Hiking with a ham

Since shaving my head, it seems like I've been standing in that moment - feeling  the freedom and perhaps a rushing current of life sounding like loud applause for that moment in time.  I guess I've been enjoying the little details of life a little bit more, my senses heightened to the things I really have to be thankful for.

(By the way, friends, some of my hair seems to be wanting to start to come back.  I've been finding some smidglings - my best made up word - of peach fuzz and even some dark stuff coming through in a few spots.  Yay!)

Yesterday we decided to take a hike.  We left our little down and drove 20 minutes to a gorgeous park with amazing views and these crazy rock formations.  We've become those people who live here that rarely take advantage of whats so amazing and so close to us.  (So, in the last 3 weeks, we've gone 3 different times! Yep!) Yesterday, we explored and applauded when we found ground squirrels and ooh'd and ahh'd at the beautiful scene around us Braeden likes to call "the nature."

There's something about "the nature" that calls out the free spirit in my kiddos and convinces us to leave irritation and bad attitudes behind at the car.  Figuratively and literally a breath of fresh air.

We were daring, squeezing through small gaps between gigantic rocks and crouching through caves where foxes and wolves must live.

Landen just wanted to celebrate the fact that I had a camera for him to pose for with a few dance moves.  And I applauded him greatly after his show was over.  

(Such a ham, he is!)

Our little excursion made us late for dinner, baths, and bedtimes, but as we tucked our kiddos into bed, tired out ourselves from our adventure, I enjoyed knowing when we wrote on their calendars for that day, that that was their favorite part of the day - and mine, too.

I've decided to challenge myself to find new 'adventures' every day this week.  I'm going to search for something inspiring to take pictures of, or take a walk somewhere in our little town that we haven't explored yet.  Maybe I'll create something new to hang in our home.  We'll see.  I think my soul will thank me for it!

And maybe then  I'll also be inspired to blog again (I've really kind of missed it the last several weeks!).

Oh, and I must add briefly a good reason to celebrate life - the birth of my new niece and nephew (and I'll take this moment to tease my friends who have asked if they were identical.  Haha!  ;) )

And, I have to say my heart was stilled a bit when my sweet girl held those babies for the first time.  She is already such a little mama, but holding those teeny babies in her arms... Ah!  

And Braeden, who was so apprehensive about holding them was so sweet and gentle (and I believe secretly pleased with himself).  He was a natural!

It's a treat to see my babies loving on these precious tiny babies.  

So, things I've been thankful for this week: family hiking (especially with the ham), teeny tiny babies, my babies holding babies,  and finally hitting publish on this blog again!

What are you thankful for so far this week?  What adventures might you seek out?  I'd love to hear!

 

Full of the fullness

These last few weeks have been full of the fullness of relationships.  Yep, full of the fullness.  Full x 2.  It's been good.  :)  This past weekend Emerson and I took off to spend some time with some old, dear friends, the Archers.  It was a wonderful time of catching up and relaxing.

Our families, if you weren't aware, actually "lived together" for about 3 years at one point.  We rented their basement apartment from them and eventually moved with them into a larger home, creating an apartment of our own connected to them.  Our girls, Emerson and Aliyah, 9 months apart, spent the first few years of their lives not knowing anything other than seeing each other every day, eating many many meals together and taking baths as babies together.  We served alongside this family in ministry.  Their family was there for us during the ups and downs of job losses and job gains.  They celebrating with us during the birth of Braeden and shorty after we celebrated the welcoming of their daughter, Jenayah.  In short, we shared life together.

(I somehow missed Tony in here, too.  Sorry, Tony!)

Every morning one of our girls would knock on the dividing door of our living spaces excited to play, often spending much of the day together.  At night after we had dinner and the girls would take their bath, Mellany and I would often sit together, getting our daughters ready for bed while they watched a short video - most often Praise Baby or Noodle Bug - lotioning arms and legs, combing hair, diapering, and pajamas.  Then over the years, we added two more of our kids into the mix.  This was our norm for so long.



But as life moves quickly, as it often does, we found we were pregnant with Landen forcing us to find a space that would accommodate our growing needs a little better.  Shortly after we moved, they did, too, but closer to family in a town nearly two hours away.  Our families have been growing and the chance to see each other has been few and far between these days.



But when we do, it's magic.  These girls of ours, not having seen each other in several months, pick up right where they left off.  Their connection is real and I pray that they can remain life long friends.  And of course, my time with Mellany is so blessed, too.  It's refreshing and relaxing to spend time with old friends who know our family and cares about and loves us.  It was fun to laugh at some old memories and share the current events of life now and watch our girls laugh and play.







I sometimes think I took for granted the set-up we had those years.  It was a very special time indeed.




(These shots courtesy of Aliyah, age 8 and Jenayah, age 4)


We've been able to cross paths of not only the Archers, but some family, too, in recent days.  It reminds me of why these relationships are so important have been prominent.  Desiring my kids to know and be known among those who have supported, loved, and encouraged us on life's roads has been on my mind lately.  I'm thankful that we have so many of those relationships in close proximity, to keep our foundation firm under our family's feet.  We've been blessed indeed.

The glimpses of some of these other moments the past few weeks:

Celebrating Landen with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.






(The "Jake" Emerson drew freehand for Landen on his birthday)








(My sister who is pregnant - with twins!!)



Long overdue time with Grandmommy:





Grandpa was in town for a weekend, visiting from North Carolina:



And Jon was a sport jumping in the pool with the kids!















And finally some other things I've been enjoying:

Scoping out spots for upcoming photo shoots and getting to test it out on Emerson!







Finding a ladybug in March!



Watching my kids play with this hilarious app on my phone.



And catching Landen from afar.

 

Oh!  I almost forgot!  We are no longer contributing our money to the diaper industry!  Landen is officially a potty trained boy!  Woo hoo!!!

Have a great Monday!

What December looks like...

It's been a while since I've posted, but our home has been full this month of December.  As hard as it is to see time pass so quickly and the kids grow and change even more quickly, I love what comes with age - more understanding, more conversation, more wonder and awe of the spirit of this season.  And there has been plenty of all of these things.  New traditions have been started, old ones continue, and my love of sharing the meanings of the traditions we hold dear has not faded one bit.  Here is a glimpse of what the past few weeks have held for us!

Snow fun!

New traditions: Our Jesse Tree

Preschool Christmas programs (there's Braeden)!

Taking family Christmas pictures of good friends

Go Cowboys!

Christmas wonder.

Can I also just throw out there how thankful I am for social media?  I know it can be such a time suck, I know it can be an unhealthy thing, but I just have to say I'm grateful for the far reaching way of receiving and giving support, empathy, and encouragement from family and friends you never thought you'd see again.   These past few months have been full of an encouragement I've not known was possible except through Facebook.

Finally, the last picture I posted above, the one of Emerson and the tree, is up for votes on a local holiday photo contest.  If you wouldn't mind stopping by and giving me your vote (only if you believe I truly deserve it!) I would be grateful!  There are some pretty nice prizes up for grabs!  Oh, and you can vote once a day until the 22nd.  Thank you!  The link is http://laramielive.com/holiday-lights-photo-contest-voting-now-open/  .  It's the 5th photo and the caption is Kelly- Child by Christmas Tree.

I hope you are enjoying the season and breathing in the feeling of celebration.  I'm trying to savor every moment!

(P.S.  I'm using these last two pictures for my You Capture: Light post today!  Merry Christmas!)