Summer...a post in pictures

Have I really not posted since May? Obviously, a lot has happened since then! Thank you for your sweet emails and inquiries as to my whereabouts. Our little family has had a full summer of learning, growing, making memories, visiting family, and mostly just enjoying time together. I've chosen some highlights from our summer to share...knowing I'll never take the time to go back and document each individual event.

We've enjoyed spending time at our neighborhood pool...both kids have become quite the brave little swimmers this year.

In June, we celebrated Truett's 2nd birthday! I could write so much more about my special little guy, but that will have to wait for another time. Our family is blessed by his quirky, happy self each day and we loved having a couple of opportunities to celebrate his life early in the summer.

CAKE!

Maren loved participating in VBS this year...this was hat day with her special cousin/friend, Hannah.

We also celebrated extended family birthdays with a picnic at the park. My sister-in-law, Tiffany, and cousin Carisa are always so much fun to see!

Fourth of July...and maybe one of my favorite pictures of these two. Truett's green blanket is a permanent fixture in our lives...and I love how close Maren and Truett have become. They are at the most fun ages right now...lots of laughing these days!

Sweet boy...

Maren loved riding her 2-wheeler in the parade this year. What happened to my baby?!?!

Maren and Gigi enjoying the bagpipes.

Papa got to ride in the parade, but came to watch the last half with us.

We took the kids camping twice this summer. The first time was a disaster, but the second time was so much fun. We spent a weekend with friends and family from church...22 adults and 22 kids! We had a beautiful campsite with the best company...I think our entire family is already anticipating a return trip next year!

It was impossible not to praise God in this beautiful place...we serve the most inspiring Creator!

Brett and I splurged on a date night...complete with babysitter, dinner, movie and ice-cream. We saw Mud at a small local theater downtown and both loved it. I am always grateful for opportunities to date my husband...he makes me laugh, we share our dreams and talk about what we're learning. Nights like these are always so special.

Towards the end of July we packed up and drove across the country to visit my family in Michigan. We stopped in Chicago to pick up my brother, Zach. He lives just a few blocks from Millennium Park, so we took a couple of hours to walk around the city.

The kids loved playing in the fountain...especially after lots of hours driving in the car.

Our final road-trip destination was in northern Michigan at my family's lake house. We had a chillier-than-hoped-for week, but we still made plenty of great memories. The kids didn't let the cooler temps keep them out of the water!

Truett loves playing with buttons and steering wheels, so he spent lots of time in the boat.

The adults didn't spend much time in the water, but Grams was always willing to warm Maren up after her swims.

Truett had a great buddy in my dad. They spent lots of time together during the week.

The kids found a caterpillar and managed to keep track of it for a couple of days...such fascination!

I could not believe how brave Maren was on the tube! She loved going fast and being whipped in and out of the wake. It's been a long time since I've laughed as hard as I did while tubing with Brett and Maren.

Maren also loved the EZ Ski...she would've gone around and around all day if we'd have let her.

My cousin's little guy, Max, is 3 and he and Truett had a blast together. They had little conversations, jumped together on the trampoline when the big kids were doing something else, shared snacks and toys, and became great friends.

We celebrated Maren's birthday early with my parents. She got some new things for her ballet/tap class she'll be starting this fall. I think she was just a little excited.

We really missed having my brother's family with us at the lake this summer, but were thankful for other extended cousins...it's such a blessing to have so many kids so close in age! Maren, Ellie, Hailey, Drew, and Jack had so much fun together. It's a treat to watch this new generation making similar memories to ones I cherish from my own childhood...the kids ate s'mores, raced around the house with sparklers, jumped on the trampoline, played capture the flag, took nighttime swims...all things I remember doing as a little girl in this exact same place. What a gift to share these memories and to make new ones with my own kids!

Whew! That was a lot of pictures...hopefully I'll post again before October. :) Happy summer!

Mother's Day

Just stopping in to say hello! I do remember when I used to post several times a week...those were the days. But, THESE are the good days...days too full with other things for me to spend time on the blog. It's not a priority for me recently, which is fine. I've been spending more of my free time on things I'm liking more lately...reading, thinking, talking with friends, sewing, writing real-life letters, naps. Naps! In my opinion, naps are an introverts best friend. I am a different person if I can rest for as little as 15 minutes in the afternoon. So, I've been doing that instead of writing here.

