shades of summer

Ben and I just returned from a few lazy days at the beach with friends.  In the ice cream sundae that is our summer I would say this was the Oreos crumbled over the cherry smushed into the whipped cream squirted over the hot fudge drizzled on the scoop of Tillamook French vanilla bean.  At this point we are just being greedy.  But I am a-ok with that as it meant some last minute alone time with my man, more than one helping of peach pie, and a dinner that involved eating with my hands and five bowls of melted butter.

Frankly, it was good to be with friends who are kind enough to not let you b.s. your way through a conversation.  To hash out the fears that always seem to come along with a new fall season.  The ever present thirty days of the year where I question my identity and feel like every decision has to be made or it will be too late.  To say out loud that I feel like I could get it wrong at any moment.  I really should be used to it by now but it never fails to surprise me.  I'm trying to see the beauty in a little angst but it still gives me the shivers.
And then as I washed the sand through my toes I was quietly reminded to let that grace that is always chasing me down, catch up and settle in to the dark spaces.  I know those fears are continually creeping in and the process of surrender is a daily one but I'm thankful God doesn't leave me there for too long.  I'll take peace however He hands it down and rest in knowing that it's enough.

 For today, the peace, and the peach pie, is enough.

the colorful pursuit of courage

Let me just start this post by saying I'm a wee bit off my game these last few weeks.  I don't know if it's the heat or the perpetual state of vacation we've been in but I've been a little bit squishy.  Mind/body and spirit squishy.  I'm constantly tripping over cats and small children and I can't remember simple details.  I'm running into obvious things like the refrigerator.  I had to look up refrigerator because I spelled it wrong even after three attempts.  I serve a do-it-yourself yogurt bar and call it dinner.  I have out of town guests over and I forget to buy coffee or milk or cereal.  I tell them that they should just go to the Waffle Window.  I've forgotten to put the icee pops in the freezer and the kids just have to drink them like kool-aid.  Ben's been giving me strange looks and saying things like, "Can you just try and remember where you put the (fill in the blank)?"  But I just shrug my shoulders and smile.  Because until Falls colorful branches hook me back in to schedules and socks and birthday party details I will be lacksadaising it in the late afternoon sunshine.  And on Wednesday that looked like a station wagon loaded up with paints, paper, an easel and one giddy five year old with an eye for abstract expressionism.

I think bravery can present itself in many forms throughout childhood.  Maybe in the lonely walk across a crowded lunch room or in the getting up and keeping on of a fallen soccer player on a muddy field.  But sometimes it can be in the pallet of acrylics staring you in the face.  In the gathering up of all the fears that tell you you'll get it wrong and putting paint to paper, not knowing the results.  There were some tears as expectations weren't realized but there was also a lesson whispered in the ear.  That beauty is yours for the taking. 

Last call...

for the spectacular.

Our first time to Crater Lake and we promised to all keep our eyes closed until we got to the top.

 This photo tells us many things.  First that the trail is .7 miles.  Second that you will have to climb that almost mile at a near vertical pace and third the sun will be blazing down on you.

We all had to take turns to get little whiny up the hill.  In his defense, it was very hot, he was still on Disneyland time, and he had to battle his two-ness on a minute by minute basis.

I fell in love with this tiny Dr. Seuss flower.  I named her Puffalaloopy.  She promised to come and visit when the temperature got below -40.

Finally to the top!  180 degrees of beauty-full.

 Three generations of mountain men

 Me and my baby

 One adventure loving Yeh Yeh

 Beauty sprawled in the crevice

 One last shot before heading home

A few (or 30) more favorites

Disneyland felt much more manageable this year and I think it was because we went in with a plan and stuck with it.  Believe me, it is much harder than you would think.  I was up by 6 each morning and had us out the door by 7 for breakfast.  We were in the park when they opened and went to all the busiest rides/characters first.  After that we could lounge around with the rest of the family and head back for lunch and naps.  I cannot tell you how hard it was to leave the park.  There is always so much to do and the kids are really happy.  But I went drill sergeant on the family and it made all the difference.  We were out of the park during the busiest/hottest times and then came back after dinner and were ready to go until midnight.  I highly recommend that strategy if your traveling with any little people who naturally lean towards irrationality.  Not that I would know anything about that.  

Out of everything we did I think Ian was happiest to try out all the cars in Toon Town

Mama was just happy to finally be out of line.  Cars land was the one place where it didn't matter how early you got there.  

 One of my favorite moments was a late night stop at Ghiradelli's.  The streets were empty, the kids ran wild, and the ice cream flowed.  

 "the earthquake" 

Next time I'm definitely getting my own

The whole gang

sweet Ammie

This lovely lady made the drive down so we could get a little dinner and so I could ooh and aah over her beautiful baby girl.

 Ian was quite smitten, but I think Vianne might have been secretly laughing at his hat.

Bumper cars

I was very surprised that Ava wasn't really interested in meeting the princesses this year.  In an even weirder twist, Ian wanted to meet all of them.  So first up was Tinkerbell...

and then Merida and her little bear brothers

Trying out the bow and arrow

Me do it too!

Then he saw this guy with Goofy.  He jumped out of my arms, took his hand and was rewarded with a private meeting.  Only at Disneyland is any of this ok.

Ian talked about Goofy eating his head for about 15 straight hours, and then at least once every day since.  It was definitely a highlight.

Look at the love

And finally some googly eyes for Ms. Minnie

We went on this roller coaster four times in a row, turns out Ava's an adrenaline junky. 

Crazy asian drivers

This was the picture of the picture of splash mountain.  Ava and Elia wanted to sit up front.  I wanted to wet my pants.  Luckily everyone got their way.

Soaked!

This was the little red truck that Walt Disney would drive around the park in the mornings.  Our driver had worked there for 35 years.  I wish I would have taken his picture but here are the kiddos ringing the bell.

On our last night all the girls dressed up and we walked down to the park.  The four of them held hands and sang A Whole New World... at the top of their lungs...for...20...straight...minutes.  It caused a stir people.  I mean complete strangers had them stop to pose for pictures.  

But they didn't let it go to their heads

They had a ball to get too.