*this moment*

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Inspired by soulemamma

Yeah, I know I'm a day late and many words over but it's my first time so gimme a break.

End of summer blur

I don't remember much about the month of August. Husband worked a lot on the weekends, we attended a wedding (sans children), I did a little canning with my MIL and I took the kids to different parks around the city everyday. September, however, was filled with memorable firsts. Ami's first day of pre-school. Yay! She loves it and I love the thrice weekly break of sibling squabbling. Calvin is always a little teary every time we drop her off but my local MOPS group also started that month and he loves his "mops pee-school".
The weather stayed warm and our friend Billy invited us to go swimming in a pool he has access to.
While Calvin didn't get into the water much, Ami happily paddled around wearing a life jacket and even jumped off the diving board with me several times.


And while husband was gone on yet another Saturday, the kids and I attended a local Harvest Fun Fest.












But the days of Husband working Saturdays are now gone as he has started night classes again at Clark College and must spend all of his off time studying or attending lecture and lab. He's taking the first of a 3 part Anatomy & Physiology class series and also an online Intro to Medical Radiology Tech course. He was very fortunate to get into A&P as the demand does not near equal the capacity. Twice the amount of students show up than are actually registered in the class, hoping to gain a spot once someone gives up on this difficult course and drops it. So while the children and I are available for day trips and such, Husband will be otherwise engaged until the second week of December. Excellent grades in the A&P classes are essential in gaining entry into the Medical Radiography Tech program.

Davis Family Reunion

Technically this all took place last July, but I've been absent from the blogosphere for so long that I don't know how to find my way back again unless I just pick up where I left off.

The reunion started off with fun, family friendly games. The weather was perfect and Amidala was just starting to grasp the cousin-filled wonderfulness of the next 3 days.

Everyone participated...

even my sweet, adorable tiny-man.

There was no keeping my son away from his boy cousins.

Or my daughter from her beloved girl cousins. I was really starting to miss my kids as usually they are my near constant, affectionate companions.

The next day, after some impromptu lavender farm care, the whole gang headed to Kline Line Park in Vancouver. This was my kids' first time at a swimming hole and it couldn't have been more perfect for them. Being the boy that he is, Calvin excavated the sand with whatever tools he could find.

Though Ami spent most of her time in the water, husband did manage to tempt her to the (safe, heart-calming) shore to build a mountain with her uncle Eric.

That beach day also happened to be my 32nd birthday and I was surprised with a cake and a few lovely gifts later that evening. So with the sun, fun and fam it was easily the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

The pure blood Davis Bunch...

and their descendants.

The whole famn damily; 32 and counting. All because two people fell in love and all that.

On the last day, after the obligatory pictures (and homemade slip and slide), adults and children alike were delighted at the arrival of a horse and cowboy to give rides around the pasture. This was my favorite event of the reunion.

I don't know what joke he and his sister are sharing, but I love the look of laughter and pure happiness on husband's face. Captures his jolly personality (and the reunion in general) perfectly.

And here are our terrific reunion organizers, Matt and Heidi. Thanks a whole Davis bunch, you two!

For more reunion pics or to see another's POV.

Family bike ride

It's good to be home with my man by my side.

My favorite sis

Dear beloved Husband,

I unloaded the kids on Ken, Ping and Cynda a lot this past weekend to get some bonding time with Carissa. After doing a little shopping with my mom on Saturday, Crissy and Nate picked me up to take me out to dinner. I told them I wanted Mexican and to take me to their favorite place. They enjoy eating out frequently so I knew they'd know the place to go. You would've loved it, whata. Muy delicioso! Afterwards, we went to her big city apartment where Nate indulged me with on-demand Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes.


I was thrilled when Crissy suggested bowling the next night with Ping and mom (I wish I'd packed my shoes!). I did well considering I haven't picked up a ball in almost four years.







After proving my ball rolling supremacy, Crissy spoiled me yet again by taking me back to her place where Nate was waiting with more recommended TNG episodes. It was a sci-fi geek's paradise. It's so nice to have Carissa back on the main land and I'm grateful that my mom planned my stay for two weeks. Seeing her four times this visit is more than I usually do in two years. I love you, Crissy!!!

See you in 2 days.

Love always,
Wife

Rockies-9, Kansis City-ZERO

Dear Husband,

Friday evening finally arrived and we were off to the Colorado Rockies game! You know how much I love live baseball. While riding on the light rail to downtown Denver with my mom and Ken, she reminded me that we haven't been to a game together in 20 years. It makes me feel old to be able to make references like that. We walked around downtown for a bit, popping into Forever 21 and catching the free mall bus ride that transports the throngs of people around the lively marketplace. Our tickets were for the suite that her workplace has reserved for home games, which is located just above the club level. There was free food and drink located inside the air conditioned, glass enclosed room with couches and such. But for the serious game watchers, there was three rows of balcony seating. I parked myself in the front row, leaning over the railing most of the time so I wouldn't miss a moment of the action. The Rockies did not disappoint, it was a great game! The fountains went off every time they hit a homer and the energy in the stadium was amazing.



I appropriately wore purple.



As if going to the game wasn't cool enough, we also got to watch a fantastic fireworks show afterward. On the field. Where the actual players were just kicking some serious corn husking butt.





I haven't had such a great night out since you took me dancing. Wish you were here.

Love always,
Wife

A trip to remember

Dear Husband,

Oh, I miss you so, so much.

We've been taking it easy the last couple of days here, establishing a daily routine. Which I suppose is what happens when you take a two week vacation with kids. They love having a yard to play in and extra playmates. Calvin has been especially diligent about removing his diaper and peeing outside. So seeing naked children doing their business through a sliding glass door has become the norm.




Remember that park we took 'em to last summer with the train? Ken took us there yesterday for some playing, riding and wading.










Ahhhhh! Too deep, mom!



And last night my mom, Ping and I took little Moo-bears back to Lakeside. She was pretty much over kiddie land and moved on to any adult ride she met the height requirement for. She was delighted to find out their signature attraction, the Cyclone, had no such requirement and rode the "really fast roller coaster" as many times as Ping would accompany her. Every time she exited the ride, I could hear her little voice squeal, "I want to do it again!"



The weather here is fantastic! A big storm moved in while we were out (typical on Denver evenings), also giving Ami her first lightning watching experience. She found it all spectacular, to say the least.