hot date

We got home from camping, and I was dying to go out. Being pretty last minute, we couldn't get a babysitter, so I traded a date with Ben for a date with Makenna.

I introduced Makenna on one of my favorites...Olive Garden. She loved it as much as I do. We ordered a pasta and broccoli dish, and shared. I taught her the art of filling up on bread sticks and salad, and bringing home the dinner as leftovers for the next day. Life lessons here.

After dinner we went to a friends wedding reception. Ate cake. Chatted. Dropped cake. Blew bubbles. Got another piece of cake to replace the dropped cake. Said goodnight to a wonderful evening with my kiddo, and realized just how unfair it is that someday I will have to share my dates with her.

Makenna is so full of light and life. She loves to laugh and make others happy. What a special girl, I'm glad I got to share a fun night to rediscover what makes her such a great girl!

simple faith

I was looking for Jared's swim suit yesterday. I hadn't been able to find it since we got back from camping...annoying. Actually I was really annoyed.

Luke came up and said, "Mom, all you have to do is say a prayer to Hea'nly Father, and he will help you find it". So, Luke said the prayer for us, and promptly after he said amen, he said, "TA-DA!"

Knowing full well that all he had to do was ask, and, of course Heavenly Father would simply answer our prayer. I loved the not so gentle reminder he gave me to have a little more faith.

Thanks, Luke-y! I love you!

Luke swimming later that night.

call us crazy

Makenna and Luke's first time going down the river.

We rented a kayak and Makenna and Luke each tried their hand with the rapids. With the exception of one terrifying moment, when Makenna and Ben got lodged on rock, and almost flipped, it was a complete and total blast. Makenna lost her flip flops out of the kayak, and had to wear only socks the rest of the camping trip. What kind of mother only packs one pair of shoes?

We had some seriously great moments together, complete with a water fight at the water spiket. Makenna and Luke were both totally soaked and in complete water-logged heaven. It was a great way to cool off their bodies from the 100 degree weather. 

This was one of the best trips we've ever been on...

Jared hangin' in the tent. The only place to keep clean.

Oh my...what will we do with this one in 8 more years?

Jared couldn't get enough of this juice. It was an orange and pineapple mix.  

I just want to bottle this up! I loved this moment with Luke!!

little hoodlums?

Jared rockin' to the ipod. You should see this boy's moves.

He can dance like nobodies business.

Throwing the ball back and forth. and back and forth. back and forth.
Get the idea?

Jared playing Peek...

a boo.

 A picture that's worth a thousand words...looking at Luke's legs
being held securely in place by Dad's.  How, as parents, we try to
protect our kids and keep them safe from harm...just as Ben is doing here.

Oh Luke, you just conquered the world...or maybe just the river for today.
But he knows he did something big today, and he was so proud of that.
Conquering the river today, the world is for tomorrow.  So proud of you buddy!

I loved sharing this experience with our children.  They had
an absolute blast camping, getting filthy, water fighting, and rafting
the river.  It's so fun to watch memories being made.

Makenna's picture taking skills.  So fun to see the world out of
her eyes for a second.  I loved spending so much distraction free time with
our family.  There's nothing quite like camping. 

Nothing says successful river run, like crashing hard in the car afterwards.

Ben relaxing on the kayak.  A rare moment where Jared is being completely still.  

I was making dinner, and used the tent as a way for Jared to get down and play without getting FILTHY! Jared sat and "read" books for 20 minutes. I took this picture through the mesh of the tent.

So darling!

This kids imagination never ceases to amaze me.  Luke took a couple
of lego car frames and strapped them onto his shoes.
He skated around the campsite for as long as he could,
before they slowly came apart and broke.  It was worth it, though,
great idea, great execution, and so fun to watch his imagination go strong.

Oh, man. Those eyes know how to work magic

And Ben wrapping up the evening reading to Luke.

We had an awesome time, and was greatly reminded of how the Lord watches over us and keeps us safe. I am so grateful for the great teaching moments we had on the river and for all the fun we had in strengthening our family by playing together.

you're a grand ol flag

We had a really fun fourth this year, filled with great friends, family produced parades, grilling and swimming. Is there anything more needed for a perfect day?

We started out at Holmes Park to cook some pancakes and do a fun little jaunt around the park with decorated bikes, strollers, and scooters. We met up with The Johnsons, Nichols, Hazeltons, and Monacos, ate til our tummies burst with pancakes, blueberries, strawberries, and muffins.

We had a few families over that night to swim and bbq with us, and had a blast! Then off to friends house to enjoy a firework show. They kids had fun with sparklers, glow in the dark bracelets, and poppers!

On our way home, Makenna and Luke really wanted to go see the city fireworks at the Harry and David field. We knew it would be too late to get in to the field, so we just drove over to a good spot and watched from our car. Makenna and Jared fell asleep on the way there, but Luke was wide-eyed and loved every minute of it! Well, almost every moment. Call this irony, or justice...but our little fire cracker, Luke (as loud and crazy as they come) was scared with the loud fireworks. He sat next to Ben with Ben's hand covering his ears as he watched the fireworks shooting in the air at our friends house. The BIG fireworks later in the night had a deeper, farther away boom that didn't scare him as much.

I love my freedom, family and friends. All the things I associate with the 4th of July. I am thankful for the men and women who fought, and still fight to keep us free. What an amazing gift they have given us, so that we can live in a land of the free, and a home of the brave.

The whole gang.

All decked out and ready to roll.

Makenna had fun helping her brothers decorate their bikes.
She loves being a little mom to them, which I mostly love.  Here's the little
fire cracker getting ready to take off on the "parade" around the park.  Go KenDoll!

 2 of my favorite people!  

Backyard BBQ!

It was so much fun to have some of our favorite people over.  Fun backyard

games, good bbq food, and so much swimming (in and out of the pool, over

and over again) made fore a perfect 4th of July afternoon.  I can't imagine 

celebrating our freedom with anyone else.  We just love

our second family, the Johnson's and Nichols!

The adorable trio. These guys are just a few months apart, and are gonna
 being causing serious trouble in just a few short years.

Pretty sure my kids don't fully understand how great of a Dad they have.  

Ben gives wholly, loves completely, and adores his children with 

every ounce that he has.  They are lucky to call him Dad.  And I am lucky to call him mine.

Luke and Holly Johnson

It's been fun to watch these two grow up with each other.
We met Holly the week she was born, and "the train park"
across from our house.  Ginny and I hit it off out of the gate,
and I found out later that she was in our ward at church.  Our families
have been inseparable since then.  We love the Johnsons and can't
imagine how life in Medford could ever be the same with out them!