Braden

Our trip is full of events and silliness. It's part of the joy. Each year brings much growth to all of our families. My children are growing up. No surprise. But at times it does catch me off guard. For so many years Scott or I had to have our eyes constantly on our little ones and now we find ourselves with no little ones.This year the beach was "easy". It still requires lots of planning, but I can sit and not be running. This year I could go cook or play games and not have a horrible fear a toddler would get in the water. My big kids intermingled with with younger ones and they seemed to always be playing the Wii or Rockband or riding unicycles or rip sticks or biking or even chasing the raccoons! Football and basketball at the gym or playing at the park...it seems the bridge in age is shortening and my children all do so well together. The years are flying by!

I enjoy the moments of my trip that allowed me to sit and visit with "adults" and nieces and nephews who are grown. I love that fellow shipping time.

I smiled at a comment by neat Braden (pictured above with his sea foam elf shoes). Braden's older brothers asked him why he did not go to the beach and surf with them. Braden said,"I didn't come to go to the beach,I can do that anytime..... I came to play with my cousins!" :) I feel so much like Braden. I don't go to shop or eat out or even go to the beach...I go to be with those I love. That is true joy!

Braden, who is Julies youngest is a really neat guy. He is a leader and he is a smart cookie!

One day on vacation Bella and Daniel came in the cabin tattling on one another. Daniel was wet from the knees down. He said Bella had shoved him in a mud hole. Bella said she did not.

First you must understand the mud is about 4 feet way from the road Dan was riding his rip stick on.

I walked down to asked the boys outside if they saw what happened.

Seth said, " I didn't see it"

Ryan said, "I don't know but she probably did"

And making me laugh and SO appreciate the intelligence of Braden came him reply, " I didn't necessarily SEE it. But I don't know how he would have gotten all that muddy all by himself?"

As a mother I VERY much loved that! So many times plain old common sense wins our in arguments and disagreements.

BTW...She pushed him because he pulled her hair....now THAT makes much more sense!