Cousins Visit

The last few years have been difficult for my niece and nephew...for various reasons, and it has been a bit difficult for my CJ too. He has really been really missing the (former) almost daily interaction, play time, visiting and face time he used to have with his cousins. They used to live less than a mile away. Times may have changed, but not their love for each other or their love for playing and laughing! We enjoy every minute they are here...CJ and Cole usually can find something to do (computer, sprinker, cards, dice, dog, talk, laugh, share) and Taylor is most likely right in there with them...if not, then she is with Zac (playing, laughing, guiding, sharing, changing his diaper, bathing, feeding, watching) and then if Zac is sleeping then they all sit down and play dice with Mimi (or some project that she has arranged for them to do and that they LOVE doing). Here are a few pictures that highlight all the cousins together, with a few friends too.

Reading with Auntie

Anna came over for some nephew time!  They jumped on the trampoline, played and then settled down by dragging blankets and pillow out to the trampoline and reading.  Anna on her Kindle, CJ with his Potter and Zac with Baby Animals. Fun!

A Hot Day at the Park

It was a hot day so we went to the park...the park with water spouts that come out of the ground.  Fun times for CJ, Zac and I!  There are so many things I love about these pictures...the look in CJ's eyes as he keeps an eye on his brother, Zac's smile, CJ being so happy and content and his smile shows it all and the fact that in a few pictures I can almost hear them both saying "cheese".  My almost 5th grade oldest is not too old to play, talk and love his almost 2-year old brother...love my boys! 

Zac and Gracie (again)

Gracie is Zac's great, best, closest and oldest friend.  They may not act like it most times, but they have known each other and been around each other since well, the day Amy and I found out we were pregnant!  They really have had no choice but to get along, tolerate each other and/or deal with their mother's friendship and long walks over the past two years. 

Amy got a new camera (so fun!) and check out the shots she got on a a normal, sunny, beautiful day...on one of "our walks" to downtown.  We hit the Saturday Market, lunch at Las Molcajetes and of course City Park.  What a great day and thanks Amy for some fabulous pictures. 

Fire Pit

We worked hard today! We took a corner spot in our yard that has been housing large amounts of rock and left-over concrete for about a  year.  Way back when in 2001, there used to be a small metal shed in the new fire pit location.  But that has been gone for many years.  We have had other things in that location over the years, but mostly it has been waiting for the fire pit to "arrive".  Well, today it all came together. 

We spent some time about a month ago making raised garden beds and changing our whole side yard to be garden, utility, garden center and now fire pit!  We still have some more to do: cedar chip walkways, in-ground fire pit and I am sure we will add more to the to-do list as time goes on and as we use the space. 

I moved all those concrete blocks and stepping stone by-myself.  As I sit here typing this...I am sore and tired! 

See where some nice cedar chip walkways would look great?  Now, imagine about two hours after this picture was taken...two boys, a plate of chocolate, crackers and marshmellos...FUN and YUMMY!