"A Fine Line Between Chaos and Creation"

July IV Weekend

Lots and lots going on in our house and neighborhood over the last week or so. 

On the 4th, I participated in the first annual Smiles for Sophie 5K run/walk. It was an amazing event to be a part of, with the purpose of celebrating Sophie's life as well as raising awareness for pediatric brain cancer.

I never had the privilege of meeting Sophie, but her story is one that I hold close to my heart as a mother.

After the race I ran home for the second annual Hunt Club bike parade. Jason, Will and I all worked on Will's bike, and Jason even managed to strap a speaker to the back. We connected my iPod to it and had patriotic music playing as Will (who was very, very proud) cycled around the development. This year, the Avon Lake fire department led the parade with one of their engines.

Here's the bike in all its glory

A few more shots of all the kiddos after the parade ended

After the parade we had a mandatory rest period for Will and A, followed by a cookout with really good (and patriotic) dessert

and then some fun with Grandma and Papa

On Saturday we went out to Huron to spend the day and night with Jason's parents at their lake house. Aubrey and Will got to swim, play and relax while we enjoyed some time being together as a family.

On Saturday night Will, J, Grandma and I went to the Huron Yacht Club to watch the fireworks (thanks for staying behind with Aubrey, Papa!) We made a pit stop at the Pied Piper for ice cream on the way

I got a buckeye flurry (so good it was practically sinful) and Will got an ice cream cone "with a face"

Then we saw lots of beautiful fireworks by the lake

Sunday morning (after indulging in homemade blueberry muffins for breakfast), we took the kids to the beach. We said goodbye to Papa on the way (he was heading back home to perform his first baptism since being ordained a Deacon last May).

Aubrey loved the beach...she kept scooping up the sand and stones and even tried throwing rocks into the lake just like her big brother

After the beach we headed back to the lake house to rinse all of the sand away from little hands and feet

We returned home on Sunday afternoon, just in time to squeeze in some slippin' and slidin' before dinner

Finally, after a weekend of crazy goodness, we enjoyed dinner at the Yacht Club with Grandpa, Nana, Uncle Will, his buddy Cody and Aunt Clare

All in all, a pretty darn good weekend. I for one am still recovering.

07.04.08

A very happy (and busy) 4th of July for us. 

Some images of the fireworks at the Huron Yacht Club:

(Canon 85 mm f1.8 lens set to TV with a shutter speed of 1/4 and below)

Let's hear it for the boys.

These kiddos have known each other practically since the womb. Their moms are my closest friends and it has been such a joy watching the boys grow over the years. I still can't believe they're all hovering around the age of 5 (I think I'm having a harder time with that than my own approaching milestone). They are amazing friends and despite the distances between them, they're always able to pick up right where they left off.

Will and I had a great time visiting everyone in Port Clinton this weekend (thanks Ang and Troy!) and J had a nice opportunity for some father-daughter bonding back home with Aubrey.

Here are some moments I captured between the boys this weekend

Play Ball!

Will started t-ball last week. He didn't want to go initially (he's always afraid to leave the house because he doesn't want to miss anything in the neighborhood). Once we got there his attitude instantly changed and he was ready to give it a try.  They practiced catching, throwing and running the bases. Will's a lefty (and a very dominant one at that) but he held his own.  Here are some of his first t-ball shots:

Tonight

We went on a family bike ride to a nearby park

and Will begged Jason to throw him up in the air

and then Aubrey followed

and right before we biked home

I asked Will to just look at the camera

with a straight face

and this was the best he could do

We love our Dads.

Spent a lovely Father's Day visiting with our Dads, tossing water balloons, cooking out and enjoying brownie sundaes. Jason and I have wonderful Dads who have become wonderful grandpas...we love you both very much!

Here are a few of the images that were captured on Father's Day

Tonight at our house.

Lazy Sunday.

Spent watching Kung Fu Panda (Will and J)

and playing in the pool

and celebrating Grandpa's birthday

An impromptu pool party

in our backyard last night

Just us...

enjoying the lovely weather and gearing up for Will's first "last day" of school.  It's ridiculous how excited he is.  I've planned lots and lots of things to keep him occupied over the summer...Taekwondo classes will continue, plus more art classes, T-Ball and a few day camps thrown in for good measure.  Aubrey will be taking her first gymnastics class (I started these with Will when he was 9 months old...can't wait to enjoy them with my little girl). 

Work has been, well, crazy as ever. I am, quite simply, exhausted. Hoping to get a break, or some rest, or maybe just a nap sometime in the near future. Every spare ounce of energy I have is quickly soaked up by the kids or the house.  BUT, I'm trying very hard to be mindful of my attitude. Trying to keep it as positive and grateful as I can, because we really do have so much to be thankful for.