Parks #7 & #8

Hill Camp Park (Woodmen Valley Park)

There is a big hill for climbing behind it with sticks and rocks so it by far has taken the cake on the park tour!

The hill

Building the camp

Sand High Swing Park (Marshall Sprague Park)

Naturally, they found a place to climb there too.

The 4 amigos

The "old-fashioned" wheel

The Treasure

Two months ago Matt and I headed up into the mountains to mourn and pray together over the loss our sweet baby boy.  Our good friends Ken and Jess came over to watch the boys for us.  Amidst their own pain they took their afternoon to serve our family...can't explain how much they mean to us.
On that day, Ken and Jack buried a treasure together.  Ken drew up a treasure map and told him he could dig it up in 30 days.  Now, with an inspection and appraisal for the house on the way, we banned digging and decided to wait a little longer than 30 days to dig it up.  That ban ended on Saturday....

There were about 3 toys and a special note for Jack.  Jack has been going through a lot this year with going to school for the first time, a loss both his Daddy & Mama have been mourning for a couple months, and now his house selling and life being a little uncertain.  This is what he found inside that mattered the most to him...

I believe that with the story that the Lord has given Jack, it will be important in his life to have Godly men speak truth into him and remind him of His Father's love.  That is what Ken did for Jack on that day, he spoke truth and love into him.  He showed him that God puts people in your life to walk with you when you need it.  It made him feel so special to know that "Uncle" Ken was praying just for him for 30 whole days. 

*If you are on the fence about being in a life group...you shouldn't be.  We didn't even know Ken and Jessica a year ago until Life Group 65 was formed.*

Spring Break Fun

Park #5 Sand Slippery Slide (Dublin Park)

Boss looking BOSS riding his bike for the first time with his new helmet from Pops!

Park # 6 Baseball Run (Garden Ranch Park) and my nephew is with us half the week so that is a fourth boy running across the field too!  So far...I would say this was the favorite!

Jack had to have two teeth pulled today.  Moses was so upset about that he insisted on sitting with Jack almost the whole time.  They have the sweetest bond, those two.

More parks and projects...

The spring break park tour continued at Jared Jensen Park yesterday (or the TWO PARK) because there is a school right next to it and their playground backs up to this park so it looks like two for one according to the boys!

As for the projects, remember the awesome recipe book...

 It led to the awesome kids activity book....

Jack decided after seeing the recipes organized that we should organize all of our game and craft ideas that just sit in folders all year long.  It is actually a brilliant idea because now they can go through the binder and pick out what they want to do!

 But then going through the kids crafts led to my own craft and activity book when I realized going that I have as many as the kids have.  Matt refers to it as my Miranda Lambert song book because it reminds him of the these lyrics...

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

Well that's it for now...off to another park!!!

Spring Break Park Tours

Well...the Vincent boys and I have set out on a mission....Spring Break is under way and we are going to explore all the parks we have never been to in town!  This project is as much for me as it is for them.  Do you ever feel like you can be a better mama when you are out of the house?  The laundry isn't calling, the dishes aren't piled up, and you don't have a project that you would love to sit down and do.  Maybe it's just me but when that stuff isn't in my face and I can leave it within the walls of our home and venture out into the sunshine, it makes me happy!  I think it makes these guys happy too.

Park #1 Thorndale Park (The Carriage Park)* 

*The boys always come up with a name for the park based on what they remember about it.  Therefore, this one was the Carriage Park.

 

The cowboy on the carriage.

Always happy as long as there is a swing!

 Park #2 George Fellows Park (The Library Park)

 Park #3 Tomah Park (This one was their least favorite so far so they did not choose to name it :(

YAY for Spring Break and sunshine!!!

S. Paddy's Day

My grandparents used to throw really big St. Patrick's Day parties when I was a kid and I always thought it was so special.  We don't exactly do that around here but we do try to have some fun! 
The one picture I missed that I wish I had...Pops and Jack on the phone.  They call each other every year on that day to wish each other a Happy St. Patrick's Day and celebrate "their day" together.  Jack was named after Pops and both their middle names are Patrick.  Such a sweet thing to watch their love and relationship grow as Jack gets older.

Green eggs and toast with green sprinkles

St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown

Just a little fun that night with Mo finding a new hiding spot.

Family Pictures 2012

Jack

Mo

The boys

Jack

Moses' 1 year picture...it was supposed to be sweet baby Moses in the basket but big MoMo turned that thing over and jumped out.  It's my favorite picture.

Doesn't it look like I am married to Michael Buble?

This is my FAVORITE!  It looks exactly like every night at our house with Matt playing with the boys...I LOVE IT!  He's such a good Daddy.

The Boss

All pictures by Allison Chastain (www.allisonchastain.com)