sunday stills. photo 23

A single photo once a week.
To capture my emotions, to sum up the days.
To collect my thoughts and hold them in my hands.

Every Sunday, one photo.

On this Sunday: Celebrating fathers.

Father's Day was good this year. Simple and exactly what we were looking for. Sunday morning Jon woke up to omelets and freshly brewed coffee and headed out to his soccer game. Even though it was raining the kids and I plus the dog cheered him on. Considering it was his last home game we kinda had to go :) Afterwards we enjoyed lunch as a family and spent the rest of the day laying low. Jon snuck in an afternoon nap on the couch, the kids helped me with laundry. I made a paleo coconut cream pie for my dad, which turned out pretty darn good. My sister even came down for a half hour so I could get in a run. It was a good day.

To celebrate Father's Day we gathered together with my parents and sister and brother-in-law at Jon's dad's house. It was a night filled with good food, excellent wines, a game of badminton, lazy lays on the hammock and plenty of presents. As soon as Jon and I got home we tucked everyone into bed, read our round of books to the little ones and snuck downstairs to enjoy some time with an old friend. We stayed up a little too late going through our friend's photos of his trip to Alaska. Oh my goodness! I am feeling so inspired to backpack through Alaska. He weaved together the perfect story of Alaska and it's backcountry. He backpacked all through the state, Canada and the Artic for two and half months last summer and it truly was the trip of a lifetime. I'm honored to have seen the pictures and heard the tales.

One day we'll make it to Alaska. My family has tossed around the idea of taking an Alaskan cruise with everyone to possibly celebrate my parent's 50th anniversary. I certainly think it's a trip the kids are bound to enjoy. If only we could take off for two plus months and travel.

Have you been to Alaska or any other unique backpacking trips? Jon and I love National Parks and we certainly like to hike and backpack, although we haven't done much since kids. We are really looking forward to hiking around and exploring Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands. I can't believe our trip is right around the corner!!

three cheers for the weekend + Bella Bare Wear giveaway winner

This is pretty much how I feel about the weekend.

I couldn't be more excited to to finally relax and get caught up. It has been a whirlwind week packed with nonstop activities. Call me crazy, but I'm actually looking forward to cleaning, folding laundry and washing the floors. Last night was laid back and relaxed. I hung out at the restaurant with my sister and enjoyed chatting with the owners of Townley wines. Afterwards Jon and I headed home to hang out with a good friend who is in town from Santa Fe.

I'm looking forward to some pool time and friend time today, family time tonight and celebrating Father's Day tomorrow.

Hope it's a good one for all you dad's out there.
I know Jon, my father and his father deserve this day.

Happy Weekend!

*The winner of the Bella Bare Wear giveaway is Shannon Harrison. Congrats! Please contact me with your information.

we cheer them on.

We cheer them on, these children of ours.
We cheer them on through every step of life. Beginning with the the first time they roll over, to the first time they crawl and to those first steps they walk. We cheer them on as they learn, through every spelling test and every word they read.

Some activities involve our participation and some require our help.
What I learned last night, while I anxiously cheered the boys on at their first swim meet, is that some activities simply require us to cheer them on from the sidelines. And that's exactly what I did.

I cheered for Jonas who swam the backstroke, breast, freestyle and the relay. He made each stroke look effortless, I never knew a seven year old was capable of such grace in the water. And as he rose to the finish he rose with a smile. That smile, that moment right there, verified I made the right decision to sign him up for swim team. It was a commitment that scared me more than the boys. Five days a week makes me cringe, but each morning they rise and throw on their swimsuits with no questions asked.

Last night I cheered for Josh. My little Josh who asked, I am not kidding, twenty-five times when he would get his turn to swim. My Josh who just may be the smallest kid on the team. My Josh who has the biggest heart, the most enthusiasm and the best attitude. I cheered him on as he dove off the platform and swam the length of the pool. I wasn't even sure if he could swim that far, but he did. And he ended with a smile too.

I'm not sure why, but last night was an emotional night for me. Perhaps it's knowing how proud I am of my children, perhaps it's watching them grow into boyhood. Perhaps it's the time that slips between our fingers. Regardless, there were moments when I fought back tears. As I clapped and shouted while Josh swam to the end I fought back tears.

Perhaps tears of happiness.



In the two weeks the boys have been involved with swim team I have watched them grow and develop so much. Jonas just learned the breast stroke last week and swam it in last night's race (and was the first to touch the wall, proud mama moment). Joshua becomes stronger in the water each day. They have learned to work as a team, to celebrate as a team and share as a team. They have learned it's okay if you don't place first.

They have learned to just have fun.

our weekend in photographs.

It was a weekend that marked the beginning of summer.
A warm breeze filled the air,
our house slightly muggy on the inside
but the kind that makes you smile
you know summer is here.

Crickets sang through dancing curtains
dirty sandals pranced over floors
brick patios felt cool to touch
and in the distance i could hear the back door
slamming to the beat of children's feet.

Summer is in the air.





Our soccer seasons are coming to a close
the tball games are over.
We have moved on to swimming and golf.
The boys are good at golf, and Jonas is really good at swimming.
We have our first meet tomorrow.

Friday was a lazy night, but I'll take a friday like that any day of the week. We were simply exhausted and the best fix for that is a pizza and movie night. Soccer saturday is always a family favorite, especially when Jonas scores four goals in one game (proud mama moment). I escaped to the restaurant that night with my best friend and her boyfriend for a nice dinner with Jon. We even all sneaked away to have a drink before heading home. It's so easy to get swept into staying at Benders, so when we get a chance to go elsewhere it's nice.







Sometimes the children catch a moment, like when I change the beds, and make it into a game. I love these moments. We pulled the masks off Jessica's wall (you know, the one's that scare Jon) and turned a game of jumping on beds into a real adventure. The kids became lost in their characters and laughter. I became lost in my own laughter.

It's amazing how children can make you laugh.
It feels good to get lost in their laughter.







An overstuffed pool bag lingered in my car,
wet hair wrapped around circles
and bare feet roamed over open grass.



We walked through woods
gently ducking underneath trees
and when the rain came
we felt protected, safe.

I shouted from the back door for the boys to come in,
it's raining,
but they couldn't hear me.
They were lost in their own adventure.
Stranded on an empty island
surrounded by pirates
tigers and lions.
I could head a wild roar behind the bushes.







We pitched a tend in our backyard
we pretended it was our own island.
we stomped through a thicket of brush
searching high and low
we circled the house
round and round
until we landed home.







Night settled in quickly
a blanket thrown over our evening
bellies became full
sticky s'mores oozed between fingers
sparklers danced in time.

That's what summer is all about. We found it in one weekend, and I hope the story continues.

23/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."
Jonas: Beneath his sensitive desire to please everyone is a silly little boy.
Joshua: There is a look in his eyes that makes your heart flutter.
Jessica: A moment of pure joy caught on camera.

Thank you Jodi for hosting this Portrait series.