11 years old

Gabriel's birthday fell on a Sunday this year.  11 years old.   5th grade. A handsome, smart, energized young man.   He is my first and so very special to me in so many ways.   He is growing up and proving to be a smart, kindhearted, loving young man.  

I had a very special surprise planned for him this year.   Something that would last longer then a gadget or toy.  Something he could remember always.  A visit from Grammy and Jackson!

Plans were made to have Grammy and Jackson come the weekend of his party. Because a weekend spent with cousin Jack is better then any gift in the world. 

The day off their arrival, Owen was home sick.  I informed him he would have to come to the airport with me to get a box for his daddy's work. Boy, he groaned and cried and complained.  He didn't want to go all the way to the airport. We loaded in the car anyway and away we went.  When we arrived I told him to get out and help me with the box.  And instead of a box it was Jack.  He was so excited. 

All the way home the boys planned their surprise for Gabe.  They would hide in the guest room and surprise hm as soon as he got home from school.   Gabriel couldn't believe his cousin had come all that way.  He loved it!

Friday night was his party.   Destiny cake was baked and 5 boys arrived for a pool party and a sleep over. It was time to get a little rowdy and stay up all night. 

We had such a good time.  Happy 11th birthday, Gabriel. 

Home

My legs ache as we pull into the driveway at 12:30 pm.   I push open the car door into our overgrown Palo Verde tree in the driveway.  As I take a deep breath, the heat fills my lungs and I know that I am home.   Home after a 17 hour car ride with 4 children.  Our Traverse even seems to take a deep breath after all those miles driven, piled high with bags and our Wyoming beef strapped onto the back.   We make our way into the house and crawl into our beds.   Home at last.

It seems hotter than usual, so we spend all of Sunday in the pool.   Coming inside to make a quick meal and back into the water where it is cool and we can be together.   It feels so good to be here in this beautiful place.  All together.  A place we have created together and call our home.

I soon realize that it wasn't just me that felt hot.   It was hot.  Extremely hot (111 degrees hot) and our air conditioning wasn't working.   That explains why we seemed so miserable.   And thank goodness for air conditioning repair men.  Those men who can make our life much more bearable.

Daddy had to go back to work on Monday and as the kids and I finished breakfast reality hit us.   We had the whole day stretched out in front of us.   There were no cousins to play with.   No Grammy's and Grandma's to make us dinner.  No more Wyoming summer left.   It's always an adjustment.  Adjusting to our routine and what is expected of us at home.   The first day is always the hardest and at the end of the day I wanted to resign from my job as Mommy.   To resign and walk away.   And, I get to.  I get to go to bed and start again tomorrow.   The great thing about being a mom is that you can never really quit.   No matter how you felt the day before.   And the blessing of the next morning comes and the day before is a distant memory as you start again.

Tuesday brought friends and laughter and excitement.    It was so good to see everyone and play with our friends.   We missed them and they have become our family here.   Those hugs we received after being gone for 6 weeks were so welcomed today.   While the Mommy's were all hugging hello, the little girls preferred to crawl under the table, chew gum, and talk princesses.

As the heat rose, we came home and snuggled in for some reading time.  This was my favorite part of our day.    The part where my floor is covered in books and we are all sprawled out together turning pages and getting lost in a story.

As Gabe and Owen read to Grace I silently sat and watched them, feeling thankful.   Knowing that no matter what else was happing this moment was perfect.

The desert has called us home and we are so glad to be back.   We were so thankful that we got to spend so much time with our family in the mountains and we can't wait to go back next year yet we know this is where we need to be.   This place we call our home.

Just a Wednesday.

The normal everyday feels so good. It feels so good to be sitting poolside watching 4 kids swim around.  It's really not quiet and relaxing because I keep having to say.....Gabriel stop splashing. Gabriel if you do that again you will get out.  Eli stop screaming.  Owen help your sister.  Then each child has to get out to go potty. Then they have to look for their lost goggles.  Really it's anything but relaxing but it is our normal.  It is our day today. 

I had friends over today and as they left I worried that they wouldn't ever come back.  You know with all the screaming and the naked 2 year old that decided she wanted to take her clothes off.  I worried.....then I took a deep breath and decided that this is who we are right now.  No need to try and be someone else.  Maybe in 10 years you can come over to my house and enjoy a nice quiet cup of coffee.   Not today.  

The cooking soothed me.  I made dinner. I tried something new.  Cauliflower rice. It was amazing and all the kids except Eli ate it.    I love it when something like that works.  Such satisfaction to know my kids are eating healthy.  This to me means pure happiness. 

Best part of the day.  Playing crazy 8's with Owen. We laughed and had to play 3 times until he won.   

Our day was full of friends and family togetherness. Games and laundry.  So very blessed on a hot Arizona summer day.