I took these pictures of Truett the other day and just had to post.

He is going to be 2 soon...in less than a month. How did that happen?! We went recently for his annual cardiology appointment, and everything checked out great, praise Jesus. Oh my goodness, this boy has stolen my heart. He is the best snuggler...also he talks now! So much...he's learning more and more new words. My favorite is when he asks about his sister...almost always first thing in the morning he asks for a waffle and May-wen. I am so thankful that my kids love each other, and like each other quite a lot. 

Mother's Day was Sunday...as you know. This day is always a little bittersweet for me...it makes me reflective and emotional. I remember so well those feelings of sorrow each year it came around during our infertility struggles. I have the best relationship with my own mom, so I joyfully celebrated her. But it is so hard to celebrate a day in honor of something you long for and don't have. I hurt for those women longing to be moms. One of my best friends lost her mom way too young to a heart attack, and I think of her on that day. Another dear friend honored the memory of her daughter's second birth and death day on Mother's Day this year. They have 4 precious living children, but still mourn the daughter they never knew. I'm thankful for the sensitivity the Lord has given me in this area...and truthfully, I wouldn't trade those years of struggle and hurt while we longed for a family for anything. They have made me a better mother, and hopefully a better friend, too. 

So...this is the only picture I got with both kids on Mother's Day. Ha! Truett decided he was not interested in having his picture taken. And, apparently, Brett momentarily forgot how to take a picture with heads in the frame. After I had surrendered my desire for a cute picture with both kids smiling, I actually decided this was a perfect picture. Motherhood is messy, rough, challenging, and stretching. Also, it's so, so good. These two small people have provided me with the best job I could have imagined. They sharpen me and make me softer at the same time. They keep me humble. They love me unconditionally. They make me want to be better. I love them so very much. Which is lucky for them, because around 10 pm on Mother's Day night I found myself washing sheets and cleaning up vomit. After a lovely day filled with things like breakfast in bed, flowers, grilled steak, a nap, frozen yogurt...both kids got sick. And I quickly returned to the reality of being a mom after a nice 'day off'. 

Maren agreed to take another picture with me before we left for frozen yogurt. She made me the sweetest card, and insisted on eating her breakfast with me in my bed. She's great company these days...I love having a child I can talk with about real things. She is thoughtful, creative, and so smart. All year we've been praying together in the car on the way to preschool. Recently, she's been asking to pray after I do and she has the sweetest prayers. They often make me tear up, and I can imagine the delight she brings to the Lord. The prayers of children are so simple, and somehow also incredibly astute. 

Well, there you have it! A little update from me. I wish I had more time to share about what I'm learning and reading. I'm being challenged quite a bit right now, and I am loving it. God is gracious to continue his work in my life. It has not been easy lately, but the stretching and growing is worth the pain of refinement. So worth it. Maybe soon I'll share more about that. Happy Tuesday to you!

Today...

Today I spent a good portion of my time with this girl and her brother.

We enjoyed a slower start to the day, followed by errands and donuts at the park. The rest of the day was spent at home doing things like rollerskating, napping, reading a few books, coloring, and shooting hoops on the mini basketball hoop that's become a semi-permanent installment in the middle of my kitchen.

These days that seem so simple are a treasure to me. The business of having young children at home is challenging and refining...but it's also a delight. Days like today...with a slower rhythm...serve as a reminder of how much I love being a mom. Thank you, Lord, for calling me to this life.

The past 2 months...

Two months, friends! It has been way too long since I've given a thought to my little blog...are you still there? Since I last posted, I think it's safe to say we've emerged from the doldrums of winter. Although, we're actually having a snow day today. In April. God bless the Rocky Mountains and their fickle spring weather. Yesterday we were playing in the backyard in t-shirts. And we'll probably be back out there by the end of the week. But, today it's all pajamas, forts and Easter candy while the wind and snow rage outside. I quickly pulled out a few favorite pictures from the past couple of months to share with you...I know I'll never go back and actually post about each individual happening, so this is it....our February and March in a few favorite shots!

