Memorial

For memorial day weekend we did a lot of fun things! Brian's parents were in town, so Mark and Tosh hosted a fabulous BBQ.  Mom came with us which was great!  We had friends over, set up kiddie pools, went swimming, went to the park, went to the movies, went to the park again, went to church, and finally, did what is customary for memorial day and went to dad's grave.  Growing up, my mom and dad both told stories about going, flowers in hand, to the many graves of ancestors and loved ones.  They often bemoaned the fact that us children didn't know what memorial day was all about because we never had a grave nearby to visit.  I think that's probably a pretty good problem to have.  I wish my children could experience a similar fate, but alas, it is not to be.  We got windmills, and a butterfly, and a wreath, and some flowers and went to the grave. While there, the weather was beautiful.  I sat on a bench and nursed Argenta while Kolton and Xiana ran, wind blowing through their own toys, smiling and laughing with their ability to make them spin.  There were a couple of older ladies there who came over to admire Argenta.  They commented on how lovely it was to see her there: new life; how sweet and comforting she was.  They thanked us for sharing her with them, if only momentarily. I was again reminded how closely tied new birth and death really are.  Arguably, they are at the opposite ends of the spectrum: the beginning and the end.  But the truth is, instead of being opposite, they are incredibly the same.  There is no beginning and no end to us, our spirits.  As a result, birth and death are a passing place.  Dad went to the heavens, and moments later, Argenta arrived from the heavens. They are on a different point in their eternal continuum, but exactly the same.  We all are.  The veil is ever thinner than we might suppose.  Just because we can't see dad, doesn't mean he isn't here.  And simply because we couldn't see Argenta until a month ago, doesn't mean she wasn't quietly assisting us on our mortal journey; watching, waiting, helping.  I know there's plenty of work to be done on the other side. I don't think dad spends all his or my time at my side.  But I know he is a ministering angel to us. I know he is.  I'm so grateful for the sure knowledge I have of the plan of salvation.  It's perfect.  It's but a moment. And there is no beginning, and no end.

Hanging

Some of my favorite things from this month: Xiana reading to Kolton. Kolton's new best friend who's his age and a boy! The kids learning red rover.  Hair rosettes. Daddy reading scriptures with the kids.  Life is, indeed, beautiful!

Father Son campout

The following weekend was the father and son camp out.  Kolton was beside himself with excitement. He kept saying, "I'm going camping with not sissy or mommy or baby." He was through the moon about it to say the least.  He gathered wood and had a wonderful time!  They ate scones cooked by the bishopric, slept in tents, and had a much needed escape fom the estrogen dominant home.

photo ops :)

Wedding

Brian's brother, Eric, got married two weeks after Argenta was born. I opted out and had a relaxing weekend home with just my newborn babe (a circumstance that drove me to tears only six years earlier was just what the doctor ordered now).  They had a wonderful time, and I think it was especially good for Kolton to get out of the doldrums of this household for a weekend.

Kolton turns the big 3!

I was really worried that Kolton would feel neglected celebrating his 3rd birthday less than two weeks after the arrival of his baby sister.  I worried in vain because everything was a success.  He made out like a bandit in all things weapon, and had a fun boy party to boot!  He was very spoiled and very happy.  I'm so grateful for my little Kolton. He frustrates me to no end with his busy personality and seek and destroy missions, but my life couldn't be complete without him in it.  He is all boy, through and through, but he also possesses such a sweet disposition and willingness to cuddle, kiss, and love.  Like his daddy, he has a tough exterior with a surprisingly sensitive interior.  He has fully embraced his terrible threes, so he makes life much more interesting.  He's been nothing but inquisitive and kind towards his new baby sister (wish I could say the same towards his bigger sister) and continues to surprise me with his thoughtfulness, intelligence, and perception.  He's so very social and loves to play with other kids.  He scarcely cares who they are. His favorite things are shooting, wrestling, fighting, digging, building with legos and blocks, and watching movies.  He also loves to be read to, play games, and go to Julie Ann's (grandma's) house. He can go from cheerful to melt down in under a second, but he's stinking cute either way.  Happy birthday little boy.  You make my life more interesting, happier, and more fulfilling than it could ever be without you!