Just a Taste of Our Trip to Atlanta Georgia

Elephants on Parade

Another Adventure at the Zoo, and it was Awesome. 

After lunch we went to see the Elephant encounters, and as we waited for it to begin, my friend Rachel told me that she's been to a ton of the elephant encounters, but she had never seen any elephant actually go into the water, and it was her dream to see one swimming.

Well, ladies and gents, this is a photo of a lady about to see her dream come true!

 HE WENT SWIMMING!!

 Doug was really excited, cheering and clapping for the elephant.

But I think the significance was lost on River.

And then to top it off, we saw an Elephant over the Bridge, another first for all of us.

River was much more impressed this time.

It was definitely Elephant day at the Zoo!

Mothers Day

What a wonderful mothers day. This one, I really felt like a mom.

Thank you Skyler for pampering me and cooking me a wonderful breakfast, lunch, and dinner; 

And for making it a poopy-diaper-free day for me!! 

I love being River's Mom. It's challenging and soul-stretching, mostly because I love him so much, but it's also the best thing. He's growing so much, it make me so happy and yet breaks my heart a little bit, all at the same time. 

I see my baby fading away into the cutest little boy. 

He says "tickle tickle" but only to charlie as he reaches out scrunching his hands open and shut. 

River moves to the groove of any song he hears, head bobbin' and swaying. 

And this little boy can run now. 

He went to nursery all by himself Sunday, with out blinking an eye when we dropped him off (his buddy Doug greeted him with a hug and they were off to play). 

Heaven help me. :)

We've had some pretty bad sicknesses these last months and I have never worried so much or felt so helpless in all my life. I wanted to fix him as soon as i could, and it killed me when the doctors would say "you just have to wait and let it run it's course". All I could do was worry, pray, and try to make him comfortable. Those are the hardest times. 

I've only had River for 18 months, but I have a new appreciation for my own sweet mother. She did this for 4 kids, one of who went through cancer. I can't imagine how hard that must have been. I am so thankful for all that she has taught me and the example that she set for me. I have always felt that the qualities I treasure, I learned from my mother. 

So to sweet Margo, Happiest of Mothers Day. Thank you for showing me how to be a Divine Mother (and a kick-butt nana!!) full of love, patience, and joy. You're the Best!

Now, if you want to see an enlightening and touching short film (like 3 minutes maybe) about Motherhood, follow this link and prepare to have your heart touched so much that you want to call your mom and tell her you love her. 

#ItWasMom

Saturday Morning

 I don't want time to blur my memory of the little everyday moments that are so precious. so dear and make me so happy. 

I don't want them to fade, but I want to remember.

Perhaps details may fade, but the happy feelings doing simple things together as a family can remain clear as day in our hearts, to hold and to treasure forever. 

Saturday Mornings are such a treasure for our family. 

It's the one morning during the week where we get to be all together, to relax and be lazy, and enjoy one another. It's also a time where Skyler and River get to play. 

So if you'll humor me (and let's face it you don't really have a choice), I am going to caption a dialogue for the next little series of images from our saturday morning all together.

Act One, Scene One

River: "Huh, I wonder what's underneath this giant blanket?" 

Charlie: " River? . . . River? . . . Where did he go?" 

Charlie: " Hey, why is this blanket moving and giggling? ATTACK!" 

River: "Tah-dah! It's me!" 

Charlie: "Found You!" 

Charlie: "Wait a minute . . . there's something else under there!" 

River: "It's Dada, duh-doy! Silly Puppy." 

And so begins the Epic game of Hide-and-Seek . . . 

oh how I love them

Wish

I wish I may , I wish I might ...

Meal Time

 You love to eat, especially goldfish and animal crackers. You love to eat things you hold yourself, but if it's slimy you're out (sorry mandrin oranges).

You've recently started eating in a real high chair and not just the bumbo.

Charlie is always at foot while you eat hoping you'll drop something, but more often than not you are slipping him a yummy treat on the "sly".

Eat up kiddo, you still need to be "an eater and a grower". 

Mount Falcon Park Hike with the Clarks

View from the top.

The Clarks- Harry, Rachel, Dain, & Mattix

The Boys- Harry, River, & Mattix

River's meltdown because he wanted my camera

If efforts to help break in our backpack, We went with our friends the Clarks and explored Mount Falcon Park in the Indian Hills just past Morrison. It was a beautiful and easy going hike. It has some remnants of an old mansion that burned down and beautiful views. 

Skyler gave River a stick to play with, which he proceeded to chew, gag and throw up. To save skyler's back side, I managed to catch it in my hand. Yes, I've realized I am now a mom; pee, poop, and puke no longer phase me. Thankfully we had a water bottle I used to hose off my hand.

We had a lovely picnic lunch where we saw wild turkeys go flying by. The boys had so much fun running around and rolling in the dirt and pine needles. River might have a had a little too much fun, his arms and legs broke out in a rash the next day. (have i mentioned that i hate rashes?)

Thanks Clarks for being such awesome adventure buddies! It's nice to have such fun friends!