Hand-Binoculars - Thanksgiving 2013

It would be a terrible lie to post these joyous pictures without this clause:  When we announced to the children that we were going on a hike last Thursday morning, there were tears; weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.  However, within three minutes of beginning our trek around Lake Hodges in North San Diego County, the boys' hearts nearly exploded with joy, with happiness, and even thanksgiving.  "This is the best hike ever!  Thanks Mom and Dad!"

And thanks be to God, the giver of all good gifts!

 

I absolutely adore all of these photos, because each one carries within its pixels captured moments of happiness, kindness, and brotherly love.  However, this last picture will go down in history in my mothering photo-book.

Hand-binoculurs.

If this had been a video you would see Brody turning his hands just so, as to zoom in.  O my heart.  This Thanksgiving I am thankful for all my beautiful boys.  And while grateful for these pictures, I am more thankful that I have the videos of my memories to relive for years to come.

These were some of the best!

Summer Adventures with Dad

Amidst Matt's busy work load this summer he has managed to fit us all in.  And not just squeeze the boys and me in between conference calls, trips, and days crammed full of emails; he's found the time and the enthusiasm to really make some marvelous memories with us over the past month.  While the first picture is of the two of us at Navarro Vineyard in Alexandria Valley (taken by Caleb, I might add), the rest of these pictures capture what Matt was really doing, going on wonderful expeditions with his boys!  I was merely along to chronicle the adventures... and provide snacks.

After leaving Navarro Vineyard with a wonderful bottle of PREMIUM GRAPE JUICE, we drove through a grand (little) portion of the Mendocino Redwood Forest.  Matt pulled over on the side of the road three times and ordered everyone out.  It was the highlight of the boys' day!  All four of them!

Continuing on toward the coast we eventually hit the 101 and found a place to pull over.  A trail led to the cliffs just South of the picturesque town of Mendocino.  Note Matt's towel* the weather turned cold as soon as we hit the Northern California coastline.

From there we drove up to have lunch in Mendocino and then continued up the coast to the historical Cabrillo Point, home of the Cabrillo Light Station.  The picture below of Matt walking with the boys is my favorite from this day, despite the towels.  And for the record while hand holding is sincerely precious, they all bound together here because they are walking dangerously close to the edge of a perilous cliff.

It was a half mile back to our car from the light house when little Asher took a bad fall, scraping up his knee pretty bad.  Good thing his dad is big and strong!

Another place the boys went with their Dad this summer was to the Clear Lake State Park for a morning of Jr. Rangers.  Here they are walking the boardwalk through the park after their morning with the Park Ranger.

With the summer only half way over... more fun is sure to come!

Water Skiing & Wake Boarding - 2013

Brody

Caleb

Asher with Dad's help...

Asher up with Dad screaming his head off!

Brody Wake Boarding

Caleb LOVED Wake Boarding!

And so did his Dad

Not bad Matty B.