Our backyard in the summer

There are a lot of reasons why summer is my favorite. Our backyard is definitely one of those reasons. There's so much great stuff happening back there.

It's a really great place to have an 11th birthday party surrounded by all your best friends. Reagan wanted to watch a movie at the end of her party but the backyard provided way too much fun...they never made it inside or even out of their bathing suits.


Backyard picnics are some of my favorite summer memories. This night it was just my three boys and I (Tony worked late and Reagan was at camp). Pizza, sushi, and my fave Oma picnic blanket.


The pool has become a summer staple. Even thought I haven't personally stepped foot into it this year, it's still a backyard favorite of mine. Sounds of splashing and screaming kids is a sound of summer.


The garden. Tony works to make it lovely and it really is. I bug him about his obsession for watering but I know that's what makes it so beautiful.
This limelight hydrangea is new this year and I love looking over the deck railing and seeing it there against the purple hibiscus.


This little yellow birdhouse is also a new addition this year. Tony isn't loving it as it's not a flower but I like how it looks hanging over the pink roses.


The dahlias against the back fence and the way the setting sun shines through them each night.



The sunsets. They are always different and I never get tired of them.
 
 
 

Hudson Day

For Hudson's birthday this year, back in March, we were at a bit of a loss as to what to get him. He hadn't really asked for much so we were forced to think outside the box a little. We came up with the idea of "Hudson Day". A whole day where he was in charge of what we did, ate, watched, etc.
It was put on the calendar and yesterday was the day. He was very excited and I think it lived up to his expectations.


Homemade waffles for lunch. Can't think of any food that makes this boy happier.

Steak and twice baked potatoes for dinner.

A game of football down on the field.


He also squeezed in a trip to Starbucks and the driving range with Tony, a board game with the whole family, some video game time, and a movie with lemon meringue pie later that night.
Hudson Day was definitely a success for Hudson. I probably didn't really give enough thought to how much work it would be for me. Next year I think we'll just give him $50 and be done with it. :) Actually it was a lot of work, but the smile on his face all day long was more than enough to make it totally worth it.
And a couple of these raspberry mojitos didn't hurt either. Just a little part of Hudson Day devoted to Mama.

{heart}

I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to get back to my blog for way too long. I'm not really sure why I ever really let it go.
I used to say (back when I was a good blogger) that things never really happened if they don't show up on the blog. Like having them there up on the screen made them somehow more real. I know that really isn't true but i also know all those moments (big and small) in our lives seemed to stick tighter into my memory when I blogged them. And that is one reason why I am attempting (again) to document our lives in this way. Another reason why I am here again is because the other night I spent a few hours going through photos, organizing and editing the ones that have been taken in the last year or so. The number of photos I had to go through was significantly less than in other years. That made me sad but still as I looked through the ones I had...memories come flooding back. And i remembered why I love photos so much and why documenting them along with the story they hold is so important to me.
So before I get too caught up in this feeling of what I have possibly forgotten or missed in our lives over the past while, I will instead look to the present and take pleasure in the little things that make me smile right now.
We are half way through our summer and we have had the best weather I can remember having for a long time. We've been to the lake a couple of times, done the waterslides and had spent lots of time in the backyard.
These photos are from yesterday at Cultus Lake when I found this perfect potato chip in my bag. (who goes to the lake without potato chips??)
I {heart} summer!