Say It Ain't So...

Okay so a week has passed without my posting.  And it's not for lack of pictures or content.  I think of things I should post about, but can't get to it right away or I am laying at the pool all day getting tan and then Wham-O it's out of my brain.  But I have tons of pictures so I guess it's time to play journaling catch up.  Here goes:

The dance year ended with Bella's recital. 

This is her lyrical class in their ending pose.

And below that is her leaving the recital with her awards and ribbons.

While at the park one day, this tiny duck walked right up to

a sitting Issac and snuggled in.  His mother was nowhere in sight. 

We adopted him for a couple of days until I could read all about

how you get another adult baby duck to adopt an abandoned duck. 

And ta-da we have him back with his new duck family.

Baseball season ended. 

The boys ended up being ball playing studs after a somewhat rocky beginning. 

Here they are getting their trophies and posing with their team.

 

Father's Day came and went and in case you missed my post about hubster, here, read below.

He got fishing lures and candy a plenty.

It doesn't matter what shirt they have on when they go to bed,

when they wake up this is what I see.

Naked brothers:  Notice the start of pecs on Wy-Guy.

And last I inherited a pair of skinny jeans, nice fit - a little long in the leg.

Guess I'll just always have to wear them with heels.

That's what happens in a week and a half at our house.

Dear Travis,

When I met you I only had flirty lust on the brain.  And you were a perfect candidate with your muscular, compact body and handsome face and southern accent. 

And as I dated you I only had marriage on the brain.  And there too you were just perfect for me with you're never ending example of knowing what was right and doing it, being kind continuously, and oh yeah your awesome body, handsome face and southern accent. 

And once we were married I had children on the brain.  And it just turns out that you were spectacular for me there too, with your never ending patience and easy nature, your joy in the journey attitude and oh yeah knowing and doing what is right, constant kindness, your awesome body, handsome face, and a little less prevalent southern drawl. 

So I guess I consider myself super lucky that when I started randomly placing myself in your path - read: stalking you - that I couldn't have picked more perfectly.  Because even though I may have lacked the foresight to pick that all up front at first sight, we've managed it all wonderfully together.

And so when I say I think you are the world's best dad, I mean it, and when I say you are an even better husband, if that is even possible, I know it's true.  And when I say I can't wait for forever with you - I live every principle of goodness or righteousness that might seem hard at the time, because I know that you are the reward at the end.  Some may be waiting for their mansions in heaven, some may want an eternal reward, but Babe...all I need is more of you - forever.

Happy Father's Day,
your co-conspirator in eternal family making

P.S.  Be glad I love you, because I almost scanned the picture of you on our honeymoon laying in bed as an example of your awesome body and handsome face :)

Whine, Whine, Whine

For those who jealously think that my life is perfectly charming and trouble free, read on - you'll feel better.  If you think otherwise be prepared because I have at least four paragraphs of whine in me...starting now!

But guess what, I saved the post I had written which was closer to eight paragraphs of whine, waiting to see if I really wanted to post it.  I mean it really was self indulgent complaining.  And guess what, in that time - I remembered one fact - someone always has it worse than me, and likely people have it better than me, although I'm skeptical.  And my job is to make the most of my happiness and so I'm doing that. 

And for me that means not dwelling on the negative but focusing on the positive instead.  So I'm going to go tuck my kids into bed, earlier than normal and kiss them goodnight.  And treat myself to take out Mexican food, and wonder how I got so lucky to be able to get take out whenever I want and sit in my air conditioned house with four beautiful, active, independent children laying sound asleep in bed with tanned bodies and extreme exhaust from a very sun coma filled week at the pool. 

Peace out!

Gratitude Cont...

So a couple have asked about the details of what I am so grateful about, well I guess nothing except for my very happy, eternal family.  And to numerically number/name it is to say:

14 - end of school award/certificates (and I'm not referring to generic ones, but ones that are actually earned and so there comes a great sense of personal accomplishment)
3 - perfect or near perfect report cards
Half a dozen - Nice notes, emails or phone calls about my children and how great they are
A dozen - Nice notes, emails or phone calls thanking me for my service as PTO president
5 - Gift plants from teachers for me
4 - Happy, grateful children
1 - Amusement Park Trip
1 - Very hard working husband

And not so numerically,
my family who loves to play together,
who travels well in the car together,
two boys who played baseball for the first year ever and picked it up like champs,
our pool pass,
no financial worries,
the school year being over,
the Women's Club of Manheim year being over,
the end of being PTO president,
the commitment to play more with my kids and seeing the effects of that.

I don't know I just feel happy and grateful.  My family and life are just so much better than I ever imagined them to be when I was younger.  Now for the pics from the last week of school, elementary school graduation, fourth grade play, field day, and ensuing celebration at the amusement park, and first day of summer party...

Gratitude

Sometimes my life feels too good to be true.  And all I can think is how grateful I am.  And all I want to do is slow it down and make it last forever.  But since every year feels this good I'll keep embracing it changes and all.

More details to come later, but it's the last day of school and we have traditions to uphold and Knoebels to go to.  Peace out!

What a Good Looking Group

I don't know why but sometimes the camera lens just captures something my human eye can't.

These pictures are just a few instances.

Wyatt is getting so grown up looking.

Issac is adorable even with his glasses.

 Kody can get so excited.

 These boys have some of the best smiles ever.

Bella really is smarter than me.

* Short story - we are at Lancaster Science Factory here.  There are lots of logic and reasoning puzzles.  I sit down to this one and start to think and Bella walks up and looks at it.  Oh that's easy she says.  I say oh really, then let me see you do it.  She continues to do the puzzle in less than 30 seconds.  This is her gloating smile of victory.

We Did Celebrate

Although I have forgotten to post about Memorial Day, we did indeed celebrate.  On Sunday we had a neighborhood bash, Monday a church one.  Travis was home.  Yeah!

We have great friends.  They are good fathers.  And they are our neighbors.  We love celebrating with them.  And always ending up playing family games of kickball, wiffle ball, or some other sport. 

In other news the bird cage sold.  Now does anyone want to buy a train table with all the tracks, etc....?