Lovin' Summer

I love the pace of these summer days. I love not having to stay on top of all the schedules, concerts, work, and everything school year related. I love those things too, in their season, just not as much as I love summer. I feel a great need to soak up these times with my family. I feel the days slipping away from me so fast, I can hardly stand it. Sammi has 2 more years left at home, and Daniel only has 4. I am grateful that I have the younger kiddos who will still be with me for awhile. I can just feel that this time is precious; that these moments are valuable, even priceless. I am excited for the adventures that await each of my children, but I already miss them, and they are still here! 

We have been getting outside to enjoy some hikes and jogging. I am SO happy to be able to feel good enough to do these things again. I mean, SO HAPPY! This winter was brutal even besides the sickness times, the weather was so weird, and getting outside was not happening often. I am so grateful to go and breathe fresh air. (Though that cottonwood by the river... oh my! Cough, cough.) 

 Zoie is doing great keeping up with us. She is so much more well-behaved after some good exercise. Go figure, right? I am pretty sure that is true for all of us. She just needs to release pent up energy!

 Flowers. I love flowers.

 We like to run up the hill as a challenge. The hill leads to some of my favorite neighborhoods.

 We require lots of water on the journey. Zoie, too.

Daniel is becoming quite the man. Do you know how nice it is to have these muscles around the house? I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such strong children, who help me so much. Daniel insists on pushing the stroller when we go out: what 14 year old boy does that? Sammi takes her turn with it too. They have matured before their time, and I do not think it is without reason and purpose. It is like I have my own little army of van Ormer soldiers. And Sammi, well, judge her by her size, do you? She is crazy strong and can lift ridiculously heavy things. We all take turns with Zoie, but she likes to stay by the stroller, so that can get tricky sometimes. She does not always run in a straight line, and so we risk injury running with her.

I got the kids some Dairy Queen after the hard work. You know, to replace the calories we burned. I have to maintain my girlish figure somehow.

 A beautiful night sky at the store.

 Sammi and I were so tempted to get this.

After a trip to the store for some necessities, Sammi and I went for a summer night drive. Sometimes we just need to have some girl time away from the boys. And the boys need some time away from us too. It was Sammi who insisted we just go out for awhile. We rolled the windows down, played jazz music, chatted about whatever, and we soaked in the summer air.

I love this girl of mine. I don't care what the rules and parental advice books say. She is my friend, and I love being with her. Yes, I still parent her, and often. But sometimes I let the parent guard down and we just hang out like sisters. She often tells me I feel more like a sister than a mom. And I will take that as a compliment. We are both daughters of God, so that makes us sisters. Sometimes she is far wiser than me!

 I made it through my 21 day family history healing challenge. And WOW is all I can say. There is NO WAY I am stopping now. It is a daily habit that I intend to keep! Some days I spend a lot of time, and some days just a little, but I do it. And it has invited the Spirit back into my life in a powerful way.

 When Sammi reads, the books literally come to life.

 She hung her Studio C poster in her room.

 This is how I find Sammi so much of the time, book in hand, wherever she goes.

Have you tried these new M&Ms? They are so good! I was a sucker while in the check-out line at the store and I grabbed some out of curiosity. They do not quite match the glory of Peanut M&Ms (because really, what can?). But they are pretty darn tasty.

I am not a big fan of candy. Candy has kind of lost its luster as an adult. But M&Ms are still something I enjoy every now-and-then. Wait, let me clarify, I am not a fan of non-chocolate candy. I am pretty much still a sucker for chocolate of any kind.

 A beautiful butterfly.

 We played at the river. There is a spot to go now! Yeah!

 I got these shoes awhile ago, but they have not seen much action. Time to break them in!

 Henry loves throwing rocks.

 Zoie loves the water.

 She went right for it.

 A girl and her dog.

 Nature is beautiful.

 Henry does not have his daddy, but he has his Danny.

He still gets to fly...

 Ride up high...

 And be loved by his big, strong, brother who is emulating what he learned from his dad.

 Daniel is teaching William how to mow the lawn while he is gone at Scout camp. I am starting to see the wisdom in how our children are spaced out so far apart.

 Sammi could not decide what to wear to the Church dance. It was a more formal event.

 Like I said, she is always reading... even on the bathroom floor, while flossing.

 Sammi picked the white dress. And Daniel opted for the white top hat, because, well, that is the kind of guy he is.

 These two... if only you were a fly on the wall in our house, to listen to their silly conversations.

 They have so much fun together.

 Sammi was like, "What do I do with my hands?"

 Henry wanted in.

 Daniel had to apologize for something.

 Sammi Sunshine, she will always be.

 Dan the Man. The nickname has always fit.

 Be kind to the ladies, child of mine.

 Henry said, "Now me!"

 Sammi got to hang out with some friends.

 William got to go to day camp for Scouts with our friend, Tyson. It was a last minute thing, but he loved it.