This Summer has been bitter sweet. Gary has been gone a majority of it, which would be the bitter part. The sweet part has been all the amazing family and friends that have rallied around us, to help me & the kids get through the summer without falling into a sad spiral. I have relied a lot on my heavenly father. There were days when I felt so all alone and just plain out of energy. So I would say a prayer and things would work out, people would show up to keep me company, or to help me out. It was just that simple. My prayers were answered and I am ever so grateful.
Meanwhile, my kids have been growing, learning, and playing in the sun. Their sweet smiling faces, and busy little bodies keepin me goin from sun up until sun down!
Jonah (18 mos.)
Oh how this boy has grown over the summer. He has been jibber jabbering a lot. Some of my newest favorites: Ky-ker (Ryker), Bip-ee (Ripley), Vi-vi, and flip flop. It's the cutest thing ever. He still has a major obsession with shoes of any kind and size. This can be troublesome while visiting the public pool. He has tried on many stranger's flip flops this summer. My favorite is seeing him wear his sisters princess heels with some monster trucks in his chubby little hands. He learned a new trick, to climb out of his crib all on his own and come into my bed to poke my eyes, tug my hair, and giggle until I wake up. This has happened in the middle of the night on occasion. It's the sweetest thing in the world when he folds his arms for a prayer, smiles his mischievous smile, and gives me his great bug bear hugs. Love him!
Here he is at our visit to the zoo & the davis county fair:
Baby cow
He tried to climb the donkey.
His very first pony ride.
Violet (3 and a half)
Has developed an infectious laugh. Once she gets going she can't stop, and it makes me start giggling also. She loves to sing fairly loudly around the house and in the car. She is still very in love with animals, ecspecially horses and dogs. She has asked me a few times if we can keep a horse in our backyard. She surprises me all of the time with her funny personality. Like the other night when I had had a long day and was trying to get my 3 kids to bed. I was being pretty grumpy. I think I was in the middle of scolding her and Ryker about something when she says in her quietest sweetest voice "You're the best Mom in the whole world." She melted the grump right out of me in one sentence. What a sweetheart. Love her.
Ice cream at the zoo and the swimming polar bear.
She will never pass up a pony ride.
The petting zoo with cousins.
Of course the ponies were her favorite!
Ryker (7)
My grown up guy. Loves being a big kid and wrestling with his cousin Van. His latest favorites: Swimming, tae kwon do, and piano lessons. He has been so helpful. I am in awe of how much he is growing and learning all of the time. He is such a funny and creative little guy. I am amazed at his versatility and how he can play with kids of all ages. He also is never afraid to try new things and just be himself, whether that be singing, dancing, cracking jokes, or making faces. He fills my day with humor. Love him.
Ryker with the polar bear.
The photo below was taken also by Ryker.
Love these kids faces! Ryker with his cousin Ava.
At the fair Aunt Gloria entered him in a pie eating contest, along with Van and Ava.
It was so funny watching him bury his face in this pie.
He did pretty good but he still got beat,
by a girl.
His cute little pie face!
He loves the critters ecspecially anything scaly, dangerous, or just plain icky!
Here he is holding a scorpion.
Tarantula:
and petting this sick, giant snake. Can you tell I am not a fan? He gets a kick out of that.
I like the furry, friendly critters like this llama much better.
Me
I have just been gettin through this summer, trying to enjoy these cute kids, and make the most of their younger years. I CANNOT wait until Gary gets back so we can spend the end of the summer together. Maybe i'll be able to kick this bad eating habit I have picked up while he has been gone. Blast those sweets and their ability to make you feel good, even if just but momentarily.
Adios!
