Days like today remind me of why I want to have a family.  The hard work notwithstanding, I don’t think I could live my life without sticky kisses, tiny snuggles, and someone to tug on my sleeve and ask “Why?” until I ran out of answers.

Meet the Wheelers.  Jason and Kara are doing a fantastic job of raising three beautiful, spirited children.  Little Eli is all smiles.  Their girls are smart and confident, and when you meet them it will be clear that their parents have taught them manners.  And I mean actual manners, not just please and thank you.  Example: When Brooklyn took a brief watermelon break after running around, she purposely scooted to the edge of the blanket and let the watermelon drip into the grass instead of on the blanket.  Without being asked.  Amazing.

Jason just landed a competitive architecture fellowship in St. George Utah and Kara teaches English as a foreign language.  They recently spent time in France, and French seems to still pervade their family lexicon.  There was a moment when we were playing around this morning when things suddenly started happening in French, which only adds to this beautiful family’s charm.  I love spending time with them and wish them all the best for the St. George chapter of their lives.

While searching Champaign-Urbana for a suitable place to capture some family fun, I found this place:

Isn’t it magical?  Don’t you want to just pack up a lunch and have a picnic between the trees?

So we did.  Then we played hide-and-go seek, held races, and climbed trees.  I hope we captured some genuine moments and happy childhood memories today.

Couldn’t you just pack him up and and take him home?  I could!

This picture touches me.  There is nothing in the world like a sister:

Then we played Hide and Seek…

All this because these two fell in love: