a gift

A piece of joy from my day.  A beautiful gift from a wonderful, generous husband and father.  As I'm cleaning my kitchen, I look up and see this sight and my heart swells with love.  I wanted to capture this imagine hoping that I can continue this feeling long after the flowers have gone.

Fun Run

Gabe's school had a fun run.  I brought the little boys and we ran with Gabe.  Here are the kids enjoying pop cycles after our run.

Easter Eggs

Easter egg fun in Wyoming with Amaya, Adaline, Tyler and Austin.  We had a great time.

Gabe's post

I sat down this afternoon to post my pictures of our Easter trip to Wyoming.  Gabe snuggled up beside me and asked if he could help me with my blog.  "Sure", I said.  So, he choose the pictures and explained them in his words.  Enjoy!

This is Austin and Gabe on Austin's birthday.  His cake has not very many frosting.  I don't eat any cake.

This is me and Amaya.  We are laying down on the couch waiting for Owen to attack us.  Owen attacks us because he thinks it is funny.  Me and Amaya like when Owen is attacking us.

This is Eli.  He is shooting basketballs in the hoop.  He likes to shoot basketballs in the hoop.  He likes sports.  Owen doesn't attack Eli because he is just a baby.  My family likes Eli very much.  They like to watch Eli shoot basketballs into the hoop.

This is Adaline and Eli playing together.  I have a story to tell you.  Once Eli tried to sit on Adaline.  It was funny.  Eli and Adaline like to play together.

This is Eli.  This is Eli's toy.  We call it the blower thing.  It holds balls and they may blow up and out.  Eli likes to play with the blower thing.  It plays music.  Eli likes music.  I think that is it.

This is our family.  Our family likes to eat together.  We also like to watch the basketball or baseball games.

My mountain road

I have started seeing my life as a journey (as I have said before). Today, I am on a curvy mountainous dirt road.  I can't see very far ahead to know exactly where I will be next and there are times that it is impossible to look back and know where I have been.   But, most importantly, I have to stay focused on the present moment because I may miss the next turn or drive right off the road.  Oh, and did I mention the hills?  Those big, steep hills that keep going up and up and up.  They exhaust me and sometimes I don't feel like I will ever make it to the top. There are times that  I am tempted to just quit but I know that I have to keep going otherwise I will slide all the way to the bottom again.  This journey takes strength, patience, and perseverance.

Tonight, on my journey, I reached the top of a hill.  I reached the top of the hill and stopped and gazed out over the view of my life for just a moment.  I looked back over my windey road, that road that I have been traveling, and I was amazed at all the progress that I made.  I was amazed to see where this journey has taken me and how far that I have come.   I sat on that mountain top and smiled to myself and all that I am today.  I felt an unexplainable joy of accomplishment and contentment.  I stayed on the path, I continued step by step up that hill, and I made it to the top.

Now, I am ready for the next big hill.  I am ready to keep persevering down this road not knowing where I am going or how long I will take to get there.   I just have faith that I am on the right road and headed in the right direction.  And, I am determined to enjoy each part of this journey.   To stop at each mountain top, look back over where I have been, and keep going with thankfulness and faith.  To take a deep breath and take all that I have learned with me while looking forward to the journey ahead.  The anticipation of the journey fills me with unexplained excitement because I know I can just let go, put one foot in front of the other, and continue traveling into the unknown.  What a amazing life I lead.

A Psalm of David.  Psalm 25:4-8
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

The Dark Side

Most mornings around here start with a battle for good and evil.  A Jedi (Gabe) and his Padawan (Owen) bravely set out to conquer the Sith and save man kind.  Thank goodness they are so vigilant about saving our universe because I don't know what we would do if evil prevailed. 

One afternoon, it all changed.  My Jedi's turned to the dark side without warning.  I was saddened by their obvious turn to he dark side but, I believe that good will eventually prevail.  Here they are....

A little Rockies

 The perfect Saturday night in Colorado.  We loaded the boys in the car and headed out for a baseball game at Coors field.  The boys were very excited to go into downtown Denver and watch the Rockies. 

