From here to Home!

Brayton. He's one! (Sitll cannot believe it!!!! )Relaxing at Redfish lake while we were camping last weekend in Stanley Idaho. It's beautiful and breath taking! We are so fortunate to live close to such a great stretch of mountains. After hundreds of photos last weekend I picked just this one to share for now.

We have so much going on and I cannot wait to post about it. The children will soon be sharing memories with some of my amazing family and I am thankful and excited to be giving them this opportunity! So, until then, it's just butt cheeks on the sand and I hope it makes you smile!

B-Licious!

That's what we call him. B-Licious!
Mainly because he is so delicious!

He only has a few weeks left of "Babyhood" so I thought I would share some recent moments.

B-Licious! We love you!

This and a that and a this and a. . .

The weather has been raining here lately! Yeah!!! I sincerely love a good rain and thought that we would just make some fun out of it. So lately we have dawned our "umbwella's" and went right out into the thick of it. We played in the rain for about two hours this morning and they hadn't had enough when it was time to come in. You can't tell by this picture but it was raining HARD this particular morning and even Brayton (tucked snuggly in the bjorn) was super thrilled and amazed by the down pour. I love that these kids are all in no matter the activity!
This is our first geocach find! Whaaahoooo! I had never heard of goecaching until our dear friends told us about the treasure hunt that goes world wide! You need a GPS and the skills to actually use it but once you have that down it's nothing but fun! You find a treasure, sign the log book and leave a treasure from your own family. They are all over the world and there were even over a hundred within 3 miles of my house! WOW! This one we found out in the hills in Big Willow. It was so exciting to be hunting for real treasure and I am certain we have found a new habit!!

Four teeth and cute as a button! His burn is almost 100% better now and as he approaches his first birthday we are both excited for all the adventures we know he will have but also a little sad. Our baby is almost one and it's hard for me to swallow that he is really our last. Don't get me wrong. . . . WE are DONE! Just wish these baby months could have gone slower. What a beautiful, sweet, funny, and curious baby he is! Love you B!!!!!!

The twins hugging, Brayton checking out a bug, the hills in the background, hanging out at one of our favorite places. . . this is my life! Lucky are we!

Ok, I must admit. I didn't really fall! We were goecaching and our next treasure was 1.25 miles away so we walked. Down hill to get to it. Some of it was VERY down hill. Needless to say "Where you walk to you must walk from." You guessed it! We had to walk UP HILL with this stroller for over 1.25 miles!!!! VERY up hill!!! This picture looks like we were going down hill but only because we staged it to look that way. We were laughing so hard at ourselves and thought we were so funny. I love a good joke and this photo just made me laugh so hard. That's all Folks!

Family Photo time. . . .

Last weekend we were making our best effort for the main men in our lives! Bodie's father turned 70 on Monday and we desperately wanted to get him something special. Since the family photo in our house is almost. . . . oh! That's right! There isn't one!!!! So, we rallied up our troops and a dear friend while dirtbiking this weekend and came up with a decent photo! The picture doesn't do any of the kids justice but at least we did it! Little does my father know, he will be getting one as well!!!! :)
On a little side note. . . We don't get to see Bodie's Dad as often as we would like to but every time we do we are reminded of what a great man he is! His work ethic and honesty are some of the qualities I hope my children will learn from him. He is always good for some laughs and a story over a Ham's while Linda makes some of the best food ever! They are an absolute delight and we all truly enjoy every second we have with them.

The burning question. . . . .

Notice anything different about our baby boy?
Oh! What's that you ask? Why is his right hand bandaged in what appears to be a bulky sock? Well, I hate to even tell the story but at least I can do it without tears now! Not to go into details that have been heard a million times already but to put it simply, our boy burned his hand! OUCH!
We were having such a great night! Brayton was happy as ever and we were all just laughing and playing together before bed. Our normal nightly routine. Daddy lit a fire in the woodstove and the kindling was burning down when he went to get a log to put on the fire. I was quickly helping Bodie with a toy when I heard the scream and turned to see my baby crawling up in the stove!!! In seconds we had him under the cold water and Daddy called 911. The fire had only been started for 5-8 minutes but the glass front was already hot and the damage was done. The Ambulance arrived in less than 4 minutes and we were on our way to the hospital. It was so sureal to even go through that it hardly seemed possible.
While in the ER they kept consulting with a burn center in Salt Lake City and we were waiting to find out if we would be transported to Utah. Scarey doesn't even come close to describing my fear. The word "skin graft" was thrown around like it was a done deal. We were sad, worried, sick with guilt, and just aching for the pain our baby was dealing with. They were certain that he would need at least a few skin grafts. I can't imagine had that been true!
Thanks to the hundreds of prayers and well wishes God decided to spare the boy any more pain and we were told the good news two days later! Best news ever! It happend 16 days ago and proabably needs another week or two to be back to normal but we are indeed grateful it wasn't any worse! He has been such a trooper as well! Hasn't even bothered him and for that we feel blessed!
Daddy and Bodie on his 50!

Sitting on his new toy!

Just too funny not to post! Annelise is our resident comic for sure!

Yo Pippy, YO!

Brayton also broke two new teeth this week!!! Four teeth total now so he has gone on strike against any and all baby food! He'll take the real deal please!

River runs through it!

Need I say more?

Mommy thoughts. . .

Mother's day weekend sure makes you think. Every year it hits me like a slap in the face. I am a MOTHER! It was the only thing I ever wanted to do as a child and the only thing I prepared for as a young adult. Years as a nanny loving somebody else's children wishing I had my own and then coming to the realization that I may have none.

What a journey! What a wonderful journey!

Had it not been so hard and so long I don't think I could have appreciated the announcement of twins! The weeks in antipartum on bedrest before they were born or the emergency c-section that saved my son's life. The long weeks in the NICU that meant so much to me and taught me years of experience in 16 days. I don't think I would have known to cherish every second and find every joy had the journey not been so hard.

Now here we are with three beautiful children! This year I am a mom of three! Three amazing, funny, crazy, caring, energetic, creative, thoughtful, wondering, curious babies! I spend my days playing with the toys that clutter our house and being covered in the food that is the wallpaper of my kitchen. Parks are my new "hot spot" and happy hour is a little more like nap time. My favorite outfits are ones that can handle a dose of paint or marker and my best hair style is one where I can always detangle the little hands that have styled me to be "pretty". My hip and trendy hand bag carries size 3 and 4 diapers instead of lipstick and taxi numbers. Evenings are spent checking on our cargo of babies instead of flying by the seat of our pants to our next weekend get-a-way.

It's all I ever wanted. All I ever dreamed of and more than I ever dared to ask for. I stay home with my babies and love on them, teach them, and do the very best I can for them. Our family is abundantly happy and no matter the economy and our wallets, we are rich as the King of Prussia! Mother's day reminds me of the most amazing journey. . . . for which I am forever grateful!