POTD.. SOFTBALL!!!

today was so much fun! Robert and I do our best to make all the games the boys play. Sometimes we do not make all the softball tournaments, but we haven't missed many! It was a little warm today, but it is still so much fun watching them play. Mattt, Cody, and Jason all play on the same team..and Zac has gotten to run for several of the guys in the last 2 tournaments. It is so enjoyable, and not everyone can say all their kids have played on the same team, and one of their cousins! Next year, Zac will be old enough to be one of the REAL players....so we are excited about that! I love these guys, and it is so much fun being a part of something they love so much. My boys...THEY ARE THE BOMB TO ME.  I love them so much. With 3 boys, there will always be a sport, and great conversation. It is a job i thank GOd for every single day.  I am so blessed.

POTD....Boss Oakley Foots Manning

this absolutely, stinkingly cute puppy is awesome. He, Oakley, is 10 weeks old today. He weighed 20lbs last week at his dr. visit. He is always happy, and so far has been  easy to potty train!  We are loving him more and more everyday!

POTD....WeEkEnD AT eNiD lAkE 6-12-11

this was the best weekend ever! We were all ready to get away and relax, and if i say so  myself, we did a really GOOD job at it! Haha.  We chilled at the camper, rode on the boat, swam in the lake, ate good food, watched a cute movie and BONDED. No worries, no phones, no work. It was just what we all needed.
Robert and I realized something this weekend though. The kiddos are out growing us. =).. we are content tooling around the lake in the pontoon, stopping here and there to cool off. They all did that with us too, but we could see in their faces how they wanted more. They want to tube, ski, knee board, go fast....all that is involved with a fast boat. I am such a scaredy cat, i do not want them to do any of that. Boats, fast ones anyway, scare the life out of me. I worry way too much on simple things, so boats totally freak me out.
Levi had tons of fun this trip. I remembered to bring his battery powered John Deere tractor so he had a ball driving up and down the hill by the camper. Round and round he would go. He even started do tricks on it! That cute kiddo is growing up right in front of my eyes. I love him to pieces!!! He is so stinking funny. And,, you know what? He loves me too.
Thank you Dear Lord for the wonderful weekend. Please continue to be with me and my family. Please keep us safe, and keep us healthy. My life is all YOURS.
Amen

POTD..Being a mom, is tough work!!

You know, being a mom of 3 is hard work, ...i can't imagine being this mom! Kids hanging all over her! But, just like all of us moms, i am sure she was proud, and loved each one with all her heart.
I do not hate spiders, but this one did creep me out. I took tons of pictures of her, and in the end i did kill her. She was on the steps of my pool, and i just couldn't stand the thought!
It did get me to thinking though. No matter who we are, what we have done, what our kids do or have done, we love them. We love everything about them, or at least i do! My boys are my life....and that includes Matt, Cody, Zac, Robert and Levi. Are they perfect, NO but that is what makes me love them all so much. They each have their own personality, each are funny as ever, and they love me back. They don't tell me in words much, but i can see it in their eyes, feel it in my heart when they are with me. My family is very close, and i absolutely love that about us! I do wish they hugged me more, and said "i love you mom" more, but it wouldn't let me know they love me more. ( it would just be nice to hear it =)....)
I am not gonna leave my Mollie out though!! She is also my child, i think. Even though i am not her mom, i love her just the same.  She could not have come into a family that loves her any more than ours. She is a part of us, and we feel so blessed to have her.
My heart is so full tonight. I have the best of life. I have my 5 guys, and my one daughter. ...nothing beats that! ~life is perfect~

POTD....The colors of my summer

It's the small things that excite me...when i realized this had bloomed today, a huge smile covered my face. I absolutely love seeing these flowers bloom every year. I start anticipating there beauty about April. I guess i am praying for summer even back then...I love summer. I love the colors of these blooms. I have several different colors and I think i am amazed how they continue to come back year after year! I am so not good with plants, and have to replant over and over every year. But, never these lillies. They have held strong every year now for about 5 or so years. ...
I so love summer. I love these lillies. I. love. life.
Photography has changed me in so many ways. I see Gods beauty in nearly everything. What is ruins to others, is pure beauty to me. The colors and glories of daily life catch my eye, where it use to not phase me. I am so thankful the love of photography came to me. The only problem is....i can not relax and just be. I feel i need to "capture" every moment. I have a hard time enjoying the moment for wanting to capture it! There could be something worse though!

POTD....first day of the year in the pool!!! aaawwww sweet summertime

ZAC...look at those ABS!  You were so ready to jump in today! Working all day, coming home on a hot afternoon, this pool is 'THE BOMB"!!

Mollie and Levi...

the first day in the pool was such a good one for Levi. Last  year, Levi was not a great big fan of the pool, he was a little temid. This year, well, today, he is starting the year off great! He wore his floaties and moved around the pool where ever he wanted to go.

Mollie, i sure hope  you get to relax and use the pool as much as possible this summer. With the new job position, it should be a little easier for  you to sneak a couple hours a week poolside anyway.

I sure hope i get to get into some kind of routine where i cut back on work a bit and hang out in the yard also. This backyard is my favorite place in the whole world! It is so nice to hangout and enjoy the yard, the pool, and the sunshine! I.LOVE. IT!