7 Years

It's been [over] 7 years since that wonderful day.

This year was a bit crazy trying to find time to celebrate our anniversary with Scot's new job and him studying for boards, so we took a low-key approach to the weekend leading up to our actual anniversary and had a blast.

We enjoyed breakfast out with the boys, played at a park, had a "dinner and a movie in" night -- pretty much letting Scot study during the day so we could celebrate around the dinner hour.  And sometimes breakfast hour, too.  It was good.

Earlier today I had in my head all these random moments I wanted to recount for you all.  To let you know how special Scot is, how sweet he is, and how much fun we have as a couple.  But I'm tired right now, and I wouldn't want to give you all the wrong impression. Believe me when I tell you the road to this 7 year mark has been anything but easy!  It's been hard work and rough at times.  It's been highs and lows.  Don't let me lead you to think it's all roses and rainbows over here -- it's real life.  And real life is messy sometimes.  But let me guarantee you this: there is no one I'd rather trek up steep hills with, or view those rainbows with, than Scot.  He's my champion and I love him.

Happy 7 years, babe!

a few cute pictures

 The boys have really started to dig into chores around the house.  Last week, the trash can was out, but I was able to fill half a bag with the smaller trash cans around the house (that that boys, of course, gathered, dumped, and re-placed) and Drew practically begged to take it out to the can.  I'm all about letting the boys do as much as they think they can handle and not holding them back, so I said sure and ran for my camera. 

 The boys got these cute outfits from my grandmother and posed so nicely I couldn't ignore them.

I don't usually have casual pictures with the boys, so this was a sweet shot I'm going to cherish.

Love those smiles. 

head wounds

I know having boys is just a recipe for trips to the ER, but until now, we've gone 5 years with no ER visits for them.

I have always said it would be Drew who landed us in the ER first, but I was wrong.

Interestingly enough, though, Drew should have landed us in the ER first.  He would have been first by only 5 days, but he still would have been first.  I just don't like going if we don't absolutely have to, so..."New Skin" worked just fine and it was 10 at night and he was perfectly ok in the morning.

sorry the picture is side ways, i'm having issues and i'm too lazy right now to fix it

See?  Perfectly fine 24 hours later.  Yes, he could have used a couple stitches, but that "New Skin" stuff is amazing.

Let's just say that falling asleep on top of a vent with a very sharp "wheel" (that turns the vent open or closed) and then turning your head sharply, catching your ear on said sharp wheel, is not advised.

Neither is running into a strike plate.

Evan was running down our hallway (running away from Scot who was playing a game with him) and not looking where he was going, and smashed his head right into the strike plate on our door jam..  It was a great big thunk, a scream, and a quarter-sized flap of skin that I saw with blood pouring out of it.

And in all of it, I was thankful.  Thankful that Scot was home after working 7 days strait.  Thankful that I was home from the market, where I had gone to an hour before without my cell phone, that we didn't have to call an ambulance since Scot could drive while I applied pressure to the wound, and finally, that it was his head and not his ear, or an eye, or somewhere else more dangerous.

It was 3 hours in the [freezing cold] ER, but we were seen quickly (at first) and the boys got chocolate milk, graham crackers, and apple sauce out of the deal.  And warm blankets.

Evan was very brave and barely cried once we got to the hospital.  He didn't even cry when they scrubbed the wound or put the four staples in.

they put this on to keep the "numbing gel" in place.  Pretty cute, huh?

quite the week.

Last weekend was spent down at my folks house with tons of family in town for 2 reasons.  1) My uncle, aunt, and grandmother were in for my uncle's 50th birthday.  2) My aunt (mom's side) and my 2 cousins were in town to drop my cousin off in CO a little early before he starts school up at my Alma Mater -- CSU.

My folks were extremely generous hosts and had a dozen extra people in their house for 2 solid days.  They fed us all.  Had comfortable places for us to sleep.  Made sure we were all happy.  We've always joked that my parent's house is like a BnB, but this past weekend it felt more like a small hotel!  It was a blast.

We went to the Garden to walk, to Manitou on a rain afternoon to play at the Penny Arcade, lazed around in the mornings drinking coffee, and just enjoying the beautiful views and fabulous company.  The boys all took hikes, played in the creek, "hunted rabbits", and were read many many stories over the course of the 48 hours we there.

After such a packed weekend, I had one full day at home to do all my errands and house-work before my grandmother came to stay with us for the rest of the week.

It's always nice when she's here.  She helps around the house where she can, plays and reads to the boys, and is always a listening ear.  She's easy to have.  She accompanies us on things can handle, stays back to rest if she needs to, and gives the boys tons of love.  I can't even count how many games of Uno she played with Evan, how many coloring pages she watched be accomplished, or how many books she read to the boys.  Today was our first day without her and while it was busy with church and resting, she was missed.

Now on to our first "normal" week with schedules and such since we moved in.  I think.

Returning to normal.

What is normal anyway?

For us, it means a certain level of busyness.  It means devotions in the morning after breakfast.  It means errands that take up a whole morning at least once a week.  It means playdates at parks, Bible studies, trips down to visit my parents or last-minute dinner dates with them eating here.  Normal is reading books and playing games after lunch now that the boys are both dropping their naps at the same time.  Normal is 2 -- maybe 3 -- 45 minute naps in an entire week. An. Entire. Week. (Can you tell this whole dropping nap thing is taking some getting used to?)  Normal is laughter in the afternoon while the boys run and chase rabbits out back while I make dinner.  It's whispers and giggles in the morning while they lay in bed before they're allowed out of their rooms.  It's reciting Bible verses before bed and singing.  Normal is picking up the kitchen as the light fades while listening to my own music.  Normal is chores.  Prayer time.  Asking what the day's highlight is.

Normal for us is not normal for you, or vice versa.  That's what makes each and every family unique, right? We all have our own normal.

Well, we're returning to our normal this week. Only to have a crazy weekend ahead of us, but that's ok. We'll have normal to come back to.  I hope.

Scot started work today, too.  After 7 years of training/marriage, he is finally doing what the Lord has put on his heart to do. And it's a wonderful thing.  Praise the Lord.

Until I have more time, and will at that point update you all on the tons of family we have in town right now and the fun we're bound to have with them, here are just a few pictures from this week.

 Mom and I both had BIG weeks last week and needed time to catch up but didn't have time for an entire day trip either way -- so we met half way at a park and spent a delightful few hours recounting our weeks, playing with the boys, and eating a fabulous picnic lunch. 

 Scot is so sweet.  He knows I like pretty things and he and the boys picked out this lovely bouquet to welcome me home.  It's still in full bloom and I'm enjoying them immensely. 

 We found a new park and the boys love the tire swing.  They ask me over and over again to spin them faster and faster.  In this picture, they're giggling almost as hard as they're spinning!

A new, and very sweet, little friend.  The boys love taking care of her and she loves following them around.  It's a good gig.