Westward

There is nothing better in my life than summer time!  I get to be with our kids everyday, we get to stay up late if we want, we sleep in, we have very few regularly scheduled activities...what more could I ask for in a season?

 

Last week we took our first trip of the summer.  We drove through South Dakota and out to Sheridan, WY and the Big Horn Mountains.  We did all of the great attractions in South Dakota and truly enjoyed them.  We hit Bear Country, Wall Drug (maybe this wasn't that enjoyable, but the story of how it all started is awesome!), Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, The Badlands, and Custer State Park.  All lovely.

 

But, the best part of it all was WY.  We got to be a part of one of my best friends' life, which included a lovely home at the top of a secluded mountain.  No cell phone, no TV, and most roads required and ATV.  Stacey and Eric took us on so many great adventures...there are no words.  It really was one of our favorite family trips. 

 

 First stop on the trip was The Badlands.  The kids thought this was pretty cool.  Cooper still can't remember what they're called....Badlands, Bad World, Bad Islands...whatever works.  We all know what he's talking about.

 

No explanation needed....Mt. Rushmore.  Did you know that 90% of the carving of Mt. Rushmore was done with dynamite?  90%!

Meadow after meadow of sweet smelling wildflowers.  One of my favorite things on Big Horn.

The lovely river in the canyon below the cabin.  We could not see this river from the deck of the cabin, but we could hear it...so lovely and peaceful.

 

Halfway up the side of the mountain.  The kids were pooped out and had to take 3 breaks.  But, they knew there was a cave at the top.

 

 

 After an intense hike, we made it to this great cave Eric discovered when he was 10 years old.  It was cool, but I only made it halfway through...a little claustrophobic!  But the kids gave it rave reviews.  Cooper said is was "creepy and awesome!"

Our little clan.

SAIGE!!!

Layla started saving her birthday money last August for a new American Girl Doll.  She wasn't sure which one she wanted next...until the 2013 doll was announced.  Saige loves horses and art...need I say more?  Since August Layla has had to say no to little toys here and there that she's wanted to buy.  She's saved many times for items over the years, but never something as expensive as an American Girl Doll.  She stayed focused in her saving for 8 months.  And finally, here is Saige.

We teach the Layla to split her money into spend, give, and save envelopes.  Layla also got to take her saved money to the bank and open her first savings account.  Seeing her envelope of saved money being counted out and deposited was so rewarding for her.  She looks forward to getting her bank statement every month.

It's hard for me, as a parent, to teach our kids delayed gratification.  Probably because I'm not good at it myself and because we don't live in a world that practices it.  Just because we can do or buy something for them doesn't always mean we should...something I'm continually working on in myself!

Butch and The Sundance Kid

While I soaked up the sun poolside in Scottsdale a few weeks ago with my girls, Daddy and the kids went shopping and came home with a calf.  Yes, as in a baby "cow".  Cooper has been asking and asking and Daddy caved.  Her name is Cowgirl and she was just a few days old when she came to live with us.  This means the kids have to get up before school to feed her a bottle and do it again after school.

What does Mom think of this?  I've always said they can get a bottle calf as long as they're old enough to take care of it.  Dave and I, especially me, are NOT taking care of it...at all...ever.

Cooper grumbles most mornings when he has to get up earlier than normal, but Layla has never complained. Layla carries the bottle out to the barn and Cooper carries his BB gun... "to protect them if a bad guy, skunk, or coyote tries to get them."

Cinco

Cooper Then

Cooper Now (ish)

As we tucked the kids into bed tonight, we reminisced about what our little family of 3 was doing 5 years ago on this very night.  Layla was 2 and eagerly anticipating being a big sister.  Dave was sure he was going to have a son.  And me, I was well beyond my due date with my second child, larger than large, about as nauseous as I had been my first trimester, and so deliriously happy.  Only the hormones of a pregnant woman could make her that happy in such circumstances.