With Eli buckled in his stroller and they other two boys ready to go we headed into the stadium to find our seats.  Lucky for us a Rockies bus picked us up on the way into the field because we were a long way from the stadium.  The boys love riding in the bus!

Bryan and I were actually very pleased.  The boys made it all the way through the 7th inning before it was time to go home.  Bribing them with all kinds of yummy food always helps! 

Owen's favorite

Gabe's favorite

17 months old

What has this 17 month old been doing?

Mostly he has been trying to keep up with his big brothers.  He is starting to talk and waddles everywhere after Gabe and Owen.  He walks like a drunken sailor but, as the days pass he is getting much more steady on his feet.  His favorite word is "bu".  Bu, bu, bu, bu.  This means, mom I want to push the button.  He loves buttons.  He pushes the garage door button, the buttons on the microwave, and the light switches.  He also loves any toys that have buttons on them and when he can get his hands on Gabe's Nintendo, he is in heaven.

His favorite word in the is Da Dough.  Translation-garbage.  Eli loves to throw things in the garbage.  He waddles across the room with object in hand saying "da dough" and heads straight for the garbage can. After he throws the object away, he is so proud of himself. He turns around and proudly announces, "da dough".  There have been several objects around our house that have gone missing in the past few weeks....we are sure they ended up in the "da dough".

One of Eli's favorite foods is "sheeee"  Translation:  cheese.  If it has cheese in it or on it, he will eat it.  He loves to sit up on the counter and eat sheee while I am making dinner.

Gotta love 17 months.

spring time

Saturday morning.  It's spring and the weather is perfect.  We are spending the day relaxing at home.  Mid morning we decide to head outside for a little fishing and bike riding.  We spent most of the morning enjoying the spring weather.

Yogurt

 Eli loves yogurt.  When he is hungry, he opens the door to the refridgerator and brings me a cup of yogurt.  Then, he makes a big mess because he just has to do it himself!  Here he is enjoying his favorite snack.

An ordinary day

Today is an average day in the Dahl household.  A normal school day filled with growing, learning, and fun.  My day started early.  Before the sun turned the sky orange, Bridger and I walk around the lake.  Early in the morning, I can let Bridger run free.  He loves to run.  He bounds down the path with his ears flying in the wind and he tail wagging.  And as I walk around the lake, I think about my boys and the day we had ahead of us.  A quiet peace came over me as I realized how much I look forward to my day.  A quiet joy settled into my heart as I thought of my husband, my boys, and our life together.

When I arrive back at the house, I head into the kitchen to make breakfast for my three munchkins.  Today it was oatmeal with cuties and apple juice.  At about 6:30, I hear 4 little feet running down the stairs.  The boys are up and ready to start their day.  Before they will even consider breakfast they have to find their light sabors and have one short battle. The battle for good and evil has begun.   I let them play for a few minutes, before I remind them that breakfast is on the table and needs to be eaten.  This is the first of many warnings to finish eating.  They would much rather be playing or telling a story then to actually be eating.  Eventually, breakfast is eaten and it's time to get ready for school.   As we were walking up the the stairs, I can hear little Eli saying "Upa, Upa, Upa".  Which means get me out of this crib!

It's 7:30.  All three boys are in the car.  Ready to take Gabe to school.  Owen is going to a playdate with his friends Jake and Nate.  He asks me, "mom can we just go to straight to Nate's".  No, I say,"we have to take your brother to school."  Thankfully, he is satisfied with this and we are on our way.  Gabe is dropped off at school.  Owen at Nate's.   I have Eli to myself for three whole hours.

Eli and I pay some basketball, read a little story, and fold a lot of laundry.  The time flies and it's time to go and get the boys.  Bridger needs another walk so we walk to the school and pick up Gabe and Owen.  Next up, lunch and more laundry.  I make some mac and cheese and peas.  This is a favorite lunch and I don't hear any whining (which I am very thankful for).  After lunch, we decide to play a little golf.  All the boys take their clubs out to the lake and they play golf for about an hour before it's time for Eli's nap.

And, here we are.  Eli is napping.  The boys are playing a game of Star Wars and I'm working a little on the computer.  Again, I smile with a quiet peace knowing my day and all that is in it is perfect.

Here is a picture of the boys waiting for their lunch.