Birthday 21/42, Respectively

Windy day in the park at Coeur d'Alene, Stephen B. snapped our birthday portrait. 

Tofer James

Hard to believe that this boy is 21 today!  21!!!  GAAAHHH! 

We are so proud of who he has become, so proud of the dreams he has/ is chasing after, so very proud.

Couldn't help walking down memory lane a bit though.

I'll have our birthday photo this year as we are headed to the famous Paul Memorial Day celebration in WA and he is joining us. 

 Just born - our little fella

 1 Week - surrounded by those who love you most. Grampa dubbed you the Casanova of the Diaper Set. 

6 months - Grama & a sink bath!  Not to mention some seriously great bed-head!

 10 months - pullin' yourself across the bed to grab Grammy's camera.  You became Mr. Magoo - always barely avoiding danger by a hair's breadth.  (notice the impending uni-brow! hee hee!)

One year - cowin' down on banana & pears @ Grama & Grampa's.  Still such a pudge!  Love it!  Now that you were movin' on your own you were much happier.

 18 months @ McD's in Hood River ... Stylin' in your cloth diaper and the outty-belly!

26 months holding your just hours old baby Remus.  Current state of their relationship??  Soon to be roommates! 

Nappin' - G' style!  with C-bear.  One chill little Dude.  3 Yr. and still rolling in the sweet pudge! 

I am here to testify - the days are sometimes painstakingly long but, oh, the years!  How short the years.

When Tof was a baby (until he was 2.5 actually) he wouldn't leave Mama's side without being EXTREMELY upset.  The only way we could leave him was to set his little seat in front of the TV and tell the sitter to play Steve Green's Hide 'Em In Your Heart.  He was perfectly content as long as they were playing.  When the VCR was rewinding he would scream, and the minute it began to play again he was entranced.  It's cheesy, but here's a clip of what made him happy.

She has the cutest little

Photoshoot with a friend's little girl.  Heart-stealer.

{this moment}

. . . . . . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . .

captured by Cassia

Weekending

Bluebirds and blue skies in abundance.  Both calling us out.  Out to the mountains. Out to the streams. Out to themselves.  We did a happy little skip and gave a resounding, "Yes!"  Picked up our cameras & stepped into the world.

 Mama's on Mother's day at the pond with their babes

 Chains just waiting to be linked together ...

Mama with her chickadees - C took this one

 Heading for the hills

Little lady out for a Sunday Stroll

Says it all, doesn't it?

 Pathways - we tend to walk the unsanctioned ones

 Sounds of rushing and tripping and rippling along the way

 Finding new ways of seeing the old

Inhaling the life of all that's been born once again

 Peeking through the woods,

Finding others doing the same

Stopping by the way - listening - relishing - loving 

Hope your weekend was just as full of warm, gentle sunshine and smiles that could help themselves.

Mother's Day

Some Quotes that Spoke to Me:

 

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new.When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.  A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.
You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his mother every time around - and why his mother will always wave back.

Right Now :: through the iPhone

Right Now I am/ we are:

Wishing for a garden of our own.  Flowers from the florist just don't have the same appeal.

Eating as if summer were here.  Lighter fare.  Tostadas, salads, fish, fruits... 

Waiting (rather impatiently) for farmers markets to begin.

Spending as much time with these girls as possible since their impending absence is looming ominously.

Loving the greening lowlands against the snowcapped peaks.

Drinking in the few flowers that have begun blooming this past week!

Photographing friends' babies and children - because I love them, not because it's a business ... so liberating!

Planning gardens that can not possibly come to fruition in this place.

Seeing the Avengers at a matinee in 3D with friends this afternoon.

Remembering my love of Gungor Ghosts Upon the Earth

Hoping plans work out to go to Moses Lake for the Paul Clan Memorial Day festivities.

Relishing not being in Leviticus any longer in my Bible reading plan.

Dreaming of a home of our own again someday soon. 

Blaming Taproot and Kinfolk and Ingrid for making me dream.

Giggling over the fascination M has with kitties on doorsteps right now.

Counting our blessings... 

May the coming week hold many!