A visit from friends!

Braxton and Bennett...

...Just a couple buds hanging out watchin Veggie Tales :)

And Sawyer followed Blair around the whole night like a love sick puppy... 

she is about 6 months older than him.

Cadence was there too, she is 7 and such an adorable little lady! 

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of her, but we'll be hanging out a lot more from now on, so I'll get one next time :)  Maybe even a picture of Andrea (the mama) and I together too!  We'll have to make sure the husbands are in town next time we get together so we can have them take a picture of us ;)

We ate pizza and the kids ran and ran and ran and ran!!!  So Bennett and Sawyer went to bed at 7:45 p.m. and I honestly can't remember a time they ever went to bed that early together before... I wasn't sure what to do with myself!  I cozied up with a good book and a glass of wine, it was really lovely.  Then after a great night's sleep I was expecting the boys to wake me up early since they went to bed early... but 8:00 a.m. was the wake up time!!!!!  WHAT!

Such a great visit, love making new friends in the area :)

Happy 1st Birthday Sawyer!

A look back...

...and some video clips of the 1 year anniversary of his birth!

Erik and I were feeling a little sad yesterday, 

as we said goodbye to the "babyhood" of our "baby"...

As Erik puts it, now Sawyer is a "Pre-Teen"  :)

Ever since having Bennett I have thought that the mom should get a little more credit on birthdays.  

(And I really think most moms would agree, considering how much work we did on that day!!!)

So with that in mind, the following pictures from Sawyer's birthday celebration last night 

are mingled with some of my all-time favorite words regarding motherhood, 

from the book "Desperate" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson.

"He is the one who created babies bursting with life,

and the mamas who love to care and watch over them.

He brought forth from His imagination the most beautiful of gardens,

threw galaxies of stars into orbit,

and painted our world with color.

In keeping with His character, He must've intended something beautiful

in creating a woman with this ability to give life,

nurture with love,

and cultivate the soul

of a precious human being

entrusted into her hands.

He is the reason for any success or blessing I have felt as a mother.

He will provide all we need for the task he has given us to fulfill.

 I have come to believe that a mother's role

might be the most determining factor as to how 

history will unfold.

Understanding that the best and most lasting "work" I would ever do

was wrapped up in my call as a mother 

gave me a grand scope for my life...

such as I had never known before.

I began to see that the nurturing of my children

was my great stewardship

in every part of their little lives.

 Accepting them into my arms and bearing the responsibility of their very health from feeding at my breasts; developing their emotional well-being by encouraging them to attach deeply to me as infants; stimulating their brains by talking with them, touching them, snuggling with them; and predisposing them to know the love of God by building pathways in their brains.

I was just beginning to grasp how profound God had created the role of a mother to be."

A little "Mommy-time" on the Slopes

It was just me and the snowflakes.

Did I mention the snowflakes were light and fluffy?

Did I mention I got first tracks on my favorite run on a powder day?

It's probably a good thing I was skiing by myself, because my Dad and my husband will attest... 

I don't have any friends, family, or spouses when I hit an adrenaline rush on a powder day.  

:)

"...snowflakes were miracles of beauty; 
and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen 
and appreciated by others. 
Every crystal was a masterpiece of design; 
and no one design was ever repeated. 
When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. 
Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."

Wilson (Willie) Bentley (1865-1931) 

Not to overwhelm you...

...but in order to catch you up on pictures from the past couple weeks...

(since i've been slacking, sorry!)...

there are quite a few that you have to look through!

Lets start with Sawyer, since he's easier to photograph these days... 

still not "easy", just easier than Bennett!  

Soy Sauce (as we call him) will be ONE on TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!! Say Whaaaaat?!!!!

I work on his birthday, but I get off at 2:30 (love my schedule!), 

so we're hoping to take a walk to the park when I get home (weather permitting),

 and then...

of course... 

BIRTHDAY CAKE!

 Napping with his favorite bear, a Valentine bear from Grandma Lori & Grandpa Dean

 Sweet mohawk, dude!

A great jacket from Auntie Marta in Alaska!

Hey there neighbor cows!

I'm being quite literal when I say we can't leave Sawyer unattended for more than 10-15 seconds, Why you ask?  Watch this video:

And that was actually slow for him to get up there. 
Not joking.

Now a couple pics of Mr. Bennett.  

He has been thoroughly enjoying the nicer weather here lately, he only had one day being stuck inside due to rain in these past couple weeks!

I have also been thoroughly enjoying this new app I got on my phone that puts font on my pictures...

You'll probably be seeing more of these in future blog posts :)

I came home from work the other day and Sawyer was napping on Daddy's lap so I swept Bennett up and we ran outside quick to enjoy some Mommy-Son time in the SUNSHINE!!!!!!

Never ever ever ever will be able to put into words how much I love my babies.

And now a bunch of "two-peas-in-a-pod" pictures :)

Popsicles for "bed-lunch"

(does anyone else use that term, other than my immediate family?!!)

 Oh and here is Sawyer's first "selfie"

(I cannot get over how much he looks like Bennett in this pic!  Anyone else agree?!!)

Family walk to the park the other day:

 And a family trip to 49 Degrees North!

Erik and Bennett did some skiing and Sawyer and I did some spectating.

 Sawyer always tends to get in a daze when he's up on the mountain... he must love nature so much that it just overcomes him!

And for the GRAND finale... a video clip dedicated to Amanda Olive... just so you can't say I didn't warn you about this journey you are about you embark on!!!!  

It's the best and most crazy scary amazing journey EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I'm talking about the "two sons" journey just so everyone is up to speed.  Amanda is due in March with her 2nd baby boy, and I know she'll see this because we love to keep up on each other's blogs :) :) :)

Happy Valentine's Day to my Husband!

The picture is from a very memorable hike Erik and I took on Mt. Hood on September 8th, 2009...

the day he got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him as his wife!

I love you Erik.

Friends, drink, and be drunk with love! (Song of Solomon 5:1)

Here Comes the Sun

And we're loving it :)

Monkey See...

Monkey Do!

Snow Day!

Checkin out the white fluffy stuff...

Happy boys!

It was awesome packing snow, 

I tried to make a big snowman but the snowballs kept getting broken...

hmm, any guesses how that was happening?!!

Sawyer taste-testing the snow...

NOT approved!

Lots of good family fun :)

Nature's artwork in our backyard!

And a random picture I took up in Colville the other day,

of the local deer crossing the street in front of me.