Fall 2014 was busy, and so fun and made up of so many moments that we'll never forget and always look back on and cherish as part of one of the best years of our lives. Everything is so much more fun with kids around...kids to teach and show amazing places to...kids to love on and experience things with...it's just better with them here!
We shared a trip to Moab with the Hermsen's in October 2014. We camped in Canyonlands again, in the famous campsite #4 at Devil's Kitchen. The trail was quite a shock for Erica...and a little more treacherous than she anticipated, but she braved through it, and the peace and literal silence in the back country won her over. A few of our friends were a day ahead of us and were there waiting in the neighboring sites when we arrived. It was the most perfect weather...the bluest sky I've ever seen (really!) and once again, the boys were in heaven playing in nature and feeling free to run, get dirty, build, imagine, pretend and just live. I'll never forget walking out to get something from our car the first night we were there, and looking up at the sky...it took my breath away. Thousands...probably millions of stars were in clear view. I've never seen anything like it, and our whole group came out to stargaze in amazement at what nature can do. Such a cool moment.
Our little Sawyer stayed back with Mimi Darlene at our house (thank you Mimi!) because he wasn't quite ready for the desert camping trip yet. It was some great one-on-one time with the older boys, and we soaked it up. Here are a few pics.
Dad letting Owen lead the way...O's fave part
The Hermsen's
Stiever's (sans Sawyer)
Owen, Noah, Bodhi and Hattie with Needles in the background (this is the summit of the Joint Trail)
Mom and Dad
Mr & Mrs Hermsen
Our campsite
that sky!
more sky
just a little bit more...
our annual pano
the open road...desert style
whoops...more sky
the squeeze
crossing over!
it looks scary because it is!
Moving on to the leaves changing and pumpkin flavored everything, the Fall continued to be a series of moments I consistently notice to be those moments I'll think about when I'm old and gray and feeling nostalgic about my kids when they were little. They say the cutest things...they do the cutest things...and as they turn into bigger kids every single day, I feel both filled with joy seeing them so happy, healthy and vibrant...and a little sad to see it passing through. I literally never want them to grow up. In fact, I tell them daily they aren't aloud to grow another inch..."stop right there young man!" Don't get me wrong...being a parent is HARD...and I have days I'm not proud of too. Sometimes, I just want some privacy, to sit and eat a (warm) meal and a date night with my husband...but mostly, I'm happy.
Sawyer is often dunked in the sink because he's ALWAYS a mess from trying to feed himself (which is the only way according to him) or playing in the dirt, or the many many other ways he finds to need a bath. I don't always have time to go up to the tub...so I fill the sink and he takes a "sink tubby" all of the time. He loves it, and he looks pretty adorable in there.
Mimi Kathy sent us this pic of Kipper as a baby, and it blows me away every day how much Sawyer looks like him. Those two are truly in sync in so many ways...not just their resemblance...but their connection. Sawyer would prefer to be hanging out with Kipper 100% of the time. I'm not exaggerating...he loves his mom (and his brothers!) but he LOVES his Daddy. He literally starts cracking up laughing with pure joy on his face when Kipper walks in the room. He asks me all day long...with his cute chubby hands up, "Daaa-ee?" (aka Daddy) I say, "He's at work," and he says, "oh," and then says, "tuck?" (truck)and then I say, "yes, he drove his truck." and then he goes on with playing. He stumbles over Kipper's shoes, and says, "Daaa-ee's's ooh's" (aka Daddy's shoes)...and this goes on all day. He probably asks me something about Daddy over 20x a day....again, not an exaggeration! It's more than the sweetest thing ever...it melts your heart to see them together.
For Thanksgiving, we hosted at our house and invited the Launais Family, the Hermsen's and Eric & Tammy. It was great fun, and such a fun group of kids to have together. It's always so nice to spend time with these awesome family folks and we miss the Launais' out in Cali!
Owen is growing...he's tall, he's mature, he's smart and he's sweet. His legs literally look like a grasshopper...I don't know where those long, lanky things come from...but he's growing into a pretty handsome young man. He can't help himself from climbing to the top of literally every thing. Even flat walls...he tries to climb them. He likes to be perched up on things...perhaps he's climbing up and away from his two little brothers to get a little peace and quiet...I don't blame him!
He's learning to play the piano...and he's so far ahead of what I know about music (not much) and tries to teach us...but mostly I just like to sit an watch him.
Our cul de sac is filled with so many kids...we're always out in it riding bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. We now have 14 kids in our cul de sac alone...and a few other kids ride their bikes this way to play in our little zoo.
