Dog+Boy=BFF's

Austin is probably one of the biggest dog lovers you will ever meet.   Since Austin was a baby he has always been enamored with dogs.  In fact, one of his first words was "goggie" (doggie)!   He always made me nervous because he would approach any and every dog he encountered without a thought that this dog might not be nice!  Luckily, it's worked out for him though and he's not been bitten because he still approaches every pooch he sees!

Before we owned a dog, Austin would get attached to his grandparents and neighbors and friends dogs.  Austin almost has "too much" love for dogs because he can't seem to get close enough to love them up!  He mauls them by climbing on them, wrestling with them, kissing and hugging them, laying on them, playing with them, pulling their ears and tails, tackling them, massaging and scratching them...

We feel so fortunate and blessed to have Tucker in our family now because Austin finally got the dog he dreamt of having!  He always wanted a yellow lab and Tucker is the best dog for our family, especially for Austin.  Tucker puts up with A LOT and yet he has never nipped, bit, or even growled at the boys.  Labs really are the best dogs.

When Tucker went missing for a few hours a couple of weeks ago, sweet, distraught Austin was in tears and offered the most tender prayer.  He said, "Heavenly Father, please help us find our dog, Tucker.  I don't want another family to take him. He is OUR dog."  Austin had faith that we would find him and we did!

I love that Tucker is only 2 years old because he will be the dog that grows up with these crazy boys!  He will hopefully be with our family throughout their childhood and teenage years.  I dread the day that Tucker goes to heaven.  That will be a heartbreaking day for us all, but especially forAustin.  Tucker really is his best friend.

Austin when he was only 2 years old, laying on my parents dog, Bandit.  This picture perfectly depicts how Austin is with dogs!

This is my parents old neighbors' dog, Tobey, the bull dog.  Eric's dream dog, and Austin sure loved Tobey too!  We used to take Tobey for walks around the neighborhood when we lived in CA.  Often in our red wagon.   Tobey LOVED to lick ears, especially Austin's ears.  You can see that by Austin's hair near his ears.

This is Dakota, my parents' dog now.  They got her right before we adopted Tucker.  She is the sweetest dog you'll ever meet.  She is such a lover.  Austin loves Dakota too.

 

 

And finally, our dog, Tucker.  I love this picture because this is how you see Austin and Tucker most frequently.  Playing.  Tucker knows that Austin is his play buddy, so he goes to him to play fetch, keep-away, wrestle with, or tug-a-war.  We love our Tucker-oo.  Hands-down the best dog our family could ever ask for!

River Rafting

Eric and I were lucky enough to have the opportunity to go river rafting with our good friends, the Sainsburys last weekend!  We could've have asked for better weather either--HOT temps, blue skies, and no wind!  Perfect for floating the river.  We didn't leave Boise until almost 1pm, so by the time we got in the river it was about 3, but we had an absolute blast on some seriously intense rapids!

Our friend and guide, Chris Sainsbury (a former river guide) took us through some crazy water, where we had lots of Class III and even a few Class IV rapids!  There was even one spot that is deemed a Class VI (and unfloatable for safety reasons) where we had to get out and take our raft around.

We got soaked, of course and Eric fell out!  I even almost fell out, the rapids were so strong!  Chris said we did awesome though and we were totally safe the whole time.  The best part besides screaming all the way through the white water was seeing our kids at the end.  Meghan, Chris' wife, met us at the end where we got out and had a picnic dinner with all the kids.  We scarfed down some food and then headed to Kirkwood Hot Springs for a little evening swim!  It was beautiful and so warm and the kids could've played in there all day long!  Such a fun day!



Dad's birthday

We had a little celebration for Eric's birthday/going-away party for our friends, the Bawdens, who are moving to SLC last night.  I am so thankful to have such great friends in our lives!  We really have lucked out everywhere we have lived.  Since our families don't live near us, our friends here are considered our "family" away from family.

I can't believe I have known this man for 16 years now!  That's almost half of our lives!  Eric and I met when were only 18 yrs old and freshman in college!  Eric has always teased me about being so much older than he (really is't only 5 months), but hey, you know the ole' saying, "Older, but wiser!" :)

Happy birthday to the most selfless, patient, loving, fun man that I know!  You are the love of my life and my best friend and there is no one I would rather grow old with!  LOVE YOU E!



Summatime Fun!

