The mountains captivate us!

Monday morning...loaded up and headed home!  First stop...Weigels for gas, coffee, and breakfast sandwich.  Dogs in their cages.  Following Alisa in her new set of wheels...and praying for safety after Ted saw bald the tires were right before we left.

The fog was thick in areas in the valley.

And then the sun was strong as we came out of the valley.  It was a beautiful day for travel!  God gave us clear skies and roads.

I try every time to capture the beauty...and it just doesn't get it.

Lots of debris along the roads!  I prayed the whole way for a safe trip and that the tires would hold up!

Ted and I both commented that it is always fun to go, but it is so nice to come home too!  God gave us safety the whole way.  We got home about 4:00pm and had time to unpack and rest before the work week hit for Ted and Alisa.  The dogs...well...they have been super tired!  I guess traveling affected them as much as it did me...I struggled terribly with carsickness this trip.  I relied heavily on my lavender oil.  I wondered if it would help if I would drive!?!  But then Ted would have to fuss with the dogs.  Hmmm!?

 

Out and About

Our time was sweet and restful!  We went to First Watch for brunch and Alex joined us.  He was gracious as chauffeur.

Sunday afternoons are for naps when you work hard all week.  It is even better with fuzzy little dogs to cuddle with you.  It makes me laugh when I look at this picture...Teddy has added his touch to livingroom decor!  Golf clubs and motorcycle parts make perfect sense.

The guys were in their happy place!

The rain held off and all the races were run!  It rained as they traveled home.  We had supper together.  Alisa made sourdough bread for hot, open faced sandwiches.  We celebrated Ashlynn's birthday with a treat.  The guys were whipped and Monday morning would come fast for work and travel schedules.

Thankful that I got to tag along!

 

We went south for the weekend!

The dogs found their cozy spot as we headed south to TN for the weekend.  It was a quick trip that changed from just Ted going to all of us!  Ted and Teddy had tickets to go to Thunder Valley for Teddy's birthday.  Alisa had the opportunity to purchase a car and go pick it up.  The dogs and I were invited to come too.

Ashlynn and Teddy like to get their cuddles and kisses from the puppies any chance they get.

Ted and Teddy found a yummy BBQ place for Saturday night supper! 

We enjoyed our time together chatting and laughing and eatinf!

We had a great waitress!  The food was good.

Checking the weather forecast for race time.  It was looking a little sketchy with rain and storms.  We are hoping and praying they can do the race, because our working men cannot hang around for a Monday rain delay.

Dead End BBQ...we would all go back!

Teddy was our chauffeur and he always makes us laugh!

It was good for our hearts to spend time together!

 

A liitle sun, a little sand, and a lot of support

We went to another of our little friend R's baseball games.  Turns out it was their championship game...and they won!  It was fun to be there and watch and listen to all the things.  I was impressed by the progress made since the last game I went to.  They beat the same team that beat them when Alisa and I attended!

As we left the complex, Ted and I acknowledged our style of parenting and that of our ancestors is long gone.  Sitting in the stands, you hear so many interesting things!  There were too many mommas over-stepping the boundaries of what was once the coach's realm with the boys.  Ted and I sat musing on the bleachers...trying to not be overtaken with thoughts of what is happening here!?!  

I took a trip down memory lane remembering a little boy who went all in and all out...and it started early!  Dad, Papa, Grampy, and the uncles taught and toughened him up.  They spent quality time with him...without the Momma and grandmas interfering.  We were there for the food/snacks, clean clothes, and band-aids.  Ted and I watch our son, now, working 55-60 hours per week in the heat leading a team and answering to the company heads.  We watch him juggle schedules and finances and contracts and life.  None of that training happened after he turned 18 years old, it started when he was a toddler...intentional times of teaching, loving, disciplining, and hanging out.  

I wonder how these little guys will grow up to handle the same pressures of life.  Will they drop their head and shoulders in defeat every time something doesn't work out or go their way or they mess up?  Will they stand and cry when they didn't get the outcome they wanted?  Will they continued to be told they did a good job even with their half-hearted effort or lack of trying?  Will they quit when they are hot and tired?  Will they pout when there isn't recognition or a trophy given for just participating?  

Why are the females in their life so loud all the time?  Where is the fighting spirit to give it all you got?  Why is there so much fussing and whining?  Why is it tolerated?  Who is going to teach these little boys to be tough and strong and fight to protect and provide for their family someday?  When do we teach little boys to work hard and be proud to get sweaty and dirty?  What good are uniforms if they never get messed up and dirty?  The Dads and Grandpas sat and watched the game and didn't say anything.  Why?  Moms and Grandmas were talking and cheering all worried about how the players were feeling. 

I guess...when you have been there and done it...you sit and watch and listen and have so many unanswered questions.  When you give word to those thoughts or questions, you are the one that is looked at like you have the problem! 

We just know what is coming...the bigger picture of what life holds...so we do our best to encourage and support...and keep our thoughts to ourselves until we are asked.  Life is hard.  Life is messy...and you cannot do it on your own!  So we will jump in and help in whatever way we are needed.  We are thankful for God's working in our lives and in the lives of these friends.  Life is special...and the time we are given is but a blink of the eye!

Another Happy Birthday!

This time to Ashlynn...our 23 year old!  Wow!  How did that happen?  I love seeing the pictures our chair fillers share of each other.

Ashlynn showed me the special cheesecake that her special guy ordered for her birthday!  Yummo!

We had opportunity to share the weekend with our big TN kids and hug their necks!
 

Summer nights and days

Time out on the patio now includes visits from little friends from next door because there are no barriers.  We enjoyed their chatter and marveled at their boundless energy.  We have watched them grow up these last six years.  They love to play with the dogs.

They said the funniest things that made us laugh.  Little Miss was quick with her responses to Ted.

A spur of the moment purchase from Aldi...key lime cookies...and they are pretty good.

Summer lights...for summer nights...

Another crocheting lesson from Alisa...a pretty washcloth.

A new recipe to try...butterburgers on the griddle on the grill.

Fresh strawberries and cream on a croissant...oh yes...please!

 

I'm a helper girl!

We are working on the patio project...the steps are the last touch.

Alisa has a little project too.

Thinking and planning...and re-working due to two different slopes.

The little furry helpers always checking things out and alerting us to any dangers lurking in the backyard...such as squirrels and birds and other dogs or people walking by the house.

 

A date downtown

Ted had co-workers in from Belgium and one of the gals had never been to the US, so we shared a trip downtown with her.

Our fearless tour guide.

The rain held off and we were able to show her some highlights.

After a busy day, it was nice to come home.