Growing up

This little boy is growing up. I thought today of all the mile stones he has met this summer. Swimming being a major one, across the river in current of the flow, down rapids, out past the ropes at the lake, big stuff this little 1st grader is doing. He also lost two teeth in two days, those were his first, and he didn't let the teeth spend much time in his mouth loose either. His bike riding skills still amaze me, we had a great ride in Florence with Bike 101's cycling club. He just went with it and rode hard. This brave boy told me his motto and what motivates him to engage in new challenges..."face you're fears, just face your fears Mom, that's how you do it." I thought that was pretty astounding, and he is right. That is how I plan to tackle Cycle Oregon this year, with that little voice in the back of my head saying "face your fears" and I'll just go for it, just like he did when he swam across the Siuslaw to the other side, all on his own.

This mornings gathering

I am loving the gathering from the yard. Especially with the eggs! Oh thank you lady birds! Today all the fixn's for the salad and a jar full of calendula flowers. It is quite rewarding to bring a basketful of food into the house from the yard.

Rock Creek 2012

A full weekend of friends, camping, creek walking, and being together. We enjoyed being on the farm full of people. We could stay close to camp and visit with friends or walk just down the creek and be totally alone in the woods. It was a treat to see friends and spend time catching up and spending time together.

Ocean to table

I see a chicken roaming happily in the yard.

Grandpa brought over a few crab from his catch for the day. It sure feels right to get our food straight from its source. Grateful to have to opportunity.

Always a special place

see the surfer on reef?

No matter how many times we come here it is still magical, beautiful, mysterious, and special. Spending an evening at the beach is just the place to slow down, listen, and soak up all that it brings out in each of us.

A fun day

Our friend Ryland invited us to a fun morning at Sandland Adventures. We drive by this place almost daily and have never visited. It was one of the items on the to do list of summer fun for both boys, so when we got this invite we were all stoked to take the time to stop and play at a place we see so often but don't really know. What we did know is that it was going to be a lot of fun. We were not let down one bit, in fact the boys had such a hoot with the bumper boats I must take them again. Though on the next visit, I'm going to have to join them.

A picnic on the lake with friends

 A day in paradise....on the water, good food, great friends, sun was out and the water was refreshing. It was one of those moments when we all look at each other and say..."it doesn't get any better than this." It most certainly had to do with being in our beautiful outdoors, but also with the company.