Summer is here and we are on a mission to have fun! What I love best about summer is no schedule and late nights!  We are definitely taking full advantage of it too!  This is the first summer where we don't really have a nap schedule so that is an extra bonus.  We have all day to have adventures together!

When school got out a month ago, we made a list of things we wanted to do this summer.  That list is quite long actually!  So far, we have made lots of trips to the neighborhood pool, gone to a new park in town, had picnics and water gun fights, gone to Eagle Island, watched a late movie at the park, had bike rides, gone fishing, and played with friends.  I love summer.

 

Blue Marlins Swim team

Austin started the swim team this summer! He swims for the YMCA Blue Marlins team. He practices everyday for 45 minutes with his age group and has a swim meet once a week.  It has been so good for him to get the exercise everyday and keep him busy with something now that school is out.  He loves it too--his love of the water and swimming coupled with being with friends his age is the perfect combo!  I am so impressed with how his swimming skills have grown too.  He started out as a pretty strong swimmer (it helped that I had him in swim lessons all spring), but swimming everyday, lap after lap, has definitely accelerated both his skills and confidence!  He is definitely strongest at freestyle right now, but his backstroke is really improving and he is learning breastroke. 

At his first swim meet this week, he placed second in the freestyle relay (for 9-10 year olds too) and second in freestyle (for his age group)!  I have always thought that swimming might just be his "thing" and I think I am right!  Grandpa would be so proud....

 

We love our DAD!

Three peas in a pod.  Daddy-look-a-likes.  Like Father like son.  These boys are so special to me and I'm so grateful they have a dad who is so wonderful and caring.  Eric is such a good example to Austin and Carson through his example and the way he teaches and loves them.  I have never met a more patient man either!

Austin and Carson adore you, Eric.  They love whatever Dad loves--from building legos, to playing sports, to watching Discovery Channel, to fishing and camping, to golfing, to fixing things, to being outdoors.  I love that they take after you, Eric!  I couldn't have asked for a better father for our boys, and I know that they will continue to respect and love you throughout their lives.

In a world where many children and families don't have a father figure (or a lousy one), I feel so blessed to have such a good husband and dad to our boys.  WE LOVE YOU!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

Carson goes to the dentist!

Carson had his first trip to the dentist!  We are grateful he can report no cavities!  (Can't say that much for Eric! ;)  He was so good and STILL in the dentist chair while they took x-rays, cleaned and inspected his teeth.  I was worried that his large gap (from sucking his thumb in the space where he knocked out his front tooth) might cause problems later on, but the dentist reassured me that his permament teeth will move in just fine when he gets a little older.  WHEW!

What a big boy he is.



Small and Simple things

Today I am grateful for many things.  Simple things.

Like the fact that I am able to witness my 7 year old son play baseball.

And that I am able to attend preshool "graduation" for my 4 year old and watch him shine.

Today I talked to an old friend and laughed so hard.  I was grateful in that moment for laughter, for love, and for all the many, wonderful friendships that I have.

The other day my husband did the dishes, vacuumed the house, and scopped the poop outside.  Like I said, simple things! ;) I am grateful for his little gestures because they show me that my husband loves me and cherishes me.  He would do anything for me.

On my evening bike ride tonight, I was able to witness a spectacular sunset. And feel the wind on my face. And know that my legs work and keep going. On my bike I feel so ALIVE. I feel control of my body. I feel HEALTHY.  That is a good feeling that I don't take for granted anymore!

I am grateful for the little things that my kids say.  The other day my son, Austin told me that I make him the happiest of anyone (other than the dog ;).

 

My sweet Carson has such a tender heart.  He always knows just when I need a hug, a cuddle, or a smile from his famous "gapper" grin.  We were driving in the car the other day, and he said, totally out of the blue, "Mom, do you know that I love you?"

Those are the moments I cherish.  I soak them up and try my best to never forget them. A few years ago, I might not have fully recognize all of those moments because I was in too much of a hurry to get to the future.

In life, it's the simple things that matter.  I have come to the conclusion that life is but a million simple moments all strung together.  In my eyes, they are what make life worth living, we just have to recognize them.  And it is through God, who gives us those small and simple "blessings" and tender mercies each and every day to show us that He is there, that He cares, and that we have much to be grateful for.  All we have to do is open our eyes. 

 Today I am especially reminded and grateful to still be here.