This year, we painted pumpkins and leaves for some Fall art.
Bodhi gets more handsome every day, and people always tell me their daughters (5 & under) have a crush on him. He's pretty suave and that...combined with what some would consider a little too much confidence...gets them every time! He LOVES his baby brother so much, and showers him with kisses all day long. He talks to random people in the grocery store, and says things like, "Hi, did you see how cute our baby is?" He's a ball of energy and loves to play soccer, baseball or any sport that involves running. He doesn't hold back on pretty much anything, and I can't wait to see what he does with that as a grown-up (but I'm equally terrified!).
Owen teaching Kipper how to play Jingle Bells this year...these two are so similar as well. They have the exact same mannerisms and deep learning ability. It's fun to watch these moments.
We picked out our Christmas tree from a local lot this year...we were keeping it simple and staying local since it was our first year at home for Christmas since we moved to Colorado 12 years ago! Bodhi is crying in this pic because he had just burned his hand on a bun barrel at the lot...we almost ended up in Urgent Care...but all ended up fine in the end. ;)
Sawyer loves animals...and this is one of his daily visits to Ellie, our neighbor's sweet dog.
I love finding school work like this in their Friday folders...
Macy is 11 this year (2015) and she and Sawyer are sweet friends. She let's him roll all over her...and he loves her almost as much as he loves Daddy. (I guess that means I am 3rd in line...jeez!) ;)
I had the honor of joining a group of amazing people this year to try and change the law in Colorado regarding coaches for youth sports. The bill asked for all youth sports programs to be required to run background checks on all coaches. It seems like a no-brainer and most think it's already the law...but in fact, it isn't. Anyway, it was such an eye-opening experience to watch from the front row how it's possible to make change for good in the world. This bill was not passed after two rounds of testimony and unfortunately votes were cast down party line without much consideration...which honestly made me feel like it might not even be worth trying. But...that isn't how change is made, and I hope to be a part of trying again next year.
Over the holidays Owen wrote President Obama a Christmas card. He's been studying the Civil War, slavery and loves Abraham Lincoln and all of the change he promoted...and therefore he loves President Obama...so he wrote to him. And, then he got a response, and he was thrilled! It included a letter to Owen and some family pics of the Obama's. It was such a great day for him to see that piece of mail!
Other fun stuff...
Sawyer loves the park and will go down the slide 100x if you let him.
We go on bike rides a lot...
We play in the snow (but are welcoming the sunshine now!)
For New Years, we welcomed a trip to Florida to escape the freezing cold snow...and slip into our flip flops with Mimi Darlene and Grandpa Trey. The Florida Keys never looked so good! The house they rent is on the canal, and the kids fish, swim and relax all day. Stephanie, Ryland and Gunnison joined us this year, and the cousins had a fabulous time picking up where they left off.
Stephanie fell out of the boat...I had to take a picture before helping her back up, couldn't resist!
In January, we were so excited to get to be in Austin for Grandma the Great's 90th birthday celebration. Most of the Reese family was there, and it's so meaningful to see everyone, catch up, see how big all of the kids are getting and to squeeze these sweet Texans we miss so much.
Sweet baby Presley with her Daddy, Ryan
the Guest of honor...Grandma the Great, aka Marcella Reese
a big pile of cousins
Sweet moment catching up with his Grandma...
Funny stuff...
Bodhi is using phrases like "sadly...that isn't true." and "in fact mom, I do like broccoli." and "I shall go to the bathroom" - not sure where that's coming from, but it's funny stuff.
He also still misunderstands some phrases like instead of saying "I've hit my limit" he says, "I've reached my lemons." Love it.
Recently we were driving up to the mountains, and Bodhi started asking about all of these huge empty mountain (vacation) homes (there are a lot of them)...and I told him people only come there for vacation, and live somewhere else. He said, "Mom! Let's call a bunch of homeless people and tell them they can stay in these empty houses while they are empty." Although it's impossible...I have to admit the concept makes perfect sense...he's so young and just sees a basic problem and a way to solve it. He talks about people without homes a lot...he's really worried for them, as we should be. He has such a kind heart.
Sawyer is talking SO much...he says so many words now and basically tries to repeat everything we say in his cute little baby voice. Pretty much every time he talks, we all look at each other and smile because his cuteness is too much to handle.
That's all I have for now...but we embark on our one-year adventure in an Airstream very soon, so I'll be in touch!
xoxo
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