35 is the new 25, right?

I'm another year older today. Birthdays, it seems, after a certain age become just another ordinary day with tasks that must be done and responsibilities to fulfill, but with a little magic mixed in. That was today for me...taking Seth on a run this morning (I just started up again this week, so there was some running, some walking, and a LOT of gasping for air), grocery shopping, straightening up the house, but with thoughtful phone calls from loved ones sprinkled throughout the day, lunch with my sister, surprise gifts showing up in the mail and the front doorstep, and an evening out at my favorite restaurant Tutta Bella with my two favorite guys, Matt and Seth (as if I have to say their names!). I count myself fortunate to have the life I have, and blessed that I've been given another birthday to celebrate.

Pleas'd to look forward,

Pleas'd to look behind,

And count each birthday with a grateful mind.

- Alexander Pope

This was part of my birthday present from Matt, these lovely raspberry-colored mums with bright, cheery centers. So thoughtful - he knows what makes me happy!

Special Visitors and Another First!

We enjoyed the long-anticipated visit from Matt's parents (Grandpa Rex and Grandma Diane) from Texas. As always, the time goes by much too quickly when they're here, but we managed to fit in oodles of fun stuff to do! We camped overnight at Lake Easton and were pleasantly surprised at the delightful weather!

Seth (don't you love his little Carhart hiking boots???) making sure Dad is building the fire correctly...another pyro in the making!

After a good breakfast, we wanted to hike to Snow Lake up by Alpental ski resort, and we found it aptly named. Even though it was June, the trail was covered with snow, and it got more treacherous the further we went. Less than a mile into it, we regretfully decided to turn around. We're going to attempt it again later in the summer when it will hopefully be melted!

Ready to hit the trail!

Three generations of hikers.

This was the getting-in-the-car routine. Any kind of button, or anything that looks like a button is a magnet for Seth. As you can imagine, pulling him away from it and putting him in the car seat wasn't pretty.

Also, while they were here, Rex gave Seth his FIRST haircut ever! I was nervous about the whole idea because I was picturing a buzz cut and all his lofty white curls left in a heap on the floor, but as you can see, all went well, and he's looking all grown up! Great job wielding the clippers around a squirmy toddler, Rex!

Getting acquainted with the clippers - he kept holding it up to his head like a phone.

After some fussing and trying to grab the clippers, here's the surrender.

After all is said and done, a cookie is the reward - it makes everything better!

This is just a random photo from this past Sunday. It was a HOT weekend, especially for the majority of us Northwesterners who don't have air conditioning. So after church we headed for the mountains and had a picnic at Gold Creek near Hyak. I snapped this sweet photo on one of their many trips to the river to play and splash in the water.

Father's Day

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home,

Glad as I can be!

Clap my hands...

...and shout for joy,

Then climb up on his knee.

(Father's Day last year)

Put my arms around his neck,

Hug him tight like this,

Pat his cheeks...

...and give him what? A great, big kiss!

(This was post-kiss. Dad's face is too prickly and tickly!)

"Georgia, Georgia, a song of you..."

...Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.
Other arms reach out to me

Other eyes smile tenderly

Still in peaceful dreams I see

The road leads back to you."

So much to see and do, and not even close to enough time to fit it in! Our Memorial Day weekend certainly was memorable. All the talk of us wanting to visit my sister and her family in Georgia finally materialized into a terrific vacation. We managed to score a non-stop flight, and Seth, as always, was a champ! After aclimating ourselves to the heat and the...what's that bright thing in the sky???...oh yeah, the sun, we set about sightseeing, relaxing, swimming, and shopping (just me and my sistie). Thanks, Clay family, for having us and we miss you already!!! We were surrounded by and showered with the infamous southern hospitality!

This was a worthwhile museum called Cyclorama. It's a huge 4-story high circular mural depicting the Battle of Atlanta, and the auditorium seats revolve in a circle as the narration recounts the events back in 1864. Can you tell Seth is getting ready to get some more teeth???

