snapshots

A few snapshots showing what we've been up to.  

 I love this one of Mason using his nail gun just like Grandpa.  This same day he also told us he was "fixing Grandpa's mistakes."  Ha. 

More to come later!

wordless wednesday

friends

The kiddos and I got to spend a special morning with some of my best friends from high school. We now live in three different states, but it just so happened that we were able to meet up at one of our old stomping grounds.  Brunch at the park.  It was a beautiful morning, and a beautiful time together.  

We tried to get a picture of all 8 kids. Actually 7 of the kids since tiny Barrett was sleeping away.

Mason and Livvy had a blast chasing each other around the park, swinging, going down the slides, and spashing in the water left behind from the sprinklers. 

Even though it's been years since some of us have seen each other, nothing changes true friendship. 

bunkhouse

We spent the weekend with Ryan's parents working on what we've unofficially called "the bunkhouse."  Ryan's parents have owned this property for several years and we are finally putting up a small building of sorts.  Mostly to sleep in.  

We got a bit of a later start than planned on Saturday due to a broken axle on our trailer that was hauling the skidloader.  Luckliy, we were not more than a few miles from home.  We unloaded the skidloader and left it at a friend's house while we brought the broken trailer home, went into town and borrowed another trailer from some friends, and went back to pick up the skidloader.  Then it was off to work...hauling the skidloader on a little bit smaller trailer with no lights or brakes. On the way Ryan remembered that unfortunatly he and his dad left some of the materials they needed at Lowe's (over an hour away).  They loaded the concrete into the truck the night before, but forgot the tubing that they had already paid for (I'm sure they have a real name...but they looked like cardboard tubes to pour the concrete in).  So, his parents headed to our local Ace and they happened to have some in stock.  

Grammie and I took turns helping out with the work and playing with the kids.  I'm surprised at how well they did being outside all day for two whole days.  They kept themselves  entertained digging up rocks, building roads, going on walks, having picnics, studying flowers, moving logs and branches and "helping."  Mason's favorite part was riding in the skidloader with Grandpa.  Emma took a few naps in her carseat. 

We were commenting on how well she slept with all the white noise from the log splitter.  A few mintues later, Mason was playing with his yellow truck and he told Grammie "this one makes yellow noise."  We got a good laugh about that.

At the end of the weekend we cleared out a ton of wood and poured six concrete posts.   Next weekend should bring the floor and some framing! 

Before:

After: 

Mason keeps getting the bunkhouse confused with a bunkbed.  He walked around all weekend saying "where's the bunkhouse?  I'm going to sleep on top!" 

wordless wednesday

sweet summer

We're enjoying summer to the fullest here!  We just spent a wonderful weekend celebrating my sweet cousins's wedding.  Everything was so beautiful.  I must have left all the picture taking to the professionals because I didn't snap a single photo.  These are from one of my cousins:

It was so awesome to have all my family here to celebrate this awesome event.  Whenever I go to a wedding I am always overwhelmed with memories of my own wedding.  I am so excited for Marylin and Jeb as they start their life together. 

 

We've been busy riding new bikes, trying new recipes, going to swimming lessons for Mason, listening to thunder storms, and planning some projects with Ryan's parents. The next few weekends promise to be full of lots of dirt, mountain settings, and fun (with a little work mixed in!) After I get back from a couple days with my best friend that is. 

Also...the other day Mason said thank you when I gave him his water bottle.  I said thank you for using your manners.  He replied with "I was only using one manner mama.  I use them one at a time." 

make a joyful noise

There's been a lot of this going on at our house:

Usually initiated by Emma. She's a music lover.  Mason sometimes joins her on the piano.  Sometimes he finds a book to be his drum or some other toy to be his guitar.  Emma clicks her tongue or hums and bops her head up and down. Mason sings. I smile. 

parks to camping to greeley

It's a good thing we love to be outside, because we've been all over the place lately.  We had a great playdate with my best friend, Mindy, and her two girls.  We found a nice park about halfway between our two houses last summer and we met there again. A great place to play and enjoy a little picnic.  And plenty to keep the kids entertained while we chat.

Then we spent a couple days camping.  Lots of dirt, exploring, and s'mores.  Mason told me that he wanted to sleep under the stars because one might come down to sleep with him.  Sweet boy.

 Then it was off to Greeley for a visit with Nana and my sister's family.  The cousins had a blast playing at Nana's house while I squeezed in a class at UNC.  Once all the school business was taken care of, my sister and I scrapbooked the night away. 



They'll all be back to our house this weekend since my cousin is getting married!  We're loving all the time with friends and family this summer.

rooted & established

This week I found myself enjoying a morning with Emma all to myself.  The boys had headed into the big town to run some errands.  

 We spent most of the time outside with my sunshine-loving girl.  We pulled weeds and fed them to the chickens.  I'm not really a fan of pulling weeds (who is?) but I love being productive and being outside.  Some of those weeds  were really stubborn.  You know the ones that you pull really hard but just the green top comes off?  Then you have to dig around with a shovel or screwdriver and loosen up the roots.  And even then it can be a little difficult.  I encountered a few of those on my morning with Emma.  I think I spent a good five minutes tackling one such weed. 

Then it occured to me...isn't this how we're supposed to be?  Rooted and established? 

"...I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ"     ~Ephesians 3:17,18

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."      ~Colossians 2:7

So rooted and established in the love of Him that nothing of this world can pull us out. 



wordless wednesday

family reunion

We spent this past weekend in Glenwood Springs for a little family reunion. It's a nice way to spend Father's  Day.  We gathered together last year and met up again this year.  My Papa is in a nursing home there, so we all got to spend time with him, which was wonderful.  He loved watching the little ones playing on the grass outside.  

Lots of cousin time, which is some of my favorite time!  The little cousins enjoyed splashing in the pool, reading books, playing at the park, running around the back yard and eating ice cream.  

 The big cousins enjoyed taking walks, talking about life, love, and our family and just hanging out together. 

A crazy game of ring-around-the-rosie! If it was up to those little guys it would have never ended.  It was so fun watching their eyes light up each time we stood back up to play again. 

We also had round two of Mason's birthday party.  Complete with lots of fun toys, rootbeer floats and ice cream sundeas.  Mason plopped himself down in the middle of everyone and said, "Can you sing to me now?" 

I am so thankful for my family.  I love that we can get everyone together once in a while and just enjoy each other's company.  So many blessings!