Yard Hike

Because tree's make me happy....me and my buddy went out to our yard for a hike mid day today. Today for a Monday started off good but then unfortunately took a turn. Not everyone can have a good day every day but you can definitely try and do something about it. A little fresh air can cure any mood, a little sunshine on your face can brighten your spirits and hearing the birds sing can definitely make you smile. A much needed reality that everything was not as bad as it seemed. I love that when we go out walking together that he wants to walk slowly...I love that he stops every few steps to tell me shhh and he just wants to listen...I love that he always mentions on our nature walks that his favorite thing is being outdoors and hearing birds. Yeah this kid has a hold of my heart.

Leaving Idaho

Another big life change is in store for our family...we are moving...again. Back to where we came from. Its a bit surreal. There are definitely mixed emotions running through each member in our family- happy ones to see friends and family to be back on familiar grounds to look forward to the lake and river swimming this summer...and a bit of sad ones for newly made friends we are leaving behind, for nature, our home, this community we have grown to love. We made our last trip into town to grocery shop and pick up supplies for our trip- We officially leave in 1 week from today.

I won't lie- I was a bit teary eyed snapping photo's along the same road we travel weekly into town to go to the grocery store and library. Its become a habit for us- our Tuesday routine - although we went yesterday, Friday since this will be a busy week ahead for us. But this time knowing it was the last I soaked it all in- staring out the window, thinking, dreaming, gazing...remembering my first feelings when we came here. Its funny that initial awe of the beauty here still is in my heart every time we travel this road. I will never forget this place- and hold it close to my heart as I think of people calling it 'Gods Country'- that fits it so well. I truly, purely love nature. I love waking up to walk the dogs outside first thing in the morning and gaze at these amazingly huge tree's surrounding our home. It makes you feel very small- in a good way- in an appreciative way. There was never a morning I didn't walk outside to see nature at our doorstep and not thank the lord for this experience in our lives. We are truly thankful. We are so blessed to have had this home and this property- to be able to hike through nature daily in our own yard, to view wildlife right outside our door, to have these amazing tree's tower over us, to see more than a million stars each night, to feel as if we were the only ones at times in this gorgeous spot of earth.

When I think of this place- I will miss the farm lands, the home steads, the way that it is mostly nature and people live scattered about- not the other way around where people consume the land. I will miss the small town, where every ones waves to each other, knows your name, but more than just says hello, wants to ask you how you are and your children and knows them by name as well. Luckily we have a lot of that same small town charm where we will go back to- we are blessed to have so many friends with such huge hearts awaiting our arrival when we return. Even the small amount of time we were here had a purpose and we were meant to come. It has changed our hearts forever.

A few last snapshots of our travel yesterday...a quick visit to the park nearby and into town for groceries.

 And our towns sign- not just welcome..but "Experience Priest River"

We are all thankful for this experience.

Blessings to all of our friends and family...may you choose adventure, may you choose experience.

Birthday Day..Again

Another pre-Birthday day, since our son's birthday falls on Monday we ventured out to have family time of his choice- A family fun center day he decided. So off we went to play Laser Tag, Go Karts, Golf and video games, birthday dinner then home for presents, pie and a late night movie of 'Big Hero 6'. Yeah he said it was a great day! His favorite parts - - Laser Tag (it was his first time) and getting a Camera Stand from his Grandpa- love this buddy of mine!

 I can not hardly believe our son is turning 10. 

He is a sweet, caring, sensitive and humorous kid with a big heart who constantly makes me laugh. He loves anything to do with science, animals, robotics, video games and nature. He loves photography especially of his love of birds. He's inquisitive and so very smart. Maybe that's because he has a great big sister to look up to. I love his heart and his mind and his uniqueness. You'll never find this kid of mine without his hat on- he is starting a collection. He loves being dirty- he loves being a boy and I couldn't love that about him any more if I tried. I'm proud to be his momma and so very proud of the boy I see him becoming as he grows each year.

Happy 10th Birthday bubba, my buddy boy.

Birthday Boy Day

Our daughter is off at a friends birthday for the day so we packed up after lunch today and took our soon to be birthday boy (in another week he'll be 10) out for the day- we picked up and hid a few gifts in the car...then off to the Boy Scout store to buy his uniform shirt which he was totally excited about, next off to Cabella's where we let him pick out an early birthday present- A multi tool he's been wanting. And finally to the a new park that we'd never been to and another dam to explore/and sight see. A great day- and again beautiful 60 degrees for our day outing.

Another beautiful day exploring.