Arizona Trip

After the reunion we drove to Mesa. Brian flew home on Monday and the boys and I stayed for two weeks. I did some allergy treatments for Celiac and just hung around between appointments. Lynsey and I did something almost every day. How do I not have a picture of the two of us toting five boys around town? We got pedicures, visited boutiques, shopped at the mall and just sat around while the boys napped. We ate with Nate and Allison and Karyn and Dave at their houses. Stayed at mom and dads and then with mother for a week.

There was also no shortage of Matta's mexican food while we were there. Maybe 4 or 5?? Bahama Bucks twice. China China once. Picaso's once. Yes, lots of eating. Some exercising. Lots of fun.
One of our favorite activities - taking pictures of ourselves!
Gavin got an ear infection and a fever of 103.4. Not a fun day. He slept in the bed with me that night. Every time I'd move he'd say, "Don't leave me, mom" or "Stay by me." Sweet boy - long night.
Met up with Shelly and Jill with some of their kids at Mesa Yogurt and Neds. Gus and Gavin ran circles around the joint while we visited. I love these girls. Sad that Marijo wasn't with us and that I didn't get to see Ann. Next time.

Grandma and Grandpa Woolf

We had a great time but were ready to get a move on. I drove to Vegas alone with the boys and Brian met us there. We were SO happy and ready to see our daddy. I missed him. The boys missed him. Being away made me miss him even more. He's a good one, that's for sure.
We drove to St. George to stay at the condo for a couple of days. Super fun and relaxing (now that I wasn't in charge 24/7!)
Visiting Clint, Melanie, and Jenna Nielson on Sunday.

We had such a fun time. It felt so so so great to have our little family together again. I have a wonderful life. Love my boys, love my home, love it all.

Snedigar Reunion

The Snedigar Reunion was held Sept 3-5 in Pine, Arizona at Mother's cabin. I'll have to count officially, but I hear there were about 80 of us there. Buckets of kids. Loads of fun.

*insert group shot here*

Our little family left on Thursday afternoon and drove 10 hours until we made it to Flagstaff. We stayed the night at a hotel (our first time with both kids) and then made it the rest of the way in the morning.

We stayed in a little cabin about five minutes from Mother's place. It was nice to have a place to rest for naps.

Our time was spent visiting, ziplining (no pics of that one), and having a great time. Game playing, auctioning, and pie eating. My conversations with Brian went something like: "Do you have Gavin?" "Where's Gavin?" "What's Gavin doing?" "Will you find Gavin?" I was only a little paranoid about him toppling over the edge of the deck.
Gavin eating with Dallin
Cousins Ben and Carson
Some of us gearing up for Minute to win it. Dana, Liza, Juel, Shane, Natalie & McKay, Elle, Mother, Matt, Lynsey & Tanner, Karyn, Dave, Ellie, Kassie
My cute cuz Holls and her fiance Tyson. You two are darling. One word of advice: wait for just a second before having one of these little cuties.
Minute to Win it team Robinson/Roylance. The Robinson team took us down fast. Darnit. Brian and the staples, Natalie and the shake the booty. Neither a good combo.
Lyns and Nat with our matching babies. Gavin and Blake have a matching cousins picture too. Tanner is three months younger.

A great time was had by all. Love this family. Double props to Jourdan for planning the event.

Etching

The boys keep having these moments where I feel I have to hurry and grab a camera. I've stopped putting both cameras away - it's just too hard to pull them out of the case when I need it on a moments notice.

Yesterday I was out in back yard and had McKay on my lap. It was a perfect day - the weather here has been beautiful. Gavin ran by as a blur on the new sidewalk pushing his lawnmower in the hat that Papa Robinson gave him. My first instinct was "Where's the camera?" I decided that it was just too much work to run and grab it and besides, it probably wouldn't make a great picture anyway.

He went back and forth like that several times and I just sat there watching. The more I think about it, it's moments like these that I just need to carefully etch into my memory. Not just sights, but sounds, thoughts, and feelings. I'm sure that I won't be able to remember them all, but these happy thoughts seriously make me smile. And even laugh out loud. I am certain that someday when we are older and alone in our house I will be sitting across from Brian at the table saying, "Remember when..." and then fill in the blank with something like Gavin speeding down the path with his lawnmower.

Or better yet, remember the speed in which he goes down the same path on his little trike without using the pedals at all.

Or the way Gavin runs. Arms and elbows going side to side. It just isn't in his genes. Sorry, bud.

Or maybe like today, when McKay was on my lap on the bench on the front porch. Gavin was inside sleeping and the little dude and I were having our one-on-one time. We were visiting, like we do, and he tilted his head back three different times to look at me. His eyes held mine for a moment and then he went back to observing his surroundings. Melts my heart. I love those eyes. And that smile.

Or when Gavin, all on his own, recently put his back up to one of our aspen trees and started bouncing his knees to scratch his back singing, "Look for the bear necessities the simple bear necessities." When he saw me laughing, he laughed the best laugh I've ever heard and really amped it up. That's what you do when you know you're funny.

But I'm soaking it in. Trying not to forget. Taking a mental picture. Knowing that this time with these sweet boys at these ages won't last forever. Enjoying the ordinary days.