Hike

Yesterday I was ambitious and took the boys on a hike at the Johnson Ranch Trail. It was really fun for the most part. It was sunny but not too hot with a nice breeze. I love the sound of the wind blowing through the prairie grass. Isn't it amazing that God made sounds that are pleasant to us? I love that about nature. The birds, the grass, bubbling brooks, all make sounds that are soothing to us. I love God!


My boys are so cute. I was pondering their different personalities as we walked along. Jack naturally takes a lead role, looking out for his little brothers and pointing out all the poison oak. Caleb is always off in some ditch or patch of tall grass trying to capture some wild animal. And Weston flits along, copying one of his brothers or complaining about being sweaty or tired. At one point he sat down on the trail and said "I'm broken".

I think hiking is my new favorite thing. Looking for more trails to trek!

Summer

Finally... today feels like summer. I was woken up at 7 by the sun shining in my window and the birds chirping, and my heart singing

Jesus, how I love you

Jesus, I adore you

Jesus, you still have my affections

And my song will be that I love you

(IHOP, Prayer Room)

- the perfect way to wake up. Its weird to wake up singing a song. I didn't wake up and say to myself "ok think about Jesus" no, I woke up singing that song in my head. My heart sings for you Jesus, in my innermost parts I cry out to you. When I sleep and when I rise your song is on my lips. Oh that it would be that way every day and night of my life!

Went outside around 9 and it was already warm. Pulled weeds, watered plants, surveyed the yard, checked on tortoise, turtles and frog.

All is well and feels like summer today.

Fall Review

This fall has been a whirlwind of activity it seems. Practices and games and school and friends and bible study and church! Its been good but also challenging. The end of the season has finally arrived! Calebs last soccer game was last Saturday. Jacks flag football season is over, they won the championship! Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of that :(. And so now we are back to a slower pace, which I love. Plenty of time to play and read and snuggle and not feel like I have to go a million places.

This is Caleb and his friend Grant. They were best buddies during soccer season. They were either passing the ball to each other, tackling each other or trying to high five each other.

Caleb decided he wanted to be a nerd for Halloween. I love that he figured out his own costume. I just added the tape to the glasses. Of course he already had a million faces to go along with the outfit!
Jack had a harder time choosing what to be and so Matt and I decided for him that he should be a lumberjack. It worked out well I think. And Weston chose the Woody costume out of our costume box. Jack wore that costume when he was little! We met up with some friends and went trick or treating in the village together.
We started out November by hosting a birthday party for a little friend of ours, Liam. He turned 4 and wanted a Star Wars party. So there were many light saber battles in my backyard that night. Liams uncle and his friends came dressed up as well so the kids got to battle a full size Anakin and some other Sith person. His uncle and friends are admittedly Star Wars nerds-and indeed they are! But it made for a super fun party for the kids.

Point of View

Brought to you by Caleb, the new 6 yr. old in the family as of August 31st.

Hermie the Tortoise, Caleb's birthday present.

"Finally I have a pet" he says! (this one I took)

Leopard tortoise up close

Shoes of a 6 yr old explorer and wanderer

From looking at his shoes to straight up into the tree

Farther up! Can you picture this photo shoot?

Self portrait. LOVE this boy!

June 23

This morning we woke up to the fog and cold again so I figured today would be a good day to go the children's museum.

Weston loves motorcycles...from a distance only though apparently. I tried to put him on this one and he started screaming. I think the whole museum was a bit much for West as he was glued to my side the whole time.

I think this toy on the playground was the most fun ... again Weston started screaming when we put him in it.
I can't believe that June is almost over! I feel like summer hasn't even started yet! Jack plays one more game for his All Star tournament on Friday...maybe then it will really feel like summer since we won't have any other obligations.

Closing Ceremonies

10

Jack turned 10 on Wednesday! Oh my... He decided to have some of his friends over during the day for a little last minute impromptu party. We had homemade pizza and thats Root beer in those bottles! The rest of the time they just did their own thing and had a great time. I barely had to do anything accept supply food. He is growing up- oh the bittersweetness of it all!