Weeds and Sunshine

I was weeding today (round of applause please, thank you very much) and I was struck with just how much lawn care is a very helpful metaphor for our lives. Woah, that's deep. But it's not entirely my original idea, in fact it's straight out of the bible. Remember the story about the seeds that were sewn on different ground: weeds choke the life out, rocky soil doesn't bury them and the birds snatch 'em up, etc etc...

When you have a baby, everything stops. Life as you know it comes to a screeching halt, and the focus of every hour of every day becomes this brand new miracle. It's not like you stop caring for your older children or give up showering entirely (although there are points when you think you just may have) but appropriately, the world seems to slow way down.

Almost five months later, it feels like a new season. I feel like life is being breathed back into my bones. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sleep deprivation is not a laughing matter. This afternoon, after allowing me to sleep in this morning until 10am (Oh yeah baby!) my husband comments, "Well aren't you just a busy bee today." Yes I was, and it felt GREAT! I'm getting some sleep, my head is less fuzzy, the baby is on a schedule, and the world is starting to make sense again.

Back to the weed analogy. So, when I stopped to have a baby, somehow things around me kept moving and growing, however, so did the weeds. By God's grace my beautiful toddler made it out of the "survival" season alive and well, growing each day, and I'm stronger than I thought I was. But there are some weeds. (If pulling weeds out is a metaphor for getting rid of the junk, then whats the metaphor for putting on new patterns? Fertilizer? Let's call it SuNsHiNe!) The last two weeks I've been focusing in on a few things: Turning the TV off for one. Picking up my bible! Eating healthy foods. Putting on my tennis shoes and getting out in the sun to sweat a bit. Sounds pretty ambitious, I know. But it's been awesome. In fact, I've already lost 5 pounds. And the summer's end is creeping up and the sun will soon turn to rain, and I'll be inside with two princesses this winter wishing we could play outside.

Summer Strawberries!

Today I did something I've been meaning to do for a few years now. I opened the cookbook my mother made for me, flipped to the dessert section, and whipped up my Grandmother's Strawberry pie! Who'd a thunk I could bake something so delicious!?

We love you Gramma Grace!

Verdict?

Licked that spoon clean.

Who's toes are those?

I held a newborn baby tonight, and was shocked at how tiny she felt! In only 4 months my little peanut has become a fun sweet girl with a charming personality and a contagious laugh.

And just this week, she found her feet!

Shine upon us...

June was kinda chilly. Thus, deemed craft month at our house!

Here's a fun finger-paint sunshine we created. I painted Raegan's hands with yellow paint from a paintbrush, we let it dry and then cut them out. Then I asked her to color the back of a paper plate to look just like the sun. Pretty good! I wrote the bible verse on and glued on the hand prints to make sun rays.

4th of July Vacation.

We packed up the family and drove down to my parents beach place on the Oregon Coast. It's probably the most peaceful place on earth. You can hear the ocean from the house, and it's only a quick walk away. The air is crisp and the town moves slowly. We had the best family vacation we've ever had. Just the four of us...

A Seaside carousel ride with daddy!

Enjoying a fun ice cream shop.

I feel like this picture of my Raegan is pretty defining of her personality. A quick glance back to mommy and daddy for assurance, and then a fearless treck into adventure and unknown land. That's how she lives. Born that way. I'm daily trying to mold and shape that without crushing it. These beach pictures are just SO RAEGAN! Hands in the dirt, running wild in the waves, freezing, but loving every minute!

Flying our new kite in the park.

Happy 4th of July! The ENTIRE town of Gearhart (no exaggeration) turns out for an Independence Day parade. It's like a "homemade" parade. People walk, ride bikes, make funny wagon "floats" and dress from wig to skate in RED, WHITE, and BLUE. It was so entertaining and just right for our little girls. Raegan kept busy collecting candy while Jordan and I commented on the matching dog sweaters and Anabelle charmed the on-lookers with her perfect grin.

Can't wait to go back.

Another great zoo trip~

The Peacock was doing some serious showing off!

He turned around, a little shy for the picture...

Raegan and Mommy watching the Polar Bear swim right next to us!

Our friends face to face with the big guy.

Are those monkeys? Nope, just cute friends taking a break.

Anabelle fell asleep in my backpack.

Fun friends spying on the ducks.

I'm loving taking the girls to the zoo this summer. You're never too old to get a kick out of an enormous polar bear in your face or an old-fashion carousel ride. My parents got us the family pass, and it's one of the best presents a mom could get!