FINALLY....my turn

Ryan started enjoying his 3 car garage on about day three of us moving to the burbs and Ben took to the wide open cul-de-sac and big backyard immediately.  My biggest personal draw to our new hood was the neighborhood pool.  I had to wait 7 and a half long months to realize this delightful benefit of this move, but today my wait ended.  It was perfectly warm and the pool was busy but not crowded.  Mama is IN HEAVEN!! I think you know where to find me through mid-September.  Cheers! and don't forget the sunscreen. ;) 

and Ben's first ever jump into the HG pool...

when Summer starts in Spring

Ben's last day of preschool was yesterday so this morning he woke to some goodies to help get Summer started right.  This welcome to Summer is becoming a fun tradition but this year I held it off until the morning after because we had Sasha's graduation after school.  I'm sure there are more emotions than Ben can describe so honoring the big change (in a fun and inexpensive way) might help justify those emotions.  Our Summer is starting early as we moved from the district that will be in school until the first week of June, and preschool in Littleton lets out a full week before the other schools.  It feels like we have an extra month of Summer (and like Spring just began), but I'm thrilled to have more time together and full open days for adventures.  Our July is packed with travel and August is always a blur so I'm looking forward to some quality pool time and down time before the dog days of Summer are upon us.

Sasha graduates

Ryan got delayed on an out of town work trip so it was up to Ben and I to congratulate Ryan's cousin Sasha on her graduation from high school.  This smart (and beautiful) cookie is headed to the University of Wyoming to pursue her Engineering degree.  Sasha is driven and kind and after being adopted from Russia when she was 7, a testament to her family's love and dedication.  We are so proud of her and her accomplishments and so excited to witness her take her next adventure by storm.

Ben had ridden Fabio this morning and then had his last day of school, so keeping him happy and out of the way of the big kids was a full-time job for solo mom.  I'm sad I didn't snap more pics of Sasha's cowboy (Wyoming) themed party complete with a bonfire and s'mores.  Every detail was perfect and delightful.  One of her friend summed it up best when I overhead her quip to another girl, "I wish my parents loved me this much."

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a treat from beginning to end this year.  We had spent Saturday doing some serious manual labor in the front yard so Sunday brought a welcome reprieve.  Christy had invited us to the Springs to celebrate and MeeMee was in North Carolina seeing her mom so the schedule was easy.  Before we left, my boys treated me to gorgeous flowers, a lightweight hiking backpack I'd had my eye on and a total surprise gift of the address plaque I had picked out for the front of the house.  I felt very spoiled and loved all day long.

We also celebrated Nana's birthday while we were there as it was a couple days later.  Any celebration with candles and cake makes these boys ecstatic.

After this we also enjoyed the home-made chocolate eclairs I had requested from Ryan.  They are a lot of work and were made extra special with everything else we had going on this weekend.

Thanks to Christy's hosting, there was ample time for snuggles and relaxing when we got home.  It was sad to not be with my own mom on this day but knowing she was with her mom warmed my heart.  I don't take being a mom for granted on any day, but this day is so meaningful and special in ways many will never understand and that I'll never be able to fully express.  I hope Ben's first mom was spoiled on this day, too, and that there's peace in her heart knowing he's loved to infinity and beyond.