Thirteen

Last night, Sam and I celebrated our 13th anniversary at the the Delaware State Fair attending the Lady Antebellum concert. It was a wonderful and relaxing night, but the week leading up to it was anything but. In fact, I don't know if we've ever had a busier week in our lives. It seemed to be the collision of every church and extracurricular involvement and responsibility we have.  Between boy scout camp, cub scout camp, first week of football, last week of swim, MMA, babysitting, volunteering and various appointments we were hanging on by our fingernails by the time Saturday's all day divisional  swim meet wrapped up. Riding on the tails of such an intense week, I was extra stressed as we prepared to leave and worried I wouldn't be able to enjoy the evening out. Thankfully, I was wrong.

The drive up to the fair was a little over two hours, so Sam and I had plenty of time to talk and plan our lives. It felt like such a luxury to have time and space to develop thoughts that I hope will drive our family forward in the directions we think are important. It was just what I needed. By the time we arrived at the fair I was a new woman.

One thing I was looking forward to at the fair was being able to take lots of pictures without holding a baby or  worrying about keeping the kids in my peripheral. Unfortunately, I brought the camera but without the battery. Uggg. So much for my plans to document ever moment of our fantastic night together in all of it's chili-cheese fries and corn dog glory. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I guess I have a lot of writing to do to make up for it.

 I did have my phone so the evening didn't go completely undocumented.

Joe Nichols opened for Lady Antebellum and was actually really great. Coincidentally, we saw Joe Nichols on our 2nd anniversary too...equally accidentally that time as well.

 Our up close encounter with Joe Nichols. I'm not gonna lie--it was pretty exciting.

 Lady Antebellum was Uh-mazing! Sam and I were both blown away with how great they sounded live.

 Another close, but not as up close, celebrity encounter. Still totally exciting...

On the way home, Sam and I talked about our lives 13 years ago and how we were so young when made such an important and eternal decision. I don't feel that much older (at least I refuse to accept the fact that I am that much older), but 13 years is a significant amount of time. I know in that time I have increased in wisdom, maturity, and perspective (yet still have miles to go). Despite the tremendous amount of growth that has occurred in that time, 13 years ago I felt completely capable and ready to make the decision I did. In fact, it was a decision that I really never doubted and felt much too sure of much too early to have been uninspired. The past 13 years have been full of growth because they have been full of trials, difficulties, mistakes and disappointments right along side victories, blessings and miracles too numerous to count. I am so grateful that 13 years ago I was blessed with wisdom beyond my own to know that marrying Sam was the right choice for me. It is the most important and best decision I have ever made, and 13 years later I absolutely love him more than ever.

Girls Night

One of these days I'm going to do a well-documented post all about Father and Son's camp out. Unfortunately, this is not that day. The routine for the past several years has been to get the boys all packed up to take off with  Sam for Father and Son's while I stay home with the girl(s)...and the camera. One of these times I'll have to send (and trust) him with the boys and the camera. Until then, we will have well-documented girls' night, or what Ruby refers to as "girls to girls to girls Night"

We always have a good time, but the girls are always a little reluctant to let their favorite boys leave.

Saying goodbye

Ruby wasn't too keen on being left out (she never is). Fortunately, painting wooden butterflies changed her tune. She was so careful and thoughtful as she selected the color schemes.

The butterfly painting was a little advanced for Harlow, so we decided to do finger paints as well.

It started so well...

...but before long she had me thinking that maybe finger paints might have been a little too advanced as well.

Or maybe just a little too messy. Allowing her to climb out of her high chair was definitely a step in the wrong direction. She was a total disaster by the end of it. Thankfully, these "washable" finger paints were actually washable.

Ruby was amazingly patient with Harlow which is especially amazing considering patience has not been one of Ruby's strong suits.

After our painting escapades Harlow took a quick bath in the kitchen sink (one of her most favorite things) and got a little parachute action before getting ready for bed. What baby can resist a parachute?

Ruby was even so kind as to snap a picture. I love when my kids want to be the photographer. It makes me feel like they notice all the pictures I take of them and recognize them as something important.

