The secret

There are some days that the walls of our home start to close in on us.  The asphalt is to hot and there is no where to cast a line.  We all start to feel it.  We look at each other and know we have to find some wide open spaces.  We have a secret to surviving here in the middle of Thornton, CO with three little boys from Wyoming. 

We want to sit by the bank of a river.  Digging in the mud and throwing rocks.  We want to feel the cool mountain air.  To just be together with our fishing lines in the water and our lunch spread out in front of us.

So, we load everyone up and we head out.  Sometimes we go north to Wyoming.  Sometimes we brave the crowds and stay in Colorado.

This particular afternoon we headed to Estes Park.  It refreshed our souls as we enjoyed the mountains and do what we do best.  FISH.

When the day was done we all felt better.  We were muddy.  We were exhausted.  And, we had caught a few fish.  Now, we could go back and face the city....the traffic, concrete, and house filled horizons.  With a smile on our face...our secret never fails us.  It just helps us Wyomingites survive one more week in the city.

Butterfly Pavilion

Three beautiful cousins!  I love this picture.

In the middle of the hot sun in July....Amaya came to stay with us for a week.  Then, Cousin Britt flew in from Jersey City.  It was a fun week!

One afternoon we decided to venture to the Butterfly Pavilion to see all the bugs and beautiful butterfly's.  We had a great time.

Searching for butterflies.

 After exploring all the insects and aquariums we ventured to the game room. 

This game was a favorite of the boys.  Throwing bean bags into holes in the wall.  They loved it.

Polo Afternoon

If you are a Brotherton/Dahl/Cook and you are in Sheridan on a Sunday afternoon....you will be out at the polo field.  Enjoying the beautiful Big Horns and watching Pop play polo.

The necessities include lunch, lawn chairs, and some shade.

Even the little ones love to watch polo.

Here comes Pop and Big Dog!!

And, when we get a little bored....we head over to the sprinklers and get cooled off.

But, we have to hurry back to the field because it is now time to stomp divots.  A very important job during half time.

And, we always cheer when Pop's team wins.

 We love the summer polo season in Wyoming!

Expectant

I sit in the dark.  The glow of the computer screen as my light.  All my boys asleep upstairs.  Their gentle snoring assuring me that my day is done.

I sit here and my back aches.  I stretch forward to get the kinks out.  I feel every sensation.  My skin stretching, my baby kicking, my breath going in and out.

I think about the baby girl inside.  I try and picture her.  What she will look like?  Who will she become?  How will my family change when she arrives? I know her time to emerge is coming soon.

Then wishing it would last longer.....this pregnancy.  I only wish this for selfish reasons.  You see, her every need is met in this moment.  After she is born, I will not be able to meet all her needs.  There will be late nights, early mornings, and the "witching hour" in which she will cry and I won't know the reason.  I will rock her, and sing to her, and hold her.  I will become frustrated and we will both fight back our tears.  And, as she grows....so will I.

I will learn to manage 4 instead of 3.  It will be an uphill climb.  There will be moments when I will want to quit.  But, I know in the struggle I will learn to manage.  We will all manage, as a family, each in our own way. 

Tonight as I feel the fullness of my pregnancy, I know how blessed I am.  I am expectant.  I am thankful.  Waiting each day for a little girl who will change all of us in ways we can't even imagine.

Peek a boo

I have a few moments before I run and get the boys from school.  A few moments in which to decide how best to use my time.   I thought I would unpack a few boxes (it's what a really should be doing). These boxes are still everywhere surrounding me like little mountains.

Eli yells at me from behind the couch. "Peek a boo" he says.

I smile.  Boxes?  Who has time for boxes?  We play peek a boo for several minutes and I long to feel my camera between my fingers.  To just snap a few shots of this moment today.  This moment that I choose peek a boo over a cardboard box filled with "stuff".

A moment of joy in my day.  My two year old son with his favorite hat, peeking from behind the couch.  Laughing that belly laugh when I find him.  Hearing both our laughter and it sounds like pure joy.

I also have to comment on Eli's hat.  He has been wearing it nonstop for several weeks.  It was Bryan's hat when he was a little boy.  A souvenir from Disney Land....that is still being cherished.