Six ...

Six years ago today we said hello and goodbye to our 3rd son, the journey to that point and the journey since has been filled with many bittersweet moments.  On this day every year we struggle a bit to figure out how to celebrate Owen's life.  One would think that we would have this figured out seeing May 30th comes every year.  But, we don't.  I wonder if my struggle with this is because it's such a contrast to how we celebrate the other kiddos?  I suppose the consistency is in the fact that we do celebrate ... this year with an ice cream cake at the request of the boys, easy to oblige ...  



Another consistency is where we find our Hope ...

Pomp and Circumstance

Well, hello blog!  It's been a busy week - baseball games, practices, middle school performances, sports therapy appointments, speech therapy, physical therapy, work ... and preschool graduation.  Miss Lydia graduated from our beloved preschool program this week.  This mama was left wondering how this could be ...

 

 

To celebrate we took our girl to the bakery for a treat ...

 

 

 

Thumbs up to being a preschool graduate!

'O Christmas Tree

In 2006 we started a tradition of saving our Christmas tree and taking it to a nearby state park in the spring to be used for a family campfire / hot dog roast. 

I wrote a bit more about it here.  Well, the past few years we have cheated a bit - we have still used our tree for campfires, but we've done it in our backyard in a portable fire pit.

We found ourselves reinstating our original tradition this year (last weekend), and we all had a blast.  It is getting more and more challenging to find family activities and outings that a 2 year old up to a 12 year old can embrace.  Burning the Christmas tree, making dinner over a fire, taking a hike, and even stopping at the park's playground was a hit with everyone.

 

Yes, we may have let Samuel try using the axe ... oh dear ...

 

 

 Thankful for these days!

Funny Faces with ... Nora!

So, now that we've {mostly} grown past Lydia's funny face photos, Nora has taken to a rather silly smile ... kind of seems like she is growling in fact.

Evidence galore ...

 

Oh yeah I did, I just sassed my way through the above the photos ... never, not ever a dull moment with this Little Miss!