Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real

We have been in a whirlwind of activity here.  Soccer is over.  We traveled to several Ultimate tournaments bringing home some trophies!  Our younger children ended Jr. Ulty for the season.  We spent a week camping while our wood floors were refinished.  We've celebrated an 8th grade graduation, sent our son to Prom, baby boy learned to crawl and pull up on anything and cut his first teeth.  We're preparing to graduate our firstborn from High School and planning a trip to the beach.  There also seem to be some Math lessons that will be lingering into Summer.  I'm late to the gate but couldn't miss the fun of joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for a another week capturing little bits of contentment in everyday life!

This week's pictures feature Mark's 8th grade graduation celebration.  He used some Confirmation and grad money to buy an ocean kayak.  We met Grandpa and Grandma at the lake for the maiden voyage.

 

~Pretty~

Mark, proud graduate and captain.

 

~Happy~

Grandpa rigged some poles and the fish were biting!

 

~Funny~

J.P. can't avoid being messy, mischievous and cute!  He's all boy and living three to the max!  He proudly collected snails all evening.  Occasionally one of us would say, "What's that horrible smell?"  We thought maybe the water was a little stagnant.  J.P managed to slip part way into the lake when reaching for one more snail.  Thankfully only his socks were soaked.  When we got ready to leave the lake and head to the restaurant, we couldn't help but check J.P.'s diaper still wondering what the stench could be.   Then we realized there was some black goo on his shirt where he had wiped those sweet little hands.  The smell from that goo could send you hurling!  We had no extra shirt so we wiped it with wipes and proceeded to eat out.  None of the children would sit next to him and I'm pretty sure our waiter was holding his breath!  We may never know what he managed to get into and probably prefer to keep it that way!

Even this little guy knew something was smelly! 

 

~Real~

The older children sat at the opposite end of the table laughing and visiting.  They happened to be sitting in birth order and seeing how big they have become is very real.  It is interesting, unique and beautiful to mother the nursing babe and soon to be starting college student and all between.  What a precious moment in time!