Pool Day

The Boy/Beaver tail-slapping.  Miles has been really into this Nature documentary "Leave it to Beaver" and watched it about ten times.  So when we got the pool out it just made sense that he was a beaver... for about 4 hours.

Daddy's Birthday

 Daddy's Royal Staircase.

The boys decorated as much s they could to surprise Daddy!

Bowman Lake with the Meades- Camping Pics

 Will and Mark making dinner

 Miles and Sammy

The boys

 Mark and Cloe keeping warm

 Boys on the bridge.

Alison took this.

Bowman Lake with the Meades- Fishing Pics

My friend Alison took some great pics of the kids and I when we all went camping at Bowman Lake State Park.  Despite the cold we all had a great time!

Birthdiversary

 Homemade grilled naan pizzas to celebrate the 12th anniversary/ 35th birthday

More Lake Eaton

 The 2 new tents! Coleman 8 person instant Cabin with Rainfly,a nd Coleman 2 person Pop-Up

 My fire!  Before it went out...

 The boy finally got out of bed

 Hiking to Buttermilk Falls

 Buttermilk Falls

 Ice Cream Sundaes after almost 9 miles

Trails and Towers

 Goodnow Fire Tower!

 The View

 Blue Mountain Fire Tower

 The View!

My lil trooper!  So proud of him

Camping at Lake Eaton

 The Boy and the Lake.  

 Hauling Wood

 One of the fires

Kayaking with Unkle Mike

and afterword...

Love this lady!  I knew she wouldn't be able to make it to the reception with 30 other people, so I gave her a sneak-peek at the (finally) finished product! Her reaction when I came down the stairs in this dress was priceless.  She made it all worthwhile- the late nights scrapbooking, practicing icing on cookies, the invitations, guest book, food planning and prep, family drama, sewing the waistline of this dress five times over, and of course countless hours of one-on-one religion training with my 7 year old.

Even Mark couldn't hold back a compliment when he wrote at school: "My Mom looked prettiest at my first communion."

Nothing could have prepared me for seeing my boy in full communion with Christ.  I had always told people I wanted it to be special for it and it was!  I remembered my own first communion/ confirmation in 1998 as a  culmination of hard work and sacrifice, but this was so much more!  For me it was about freedom and adulthood in the Church, taking that leap of faith to follow where the Lord was leading.  For my son it was the next natural step.  He will not feel the weight of his commitment until confirmation (2024).  Until then I leave it to God to lead my child as he makes his way along with path of faith.

Truly God worked marvels in my sight and Holy is His Name!

Broken Bed :(

So Miles bed frame snapped in half when I went to sit on it.  Only had the thing for 15 months, but he's back on a mattress on the floor again.  More accurately he's in mommy's bed every night.  Just can't win here.

More Kid Pics

 The Pop-Up tent has arrived!

 Enjoying his new tent!

 A picture of Miles and Mark

So grown up

Catch of the Day

 Last week Miles and I decided to try fishing again at Gillie Lake now that the ice had melted.

 And I caught one!

 And another!

 And a third!

And a Big Kahuna!  After this one I decided to call it a day and stop torturing the poor things.

Happy Mother's Day

I have been blessed with many amazing women in my life.  Five aunts, two grandmothers, and my own mother.  My five aunts have continually offered me wisdom, openness, and of course they are the most fun!  I love spending time with them, knowing that they love me as their own.

Having two grandmothers growing up was a treasure that I never took for granted.  I loved hearing their stories and their insights. Now as an adult I cherish each moment I have with this elder generation, wrapping myself in the comfort of her presence.

When I think of my own mother I imagine a lioness. Strong, protective, and gentle. But something else too which has has profoundly affected me as well as all who know her:  she has a servant's heart.  The heart that seeks to give, pouring itself without limit into any and all who are needy, is the heart that is nearest to the Lord.  She is an example of devotion and closeness to God.  Never wavering in her faith no matter the storm that may blow nor the stones that are thrown.

I pray that today and everyday I may be fully aware of the precious gift of motherhood that these women have brought into my life.  

Post Communion Candids!

 Exactly how I felt after all that hard work!

Stayed in his dress clothes till bedtime

1st Communion

 The Man. 

Getting ready with his class.