Good

Thank you all for you thoughts and prayers. My brother is doing much better and is healing perfectly. He'll need some rehabilitation on his one arm but he should be back to 100% in a few months.

Life seems to have perked up for us as well. We're getting a hang of this gluten-free, casein-free diet and back into an easy rhythm of reading books, playing outside when it's not raining, and enjoying Sawyer's new found desire to play with toys!

I'm enjoying my little break from the computer but I wanted to post and thank you all for your comments and emails. Here's a picture of the boys, just this morning, enjoying a banana and strawberry smoothie after breakfast. Life is good.

A break

My brain has been elsewhere lately. Between our vacation and my older brother's wedding, Ian and I were finally diagnosed with having gluten and dairy intolerances which means I'm having to figure out what exactly we can eat. Then just this last weekend, my younger brother ended up having surgery to repair an exposed compound fracture in one arm and a dislocated shoulder in the other after being beaten with metal baseball bats in the middle of the night. No one is sure who the guys are that did it but it seems more and more details are emerging every day. My brother is home now and doing better but the whole thing has me a bit rattled.

So I think I'm going to bow out of here for a short time. Just a small break until things are more settled.

Be back soon...

Two things...updated

• I know I brag on my nephew Nick a lot... but he's only 15 years old. I can't wait to see what he's doing in photography in 10 years. Here's a slideshow of my brother's wedding. Simply amazing.

• An article and video clip I saw this week. Lopez Lomong's story is tragic yet inspiring and I can't wait to see him run in the 1500 meter race.

• After reading my friend Karli's post about recycling, I had to include it. It's so well thought out and she has done an amazing job explaining how to recycle all the different types of plastic including how to set up your own easy system in your garage. I'm definitely going to be working on this for us. Great post Karli!
  

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It's hot today... around 100 degrees... but I don't mind. I know cooler weather will be here in a month or so and I'll be wishing it were summer again. We're planning on a relaxing weekend. Maybe I'll finally finish the apron I've been working on or maybe I'll get to redesigning this blog like I've been wanting to for weeks. Or, maybe I'll sit and read and sip iced tea all weekend.... it's nice to have the choice. Have a wonderful weekend.

Little boys in tuxedos

*All pictures taken by my nephew Nick except for picture #2.

Guitar beginnings

It's amazing how good it feels to get back into routine after a busy vacation. Jeremy is back at work, Ian is building a track for his cars, and Sawyer is watching, trying to figure out how he can squeeze in there and help.

My brother got married over the weekend and both boys were in the wedding in teeny tiny tuxes that made them look so grown up and so handsome. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them.

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Over the last couple of months, Ian has been asking for his own guitar. He watches Jeremy play, waiting patiently for his turn to strum, and points out guitars everywhere he sees them. We knew he would probably want to learn to play, since Jeremy does, but it was amazing to see him decide when that time would be and to watch the interest grow in him. So just before we went on vacation, we bought him his own. He was so excited, jumping up and down and whooping. He immediately sat down with it, holding it perfectly, and started playing. Pretty soon, all three boys were sitting down and playing a little music together. I don't think Sawyer will be far behind...

Back home

We walked, we biked, we even canoed down the Deschutes River for 4 hours with both boys. We enjoyed coffee first thing every morning while the cousins talked about their plans for the day and evenings were spent having dinner out on the deck reliving the days events. The last day seemed to appear out of nowhere leaving us more excited for next summer when we plan on going again. I think it's the beginning of a new tradition...

Simple

Searching for raspberries in our backyard...

and enjoying them with a best friend....


Simple pleasures.

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We leave tomorrow for a much-longed for vacation. See you in a week!