Word to your mother

This is my mom, with her mom & her hubby's mom. As if I need to say that is my mom, I look just like her. And, for my whole life I have been told what a great thing that is. To look like a strong, classy lady. Thanks mom! Happy Mother's Day Momma.

10 years of wedded bliss...or somethin' like it

"We need not think alike to love alike." Francis David

Yep, 10 big ones hit us today.

We hurried down to the chapel those years ago to be married by the one & only Armond Taylor. Just a rush of vows & only our moms & a sweet 4 month old Parker there to witness.

Our life still feels a bit crazed & rushed in that same way. I would not want to do life with anyone else & I feel invincible when Matt & I sync up. Of course, we notice the differences & hiccups more than the places we can connect, even though they far outweigh the conflicts. Just our humanness, I suppose.

It feels insufficient to say so little, but really that is it, glad to have made it this far with you sweetie & here's to the next 10. I love you. Happy am I, to be Mrs. Archuleta.




" The union of the mathematician with the poet, fervor with measure, passion with correctness, this surely is the ideal." William James

Wrapping it up

Now that the weather has decided to be nice enough to play outdoor soccer, the season is winding down. Aden has done very well with his first go at organized sports. It has been one of many things this year that I have had unnecessary anxiety about, concerning Aden. I am accepting that the anti-social & unyielding nature of his 3 & 4 year old years, is going to be left in the past. I could not be more thrilled. ( I myself am still waiting to grow out of being anti-social & unyielding.)

p.s. Do you spy 2 booger pickers, blissfully unaware of the camera? he...he...he...

Options

Click this if you would like to hear a Good word about the unborn. Or, if that is not your thing, just look at this cute pic of Aden on his 3rd birthday.

Around these parts

"I must learn to love the fool in me--the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool." -- Theodore I. Rubin, MD

AMEN.

If you can dodge a wrench...

You can dodge a ball!! Yay for the 5th Annual Willow Creek Staff vs. Nampa PD vs. Nampa Fire Dept. vs. Canyon County Paramedics Dodgeball Tournament!


Good to know these guys are hard at work keeping us all safe.





We did not win a single game. BOO. But we looked awesome gettin' our dodge ball on & there is always next year!

Case in Point

Remember that no-pants-bandit I spoke of?

There has been another sighting.


Collin came up to me & said he was "Bumpa" Ken. Clever.

And in other news, Kaleb will have the same 3rd grade teacher that Parker had. Mrs. Andrea Koenig. She is excited about all things science, & it shows. Kaleb has been bugging me about getting the garden started, apparently Andrea as well. He asked her for some seeds & she had some extras. Kaleb labeled them. My favorites are "Swiss Charge" & "Brussel's Sprouts."

Just one more

Allow me one more birthday post for Collin. Can you tell I am holding on to every moment? It goes too fast, no matter how many pictures I snap.

This was hour 1 of his actual birthday. Party animal.

Planet kid, first timer.

Deep in thought. Lately he will stop to scratch his head & say "hmmm..."

Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

It is still a no go on the potty. But in his 3 years on earth, Collin has accomplished many feats. The first that comes to mind is surviving our mad house. He actually thrives in the testosterone pool that is home. He has charmed the pants off all of us, kind of funny from a little man who rarely wears any pants himself. You would think the potty would be a natural transition from one with no pants. I guess dodging attacks from big brothers has him tied up most days. That, & it has got to be that I just want him to so badly!

Par-tay!

This little man had quite the birthday bash on Saturday.

From the looks of it, you would have thought it was Kaleb's big day. Joy just pours out of this kid.

I made my Pink Lemonade cupcakes for the big day, Josh was stroking my ego by consuming his 3rd on camera.

Showing Grandpa Ken the homemade hummus that Collin said was "poop." It is all about presentation, right?

Good Golly Miss Molly! She was hoping for a prince...

Sweet Sophie blowing bubbles.

The only party game I attempted was Hot Potato. The crowd was not easily corralled, though.

Birthday Boy hid in Grandma Annie's legs when it was cake time. Kind of funny, from the attention hound.

I found this guitar for Collin & asked Grandma Ellen to personalize it. It turned out so cool.

Great Grammy Fern with my parents.

A chance for Mama to get crafty & go all out for my baby boy. They say that at age three the brain reboots, meaning Collin will start to remember things. Wouldn't that be great if this was his first memory? Here's hoping it will be & not falling out of the shopping cart last week...uggh...

Baby Love

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination, full of hope.”

― Maya Angelou