It's all about the animals.

He loves them.
All of them.
He loves to read about them, study their tracks, pet them, hold them, share interesting facts about them.
So I decided Aidan and I would spend our one on one time at the Living Planet Aquarium.

I think the building is deceiving.
It doesn't lend the passerby any ideas as to what
animal treasures are inside.

Touching the manta rays was definitely a highlight. Last time we came he was too nervous, but he tackled it over and over this time. I got in on the slimy action too. One manta ray even came up out of the water at Aidan as he went to pet it. It was scary cool.

Of course the sharks were awesome.  So beautiful and strong and right in front of your face. We caught a glimpse of a sea turtle spending it's first day in the shark tank too. 

My number one favorite animal there were these Gentoo penguins. They are the fastest underwater swimming penguins in the world!  And they were fast. They'd dive and circle around and pop back up onto land. Aidan and I sat and laughed and pointed, spending most of our time watching these cute penguins. Aidan took the penguin quiz and announced, "I'm kind of an expert on penguins."

There were so many fascinating things for us to see; pygmy seahorse, octopus, jellyfish, poison tree frogs, anaconda, piranha.
What I loved about spending this time with Aidan was his excitement for the next animal ("Mom, come on you've got to see this!) , the way he'd hold my hand from exhibit to exhibit, how he'd take his time really looking/studying each creature, no fear of any animal just fascination. It was a great day spent with my Aidan and the animals.

Pizza & Paint

This wasn't my experience, but I still needed to share how the boys faired.
I did send the camera with them.
This is what I gleaned from their time together.

Really it was all about the Applebeer.
Asher loves that stuff.
So Scott and Asher headed to Pier 49 Pizza for their one on one time.
They enjoyed an entire pizza, a dessert pizza, breadsticks, and a lot of refillable Applebeer.
They came home with NO leftovers.
It was a boy's dream come true.

They talked about sports, playing sports with friends, sports bloopers.
You know... manly conversation.
After lunch they picked out some art supplies to do some oil paintings on canvas.
Asher found some of Scott's old artwork from college a few days ago and was so excited to try this out.
He couldn't believe his Dad had done these paintings.

Their paintings are still in the beginning stages and will take some time but they both have a solid idea of where they're headed. I'll share them when they're finished.

Scott and I are dating other people

...for the next two weeks.

Okay, here's the deal.

I had a mother moment. I was sitting, thinking, and then I felt impressed that 

we should have some one on one dates with our kids before school started.

Dad one on one with each kid.

Mom one on one with each kid.

No friends to come along, no other siblings, no other parent. 

We started by taking some time to think of each child individually.

What would this child love?  What have they been wanting me to see, or do or create with them that I haven't made time for?  What budding talents could we tap into?  

Then we wrote them each a little note telling them why we chose what we did and how we love them. 

I printed off a calendar and we got to scheduling.

We scheduled the date and time for each one,
and dedicated ourselves to making this work.
For me it is always too easy to say, "I can't I need to _________". 

Fill in the blank: Start the laundry, mop the floor, run to the store.

Today was the first scheduled one on one. 

Me and Coley.

I had decided we would go swimming. 

He was so excited. 

I brought my goggles. I was that serious. 

I would not be the Mommy on the side of the pool keeping my hair dry like I usually am. 

We dove, rode the slides, talked to each other under water, did tricks, practiced hand stands, stood under the big dump bucket, practiced back floats, blew kisses underwater. Afterward we shared some ice cream. 

I knew it was a success when Cole said, "I'm so happy!"  

What did I learn?

* I don't really listen to my children during the day. It's all kind of white noise and I'm just busy running the day, but not listening to the people who fill my day. 

*I can have a lot of fun with my 5 year old if I'd have some wild abandon.  He actually requested we bring a friend to the pool as we got ready to leave. I knew what he was thinking. "Mom will sit on the poolside and I'm going to have to play all alone."  What he didn't know was that I brought my goggles and I can play with the best of them. Sometimes I need to set down the to-do list and enjoy the moment.

* Quality one on one time sends the message "You're important to me".

* That Cole boy is one cute kid. Quirky, handsome, adventurous, loving. (Already knew this, just reinforced the facts).

* Spending one on one time with your children strengthens your marriage. A strange connection perhaps, but telling Scott how our one on one time went made Scott happy.  He expressed his appreciation for me, and that made me happy. Scott- happy+ Me- happy= We- happy.

Morning Buddies

These two are a delightful duo in the morning.

She screams from her crib. 

He wakes up and lifts her out.

And then they go about their morning together until the rest of us awake.

He puts random shoes on her, gives her stuffed animals to tote around,
gets her snacks, tries to get her to talk.

 It's quite cute. 

I'll hear them giggling their way around the house.

This is this Sunday morning @ 8:30.

I was in my p.j.'s, all others were sleeping.

Our Marriage is Officially a Tween

That's right.
It's Happy 12 Years of Marriage to Us.

We are on the brink of the teens, but I'm hoping they will not be challenging and moody.
To celebrate I wanted to do "something adventurous".
I had a lot of ideas rattling around in my head, but it was Scott who pulled out the winner.

We went up to Daniel's Summit and did some ATV riding up in the mountains.

We rode a side by side ATV.

It was wicked fun!
We took turns driving. You should've seen Scott.
Boy he's missed driving, and I loved just enjoying the scenery.

It was beautiful, peaceful, cool, and smelled like clean mountain air.
We packed a lunch and ate along the trail. We came home COVERED in dirt and happy.

Can't wait for next years adventure!
I think I'll start planning now.
Happy 12 years Honey. What a ride.

