Spring Break....highlights!

As much as I 
LOVE
a good vacation...
this year's spring break was quiet, peaceful and relaxing.
I LOVED 
every minute of it!
I created a schedule...as my kids say,
"I'm a control freak!"
But keeping control meant that the ENTIRE house got clean,
kids had a constant flow of 
friends in and out of the house,
I still managed to get work done, laundry put away, and even to read a BOOK!
(That never happens anymore!)
But just like every controlled stretch in our lives...
it also means we can let loose for a few days and have a little FUN!
We were able to go camping with
FRIENDS
who are the best in the whole world
and who made us feel like we had one BIG new extra family.
 
Jacob loved the opportunity to get dirty and play with WORMS!

Chris loved playing in the creek...and playing 007 at night with the BIG kids.

Katie met and made LOTS of new friends.

We all had fun doing some archery!

Rachel can have fun anywhere...as long as she is with friends!

I didn't even have to have them POSE for this picture...they were just sitting there...talking and hanging out!

We took a HIKE to the concrete block...

Think of the show "LOST" with the HATCH!  (creepy!)

We played LOTS and LOTS of games!

We drove to a GORGEOUS waterfall...and if you look at the start of the waterfall, you will see grandpa Letner on the ledge!  (Gives you some perspective on how BIG the waterfall is!)

...the boys' weren't scared not even one bit!

Rachel wouldn't get in the FIRST picture...

she was terrified of the height...however, we finally convinced her but I still just laugh looking at the picture to see how far away she stood from the edge!

Ron enjoyed the COOL mountain air...I loved the BIG campfires and smores!

Rachel enjoyed staying 2 extra days hanging with Amorette...while we had to leave early!

I also LOVED taking pictures...and this BABY is so cute, I can't resist taking pictures of him!

I loved witnessing this moment...brothers walking down the path arm in arm.

Jacob had so much fun riding his bike to the creek...with the DOGS in tow, that I couldn't resist a little bike ride of my own.

Goodbye...Reynold's Creek...

until FALL break where we will be there for the ENTIRE weekend!

 

Lots of love to our dear friends the Letner's who made us truly feel like we were part of their family!

She's caught HIS heart...

CAMERON

is getting married!

The important details:

Her name is Chelsea Davies,

they share the same birthday,

MAY 1st.

(not in the same year)

She has completely captured 

CAMERON'S heart!

We absolutely LOVE and ADORE her 

and are so glad

she is joining our family.

I'm especially grateful they asked little ole' me...

to take some FUN pictures of how

completely and totally in

LOVE

they are.

I couldn't choose just a one or two so a warning:

LOTS and LOTS

of wonderful, loving pictures you will now get to VIEW!

 

If what we were able to capture in ONE afternoon is any indication of these two feel for each other...

then think what these 

TWO

can do with an 

ETERNITY together! 

LOVE YA LOTS 

Cameron and Chelsea!

Sun on Sundays...

I recently took a photography class...

so I could 

FINALLY learn how to use my camera!

With new techniques now on my mind....

I thought I would give 

some of them a try.

I'm still a LONG ways from my goal

of being a

GOOD

photographer but I couldn't pass up a beautiful

Sunny Sunday

to capture my BEST subjects.

My children teach me often the value of 

LOVE

unconditional! 

Motherhood doesn't come 

EASY

for me and I appreciate my children's patience as I 

strive to be the MOM

I want to be!

These boys couldn't be MORE opposite...

but they sure love each other!

And I'm loving it that Christopher couldn't wait to share this moment

with his younger brother.

Funny how my GIRLS

are the exact same way...

completely OPPOSITE in all their LIKES and DISLIKES,

but willing to GIVE

love to each other nonetheless...

 

Katie surprises me everyday...

with new found

CouRage!

I love that she set a goal...to get more COURAGE...and that she works at it everyday! 

My nurturing 

RACHEL continues to amaze me...

and I couldn't wait to capture this moment where they

SHOW

love in the smallest of ways.

 

Rachel with her 

BEAUTIFUL new smile...

and I'm so glad she wasn't afraid to show it off!

May I have many, many more of these wonderful

SUNNY

Sunday's with my children.

That is my prayer to

GOD

this day.

 

Random bits of LOVELINESS....

I'm quite certain that if these

RANDOM bits of loveliness 
don't get posted soon...

well...let's just say 
who knows if they ever would
and I didn't want them to go by the way side.

So I've decided to LOOK back over the last few months and 
THIS is
what I've uncovered:

1.  Being a Grandma Jana really is GRAND 
and I LOVED that I got to be at Hailee's 3rd birthday party.

I LOVE her so much...I really, really do!

2.  Sometimes, only a picture can capture the LOVE between Grandpa and Grandson!

3.  Spending the Holiday's...including Halloween is just better when you can do it with your family!

4.  Rachel has BEEN blessed with some of the BEST friends in the WORLD...

and boy do these girls know how to have FUN!

5.  When your KIDS love you enough to want to spend time with you...

including Cameron and Chelsea who planned an evening to REMEMBER.  
A night for DINNER, talking by the outside FIRE and DANCING!

(Even if our Dancing is done with the WII!)
6.  Enjoying a LAZY...
most wonderful WINTER afternoon at the park,
with FAMILY and FRIENDS!

Jacob hanging from a TREE...
what little BOY doesn't want to do that!

Katie TAKING a swing!

RACHEL up a TREE with Amorette!

Our little FRIEND Jared was so cute taking his FIRST steps 
and I couldn't help myself wanting to catch it ALL! 
He is just so dang cute!

Making me once AGAIN realize how BLESSED 
I am to be living this
Amazing life!
Thank you FAMILY and FRIENDS for giving me...
random bits of LOVELINESS!