Falling leaves

Autumn is here!  Warm days mixed with a few cool ones here and there and very cool nights.  I was driving down a certain road that I love in the fall because of all the big trees and beautifully changing leaves.  I was thinking, "I have seen this before and I purposefully drove this way to see these things because I knew they were here."  So that might sound a bit crazy, but it was a realization of the fact that we have been here long enough to see seasons again, to know what to look for, and where to see it.  I love living here and I feel that this is home...almost.
There is always that part of me that knows this is temporary.  I never felt that this when we moved in the US even though we moved often.  But here the talk is always, how long have you been here, when do you go back, where will you return to.  There is always this little part of me that just can't quite get comfortable and fully settled.  So thinking about this second fall coming and being here has been good because it reminds me that life moves, it grows, it has it's up and downs no matter where life takes you.  I miss the US, but I love living here too.  My life is not perfect and maybe not the ideal life for all people, but I get to share it with the 5 loves of my life.  And life may not always be exciting, but we are here together and we can do these hard things together and we can also experience the joy together.

And with that I will give a little run down of our week.

Arts in Action -- A celebration of the art, music, and dance.

Cute Drew!

He is always in the very back, so to get this I had to go right up front and embarrass my 7th grader, good thing he loves me.

Easton was having a hard day so he skipped jardin (preschool) and was great company for me.

Can you find Mason?

Cub Scout Activity - A trip to a car collector's museum for inspiration for the Pinewood Derby.  With two boys in cub scouts, that means for the second and last time Mark will help two boys make cars.

This was the boys favorite room by far...tanks and military trucks to climb on, in, and under. 

For Grandpa Hamilton...Go Beavers! 

Easter Weekend

Easter was fairly low key this year.  But it was good because it allowed for less bunny and more of the truth of Easter.

 The kids had Thursday and Friday off, which was a well needed break.  We spent Thursday doing a few fun things.  As my kids said, we stunk up the kitchen with vinegar.  Once the windows were open, the fun began.  We also went and had lunch with dad at work.

 

We had Drew's class pet, Charlie, for the weekend.  How lucky are we, we got to have the Easter bunny on the perfect weekend.  

The bunny always visits on Saturday morning (we made a deal with the bunny when Mason was a year or two old).

Finding the goods.

Taking inventory.

We are so grateful to have had a weekend to be at home and think on the amazing things our Savior, Jesus Christ has done and continues to do for each of us.  We had some deep discussions about the events of the Atonement, death, and resurrection of Christ.  I am amazed by my children and their knowledge and understanding of the gospel.

Cub Scout Campout March 15 and 16

The three younger boys and I headed 75 kilometers south to spend Friday afternoon and all day Saturday (we got back really late...to say goodbye to Mark who left at 5am Sunday for Brasil).  We were exhausted, but it was a very good weekend spent out doors and with friends.  And the night sky was spectacular...I have never seen so much and so clearly of the night sky, even space clouds, like the Magellan clouds.  It was so beautiful and even among the 25 cub scouts running and screaming I was hit with a deep appreciation to God for the beauty of this world.

My boys were able to hike, zip line, swim, participate in skits, run, bike, and enjoy their friends.  You never know how those things are going to go, but it was so well done.  It was hard on Easton as he ended up not feeling well, but he did fairly well.

One good thing about camping with less people is that I only had to put up the small tent.

Learning about taking care of our environment

So this campout was a bit of a cheat as we ate all meals in the cafeteria prepared by the employees of the campsite.  Really roughing it you know!

Because

Everyone needs a little Calvin and Hobbes in their life!  I remember my dad and younger brother reading Calvin and Hobbes all the time when I was a kid.  And now my kids love them.  In fact a couple of weeks ago was spirit week at the middle school and each day had a different theme.  One day was fictional character day and Mason went as Calvin, carrying a stuffed tiger owned by Drew.  Calvin will always remind me of my boys.  The curiosity, adventure, imagination, and that little bit of crazy and mischief of Calvin's makes me smile and think just how great it is to be the mom of 4 boys.  Sure keeps me on my toes!