Simple Pleasures

The tree branch basking in the shade beckoned a baby swing.  Watching Owen's face overcome with pure joy as he swings makes my heart swell.  There is something so profoundly wonderful with the simple pleasure of pushing a baby on a swing.



Contrary to the perpetual motion of the swing, it seems for a moment, time stands still...

...now, if I could only freeze it.

L-O-G-A-N

Another delayed posting...  Logan started writing his name over a month ago!!!  Yay!!!

Ribbit

We recently saw a program on television about frogs. It discussed why the species is important to our eco system and how they are in danger.  Hayden, our bleeding heart, promptly drew a picture of a frog and asked me to help him spell, "Frogs are dying!  Save the frogs!"

It was fitting that a few days later, we should happen to meet a little frog friend.  The boys were playing in the backyard.  I opened the umbrella by the outdoor table so I could sit in the shade.  As I opened the umbrella a blob-like shape seemed to fall from inside the umbrella onto the table.  Once I regained my composure, I noticed it was a little frog.  We had fun watching 'Little Critter' and Hayden felt relieved having spotted this special creature in our own yard.

Look Who's Clapping!

  Owen started clapping for the first time during breakfast a couple of weeks ago.  It was great because we were all sitting at the table to see!  Owen was so delighted and surprised which led to more clapping! 

Daddy's Day!

“If I marry: He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, as one has said, he reaches all the way to heaven. His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family. His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss. Love must be so deep that it takes  the whole lost world in. He must be active enough to save souls. He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful. His arms must be strong enough to carry a little child.”

The boys adore their daddy!  Just the other night at dinner (Ryan was still at work) we were talking about what the boys want to be when they grow up.  Logan said, "I want to be a super hero, just like daddy!" 

Ryan's favorite past time is playing with the boys.  He loves to teach them new games, skills, sports etc.  He will stop anything for a moment to cuddle with them and his heart melts when they surrender their sleepy body in his arms.

Ryan leaves for work before the boys awake and at times, doesn't return until after they are in bed.  One evening recently, he returned exhausted!  His day was demanding and required him to be in the heat for 12 + hours.  Ryan came home after the boys were asleep, went straight for the shower and crashed into bed.  After 10 minutes, he sleepily stumbled by me in the family room and headed towards the boys' room.  With my expression puzzled, he offered, "I forgot to give the boys a kiss."

I think that story sums up the type of daddy Ryan is!  We are thankful for him; for his strength, tenderness, thoughtfulness and most of all, his arms which are strong enough to carry our children.

As we raise our boys, Ryan and I are eternally grateful for our own fathers who have instilled character, wisdom and integrity which we strive to pass onto our boys.

Happy Father's Day to all the men fortunate enough to bear the title, daddy.

The present for our super hero!

Vrmmmmm!

Live Oaks.  Apparently, these are the 'southern symbol for strength.'  Well, after trying to rake and bag the leaves from 5 in our yard, I can see why!  The foliage is plentiful and it certainly takes a lot of 'strength' to accomplish cleaning up after their fall. 
If you recall, I bagged 22 bags which was only 1/2 of what laid on the ground.  Ryan borrowed our neighbor's ride-on mower and finished the other 1/2 in less than 2 hours without really lifting a finger.  Ever since then, our interest was peaked in a ride-on mower.  We looked in the stores and were disenchanted with the prices.  So, when we were returning from the beach a couple of weeks ago and saw that a neighbor had one in their yard with a 'for sale' sign, we didn't waste time to take a look.  Turns out, it is a Craftsman and only a year old.  After a bit of research, we decided it was a great investment!
We are so thankful for our Live Oaks and their plentiful shade and now we don't need to dread the fall!
A couple of other little people were excited about this purchase too!  While Owen napped, and the big boys 'helped' daddy, guess who had a quiet house for an hour???!!! 

Not one to be idle, Hayden completed some regular maintenance on his lawn mower while waiting for his turn.

Chess

One afternoon, after a long morning at the pool, I put on Sesame Street for the big boys during Owen's nap.  The episode was centered around the game of chess.  Afterwards, the boys took out our chess board and played for 45 minutes. Hardly a word was spoken.  They seemed to silently understand and agree on 'their' rules.  Meanwhile, I got to catch up with a friend on the phone--lovely!

Beach Boys

  Last Saturday we had the best beach day yet!!!! 

  We went to Pensacola Beach which is 20 minutes away (it is our favorite so far)!  We left just after Owen's morning nap, arriving there before noon.

  Hayden immediately heads for the water. 