The next morning, with Layla still snug in bed, our friend Jaime on babysitting duty, Dave and I drove to Des Moines to be induced and meet our second child.  When I delivered that evening, the doctor announced, "It's a boy!"

He then asked, "What are you going to name him?"  And, without thinking, I said, "Cooper David."  To which Dave replied, "We are?"  I said, "Is that OK?"  It obviously was!

When I tuck Cooper in at night, we say our prayers, we kiss and hug and I tell him he's the very best boy.  To which he replies that I'm the very best mom.  I tell him I love him.  He tells my he loves me more.  I tell him I loved him first.  He tells me he'll have to think about that some more.  He has yet to come up with a reply after that...because he can't.  He will never be able to trump my love for him.

Spring Break

Spring Break was....GLORIOUS!  There is no other word to explain it.  We hemmed and hawed about going somewhere over the break, but had a lot going on professionally.  You know how much we like to go, so staying home was a very disciplined move for us...especially with the Cyclones playing in the NCAA just 10 hours away!  BUT, being home this week was....you guessed it....GLORIOUS!

We started spring break in Kansas City last Thursday through Saturday for the Big 12 Tournament.  We saw many great games and were able to do lots of kids things as well.  We stayed at Crown Center and and went to Lego Land, Sea Life, Fritz's, Crayola Cafe...you get the idea.  The highlight was definitely our outdoor, rooftop, heated pool at the hotel.  The kids have never swam on a rooftop and it was 82 degrees Friday.

Although KC was great, the best part of Spring Break was just being with my kids.  I felt like I got to know Layla again.  I think the kids felt the same way about each other as well.  They were 2 peas in a pod.  When I was home with babies, I purposed to enjoy my days, yet dreamed about the future when I would get pieces of my life back.  I've so enjoyed having those pieces back...but I also miss having every day with my kids!

Needless to say, we are now on a major countdown to summer break...9 weeks and 1 day.  I'm trying to focus on that rather than the fact it's been snowing here for 24 hours straight!

This was a typical day on Spring Break...jammies all day and many projects.  Layla headed up this project.  She made herself a Repunzel hat and she made Cooper some sort of a Kung Fu Panda/ISU top hat.

Shot through the heart...

...and this little man is to blame!  Why?  Because this little stinker thinks he's going to turn FIVE on Wednesday.  There is something about the number 5 that hits a mama right in the heart.  It's the final wave good-bye to the toddler and a firm hello to boy.  I don't like it.  You know me, every year I want to freeze time at every birthday.  

Since the kids' Elmer Fudd moment a few weeks ago, Cooper has been wandering outside everyday...by himself...waiting to shoot geese.  He's usually dressed head to toe in camo and can't understand why the geese and ducks on our pond fly away before he gets within shooting distance.  Last week he decided he needed his Frankenstein Halloween mask to cover his face.  He was sure the only reason the geese were flying away so quick is because they could see his face. 

He spends a lot of time outside walking around, talking, shooting things, investigating, peeing...you know, the basic boy things. 

A love with my love!

Layla played basketball last year and wasn't too excited about the sport.  This year she debated between cheerleading and basketball.  I kept my opinion to myself (which doesn't come easy for me) and encouraged her to follow her heart.  I was so excited she chose basketball!

This year she loved basketball!  She was able to play on an all girl team and 4 of her teammates were from her school.  Plus, I got to help coach her team!  Layla improved so much this year and I got to see my mild mannered girl find her competitive spirit.  She loved playing and did it with a smile on her face the whole time...and a with deep desire to win.  This surprised Dave and I and anyone who knows my girl.

For me, it was so fun to share the love of basketball with Layla.  God used basketball in my life to encourage me and help me find my way.  Will God use it in Layla's life in the same way?  Maybe, maybe not.  Either way, this year was a blast!  I will miss this time with Layla and the wonderful girls she played with.  They were awesome!