July Celebrations

Catch up time!

Ever since school got out towards the end of June, life has been super busy … fun, but busy … with quite a bit of exhaustion mixed in.

Twice-a-week swim lessons started, my sister and her family came to visit for a week and then our time was focused on getting ready for our 2 week road trip.  Now we are home and in the middle of the re-entry process.

Before we left on our trip, though, we celebrated Independence Day by attending a 4th of July Pancake Breakfast put on by our ward (our Church congregation).  The sun was shining [which is rare for Western Washington, typically the summer season starts on July 5th] and the kids thoroughly enjoyed participating in the bike parade.

Our little Ari is definitely growing up fast.  He took his first step on June 12th and by June 30th he was a full fledged walker.    I adore watching him toddle around taking his cute baby steps.  Now we need to teach him how to safely go down the stairs.

Mr. Eli turned 4 while we were on the road, but we celebrated his birthday a few days early so we wouldn’t have to haul his presents around with us.

Lately he has been obsessed with the movie “Mean Race Cars” which translates to “Cars 2.”  In fact, obsession might be too gentle of a word. Needless to say he loved the new Lightning McQueen jibbitz for his shoes and the shirt that Keri bought him for his bear.

Eli is an adorable little kid with a radiant personality and endless energy. He is constantly saying the funniest things.  Recently he informed us he wanted to go buy a Kit Kat … from Home Depot! He then quickly said he also wanted to buy one from Costco. We all laughed. That kid is consistently making me smile … and yes, at times he also makes me want to pull my hair out because of his mile long independent and stubborn streak.  But lately I am trying to embrace his spirited nature more.  He truly is a sweet and happy child.

Our Family Captured by Jenn Ireland Photography

“Near the end of his life, one father looked back on how he had spent his time on earth. An acclaimed, respected author of numerous scholarly works, he said, ‘I wish I had written one less book and taken my children fishing more often.’

“Time passes quickly. Many parents say that it seems like yesterday that their children were born. Now those children are grown, perhaps with children of their own. ‘Where did the years go?’ they ask. We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present.” ~ Thomas S. Monson

Knowing that we are done with the child bearing chapter in our life, I have been wanting to get some family photos done to preserve this moment in time when our kids are little.  Right now we are in the phase where it often feels like the years are short, but the days are long.

At times I wonder if the sibling rivalry will ever end.   I wonder if I will ever stop sounding like a broken record or if the selective hearing my kids have will magically disappear.  I wonder if there will ever be a day when there are no sticky crumbs all over the floor and I will be able to eat my dinner when it is warm.  I wonder if I will ever feel like I am  getting adequate rest.

But when I stop and think about how sacred my family is to me, I feel joy and peace.  I realize how lucky and blessed I am.  After all, there is nothing quite like the sounds of little ones giggling with no worries in the world or the warmth your heart feels when tiny hands and arms wrap around you in tender hugs.

At the beginning of June, we had an outdoor family photo shoot done by the talented photojournalist, Jenn Ireland.  To say I was pleased with her work is an understatement.  I was thoroughly impressed with the moments she was able to capture with her camera and her artistic eye.   Our personalities definitely shine through in the pictures she took!  I am incredibly grateful I will always be able to look at these photos and remember clearly and vividly the joy that comes from mothering young ones.  What a treasure I have been given!