Sunday, June 30, 2013

26/52




Bear: Even birthday boys have to pout about something.
Wolf: Occupation- professional mud pie maker.

This week we are welcoming the heat (well I am sort of just tolerating it) but have spent the majority of our mornings outside playing in the water table and inflatable pool and sometimes just the good ol' fashioned hose works great. We celebrated a birthday for a Bear that was happy about 99% of the day. For a toddler that is HUGE!

 I am thankful for this challenge. It allows me to make a conscious effort to document some of our everyday moments.  Things that you may miss out on if you aren't paying attention yet these little memories are the very thing that make up our life. It's what makes it all worth it for me.

                                                     **linking to Jodi's 52 week challenge**

Friday, June 28, 2013

Happy Birthday Little Bear


I can't believe my little first born is already 3. I know I have probably said this a thousand times but it is so bittersweet watching them grow up. It feels like I just brought him home. And look at him now, such a personality, so full of life (and opinions). I am so, so lucky to be his mama. 


 The day he was born. 
 His first beach trip

  His first birthday party, that also went along with....
 His first real sugar
 His second birthday ....
 The three year old in all his glory.
 And yes we indeed had a train themed party for the second year in a row. This time I gave up avoiding actual characters and went with Thomas. More pictures from our little family party to come.

Oh sweet Bear, happy birthday your mama loves you so.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Camping (and being nomadic)






As I mentioned before we camped for a few days between our big move out of state. As if we didn't have enough on our plate, we headed to the woods with our essentials and let the moving trucks haul and store our things until our new rental was ready. Honestly I love camping, I really do but not really having a home to come back to (well at least without unpacking first) made this trip even more of an adventure. But it was either that or living in a hotel the whole time (which we did end up doing towards the last stretch of our trip)
If your wondering how we ended up with no home for a while. Long story short, our old landlords sold the house quicker than expected and having a hard time finding a  new home when not living in that state. Not ideal in the slightest but we made the best of it.

The great thing about camping with my boys was the fact that they didn't need much, a few cars, some crayons and paper, and pretty much anything they found on the ground. They rolled around in dirt (literally) helped gather wood (well more like kindling) and built with rocks and leaves. Free entertainment at its best.

Things I never want to forget about this trip:
*Walking down to the creek with the boys, pens, crayons, and journals at hand. We all sat there while they drew I journaled all while listening to the stream running, it was amazing.
*watching Bear practically bath in dirt
*cooking pancakes and eggs in the morning
*the very snuggled co sleeping situation we were in
*putting the boys to sleep and sneaking out of the tent with husband and talking for hours by the fire.

Things I wish to either forget or learn to laugh about later
*the sudden rain showers.  The boys would cry and get stuck in them and freeze. We would have to haul them into the tent
*not finding my camping french press and having to drink the weakest peculator coffee EVER!!! I had  to be doing it wrong.
* Finding out that I need new hiking shoes the hard way and having cold slightly damp feet
* Remember the co sleeping thing above, yeah add that to being 29 weeks pregnant. OH BOY!

Overall I would definitely put this in the success category of ideas. The situations that lead us to go may not have been ideal but we spent time together, building memories and hopefully setting an example to our sons to trust the Lord and know that things will work out. We are slowly getting back into life and our new normal. Still unsure of what lies ahead but as least I know I have an amazing gang for the ride.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day




I am so lucky to be married to such an amazing man. The fact that I get to raise these boys (and maybe girl) with my best friend is such an amazing blessing.  He is certainly the level headed patient one out of us.
Something you may not know about husband, he HATES getting his pictures taken. As a result most of the picture of him on the blog are 100% genuine candid shots. I love that I have captured such tender moment,  and he loves not having to pose :)

A very special happy father's day to my papa you are the most hard working man I have ever met. Love you! And to all you dads out there we hope you have a great day.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

24/52





Bear: We could not get him out of the water
Wolf: We could not get him in the water

Our first week finally settling in, in our new home. We realized we have a lake just 5 miles from us. We spent an evening there skipping stones, and cooling off. We have certainly gotten use to Portland gloom more than I ever expected. Bring on the sunshine and new adventures. I think we are ready.

                                                   **linking to Jodi's 52 week challenge**

23/52




Bear: "you can't find me mama"
Wolf: Fishing lessons with papa. He took this really seriously.

22/52





Bear: Exhausted from hauling that bottle of water ten feet
Wolf: That oh so curios look on his face

The week we moved we road tripped out and camped for a few days since our new home wasn't move in ready yet (more on that later) it was an adventure to say the least. Co- sleeping in a giant sleeping bag (thank the Lord for blow up mattresses) , muddy dirty children all day long and a 29 week pregnant self as you can imagine it came with some challenges but it also came with cold night cuddles from the littles, seeing the boys be the most free I have ever seen them and being able to spend time away from everyone and everything to bring us closer together as a family.

21/52




Bear: "Cheese" toddler fake smile at its best
Wolf: Backyard adventuring

These are our last set of pictures in the 52 week challenge taken in Oregon.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Memories before the chaos




I have Internet again!!!!! My little family has been on a very big and long adventure.  More details on that to come (I am trying to find the right words and state of mind to write that post) all I can say is that this hands down has been one of the most trying times in our life and I feel so blessed to have a wonderful family and kids who are such troopers.

One week before our BIG move my dear and very talented friend Heidi Helser took these pictures of my growing family. It was bittersweet it felt like putting that final photo in a memory book. A chapter in your life that is now over. I am so glad we were able to get these done.

**if you live in the Portland area or in the Willamette Valley be sure to check out Heidi Helser Photography**