Ah, this boy...my little Truett. He is growing up so much. He makes me laugh, he keeps me on my toes, and he provides great entertainment for our small family. He's my snuggle buddy, he loves to color (endearingly, he calls it 'yellowing'), he's recently discovered the wonder of bugs in the backyard, and he plays basketball almost all day. Really, the kid is obsessed with sports, and is surprisingly singularly interested in balls. He knows the difference between a basketball, soccer ball, golf ball, football, baseball...he takes a ball to bed with him, wakes up asking to 'shoot it', is quick to point out any object resembling a ball while we're out and about. I'm not sure if this obsession will stick, but for now we're enjoying his exuberance over all things sports.

Maren continues to live in her little pretend world where she takes the best care of her babies. I'm sad to say her imaginary friends (Sokie, Beboke, Hoha, and Deets) are making fewer appearances these days. August continues to be Maren's favorite doll, followed closely by the twins, Rainbow and Brett. Yup...she's got a doll named Brett. I think it's hilarious. We spend lots of time doing crafts together, and my sweet girl has recently discovered how fun girls nights can be...we enjoyed a night out, just the two of us, and had Chinese food (per Maren's request...she wanted egg drop soup!) followed by Easter shoe shopping. Maren has a creative way of thinking about things and of talking about the world around her. She asks thoughtful, interesting questions. I love the little glimpses I'm catching of a more grown-up girl. She is a treasure.

I love this picture so much...not sure what they were looking at, but Truett's morning hair and our family pal, Bo make quite the pair.

We had a fun little visit back in February with my brother's family. We didn't see much of the kids, since they were up to their own antics somewhere in the basement most of the time. See that little bundle in the middle? That's Isaac and I was sure to get some good baby snuggles in while they were here. Cousin visits are the best!

Hey, there's my best friend, Jaime! We spent a few afternoons making a quilt for her baby girl...who will arrive any day now! 

And, Easter! What a gift to have a sunny, warm day on which to celebrate the Resurrection!

An Easter picture with 2 smiling kids! These two make life so full...I realize I say this often, but it is a gift to be their mom. They've each taught me so much, even in their few short years. 

It was a special treat to have my parents here for Easter this year. They drove in from Michigan on Saturday afternoon, and spent a week with us in Colorado.

Us!

After my friend, Naomi, shared about visiting the baby chicks at the local farm store, I knew we had to go. Maren and Truett both LOVED the baby ducks, geese, and chicks.

Please note: Maren dresses herself most days. She was also wearing pink cowboy boots. I think she wanted to fit in at the farm store.

Brett took a couple of days off while my parents were visiting, and we spent a day in Woodland Park. We started at the Dinosaur Museum, had a delicious lunch at our favorite greasy spoon, and took a drive through the mountains.

And, this is my view almost all day. Truett, of course, got a basketball hoop for Easter, and it somehow ended up in the kitchen. As it turns out, the pantry door is the perfect place for a hoop!

 I imagine you all are enjoying the early signs of spring wherever you may be. I'll do my best to write again before June...until then, happy Tuesday!

Oh, mercy

 What a day...Truett was sick earlier in the week, and I was relishing in the fact that the rest of the family had escaped this bug unscathed. Boy, was I wrong. We went to a friend's house this morning, and not 5 minutes after we'd arrived, Truett threw up all over me. So, we packed up and headed home. Ugh...some days are so rough. Brett came home for lunch and after he left I was looking forward to a little quiet time while the kids napped. Wouldn't you know, about half an hour into nap time I heard an ominous sound coming from upstairs. It was Maren...getting sick all over the hallway and bathroom. Poor, sweet girl just looked at me with sad eyes and said, 'sorry.' So, I got to spend the remainder of nap time scrubbing the carpet and wiping down the walls and floor of the bathroom. This motherhood business is not glamorous, and it's certainly not for the faint of heart!

So, we've spent some quality snuggle time on the couch with Netflix Kids and orange popsicles this afternoon...counting down the hours until Daddy comes home and the weekend begins.

I have this amazing friend, Jaime, and she brought over some Pedialyte popsicles for the kids and a little treat for me. Yup, she's a keeper.

Today I was thinking of how awful it would be to have sick kids, and no way to help them get better. Even on sick days, God graciously reminds me that it is a blessing to have clean water, extra clothes and sheets, friends who drop off treats, and a Godly, loving husband who will be here any moment.