It was a great night, but in the morning we were definitely ready for our boys to be back. Next year I'll make sure we have even coverage of events because I know the boys have such a great time too. 

As good as it gets

Sometimes someone shares a testimony at church that really sticks with you. Several years ago, when we were were still living in North Carolina, a member of our ward shared his testimony of the importance of family that has always stuck with me. In his testimony he described how he and his family had gone bowling that week for FHE. As he stood up for his turn to hurl the ball down the lane he could  hear his 4 kids behind him chanting "Go dad! Go dad!" It was a simple thing, but he said standing there it hit him that the overwhelming feelings of love that he felt are what it's all about and that moments like that are as good as it gets. His heart resonated with the truth that the family is central not only to God's plan, but also to our happiness now and for eternity. I, of course, know this to be true, but sometimes I can really feel it in an undeniable almost tangible way. 

Saturday, after the swim meet, was one of those times. It was lunch time when we finished up the meet and everyone was starving. We had several errands to run still so stopping by the grocery store seemed like the best option to get through our list without dealing with a hunger-induced mutiny.  We ended up grabbing some celebratory donuts, fried chicken and fruit, found a shady spot of grass at the edge of the parking lot and had an impromptu picnic. It was part hobo and part perfect.  Like the bowling experience, it was simple but brought a profound sense of complete satisfaction to be surrounded without distraction by those that I love most.  I'm not sure why those moments always catch me off guard, but I'm always glad when they do. 

No fried chicken photos, but these pictures from a few weeks ago outside enjoying the perfect evening weather are among those "all is right in the world" moments for me.

I hope they could feel the perfection of the evening too. Something sure was bringing Harlow happiness.

Ruby ditched her bike after she fell off of it and instead ran laps around the cul-de-sac trying to keep up with the boys.

I love that determined look.

My speed demon.

This is definitely as good as it gets.

Swim Team

Today was our last regular season swim meet of the season. Next week's division's meet will wrap up Reed's 3rd and Max's 2nd season of swim and this is the first time I've ever written a thing about it. This makes me sad especially when I think of how much they have progressed in that time. When Reed joined the team 3 years ago I was just excited for him to have this experience and to strengthen his swimming skills. Fast forward  three years later the boys have become real competitors. In fact watching their events was down right exciting. Reed placed in the top three overall in every event he was in today. Max was also the heat winner in the backstroke and both of the boys cut multiple seconds in each of there events. Seeing them work hard and have fun--it doesn't get better than that for me.

These swim meets are all morning affairs. I used to be a little bugged that they ate up so much of our Saturday, but now I look forward to them as good quality family time as we are all stuck waiting together for the boys events.

Reed waiting on deck for his event.

It's always a party when Max is in line waiting for his event.

Backstroke is one of Reed's strongest strokes.

Waiting to hear his finish time.

Did I mention how Max is everybody's best friend in line?

And if you think he is fun while waiting for his event, you should see him after his wins his heat.

He was just a little excited. Excited enough in fact to dance all the way back to the tent beaming all the way.

These pictures are actually from this season's first meet where the boys cleaned up in their heats. I think they won all but one of the heats they raced in.

It was a good day for everyone. These pictures don't lie.

I'm not going to miss getting out the door every morning for swim practice, but judging by the looks on these faces it was a great season and totally worth it.

Typical

There are many thing that I can count on as far a typical behavior goes from my kids. I can count on a groggy Ruby to make her way into our room every morning, flop onto our bed and say, "I'm tired" or "I'm hungry" and often both. I can count on Max starting just about every request he makes of me by saying, "You are probably going to say no but..". I can count on the fact that if I send Reed up to his room to get something I will at some point have to pull him away from a book that he has also found up there. I can count on Harlow to want just about any blanket she sees and nuzzle her face into it  as soon as she has been able to grab it. 

The scene below is also quite typical around her. All my kids do it: They watch. It is very typical to see them sit near by and watch each other draw, play a game or even read a book. This early morning Max had decided to draw and Ruby had decided to pull up a chair watch. It's nothing extraordinary, but I love it. I love the mutual love they have for each other. I love their desire to be near each other, and I love that in this house, this is typical.