Beautiful Work

Yes, Claire is beautiful work, but I'm talking about the editing. Brother Brendan took out the ugly warning sticker on the carseat from this picture. She may need a warning sticker later but not yet.

Take Me Out!

Just to the park.

Tuesday night we used coupons the boys earned through a summer reading program to attend an Isotopes game, minor-league baseball. The game was fun. As you can tell from these pictures, we had the time wrong in mind and arrived 45-minutes early. While hot, it was actually a super low-key, nice time for our family to wonder around and play a little without a crowd. Student Center people arrived for the game on time and we spent an hour over there with them and Scott's co-worker's family. Our neighbors, who the boys adore, were also there so all the kids could play a while. What a nice summer night!

Why their interest in this display or their desire to take this photo, I do not know. The amazement never ends.

You can tell we're early. The stands are empty. They nearly were anyway, but not too this extent.

On the park's playground. HOT days.

Take Me Out fits our week to a T.

Ranne's first week of school, Tuesday through Friday, went fine. He had some obvious, quiet trepidation about going in each time but took a deep breath and marched through the door.

This week has been different. We get there a few minutes early and play on the equipment outside, but as soon as that bell rings he's full of tears and fears. On Monday night, he had nightmares all night and every morning he tries to sleep in. AAHHHRRRRG. I had hoped this transition would be easier on us both.

Today I tried to treat the boys, especially my bummed-out Ranne, to happy hour slushies from Sonic. Toby, trying to put Trey's straw back in his cup for me, gouged it through the bottom of the full drink. In my round state I couldn't get to it very fast so the new vehicle has nice sticky red drink spillage front to back. Sheesh. Take me out! I managed to clean it but am just now remembering a spot on the carpet I will have wished to have remembered sooner. Yet, on the bright side, I now have very clean car seats as I had to wash Trey's and so did the others as well.

Despite that mess, I'm actually pretty proud of today: picked up soil for Ranne's class' planting project (and the little costs begin); dropped him off; stopped at the post office; vaccuumed out the car; fed family lunch; napped the boys and caught up on reciepts and bills before baby comes (last baby, I forgot to pay the bills); cleaned, folding and put away all laundry; stopped at Sonic; picked up Ranne; cleaned car seats and Trey (who the drink spilt on; R finished his homework; fed all a strange dinner; we had a movie night and they're now in bed. I'm going to address some thank you cards and tuck myself in.

Goodnight all as well as a congratulations to both my dad and brother on their new jobs! I feel oddly relieved for them to have a change or just...work. God is very good. Dad said on the phone tonight that he's not sure he's been so happy with a previous employment situation. That is very exciting.

Wow.

I am humbled by this. On a day that it couldn't be less deserved, Scott and the boys show up with these after a late night at the ball fields. Scott often shows his pursuit, I think, of being Christ-like in that he will show so much kindness and love even when it's been undeserved and memorably one of my worst days. So, thank you, Love. Humbled, thankful and loved.

Scott took this on Sunday morn. All around the round mother....

Memories....

He looks a bit like a vampire here, we think. For some strange reason, he's been putting soap in his hair while doing the hand-washing routine. I commented on it to Scott earlier that day so Toby decided to impress us with a full hair-load.

My summer swimmers. Cuties.

Lost in Summer Nights

Wow. What a night. We joined Dad, Brenda, brother Brendan and most of his family (missing 'little one' sadly) for Summer Nights at the local botanical gardens. It was fun music, pretty gardens, trains, hoola hoops, glow rings, happy kids.... The children all did so well and it was nice to just be with family.

Sadly Scott was working, but it sounds like his night is still going great at the Student Center. They are hosting a high school night for all the kids who were signed up to go to camp but had cancelations due to fire restrictions.


Trey found a cuddler to hold him. Nana and he had a nice time, I'm thinkin'.



My Toby, goofing off for your benefit.

Enjoying the train display.

He's my only one to really try the hip action with the hoola.

Enjoying the music, clouds and cool breeze. He always knows how to enjoy a good moment, or make it good.

So glad to have these two here!

Wonderful two.

Sharing their cherries! Summer is good!

So, as you can see it was a good night. We did have a very hard point. The boys were doing awesome, staying together for the most part. Looking at trains, Ranne would get ahead. We got that taken care of by a conversation.

When taking the boys to the bathroom, however, on the way back to the picnic/music area, despite encouraging and watching everyone to keep us close to one another, I lost Toby. After just leaning down to talk to Ranne, I realized Toby was nowhere to be seen. I ran a few places and couldn't see him so took the boys back to Brendan. Sarah watched Ranne and Trey while he and I went to find him. I finally spotted him. He made it out of the main gardens and into the courtyard leading to the parking lot. There was a security guard by the gate and I pray he would have stopped Toby if he'd tried to leave, but Toby was definitely headed that direction. He was probably afraid we had left so went to look for the car. There were fences all around the outside of the park as well, but with the crowd and all....

