Harvest Time 2011

Mid summer

Spent two weekends in a row at Dad's. That's unheard of, but I'm so glad it worked out.

The pics from the first weekend are in someone else's camera so I don't have those yet. We had all 6 of us sisters together for a bit so that was fun. The second weekend I brought the kids and we played and enjoyed all the family that was there... great aunts and uncle, a few cousins and several siblings.

Bradey jumping onto the "Relaxation Station".

Whitney, Lana Mom, Baby Edie, Dad and Mom

Me and my babes swimming back at home.

Can't go to the beach and not dig in the sand.

He loves to swim in the deep with me. Giggles the whole time.

There's no place like home.

Date night out. Grandma brings dinner and a movie for the kids and we go play.

(The sun has a pretty smile in this pic.)

(Not the best backdrop, but I insisted.)

It feels like the summer weather just got here and we are already getting school supplies and clothes. I hope everyone has a good end to summer!

Love, Courtney

P.S. My heart goes out to the families of those who died in the war this past week. May you find an extraordinary healing and peace to put your hearts back together again. There is greater love being sent to you from around the world than you have any idea.

4th of July weekend

The most interesting game of "Clue" you will ever play. Five year olds play by their rules.

Stealing a kiss... sometimes that's the only way I can get one.

Man and his best friend.

We played hard and celebrated mom's birthday.

Then the 4th of July celebration started with water slides with the Allen family.

I love how big sis watches out for the boys. Once Bear started down that slide there was no breaks for the rest of the day. I'd say he climbed those steps a hundred times. (Exaggerated, but that's what it felt like.)

Following this guy everywhere was a job. He was so tuckered that he fell asleep as we left the parking lot. Too much fun!

Hiking was next. The main hike was too long and steep for Luke so him and I stayed on the main paths. Wish I had pics of the view from the top. Next time.

Celebrated Sis's b-day. It was a perfect day.

This and that

Pinewood Derby.

Bear's car is the red one. It came in about 7th place and got the award for... "The Best Spoiler". His very own design.

Cousin niece. She is beautiful. I'm so proud of her momma.

Baby shower decorations. (Frank's sister adopted a beautiful boy.) I loved these. Frank's mom painted them.

A gift for Frank's sister was some of our home made invitations placed in this frame.

Here's the man of the hour. Simon.

And this is just some weird kids having a party. Strange.

It's you and me kiddo

My quiet blog has turned all but silent due to the stress, that won't allow me to quiet myself enough to write for a moment.

Wrestling practices are over and my little bear boy received his first trophy ever. The excitement of having something to show for all his hard work, made all those grueling practices well worth it for him.

My teenager got "Student of the Month" and is planning her next four years of high school and already thinking on to college. I'm not sure her dad and I will ever get used to her being "grown up".

Preparing the littlest of the gang for kindergarten, once would have been a joy, but watching them grow so fast it has become a bit of a bitter/sweet experience. I want to hold them all close, especially as I watch the world change at what feels like hyper-speed.

I'm teaching more classes and taking continuing ed classes which makes more of a strain on the day to day life. What an oxymoron. Stressed out Yoga Instructor. Frank keeps saying, "Put the heels of your feet in the small of your back... and breathe." A joke we have occasionally repeated since the start of my yoga schooling. I went to a chiropractor today who is going to work with me to de-stress and customize my diet. It was obvious that stress is the major factor to a few health issues I've had over the past 8 years. I'm hoping that over the next 60 days, I will be able to turn around my physical and emotional state. Should be good and I'm excited about it. As for the moment, I'm going to go squeeze my kiddos and enjoy a beautiful evening.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Breath and Space

When I asked my five year old what he wanted for breakfast this morning, he responded confidently, "Cuddle time". So that's what I fed him... lots and lots of cuddles.

In yesterdays class we talked about the concept of, birth in connection to yoga. It was a cool thought that I came across in my studies and wanted to explore it a bit. The first two things every human being experiences at birth is breath and space which are the two things we work with in the practice of yoga asanas (poses). As I moved my body through my breath, I was surprised that my mind didn't stay on our experience in those first moments of life. Instead it brought me to the "here and now", and followed my movement and breath giving me a deeper awareness of the beauty of breath, space, and my ability and freedom, to move through that space. (I hope that makes sense.) When we are weighed down emotionally or physically, our breath and movement in space suffer. We feel no freedom, meaning, or joy, in the true beauty of breathing or moving our limbs freely through space. It's equal to the beauty of a beating heart and should be felt deeply and soulfully. I invite you to take some time to just think about it... and see where it takes you.

Courtney

MomBomb

MomBomb: Noun; The substantial mass of persuasiveness descended on a teenager when a loving mother is exploding with passion about a subject she is, well... passionate about.

Passionate: Noun; ardor, enthusiasm, eagerness, zeal, zealousness, vigor, FIRE, FIERINESS, energy, fervency, animation, SPIRIT, SPIRITEDNESS

I dropped the MomBomb on a teenage client today after her mother asked me to speak with her teen about the subject of underage drinking. This is a teenager that I have been mentoring for the past three years so it was a proper request. It seemed to work and besides all the facts, statistics and stories of experience, the best part was opening up that line of communication. That line where on her end, she will speak into it any time she has the desire to drink or spend time with other underage drinkers, and on my end, I will listen, understand and lovingly ask the questions she needs to consider. I will make sure she knows she can... "Come hang with me." Every teenager is worthy of a MomBomb starting and ending with, "I'm teaching you this because... I love you."

Lights out.