my favorite place....

Hands down my favorite place here in WA. When the tides out it's truly an amazing place. The kids play and explore for hours. Love the memories we've made at Birch Bay....

Our attempt at being romantic :)

Digging...

And more digging....

My amazing trio

Cute kid!

The explorers!

My little swimmer!

'Man vs Wild'

He disappears for awhile and then reappears with a meal! All that 'Man vs Wild' has really paid off!

4th of July in November!

I'm not sure I'm ever going to get caught up! But atleast we can all reflect on warmer times together!

Down at the lake for the day! Wonderful while the sun was out!!

My girl is growing up much too fast!

Trying to get a shot of those freckles that I love SO much!!

Me living on the edge and allowing Brayden to have a sparkler! A very big moment for both of us lol. I so hate the things! 2 years ago he burnt himself on one of these blasted things and we ended up having to fill out a accident report at the ambulance! I just wanted a band-aid to cover it until we got home!

Such a sweet picture of two of the loves in my life! Oh how I love this man. Daddy definitely is the best place to curl up when you're fading fast!

When I said "warmer times" I meant warmer times in other states!! :) Never in July in Utah or Idaho would you be wearing sweatshirts and cuddling under blankets!!

4th of July celebration number 2....

So I found that Makenna is quite amazing at volleyball! Who knew???

This picture totally cracks me up! The first time either of these men have looked at directions! They look rather stumped over this volleyball net assembly

Brayden age 7

Ben age 11

First lets again note the temperature of this night! And secondly can you find Brayden is this picture? lol

Ahhh sweet silence after a full day, so great!

sweet moments

My kids truly are so sweet with each other in the big scheme of things! Such precious moments they share with each other that I don't want to forget!

 Boys playing on the same team as each other this summer will always be a time that I hold so close to my heart. Watching them cheer each other on and have special signals across the field to each other was priceless. One of those memories when I'm in my rocking chair that will always bring joy to my heart!

 Seriously could this be any more precious? These two together honestly just melt me. They have the sweetest relationship and truly just love each other.

Brandon and I left Ben in charge for a few hours and came home to find this! Ben reading to his siblings on the couch all squished in close to each other! So stinkin wonderful!

Testosterone!

A man and his gun, truly nothing like it! It was raining and freezing but nothing comes between a man and his weapon! ;)

Dad giving a little assistance

Proof that I was on this expedition!

Ben with his new rifle that Papa gave him

"Can you feel the power???"

A boy and his dog, one of my faves!

Boys just want to have fun

This year Ben requested a BBQ, flag football, baseball, and swimming party. That I can do :)

Are you ready to rumble???

Love this pic! Nothing like a friendly game of football to start things off. And please look at the weather can I just insert how cold it was???

Finding shelter

Had to take our candles into a 'shack' due to high winds lol

The weather thankfully didn't seem to put a damper on their fun

It truly was a great day and a birthday celebration to be remembered!

4 months later....Ben's bday recap!

Man 11 years go by so quickly! What I wouldn't give to just freeze time.

So it appears here that he might not be so into posing with his bday banner! But he humors me which I appreciate ;)

Let the gift opening begin!

His favorite player hands down so he was stoked about this shirt!

And what did my 11-yr-old want from us??? A build a bear!!! Oh how it thrilled me to take him in there, It shaved years off him being 11 ;) All until I said that the girl he likes had just walked into the store and I saw the panic take place and then he was 11 again :)

His 22 rifle from his Papa, such an amazing gift for my boy!

As I took this picture I had tears in my eyes. Not because my baby was holding a deadly weapon but because I just can't believe what a wonderful young man he is becoming :) I love you Ben with my whole heart!

End of school

The end of our homeschooling year Ben's only request...please take me fishing. So bright and early in the freezing cold we headed to the lake! I was in awe as I watched my boy fish by himself. Putting on lures, walking along the shore line, and casting like he's done this forever. Where has the time gone?

Makenna's one request at the end of our preschool year....swing me! That I can do :)