Nature Beauty and Silly Kids

The day just called us to be outside, and explore more of Washington. I am forever discovering the nature up here, and the closeness of it. Just drive about 5 minutes, and your in immense nature. This wonderful park nearyby has a lovely river flowing gently through it. It needed to be explored and cherished:) I kept gazing at the scenery, and going 'Wow, so beautiful', listening to the sounds of the water and the tree leaves moving in the wind. I kept an eye on Brooke often, as she just loves to go out in the water. The boys played with our empty snack containers, filling them with water and pouring them out to create waterfalls. We vowed to come back with buckets and shovels.

Ethan's face cracks me up. The water was not exactly a comfortable pool temperature. More on the frigid icy side. 

As we made our way to the car, the boys discovered a huge dirt pile. Tremendous joy comes from things like this. They love dirt. Reminded me of when I ordered some garden soil in Vegas, and it was dumped outisde our home. This was much bigger for them:)

It was just a good day. 

Some good memories I don't want to forget from this weekend:

I took the family to a church potluck while Shaun was working. 50% of the day was challenging with the usual parenting crap. At the dinner, I talked with a kind, older woman and asked her 'Did you have young boys? Any of them strong willed? How did you get them to listen? Sorry for being so open and poopy.' She was so kind and talked with me, sharing thoughts about her boys. Gave me the encouragement and hope I needed. 

At the dinner, the kids had a blast eating food and playing with friends. Among the food there, someone brought grilled chicken kabobs. Seriously was a tender mercy for me. Heavenly. 

I watched my boys through out the cultural hall. Ethan was enjoying the company of two girls his age, chasing them and making them laugh, and sitting in between them on the stage. So cute.

Kevin, oh Kevin:) Half of the hall was filled with kids ranging from 2-18, playing with a flood of big, bouncy balls. Balls, that's all kids need to entertain themselves. Some were playing keep away, while the older ones bounced some into the basket ball hoop.

 Then, there was Kevin, who decided to clamp onto a leg of one of the older boys, and not let go. He wrapped his legs and arms around them, laughing hysterically, and proclaiming that he was a Trex. The older boys would slowly walk around, dragging him on their legs, and it was so funny. How sweet that the boys never grew tired of him, but were kind and just played along. When Kevin would let go of one boy's leg, he instantly clamped on to another victim, and crack up. A mother of the older boys and I watched and died laughing at this scene. I wish I had a picture of it, but I decided to not run for the phone, but just enjoy the moment while it was happening. 

Brooke was happy eating food and chasing after balls. 

My kids are ok. They are funny, happy little people. They struggle, and I struggle. Sometimes I want to cry and just give up. Then, I come to myself and try to learn how I can understand them better, and what I can learn through this. It's so hard, but there's help all around. Just have to stay active, and count the blessings, in every possible way. 

Beauty in the Mountains

I had a wonderful adventure out in the pretty nature of the Pacific Northwest; a cabin retreat with with young women and leaders from church. An overnight in the mountains, next to a beautiful river. How did I get so lucky? 

It was a simple activity of staying in a cabin, eating food, having fun with the girls talking, playing the guitar, singing girls camp songs, eating chocolate, dressing in cute pjs, playing games, spiritual learning, and exploring the nature. It was so much fun, and I'm so grateful that Shaun could watch the kids so I could attend. 

Cutie girls and I were eager to go hiking behind the cabin, discovering a rushing river, and loads of mossy trees. 

Walking down the hill into a mossy and moist forest was a fabulous experience for me. Everywhere I looked, there was beauty. It was like I was in a National Geographic magazine. The scenery was just gorgeous. The sounds of the river rushing along, splashing on rocks, was such music to my ears. I was walking on a carpet of moss and plants, and my feet would sometimes sink down. It was that soft. The trees and branches everywhere were covered with this carpet. Completely different from a desert, but the desert has its own beauty. Its just neat to experience other states and their beauties.

We saw this platform, a tree fort, and had to check it out! 

On the way, I was dazzled by this somewhat meadow of green plants, Trilliium. I stopped and looked down, and at myself surrounded by them. For some reason, I just thought of "Avatar" and the planet at night time, with all the lit up plants. Dork.

We braved climbing up. No doubt, it was built by some adventure seeking boys, to which we were grateful for. What a view. How exhilirating it was to be up high near the trees and see everything. 

I loved seeing the girls being content in nature, carefully stepping through the many cracking branches, and searching in the river for fish. We saw a huge salmon swimming up the river. It looked to be 2-3 feet long. I laughed and admired one girls determination to get in the river and catch it, saying her dad would be so proud, making me think of the influence of a loving parent. Sometimes, I would just sit on a mossy, huge log and watch everything around me, listening to all the sounds. Just loved it.

Highlights from that evening:

• Bringing my guitar and playing. We had a few men leaders come up and stay in the smaller cabin next to us. Some of them picked up the guitar and played. Love seeing others enjoy music. 
• John Denver music was requested. Made my day. We sang 'Country Roads', 'Annie's song', and more. Totally made me remember Mom, and all those driving hours in the van, listening to his music on the tape deck. Mom loved John Denver. 
• Playing "Radioactive' for one of the dear girls, and singing it with her. Such a cool song. 
• Hearing one of the guys play Metallica's 'Enter Sandman', and knowing what song it was within three notes of him playing it. Got way too giddy over hearing that. Again, dork and tomboy.
• Seeing the usual girl sweetness of sitting and playing with each other's hair. 
• Hearing the girls scream over spiders and a dead mouse. 
• A wild hour of girls camp songs, and circle games. Good times. 
• Being totally blown away by one of the guy's amazing card tricks. 
• Finally hitting the bed at midnight, and hearing softly the girls talking and laughing till 1am. 
• Forcing myself to emerge from bed by 7ish, competely tired, but wanting to sit outside by the river and read scriptures. The ultimate gift!

Anyways, it was fabulous:)