What a terrible, terrible feeling. I grabbed him and hugged him. He seemed afraid, but most likely it stemmed from my reaction and tears. He just said he couldn't find me and told me quietly to stop fussing. Sigh. Please never again. I'm so grateful for Brendan and Sarah's help. I know Papa and Nana knew and were looking too. Thank you! Thank you, Lord, for helping us find him.

I'm tired!

Johnson's Visit, Part 1

The boys had a fun little time in the sprinkler before bed.

We had a nice dinner with the Johnsons and Fisher ladies. Very, very nice Saturday. Thank you everyone for coming!

Mini-Golf with the Johnsons!

Dad and Brenda watching the craziness. Brendan and sweet daughter #1. She's getting putting lessons.

Here's sweet Trey and his cousin. Sweet babes. Trey shoveled his ball quite well the whole way through. I was really suprised with how well he stuck with the game and kept track of ball and club.

Aunt Sarah and girls. Toby's expression makes me smile.

Thank you Brendan and Sarah for the idea and invitation!

Summer Fun

The kiddos chanted "TNT" while waiting for the next firework to be lit by the dads. Very funny.

Fourth of July

At the Smolenski Home:

The boys were much more brave this year with the firecrackers than usual. Perhaps because there was such a mob of children and parents present? Today, the day after, Toby was bragging to Ranne, "I lit a roach on fire with my sparkler Ranne, your favorite bug: a roach." Ranne said, "Well I don't care if you lit it on fire, as long as you didn't kill it." Scott is sure the bug incident never really happened.

Friends and Family:

The Poser:

Minute to Win It:

2nd of July in Belen with the Paffords:

Yum! Italian Ice!

Sweeeeet girl. She and Trey are a week apart in age.

Reading Ranne's First Bible

Superhero edition:We were never motivated to buy a bible for the kids until reading began. He made it through Kindergarten in super ways and is beginning to read so this is his 'yay, good job' gift.

An awesome smiler

Toby pretending to be an Angler Fish

This was perhaps the best week we've had in a long while. The boys did GREAT, without a fight. FUN, FUN, FUN!

Funny Friends

Playing Catch (Up)

From latest to earliest this summer, you'll have a little glimps of our lives. The latest camera we have is by far of lesser quality than the one my dad gave us at Ranne's birth. Alas, that one wore out so when we bought this one, we were very saddened by the lack of quality. Taking pictures just hasn't been as rewarding so there are not as many.

Ranne at his cousin's ballet recital.

First Birthday Sleepover! Backpacks ready....

The party really happened the morning after the sleepover. When we went to pick up the boys, they were in the middle of sprinkler, slip-n-slide games. So, we went on a little hike in the foothillls where we found a rattler, after we stepped over him. Very exciting. Never hike to close to your partner or your feet will land in the same place before warning can be given!


Just sweetness. We play a lot here on Mountainside church's playground.


Once a year or so, ladies from the 'westside' get together for a fancy dinner out, or desserts, or whatever they can come up with. This time it was high tea at: St. James Tearoom. Very fun!

Here is Kristine and Rebekah:


The meal:


Tory, Leslie and Casey:


And of course, we wouldn't know our neighborhood nearly so well if we didn't have Ranne in our lives. Here are several friends he's aquired.


This is one special dude. We haven't seen him in a few weeks and intend to hunt him down here soon, hopefully tonight. Maybe he went to be with his Dad in TX? We miss him.

Ball games! Here the boys are watching a UNM softball game. A CSC student was playing on this team until recently.

Our dear neighbors' son and Ranne's good buddy. His Hulk seems to be the pillow for yard lounging and also seems to be the dummy for testing dangerous stunts they scheme up.

Scott and I were very blessed with a trip to CO. A ministry there allows ministers and their spouses to stay for free when the cabins are not in use. The couple who keeps the camp going even had us for dinner: elk burgers (that the wife shot), baked fries, salad,.... Amazingly good. Here are pics of the hike we went on and our cabin where we stayed. It was bigger than our house: three bedrooms, two baths, etc.

Yes, we gave the boys their birthday gifts at least a month late. The football Ranne is opening and adored was stolen the next day, while we were on that trip to CO and the boys were at a softball game with their friends. Bummer.

Oops. Somehow this got pushed to the end. Well, she's cute. It's a good ending.