A weekend inspired...

I am happy to report that Julian has been loving his new job. 

I am loving it too, most of all because it is awesome to see him eager to head into work each morning, but also because having every other Friday off has been a blessing for our family. 

With the busyness of a work week, all too often it seems like a lot of to-do's get pushed until the weekend, which leaves little time to just relax.

These off Fridays have made a big difference, like this week where Julian spent Friday fixing the damage we did to our neighbors yard, which might have consumed an entire weekend previously, but instead we had a really fun Saturday. 

Our neighborhood held its annual garage sale, which draws a lot of traffic, and it was nice to be able to pass on some things we have been meaning to let go of for awhile. 

Then we headed north to Ft. Collins... 

I love to take trips "home" and share the place I grew up with my boys. 

Our first stop was a visit to meet a precious new family member our friends welcomed this past week...

Eli on Jared and Natalie's porch..a few minutes before he took a nose dive off of the table...

Welcome Lydia! 

I am sure each season of life has its merit, but it is really special to share the experience of growing families with friends. Just a few weeks ago we were taking maternity pictures, and now this beautiful baby girl has entered the world and we so look forward to watching her grow. 

We bring major raucous with us wherever we go, not really the best ambiance for a peacefully sleeping newborn, so we were soon off to our next destination...

Heading to the hospital to visit my Mom. 

One of my favorite places in the entire world...the place we met a very special little boy, our Max. 

Every single time we pull up to this parking lot Julian and I have to laugh over the morning of August 4th 2010, when we pulled into the lot at 6am after my induction was bumped 12 hours due to too many women being in labor. 

I had reached that point where I just could not be pregnant even one second longer...so a 12 hours delay had caused a meltdown  distress. As we were parking we saw another very pregnant women getting out of her car and we panicked. Fearful of being bumped again, Julian told me to RUN and beat this lady to check-in. 

It must have been a sight to see a 9-month pregnant woman running through the parking lot.

Thankfully, they had room for both of us and we spent the next hours walking the hallways, passing by the Women's Care nursing station where my Mom works every lap...the nurses cheered us on and reminded us they had the best room waiting for us.  

I love these hallways, and these friendly nurses, and that big room down at the end of the hallway where Julian and I spent our first night as parents. 

We brought some donuts to my Mom and her friends in honor of Max and the many other babies they care for. 

We had an hour to pass before my Mom could meet us for dinner, so we let the boys stretch their legs at a beautiful little garden on the CSU campus nearby...

This was the boys dream spot...a big open grassy field, with trees, benches, and a gazebo. 

Gorgeous flowers too, of course. 

The photographer part of my brain was giddy over the light and beautiful scenery. 

It was beautiful.

The boys got to spend some quality time with Nana over Mexican food, and then it was time to head home. 

We were treated to a spectacular sunset on our drive. 

I'm not sure Saturdays get any better than that.

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Today, we were back to work moving rock (and by we I mostly mean Julian), this time into our own yard. 

When we were placing the rock order we figured we might as well get enough to finish our back yard too...I mean, we have lived here almost three years...it is probably time. 

Considering I pull the camera out almost every day, it isn't often that Julian has to prompt me to take pictures...but Max had asked to help Julian with the rock and after they had been out for a bit Julian knocked on the sliding door and gestured "camera". 

I knew I was about to see something adorable...

Max had his own little bucket and shovel that he was using to haul rocks to the back yard. 

He had his sunglasses on just like Daddy. 

And he was taking his job very seriously. 

A few weeks ago a woman stopped me in the mall as I was wrestling Max and Eli into the stroller. She told me she had three boys of her own and she knew how much work they are at this age, but to just wait a few years when I could put that abundant energy to good use pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, and shoveling snow...I feel like I got a glimpse of that today. 

Max was beaming with pride as he helped. 

I thought I would get some sweet one on one time with Eli...

but he just wanted to know what the big boys were up to. 

It wasn't all work, there was some sprinkler running going on too. 

I know the official start of summer is a couple weeks away, but for us it feels like it started today as I watched my little boys participate in perhaps the most classic summer activity of all time. 

Eli mostly watched this time. 

We are refreshed and so grateful for these three day weekends.