Happy 5 Dozen, Mimi!

My mom is going to kill me when she reads this. (Sorry, mom! I just have to!)
My mom turned 5 dozen last week! Happy Birthday, indeed! She pleaded with us that we not highlight the numbers.... so we stuck with 5 dozen. I could come up with a million dozen reasons why my mom is incredible... here are just a few:

1. We celebrate you because you're our (closet) football, basketball and Cornhole analyst

2. We celebrate you because no one sings, The Wheels on the Bus, or, No More Monkeys, like Mimi.

3. We celebrate you because you're the Bear Whisperer.

4. We celebrate you because you make every room comfortable and every house feel like home

5. We celebrate you because you make us all feel safe.

6. We celebrate you because you've taught us the importance of always keeping a pair of "creekwalking" shoes available.

7. We celebrate you because you say "yes!" more than "no."

8. We celebrate you because you've said the perfect things at the perfect times:
"You can make it." "Great Job!" "Go back to bed." "Let it go." You're OK." "Go for it!" "I am proud of you."

She's our hero!
To top it all off, my dad bought her a Beach Cruiser for her birthday. What a great gift. We love you, mom.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

She's adorable and she can cook! Her specialty is apple juice and Wheat Thins- watch out, Ina Garten!

The Daily Grind

Ron and I often laugh about the careers that we have chosen. With Ron in camping ministry, the summer is the busiest time for him. Just when I wrap up another year of school, and breathe that big sigh of relief.... Ron starts gearing up for 12 hour days running at full speed. The wonderful thing about his job is that Rosie and I get to spend 2 weeks up in Bass Lake.... truly just hanging out. We wake up late, enjoy home cooked meals that I don't have to prepare, enjoy the company of precious staff, spend hours in the Nature Center visiting Dorothy, the Goldfish and Hamilton, the turtle. (Of course these are not their real names, but it's what Rosie has named them). My world slows down enough to wear I can REALLY focus on my daughter. I am so present right now, that I feel guilty about what the rest of the year must be like for her. My job is incredible and allows me to work from home 80% of the time... but that means that during the day, I am often checking emails, doing paperwork, or answering phone calls while Rosie plays independently. During the summer, however, we play TOGETHER all of the time, and it's a total gift. Here are some highlights from our adventures in Bass Lake.

Rosie got to enjoy and afternoon/evening at Soquel, YSSC's High Sierra property.

This pic actually makes me feel bad, but what a picture! My husband is becoming quite the Ansel Adams!









"Joy is that which perches in the silence, if we don't scare it off with too much noise." -David Wilcox

We're Back!!

Rosie and I kicked off the summer, and celebrated the end of the school year, by heading to Wisconsin for a week. We had a wonderful time hanging out with family and relaxing. Some of the highlights included searching for "Pitchies" (Chipmunks), riding in the boat, playing endlessly outside with Lucy, going on a date with Papa for hot cocoa and bubbles (Rosie chose 2... one for her, and one for "Yolu"), playing with Great Nana and Papa, and seeing a baby fawn.
















Rosie proved herself sea-worthy by helping Captain Papa with the driving.




Papa and Mimi planted 2 White Pine trees in celebration of their grandgirls. They picked trees that were just about the same height as the girls, and we all look forward to watching them grow... (the girls and the trees!)