Pony Rides

The boys got turns taking their first pony rides, on our MOPS outing to a local farm. I wasn't sure if they would want to or not once we got there, but they were both all for it! Wyatt looks a little hesitant in this picture, but he actually had a great time. He was one of the first kids to hop on!

Will's turn! He listened carefully and was very serious about his first horse ride. He had fun too!

Adrenaline Rush!

Oh, the perks of having a PE teacher for a Dad! Craig rented this obstacle course for field day and the past two evenings we've gone to the school to let the boys play. Craig and I went through too....it's so hilarious!

I told the boys to "pose" so I could get their pic....check out Will's "pose"!

Valley of the Giants!

This was the first of many "Family Activity Day's" or FAD's for short. Craig and I have gone through our calendar and blocked out a few days a months for family outings. Things as simple as playing in the yard or having a picnic, or going on a day trips.

Yesterday we took and adventure to the Valley of the Giants. It was a mile+ hike through some enourmous trees. We had so much fun doing somthing new as a family. The boys did great. We actually looped around the hike twice (by mistake) but Will walked the whole time and Wyatt only had to be carried at the very end! This is a picture of the boys sitting on top of a fallen tree log.

The boys and I on a rock by the Siletsz River. A beautiful day....it was nice and cool down in the shade!

I LOVE this picture....Anna peekin' up on Daddy's back, with a big smile! We found this awesome Kelty backpack for her at a garage sale Saturday for $10. It's way nicer then our other one and I think it will serve her well for another year at least!

A view from behind. Will loved "leading the trail"!

Summer Haircuts, Strawberries and Sweet Potatoes!

Will and Wyatt with their short summer haircuts, enjoying some juicy strawberries. We picked two flats and made three batches of jam. There was plenty left to eat and freeze.....so yummy!

Anna had her first taste of sweet potatoes this week. She LOVES to eat.....and can't get enough! At her 6 month check-up this week she weighed in at 19lbs. 14oz. and was 27 inches. Which is the 100% across the board :) She's our "little" pumpkin!

A Joyful Reminder

The flavor of Joy by Michael Pearl

"Parenting, like courtship, must be properly seasoned with joy. Parenting without joy is not only tasteless, it is tiresome. Joy is the expression of present life—yet more, it is the energy and vision of life that shall be.
Parenting without joy is like music without rhythm or flowers without color. A joyless parent can no more raise happy kids than a skunk can raise skunklets that smell good. "

To read on visit nogreaterjoy.org. One of my favorite websites with great articles. I love his illustrations in this article. A joyful reminder to me that I am in need of every day!

6 Months Already??

Here are some pictures from Anna's latest "photo shoot" :)