A glimpse of summer and a look back at the past....

It's officially summer.

Time for berries. This is my first 'fresh' batch. Meaning: I'm not making jam with them...but we've been eating them for a week, for breafast over yogurt, in smoothies and also making some deliciously yummy strawberry shortcake.

YUM!

Then, this morning, and so very appropriately - a very, very good friend of mine took photos of the boys. She's an 'amateur' photographer (Still beats the pictures I take!!)....but if you couldn't tell...she's got a gift! :D

I say 'appropriate', because on this day....three years ago....Stann and I first became parents! (Two days before Father's Day I might add...!)

All because of that beautiful boy above (and also the other one pictured below).

Matthew is 3 years and 8 months old, today. :P

It's so hard to reconcile that sweet baby boy that was placed in my arms....with this 'big boy' before me....!

His favorite bedtime story is the story of how we became a family. (sniff, sniff)

Which goes something like this: (I love to tell the story, if you couldn't tell...)

Once upon a time....there was a Mommy and a Daddy who wanted to have a baby, but they couldn't. They tried for a long, long time until one day the Mommy got a call saying "Mommy...we have a little baby boy who needs a family. Will you be his family?" And the Mommy and the Daddy talked and said, "YES! We'll be his family!"

So the Mommy and the Daddy went to the Grandma's house and there, in the Grandma's arms was the most bee-utiful little boy, with beautiful brown eyes, big dimples, and fuzzy blonde hair...

And when that baby boy saw the Mommy and the Daddy, he gave them the biggest smile! And that smile seemed to say...."Where have you been?! I've been waiting for you!!" And he held out his hands for the Mommy to pick him up; so she did. And when he was in her arms, he put his head down on her shoulder and sighed....he knew he'd found his Mommy and Daddy at last.

And then we continue our story, with the addition of this little fellow below.....

But that wasn't the end of the Mommy & Daddy's story...

A few months later, the Mommy and the Daddy went to the hospital and brought home a brand new baby brother for the little blonde boy...

He looked the same as the new older brother...and then - a few months later, all of them - the Mommy, Daddy, brother and baby, went to the temple and became a forever family...and they'll never be apart again, and live happily together, forever...

The End.

Well, not exactly 'The End'....but 'The End' of the bedtime story for sure.

















It amazes me how these little boys have changed our lives. :D

Every day, I'm thankful for them.

Even on the days when they spill oil on the couch, floors and piano....

Or when they crack eggs on the porch and throughout my hallway.....

Or when they're picking on each other....and I'm wanting to pull my hair out....

I'm just extremely thankful, that I get to be their Mom....and that I have those stupendously awful messes to clean up.



















I'm just so grateful, I could burst into tears!

Because I remember all too clearly....'those days'....when our arms were empty....the house wasn't nearly as messy....or loud....or even quite so much fun....

And I thank my Heavenly Father, for thinking enough of me....


















That He'd entrust me with them.

Look at those big, brown eyes.....!

And I just love, LoVe, LOVE, seeing my boys together....!

Needless to say, it's been a pretty active morning.

Carrie took the majority of the pictures in our backyard and also at the Cemetery where Grandpa Ralph is buried.

Well, technically not in the cemetery...LOL. More like the orchard by the cemetery.

Thank you Mel for that heads up! :D

Happy Tuesday to you all.....and Happy Birthday Melanie!!! :P