Milestones for Noah

 Much to Emma's dismay, the highly anticipated day has arrived. 

We all knew this day was coming soon! 

And what's more, Noah is learning how to cut the grass this summer!

He did a great job his first time around. 

He has been my best buddy this summer, especially while the father and Adam and Emma were at trek. 

Zombie burger and the summer strings concert!

"This could be a YouTube thumbnail." 

We went on a hike in Browns Woods and almost died when we stopped to admire some cute birds scuttling across the path... then their HUGE mama flapped out of the bushes right in front of us!! 

My best Gwenny helper this time around. 

We've also been to the library, the pool, the pond, and have been studying up on Les Miserables so we understand at least a bit of it on our upcoming trip to Utah. 

I was thinking recently about how the Noah-isms are fading away, when he hit me with this one- 

*****

N, while I was jostling him in his bed one morning- Could you please stop? You're hurting my shoulder blade. (Points to his collar bone)

M- That's your collar bone. 

N- My what? 

M- Your collar bone. Your shoulder blade is back here. (Points it out)

N- I thought that was called my shoulder cap! You know, like your knee cap, your elbow cap, your shoulder cap, your finger cap! (shows me his knuckles.) 

Ha! 

First Days of Summer

Okay baddie, cook that soup. 

Little Jesus has taken over our house! 

I'm embarrased to admit that I was jealous of this sweet note from Leah. Why didn't I have one?!

Two weeks after she left, Jason pointed out that I did! Why couldn't I see it in this beautiful shrine of all my favorite things from all my favorite people?! ;) 

Boys waiting for their mom after church... 

Weatherwise, we have had a really mild summer so far. This rain storm was epic. 

After it rains... 

RIP my OG pantry baskets. An upgrade was long overdue. 

I LOVE finding pictures like this on my phone. Credit to Adam. 

This pup. She's been needing some extra love lately with a sprained ligament and a new diet and lots of workers coming in and out of the house. Life for a pup is ruff!

Emma got a haircut!

Excuse me, what happened to my wee babe?

Chick-fil-a pimento sammy. Perfection. 

Adam's annual Jazz in the Garage event was awesome, and even more so because Mr. Simmons invited Noah to join in on the electric bass for one number! 

And he just did it! 

I love this picture of Adam checking on his brother- he was so proud! 

Adam and I had a mini-stargazing date.

This looks like young summer fun in a nutshell- 

The kids all helped with a carwash fundraiser. It was hot! 

Entropy. Bleh. 

Science camp- check! Such a fun and great way to earn money in the summer! 

Chilly summer days!

We gave Jason cornhole for Father's Day!

And an early morning trip to the airport to drop off Adam (the second time he's done this on Father's Day!), 

and a chat with our favorite missionary, who was wearing a palm tree crown. 

Jason is the rock of our family!

A Really Hard Good Day

 June 4th, 5:39 AM. 

102 pounds of checked luggage, a much lighter carry-on, a trusty backpack, and a nervous but confident smile. 

We all know that the DSM airport doesn't actually require getting there anywhere close to the recommended 3 hours early, but even the 90 minutes early that we gambled was a bit more than necessary. 

Our final family photo for a little while. 

There are few words I want to use to descibe these tender moments. This was a really hard, good day. 

This elevator is not my friend. The one that delivers arrivals is much kinder to my tender heart. Look at this amazing young woman, off to serve and learn and grow in ways that only God knows she can. 

And then we sat and waited for her flight to take off. 

And we sobbed when it actually did. 

And the kids came home to Leah! She will be with us every day for the next 18 months.

And it's not even that she's been gone for that long- only three weeks, how?!- it's that she WILL be gone for 18 months. How can we even comprehend the change and growth and love and strength and trials that she will conquer over the next 18 months, as she grows from teenager to woman? This is an adventure of faith, and there is no way any of us could handle it if the true gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't at the very center of all we say and do every day. He has miracles in store for Hermana Morales!