Brooks is 6

It goes without saying that every year I am shocking that my kids are the age that they are.  Times flies.  We all say it.  We all mean it.  But why do I every year think Brooks is older than he is.  With him, Im like, "he is only 6?"  He seems so old to me.  He does everything his brothers do and plays up divisions in sports with them so that we don't have to have 4 different teams not that Wynnlee is playing too.  He is incredibly smart in math, reading, spelling, phonics, and art.  He is a wiz.  He is wise and mature beyond his years (when he isn't being foolish and immature). Ha.  What I mean to say it that he is normal kid.  He does normal 6 year old things to be sure, but he is also incredibly more advanced than he should be at many many things.  It is shocking and leaves me thinking he is older than he really is.  

September

Wedding

Another fun wedding. This one was a good friend of Luke's, Israel Lopez.   It was more memorable that any wedding I have been to.  Both dads officiated.  One in English, the other translating into Spanish.  Crying dads.  Crying groom.  Crying brothers.  A mariachi band at the reception.  Long 50-person tables.  I little dressier that most.  It was fun and my husband looked GOOOOOOOOOOD.  

Gardening

We gardened this summer.  

Luke built two amazing planter boxes, we planned out what we wanted to grow, we watered, and we picked a lot of delicious food.  Somehow, the one person who didn't labor or toil at all over it, is the only one who I can find a picture holding proof that we did indeed garden. It is a cute picture though.  

Des Moines Zoo

Minnesota

I have been a lot of places.  We grew up going to resorts in Mexico, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.  We have traveled to Florida, California, Colorado, Arizona and more recently  New York and North Carolina. I have memories of family time in each of these locations.  But for me, moving away from my parents home in Minnesota to Iowa, made Minnesota a vacation destination too.  I always love our week vacation in Minnesota.  You can't beat daily boat rides, swims, walks, and plenty of ice cream! And you can't beat making memories with your kids in the same location I have memories of being a kid at.  My parents have moved out of my childhood home but it was a welcomed change that came with a lake view and a boat.  

I ran into an old high school friend and basketball teammate of mine, Jessica Donovan/Matheson, at the excelsior commons.  It is always fun to bump into old friends and catch up a moment.

First time tubing.  Leighton,McCabe , and Brooks were so apprehensive.  They didn't want be the first ones to go and it wasn't looking promising that they would go at all.  Immediately, Wynnlee literally jumped off the boat into the water with no fear at all and was the first one to go with daddy!  I will never forget that moment!