"We May Not Have It All Together But Together We Have It All"

I now understand why my mom was so stressed out when we would go camping. To get ready it takes the whole week before and many hours on the day you want to leave and then it takes a week + when you get back to clean everything up and put it away. I have had to continually remind myself that it is worth it... the memories, the fun times the boys will never forget. As well as the memorable things Ryan and I won't forget.......

like the Sunday dinner rain storm. We had group meals and certain groups of families were in charge of meals. When It came time for our Sunday dinner it was sunny and beautiful so we thought we would cook up our hot dogs up on an open field. Well living in Washington the weather can turn on a dime. One second you are having fun sitting in the sun watching a kick ball game and the next sitting in a rain puddle with a wet hot dog wondering if it is worth getting up and moving out of the rain or just sit there and eat your wet hot dog. Everyone ran for cover but not before everyone was soaking wet.......

or when Devin Willams was strutting his stuff walking up a hill with a fully furnished hot dog while we were trying to drive up it and in a flash you don't see him because he has fallen or rolled I should say down the hill. Standing up he yelled "I saved the dog" (the hand that was holding the dog was covered in dirt but not a spot on the hot dog). Sorry Devin but Ryan and I almost peed our pants laughing sooooo hard......

or when Ryan accidentally capsized the Ellis canoe (which Ryan feels extremely bad). Evan was very traumatized by this and the fact that he thought Daddy fell into the water too, only Ryan jumped in to help (almost capsizing their boat with more kids in it) get the kids out of the water. It was a good learning experience for him and we taught him about the need for life jackets. Evan is a sensitive little boy and takes incidents very hard, he talks about them for weeks after they happen which I hope Ryan and I are handling it right by talking him through it. We are very greatful that the Ellis' are okay!!!!!

Even though it is hard work to get there and to clean up we had a lot of fun and made memories; although we wished we could have shared this time with many more people that we love. Since that would be a very, very, very large amount of people here are some pictures to share in the memories.

This year we decided to get the yearly membership to the Everett Children's Museum. We are glad we did because we have so much fun with the Young's on our monthly outings!

This last Wednesday Evan's preschool had a Mother's Day Program. It was great. They sang all of the verses of Puff the Magic Dragon, and God Bless America, signed Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and a few other things including a Danish Folk Dance. I can't believe I am going to my little boys Mother's Day Programs. I can't believe I am a mother of three, but then I see myself in the mirror and there is the proof, right along with the straight grey highlighted hair.

This is a pic showing how Lucas is getting around. He pushes him self around like a caterpillar

Tonight was haircuts and ice cream shakes night. Daddy cuts the hair and Mommy makes the shakes. Thick Chocolate Strawberry Shakes...so good. We have had our Vita Mix for about 4 or 5 years and wished we could afford fruit and ice cream to make them more often (I am thinking every night). We need to become a little smarter and buy fruit in season and freeze it. Ryan likes the refreshing fruit kind but I like the thick ice cream shakes.

Lucas is now 4 1/2 months old and is already on the move. He has two ways of getting around and loves his new found freedom. If you lay him down on his back within in a few moments he is across the room. He arches his back, tipping his head back to see where he is going and pushing off with his feet. He also is pushing himself backwards in his walker that we just retrieved from the garage. Mama's in for it now!!