With a moment of pause, Logan tries to remember if he likes the water or is afraid. 

  He cautiously walks towards the ocean, jumps over the first ribbon of white bubbles which dances towards his toes and a huge smile takes over his face. 

For the next 45 minutes Logan flirts with the waves that slap the shore, either racing water's edge into the sand or jumping over them.  All the while, he sings, " I love it! I want to stay here all day!"

 Owen is peaceful as he investigates the sand and is happy to play in the water.  At one point, Ryan and Hayden went out quite a ways from the shore.  They were far enough that the waves didn't break yet and Hayden loved how he'd effortlessly float over these small hills of water. 

During Owen's nap, Ryan walked up to one of the resturants and brought back a lemonade for the boys and a strawberry daquiri for us!  Before leaving, we grabbed some ice cream on the dock and piled into the van blissfully tired. What a mini-vacation

LOVE our new towels!  Thanks Aunt Allison!!!!

FISHers

At the age of 2, without hesitation, Hayden would jump off a diving board at our friend's house.  He would wear a lifevest but didn't mind getting his face wet or dunking slightly under water before popping up after jumping in.

Then, around 4, caution started to root.  This was welcomed from a safety standpoint, however, it progressed to nearly a fear of the water.

Just recently, his confidence is returning as he's becoming more adventurous.  However, it's perfectly complimented with a bit of caution.

Logan loves swimming at the pool but won't venture too far from the steps. (don't know why we don't have his picture)

Owen loves to sit on the first step and kick his feet to splash the water.

We have signed both big boys up for swim lessons which will be three mornings a week.  I have such fond memories of swim team during the summers which I participated from the age of 4 through 14.  Maybe there is a future of swim team for the Fisher boys!

 

9 Months

Owen turned 9 months on Sunday!!!  In some ways I feel I am rushing his baby months away so it is easier to collectively do activities with all three.  Then, other moments, I get a pit in my stomach thinking that for only 3 more months, I will forever have a baby in our house/arms.  But what a sweet baby to complete our family....

Owen is starting to get on his hands and knees and rock back and forth.  Shortly, he will be crawling and our world will change with his mobility.  He is sweet and silly and sensitive!  Owen loves the swimming pool and welcomes the waves of water slapping the shore by his feet. He will taste anything you put near his mouth and prefers table food over his pureed baby food.  Owen loves to be close to his brothers and delights in their attention.

Owen is 29 inches (80%) and 21.5 lbs (65%ish).  I would have told you he was 30 pounds!  He feels so solid.

Water Boys

These two are best buds.  Love!

Props & Wings

A couple of weekends ago Ryan's unit had a family day.  His unit has some unique aircraft (to name a few: MI-17 a Russian helicopter, a UH-1 Huey helicopter and an AC-130 Gunship) and there was actually an opportunity for spouses to take a flight.  I am too much of a nervous flyer to have taken advantage of this fabulous opportunity.  But, we did go later in the day to give the boys a chance to climb into the cockpits.  Being on the flightline was exciting!  There were planes taking off and landing all around us. 

A spouse from Ryan's unit took the family picture of us in front of one of Ryan's favorite aircraft, AC-130 Gunship.

The boy's and their 'guns.'

Prepared for take off...

A Special Garden

Ross' heart was tender.  This is why so many people loved him; he truly cared about others.  As Ryan said so perfectly in his eulogy, " If you knew Ross, you probably knew he was all about family.  And if you were lucky enough to be his friend, he treated you as if you were a part of his family."

Ross was a gifted gardener.  He found fulfillment in transforming landscapes and could revive wilted plants into flourishing beauties. 

It seems fitting to create a memorial garden.  We've dedicated a little spot of Earth in our yard in his honor.  We adoringly refer to it as the 'Uncle Ross Garden.'  As our hands work the Earth we talk about Ross.  As we dig holes for new flowers we are spending quality time as family.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Ross would be happy knowing we've found light after loss.

Memories shared intertwining with memories created.


The garden is always changing, evolving, growing.

It breaths life.

Track Detectives

I have so many ideas for this summer!!!  From field trips to science experiments to story hours to baking and of course, many, many hours at the pool.

We read a book about animal tracks.  The boys were so excited that we decided the next morning we would be track detectives.  During my morning run (Hayden rides his bike and I push the little ones) we have section on a dirt road.  This was the perfect place.  Armed with magnifying glasses, notebooks and enthusiasm we headed out.

We saw many different size dog (presumably) prints.  There were also many tire tracks with different treads.  Hayden said we should do this everyday!


The inspiration

 Our scientist at work

 Mr. Patient