first time by Grandma. What a treat!

The weather was so cool this year the ladies really enjoyed visiting indoors.

Hailey ventured out on her 3rd hike to Bald Mt. Way to go Hailey!

Aunt Ashlie & Hailey have always been close. They have a lot in common.

Hailey & Grandpa found a patch of snow at the top of Bald Mt.!

Twice Hailey went out with the guys for a little evening fishing.

While we were taking our family photos in the Meadow, a flock of geese became the target of our mischievous kids.

Hailey was cracking us up with her boldness and funny gestures.

Finally, we remembered to bring the butterfly nets and the bug catchers. Boy, were we glad! There were butterflies everywhere!

Cabin withdrawals!

Every year we spend a week at a cabin in LaPorte with Brian's family. Every year the kids are overjoyed to go and sad when we have to leave. This year was no exception! I will post those photos later when I am caught up on laundry and back on my feet again. Until then, enjoy this video of Bethany as she reminisces about her time at the cabin. I think you will all find this too precious!

13 beautiful years!

Brian and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary with a much needed weekend get a way. Thanks Grandpa & Grandma Penterman for making this possible!

Not a typical weekend...

School ended on Thursday followed by a Year End Program & my nieces 8th grade graduation; both on the same night! The next evening my brother graduated from Williams High school. Another late evening. Saturday morning came early as we left for Keagan's last baseball game at 10:30 a.m. The truck was packed with all of our luggage, a wedding gift & food for an end of the season swim/BBQ party. After the game, we headed to Keagan's swim/ BBQ party for baseball. We finished up there around 2:00 p.m. and drove straight to Williams to drop the kiddoes off at my parents house so that we could make it to a 6:00 p.m. wedding in Elk Grove. One of Brian's fellow firefighters was getting married and we took advantage of this time to celebrate our anniversary. By Saturday evening we were both exhausted but very excited to have some time away. On Sunday, we visited Sutter Creek, the Sutter Gold Mine, & the town of Jackson. We always enjoy exploring the history of California together. On Monday, we did a little bit of shopping in the Roseville area before treating my folks to a home-cooked meal. (Something they have looked forward to us doing for them every few months)

We had a wonderful weekend getting rested, reconnecting with one another & planning out our summer!