My three sons............... =-)

 

Since I am an honest person......

 

I get a lot of compliments on how great people think the boy's pictures are after I have taken them. I always smile and say thank you. What I really want to say is YOU HAVE NO IDEA~~~ Getting this one shot took me 45 minutes, 111 shots, 2 outfit changes (and not because they were part of the plan), probably cost be about 25$$ in bribes, and 2.5 screaming and crying children. Here is a little proof of our last photo shoot. I guess all that matters is that in the end. I get my perfect shot, and they get whatever thing I bribed them with......... =-)

It's a hard knock life... For him....

 

It's great when you can sleep as peaceful as this in your parents bed with out a care in the world.............

Lazy Summer Days...

 

I was doing my usual puttering around the house getting everything picked up and ready for another day. I glanced at the calendar, it made me stop dead in my tracks. The realization hit me. I had just about ONE month left of having my boys ALL home with me for Summer Vacation. I think I heard my heart break. The thought of sending two of them off in the fall makes me so sad. I love LOVE LOVE having them all home with me in the summer. Having lazy days with no plans, then suddenly deciding to go on an adventure. Do not get me wrong the last month has been great. It just went by too fast. We have already been to the ocean, camping and a bunch of mini adventures. However it is never enough. Never long enough. Sitting here today watching them endure in their summer play makes me smile. I am going to sit back, take a deep breath and be thankful for the time I have home with them over the next month.............................. <3

Fathers and Sons

 

 

 

I have often heard the words... the most important role model in a young child's life is the same sex parent. I use to shrug that off and think NAH............. Well years later although I still do not entirely agree with the statement I do see valid points in it. Now as Dylan is approaching his pre teen years. I can see just how important that father/son bond is in his life. I see him watch Josh and often do things similar. I often hear him say the words to me "well dad says" Or "dad did this or that" I sometimes think Josh can be too "hard" on him but then realize he is just shaping him into the boy he needs to be and teaching him in a love and respectful way. Dylan does not always like Josh's approach and often whines and argues with him. Most of the time he comes back to us a few days later and says " you know what.. dad may have been right" Of course that will not stop him from whining and arguing again in the future.

I have watched Josh walk our fussing babies up and down the hall and take the boys out to play after a 12 hour day at work. I know he would like to be resting but always knows the importance of this time with them. I hear myself complaining sometimes when he does not help around the house or give me a breather. However looking back I would not change a thing. He is absolutely the father these boys need and deserve.

People get caught up in the unimportant things in life sometimes. I myself sometimes wish he would bring me flowers and sweep me off my feet like he use to with his little gifts and extra attention. I find myself wishing he would do those little things that made me fall in love with him in the first place. Then I see him scoop up our crying child and console him. I watch him try not to move off the couch so he does not wake our sleeping toddler from his lap. Then I remember I did not need flowers or jewelry. I just fell in love with him all over again.

A camping we will go..........................

We are heading out to the campground in about 2 hours. Dylan and Mason have asked me so many times this morning if it was time to leave yet. I almost suggested they go wait outside....=-) They are so excited to leave. I remember being so excited to go when I was their age and I am very happy to be able to carry on the tradition with my own kids with the same wonderful family I always shared my camping experience with.

So .......Mason has decided he needs to bring pretty much EVERYTHING he owns. I told him that there was not enough room in the car. He told me I could take Dylan's stuff out... =-) <----what a brother.

I give a lot of credit to my mom now. Looking back I was so ready to go out the door as a kid I never noticed how much work it took my mother to get all three of us packed and make sure we have everything we need. I have spent the last three days doing just that and I still have lots left to do. We plan on leaving here at 2pm on the dot. My guess is we will be lucky if we leave by 3pm. If I can get the car loaded and everything taken care of and ALL the boys in the car with out leaving anyone or anything behind I will be doing great.

My other goal is to have the tent set up before Josh arrives tonight. For some reason unless my dad and uncles come to my rescue that is probably not going to happen.

It is three days of packing and 4 days of unpacking but in the end it will be worth the three days of fun and memories that we will be making.................

little moments like this.......

 

So after fightng for hours upon hours. Listening to the the words." He is touching me." Over and Over...Followed by " I am telling mom" and "he started it" Thinking that the fighting was never going to end. I turned around and there the three of them sit. Like perfect Angels together on the couch the other day. I had to sprint for my camera. I mean I knew this moment would be over in a blink of an eye.................. and it was. =-)

4th of July

 

4th of July is full of so many adventures. A weekend we look forward to every year that comes and goes in a blink of an eye. Another great one this year to ad to our list of memories we will forever cherish....