Then we visited the inspiring King Center, and this was the childhood home Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here's Seth and cousin Cameron, whom we only got to see for a day before he went to Disneyworld on a school trip. Any object that looks like a phone, like the TV remote, he puts up to his ear and carries on a conversation that I'd give just about anything to understand!

My sister's neighborhood has a pool with a little waterslide, so here's dad and son waiting in line to go down. Check out that belly!!

...And here they are in action! Seth loved it although he's crying a little bit at the end. It was HOT that day, and the cold water on his back scared him a little.

Cutie-patootie in a little swimsuit-ie!

I love his little blond, wet, wavy hair, and yes, those back rolls are as deliciously squishable as they look!

Anyone who goes to Atlanta shouldn't pass up a trip to Stone Mountain Park. There it is behind Seth....a huge mountain of solid granite with a 3-acre carving of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. We enjoyed a picnic, played games and stayed for the laser show and fireworks.

Appropriately enough, for Memorial Day we visited Kennesaw Mountain National Park. Some of the heaviest fighting of the Atlanta campaign was here.

Here was a re-enactment of loading and firing a cannon...quite an involved and carefully calculated process!

We hiked through this meadow and up the hill...

...to this monument at the location known as the "Dead Angle" or Cheatham Hill. The leaves in the foreground are covering a trench where the Confederate soldiers of Tennessee defended themselves against the Union troops not 30 feet in front of them. Periodically, a temporary truce was called so wounded and dead soldiers could be moved safely, and the opposing armies would trade and barter with each other...Confederates wanted Union newspapers, and Yankees wanted Confederate tobacco. In many situations, it was truly brother vs. brother. Can you tell I'm married to a Civil-War-enthusiast-all-things-history-smartie-pants-walking-encyclopedia?? :-) Matt was practically salivating over being in the very places he's read about for so long.

Lastly, we paid a visit to the New World of Coca-Cola.

"Mom, I'm not so sure about this crazy guy. Why does a polar bear need a scarf, anyway?"

"OK I guess he's harmless."

Cousins Ryan and Brandon - Seth sure had a blast with the Clay boys!

"Two Temples"

A builder builded a temple,

He wrought with grace and skill;

Pillars and groins and arches

All fashioned to work his will.

Men said, as they saw its beauty,

"It shall never know decay;

Great is thy skill, O builder!

Thy fame shall endure for aye.

A mother builded a temple

With loving and infinite care,

Planning each arch with patience,

Laying each stone with prayer.

None praised her unceasing efforts,

None knew of her wondrous plan,

For the temple the mother builded

Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the builder's temple,

Crumpled into the dust;

Low lies each stately pillar,

Food for consuming rust.

But the temple the mother builded

Will last while the ages roll,

For that beautiful unseen temple

Was a child's immortal soul.

Hattie Vose Hall

Happy Mother's Day

Littlest Lawnmower

It was too rainy to mow the lawn today, but that didn't stop Little Mister Busy from taking a turn with the mower. He loves being outside and is not afraid to get dirty...he's ALL boy!

A Free Moment

As we speak, my students are taking their midterm, so I get to sit back and take advantage of some quiet time. So, what better opportunity than this to send a hello out to everyone.

~

Once again, we have the Teeples to thank for this batch of photos. We had a birthday picnic dinner at the park up the street, and what fun! It sure gets chilly right when the sun dips behind the trees, but that didn't stop the little whipper snappers from playing their hearts out, despite cold finger tips, runny noses and rosy cheeks. We enjoy Seth more every day! Thanks, Cortney and Jason, for sharing your talent...you certainly know how to capture the perfect moment!

You can almost hear the squeals of delight coming from that cute little slobbery mouth!

Taking a break to re-energize via one of Jenni's deliciously adorable cupcakes from Mom. There's always time for dessert!

One of my most favorite expressions from our little guy. He loves to point and say "ook!" (look!). Oh to have the same excitement and wonder again over a new discovery.

This usually happens when it's time to leave. We wrestle him into the stroller, tears are shed, we're promptly forgiven for calling it quits at the park, and we enjoy a leisurely walk back home, only to repeat it all over again another day. :-)