June 27th 2011

Early morning.  Bryan is out the door by 7:00.  Gabe and I are on the couch reading his book.  Owen is in the kitchen, Eli is asleep.  Gabe and I read for a half an hour.  Uninterrupeted time that I cherish.  I don't yell for Owen because it feels so nice to just snuggle and read with Gabe.  I just read and read as long as I can.

When Owen arrives on the couch he informs us that he has cut his hair.  I give him a huge hug and tell him that we will have to work on it to "even it out".  Inside, I want to scream "Why would you do that?"  But, I have learned not to get upset about these things.....I have learned from experience.
 
Poor Gabriel, he is my experiment.  When he cut his hair (to look like Harry Potter) he got an ear full from me.  I was so angry that he would do such a thing!

So, Owen got a new haircut.  I do like it!  It's growing on me anyway.

After haircuts and breakfast it was time for a little craft time.  I took another deep mommy breath as I drug out the paints....reminding myself that there will be messes and it's OK.

All the boys (including our neighbor Daniel) wanted to draw Ninjas.  OK then, Ninjas it will be (another deep breath).  They painted and painted until all the paper was filled with Ninjas of different colors.

All while, a little brother looked on with interest.  Not wanting to join the painting party just watching and soaking it all in.

Craft time doesn't last to long around here.  After clean up the boys decided to jump into their suits and head outside into the sprinkler.  Running around in the water is really more their style.

As I watched them running through the water I thought about how unexpected my day had been so far.  Haircuts, ninjas, and sprinklers.....not what I would have planned.   But, it seemed just perfect!

Our time

We are not meant to hold onto time.
We are meant to let it go.

Like a cold lemon-aid popsicle on a hot summer day.
To be in the moment and cherish each bite as it melts away.

To fill each moment with simple joy and gratitude.

Not thinking and worrying about the future or the past.

Just allowing the cold sweetness to be your only thought.

Today, I tried my best to control each moment and failed.

Worrying and fretting.   About everything.

Now, with three boys asleep, I will pull a popscicle out of the freezer and remember....

I can't control time and it is my choice how to spend each moment.

Fathers Day

Father's day.  Bryan is up before me.  I hear his voice and say a simple prayer for him.  A prayer of thankfulness for a man that gives everything to his family.  A man that has devoted his entire life to us.  A man that I love more with every year that passes.  A man that is the father of our four children.

We spend some beautiful time together on the couch just talking while the two little boys sleep.  Talking about whatever comes to our mind.  We cherish these moments when we can just sit and enjoy each other.   I soon fall asleep.   I fall asleep and listen to the noises around the house.  Bryan in the kitchen.  The boys running around playing Ninjago.   I treasure the moments as I go in and out of consciousness.

So much relaxation leads to a decision to load up the car and head fishing.  As I pack the cooler and extra clothes, Bryan packs the fishing poles and chairs.  We are headed to spend sometime outdoors as a family.  I just love trips....of any kind.  I can leave the house behind and be outside where nothing else matters.

We drive to Crystal lake near Cheyenne and step out of the Tahoe.  The wind almost blows us away.  We decide to stay.  Tough it out.  The boys play in the mud.  They throw sticks and rocks in the water.  We munch on sandwiches and pistachios. We just let the time pass.  The wind continues to blow us until we decide to call it a day and climb back in the Tahoe.

Not without our prize fish for the day. 

And, a few more pictures to capture our moments on this Father's day.  A day to be thankful for a man who gives us so much.  One that makes his own breakfast and then allows his wife to sleep on the couch most of the morning.  A man each of us dearly loves.

So, Happy Father's day, Daddy.  We love you.

A walk with cousins

Summer means we get to go spend some time in Wyoming with our cousins.  Bryan had to work in Bozeman, MT so we he dropped us off in Wyoming and we spent a whole week at Grandma and Pop's house.

A cool summer afternoon.  5 cousins.  A trail around a pond.   Rocks thrown in the lake.  Races down the path.  Catching sight of turtles and ducks.  2 hours spent together enjoying each other.

Mountain Adventure

OK everyone.

Load up in the "Money Pit" aka the motor home.  All 9 of us.  Grandma, Pop, Megan and her two girls, Kris and her three boys.  We are headed to the mountains for some good old fashioned fun.  Hot dogs, marshmallows, a walk along the river, and of course polo. 

This is my favorite shot of the day.  Owen looking over the bridge at the Story fish hatchery.

I also managed to capture all 5 kids hanging out on the bridge.

 Marshmallow anyone?

Playing polo in the park.

Whitney Park

Grandma and I gathered up the kids one morning and we headed to Whitney Park.

Before we headed to the fountain to get all wet we went to look at the flower gardens.  Grandma knows the names of all the different flowers and we admired them all!

Now it was time to get wet!

 Owen and Addie are such good buddies.   Owen just loved showing Addie the water and running around with her.