Strategy.

My little brother Nick and his wife Erina came to Las Vegas from Germany for a visit before their next Station in Spain!
Only problem with that is, we don't live in Vegas anymore!

Luckily, they were helping my dad and mum move to Idaho, so we decided to take a little road trip.

Patrick had to work, so it was just me, the kids and the road. 

 We left on Monday

  And got home on Wednesday!

 To survive the 13 hours of driving split between 2 days, I had a plan to pass the time with very few
ARE WE THERE YETS?!?!


On the way out of town we stopped by the dollar store and Trader Joe's where I gathered my ammunition!


As each hour passed, we took turns picking a special snack and a fun toy from the pile.
From cheapo army guys to pipe cleaners, they were eager for time to pass so they could pick out their next activity. 

We snacked on our favorite healthy snacks the whole way there.

Some of the goods.

It worked like a charm!

My kids know that I love sharing snacks with kids whom are pleasant to ride with in the car!

 I had to eat someone's snack only once to help refuel the energy I lost listening to that tantrum. ;) 

We also enjoyed some amazing scenery along the way!

Between the driving:

We walked Grandpa's new property crossing treacherous irrigation canals,

 laughed A LOT at our funny uncle nick,

went to the Boise Zoo

 where Devon learned that Goats really like carrots, even more than he does,

 had dinner and visited downtown Boise,

 took turns driving Grandpa's new tractor,

moved a few boxes and

 watched grandpa enjoy a favorite new sport of his (burning weeds!!!)


We had a lovely trip. Mission accomplished!

Dallin wore this outfit 

ALL DAY LONG

 on Thursday.

Anna loves him, just the same! So do I. :)

He's three, 

you see, 

and he thinks it is perfectly wonderful 

to wear rain boots,
on the wrong feet,

with swim shorts 

and to wear your sweater backwards

AND inside out. 

 I wish that I could say that we didn't leave the house, but if I did, that would be a lie! 

I didn't even notice what he had chosen to wear until we were already getting out of the car at the store!

And it made some old people there happy.

I am pretty sure I am NOT going to win the mother of the year award and I'm not doing everything right like I wish I was,

but....

I did make some pretty dang good frittata this morning for breakfast!!!!

Eggs + butter + bell peppers + kale + onion + dried tomato + sheep feta + heat=  
world peace.

 See!

Perfection?

I have not been blessed with a wonderful memory, 

BUT 

I do have a camera!

Pictures are my memory, and today I just want to share with you one of my favorite pictures from this week. 

I can not express in words the joy that I felt at the time I took this, but I wanted to write down some of my thoughts so I would remember, and I figured I would share with you.

I haven't the time for a fancy blog post, so this will have to do. 

I took this picture because at that time, I was overcome by joy and totally in love with my life.

Last Monday, the weather here was amazing, so we all went outside and left the sink of dishes to stink for a little longer.

The kids each brought what they wanted to learn about outside.

The air was crisp and smelled like spring.
There were new things growing all around from wild flowers to buds on trees.
The sky was blue with fluffy white clouds racing above us.
There were birds chirping, wind gently blowing and the sound of lawn mowers in the distance.

(I know, I know, it is funny that I mention lawnmowers in a paragraph describing my moment of bliss, but a hearing a lawnmower in the distance is a sign that there is no rain and that the day is beautiful.)

Believe me, the day was beautiful.

On top of all the beauty, my children were absorbed in what they had chosen to work on and were basking in the light as well.

Oh what joy it brings me witness their absolute love of learning!   

Justin can't stop reading.
Anna is constantly trying to write and copy letters.
Dallin wants to do whatever Justin and Anna are doing.

 
 I am so thankful that I took the time to grab a camera and capture the rare moment of perfection.


Then, just as I had adjusted the camera for the light, Devon walked outside, obviously NOT ready to have woken up from his nap!
 

I put down the camera, picked up the book I am reading (And Then There Were Five) to my kids and sat down to nurse Devon.

And all was perfect again.

I read out-loud for well over an hour.

Justin sat and listened intently, eagerly waiting for every word.
Anna listened for a few minutes then went off to play.
Dallin just ran around.
Devon ended up roaming and eating daffodil heads and rocks.

What a lucky woman I am.