And I'll sign off with some eye candy.

3 little reminders...

that life is good.

While cleaning out the basement (BIG job) I found a few little treasures that reminded me what a good life I have.

#1:

Newlywed Kissy face Davis' & Scotty & I @ Benihana

in California. We were celebrating Kel & my birthdays 

and going to Disneyland with no children. 

Oh it was lovely. 

So much fun to go with good 

friends, no children, and just enjoying every moment. 

We love you Kissy Face Davis'.

#2;

I bought these beads for Scott shortly after he got out of the hospital.

They were therapy for his hands. Working on fine motor skills.

He had a long shoelace that he would thread all these beads on.

It took so long, so much concentration.

It was difficult to watch.

He's come so far.

Ready for another school year to start and tackle it head on.

#3:

This is my oldest friend's first born. 

Shannon & I have been friends since we were 5 years old.

We've gone different places in our lives, different cities,

different schools, raising families in different states, but

there is a deep connection. I love "old" friends. I feel like 

they really know me, my family, where I come from.

I actually talked to Shannon on the phone today for nearly an hour

while the kids impatiently waited for me to finish breakfast.

We just pick right up where we left off.

She inspires me. 

Friendship is a powerful force.

Skate Night

I really just wanted to go to bed, but I conceded and we loaded the
boys, baby, & bikes
into the rental van (ours is in the shop) and headed to the Skate Park in AF.

Teenager skaters/BMXers dot the skate park.
I unload the boys bikes, helmets, and grab my camera.

It made their night. They boys loved every minute of it.
Watching the older kids do some awesome tricks.
Doing tricks of their own that feel awesome.

I found Aidan down in the bowl.
He threw his bike down in then slid down the sides.
He rode around for awhile. I found the bowl creepy.
I didn't know how he was going to get out.
A nearby skater friend told Aidan to run up the sides as high as he could,
then he lowered his skateboard, wheels side out, and Aidan grabbed on
and was pulled up.

Cole rocked it in the pink helmet. He wasn't the least
bit worried about it, he just had a great time...except that
one time when he veered into an oncoming skater and
they both crashed.

Asher liked watching the older boys do some awesome tricks, then he'd take
off and do some of his own.

Their cheerleader.

My Chloe Girl

4 months until she joins Young Womens

New glasses

Braces

Calls for her to babysit other people's children

She's growing up.

And she is wonderful.

Oh what a day.

It was a day full of to-dos.
Dentist appointment.
Piano Lessons.
Bank.
WalMart.
Costco.
Lowe's.
Dr. checkups.
Grocery store.
I decided the whole posse should come.
It was hot.
They were tired and within arms reach of each other.
We were headed home when BAM! BAM!

"what just happened?"
I'm crying. Yelling.
I was so mad. I was mad that somebody just hit my husband's "legs" that
we leave so vulnerably perched on a lift on the back of our van.
Why didn't  they see me at a complete stop with a car full of kids and groceries and a wheelchair.

We were hit by the girl who was hit by the man who didn't slow at all for traffic that was at a complete stop. I guess he just didn't see us. His car was a total wreck.

The girl behind us was driving her Mom's car, visiting from out of state with her baby asleep in the backseat. She broke her hand on her steering wheel, but just kept about her business pulling out the carseat, filling his diaper bag, keeping him happy.

Our lift is bent, Scotty's wheelchair's frame is bent, our car has some damage to the back side, and Scott's face is swollen and his neck is sore.

It was scary. My first accident. (NO, I do not count that backing out of the garage incident when Molly decided to bail!). And, my whole family was there with me. Not ideal. So wish I hadn't been packing the wheelchair.  Or the kids.  Or the hubby.  Or these last 7 pounds.

But what's life without a few bumps in the road right?

7.7 One Lucky Boy!

Today is Cole's birthday. July 7. Lucky sevens. 

We're the lucky ones.  

This boy has blessed our lives since he came out a sweet little perfect miniature of his Daddy. 

So how did this 5 year old celebrate? 

Let's take a walk, shall we?

I had to catch a glimpse of the boy sleeping peacefully.

He's such a loud one that this is a rare moment. 

Presents bright and early.

Come as you are.

He's been waiting and wishing for a harmonica.

He finally got one.

The new Wii game he got magically made all the chores in the house

get done in a hurry.  No chores for the birthday boy, of course.

Lots of time on his 2-wheeler today.

And the helmet doesn't come off in between takes.

What great ears he has. They're so pliable. 

I love to wad them up in a little ball then let them spring free.

And to top off the night,

How to Train a Dragon@ the Sticky Shoe

with some of the most entertaining boys I know. 

"Mrs. Browning do you have a boyfriend?"

"I ran over a dead mouse with my bike."

"I have a crutch (crush) on the Wii".

Happy Birthday Cole Boy.

1.5

She's reached ONE and  a HALF. 

Oh she's sweet and silly.

She commands the room.

She loves to swim.

Gives a cheesy grin.

Still has a very limited vocabulary.

Loves to carry around baby dolls and kiss them.

Wags her finger at you.

Wants to be outside more than in.

Loves dogs & cats.

Kisses with her mouth closed now.

Teases me by threatening to walk into the road.

Still loves to sing. Just no actual words.

Has a chipped front tooth and lucious lips.

Likes to move to the music.

Will still your drink if you're not looking.

Has curls in her hair, but from where?

This story says so much.

After Aidan's soccer game he received a Capri Sun and granola bar.

He decided to offer Grace the first drink.

Do you think he could get that drink back?

No siree. 

It was all hers now.