Two Little Kitties

Four years of being a non-animal family.
But finally, we welcomed two new four-legged family members!

Yesterday morning we brought home two little kitties, just 8 weeks old.  Both are mostly black with a little white on their paws and faces.  They look very much alike.

We haven't chosen names yet, but are thinking AC and DC.  We'll see if those are the names that stick.

The kitties are quickly getting comfortable with their new surroundings.  They are very playful and love to attack each other and the cat toys we bought them.  However, they are also very loving and will let anyone (except Colson!) hold them and will snuggle up on our laps and sleep.

Exciting times in the Ross house!

Enjoying every moment.

In These Small Hours

Reason number 73 why I love being at the lake:  Beautiful walks around Deer Meadows in the afternoon sun. 
I love my time alone to exercise so I can clear my head, think about what lies ahead, make a mental "To Do" list, etc.  This afternoon, I was prioritizing what needed to be done before we leave for home tomorrow. 

Then, the words from a song I was listening to caught my attention.  Little Wonders by Rob Thomas.

The lyrics that resonated with me:

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

To my music fanatic friends, this song may have a totally different meaning.  But for me, on this day, these are the things that filled my mind for the rest of my walk:

It reminded me to not take anything for granted. 
To take in the tiniest of details.
To play and do chores later.
To live in the moment.
To smile and laugh.
To love hard.
To enjoy every moment we have.

Because as the words in the song say: time falls away. And so many times we seem to get lost in the days.  Caught up in the fast pace of everyday life.  Rushing through things and not slowing down to enjoy what is important.  I often hear from people, "Where does the time go?" 

So I ask you....Is your time falling away?  Or are you embracing your small hours?

Here are a few things that made up my small hours from today.

A trip to the boat ramp to watch the boats come in and go out.  Such a simple pleasure for the boys.  And a another positive: wading in the water, splashing, getting totally soaked! 

Grilled pineapple.  So yummy.  Along with apples, strawberries and some crackers.  That makes for a great picnic snack on the steps of the deck...enjoying the sun, conversation and company!

A trip to the beach to play in the water.  The boys loved the water, the sand, the toys.  I love watching them, listening to them, laughing at them, taking pictures of them, and relaxing in the sun.

Every night we see deer coming out to eat.  Tonight, Cannon and I stopped to take some photos and just quietly watch.

What were your small hours made of today?

Enjoying every moment.
 

The Bright Side

Today, it poured rain from morning until night.  It was cold....about 20-some degrees cooler than yesterday. And it was dreary.

But we decided to look on the bright side and found a bunch of things to do with the boys inside.  Things that were simple and fun.  It was a great day and it sure wasn't dreary inside!

I missed a lot of pictures throughout the day (because I was busy having fun!) but here we go...


1.  Playing in the sink and getting soaked...

2.  Looking at a map of Washington with Grandma...

3.  Playing with trucks...

4.  Watching CARS 2...

5.  Playing with balls...

6.  Spelling words on the tablet...

7.  Playing in a box...

8.  Inside the fort we made...

9.  Finger painting...

10.  Baking cookies...

11.  Dinner at "The Fort"...

Enjoying every moment!

Right Now

Right now we are enjoying the first part of our summer break.  We are celebrating family.  We are celebrating birthdays.  We are celebrating a vacation to the lake.

I am finishing my third book in less than a week, loving the sun (when it's out), running daily, eating way too many sweets, taking lots of pictures, having fun riding the three wheelers around, enjoying family, trying to relax, staying up way too late.

Cannon is in his element here at the lake, playing, riding the three wheeler, being outside, swimming, watching boats, riding in the boat, wading in the water....just being a boy and loving every single minute of every single day.

Colson is "talking" up a storm, communicating more each day by his real words, his sounds, his grunts and by sign language.  He definitely has an opinion on things and lets us know about it!  He is loving playing with toys (usually the ones Cannon is playing with), riding on the three wheeler, playing in the water, being outside....just doing what 15 month old boys do! 

Chris is relaxing, riding three wheelers, enjoying family, watching racing, liking the Black Cherry Rum, and loves to be on the water. 

We are very blessed to be welcoming in the summer season together with so many memories. 

"Working" on the trailer.

 Watching a big truck.

Riding the three wheeler.

Enjoying the sun!

Waiting patiently for a cupcake.

Happy Birthday!

Hanging with Auntie Karin at the park.

Taking a trip down the docks.

An impromptu 'splash' in the water.  Both boys rode home naked since they got totally soaked.

Talking to grandpa about his trip to the water!

Relaxing, enjoying the sun!

Love!

Enjoying every moment.

A Day With Colson

Today I spent the day with Colson.

We hung out together.  We played.  We talked.  We laughed.  We made messes.  We went outside.  We ate.  We did errands.

Colson hung out with me for a couple of hours at school while I tried to begin to make some sense of the enormous piles I have in my new classroom.  He made his own messes and I could always tell where he'd been by the disaster he left on the floor.

Colson took off outside of my classroom, which is on the other side of the school by the parking lot.  I used to be right by the big toy, but no more.

Too cute sitting on my box of reading supplies!

Rolling down the hallway on the cart!

This afternoon, we played together outside.  We played trains together inside.  Colson is becoming even more independent.  He also is playing with things for longer periods of time and really spending time investigating things and how they work.  I love watching him and always wonder what he is thinking in that brain of his!

Enjoying every moment!

First Day of Summer Break

Ahhh, summer break.  I've been waiting for you.

Today, the sun came out in honor of my first official day off and I took advantage by sitting on the back deck and relaxing.

I also started my list and got a lot accomplished.  I hauled Colson around to a lot of places!

What I love most about summer break is that there is no schedule.  Whenever we're ready, we'll go...but only if we choose to go.

No rushing out of the house.  No meetings to get to.  No deadlines to meet.  No planning for the following week.

Just that laid back feel.  (*sigh*)

Cleaning out toys.

My to do list....

Worked on putting pictures in some simple, non-scrapbook albums.

I started the 2nd book of the Hunger Games.

Sitting in the sun on the back deck.

Enjoying every moment.

Miscellaneous Monday

As I was looking through photos last night, I realized there are a ton of photos that I haven't written about.  So here are a few photos from the last few weeks:

Colson brushing his teeth.  He loves to do whatever we are doing!

We went to Jumpin' Jack and Jill last weekend and Cannon played until he was too tired to play!

Melting candy in Cannon's hand...Ugh!

Colson visiting the neighbors fountain.

Playing the piano has been a favorite thing to do for Colson lately!

Cannon wearing Daddy's silly hat!

Colson loves to sit in the rocking chair and (try to) change channels.  Typical male!

Another boy who loves hitches!

Love driving the Chevelle!

Enjoying every moment.