Moses Lake :: Our Last Day

 Our last morning in Moses Lake was our best as a family.  The five of us took advantage of the pool being empty after breakfast and we all went swimming together.  The water was warm like bath water, and the boys were overjoyed to be in the water again.  

We jumped in together as a family, practiced cannon balls and even let the boys swim around a bit sans life jacket to feel how their bodies float on the water.  The morning proceeded in slow motion.  It felt like magic.

After swimming we spent a little time snuggling and watching cartoons before we had to get ready for the day, pack up and head out.

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Then it was off to find Nathan & Dunnette so we could say goodbye to little Caleb one more time.  My boys love that kid, I tell ya.  And Dunnette and I both adore seeing our "big boys" together.  You can really feel the love and respect they have for one another as husbands, fathers & providers.

It was hard to say goodbye, not knowing when we'd see each other again, but I am so proud of them.  And I can't wait to see pictures of Caleb & his baby brother!!!

Moses Lake :: Hotel Fun

I said it before, and I'll say it again... Our kids love hotels.  They love take out pizza, they love the tiny shampoo bottles, the miniature fridge and laying on the bed to watch TV.  But perhaps the thing they love most about staying at hotels is that we always get them microwave dinners.  They think we are the *BEST* parents on the planet because of this tradition.  (We do not contradict them.)

{Joined the craze and found Josh & Jack's Coke bottles!}

 After a crazy-nutritious dinner of limp corn and overcooked chicken nuggets served in a blue tray, 

we resume our "good parenting" duties and read to the children.  

Redemption.

Then we rock them to sleep and once they are out, we get to relax.  

Watch a little HGTV, order some takeout and regroup for the next day.

 

I so enjoy making these beautiful memories with our boys.

They are so wonderful.

Moses Lake :: Uncle Paul's House + The Cemetery

One morning we headed out to "the farm", which is where Josh's family lived when they lived in Moses Lake.  It's where my in-laws raised six of their eight children, and where much of the distant family still lives.

The drive out is beautiful.

Farmland, animals,

and even a tractor working!!!

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Once we arrived at Uncle Paul's house 

(which is the house Josh lived in), the fun began.

Uncle Paul showed us around his welding repair shop,

and the boys played on all the equipment he has out front.

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After visiting with Uncle Paul & Aunt Lynn, we headed to the cemetery where Lynn's parents,  Josh's grandparents and his baby sister are buried.

We taught the boys about stepping carefully around headstones to show respect, and searched as we always do, for the sites of those we know.

Perhaps the saddest is that of Josh's baby sister Margaret, who died of SIDS in 1985.

Seeing our beautiful, healthy children walking around the cemetery, talking about God and heaven, made me realize (yet again) how blessed we are.

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Afterward we headed to Jack in the Box where Jack enjoyed the meal and promptly informed us that he is the owner.

We so enjoyed the day, visiting with Uncle Paul and putting flowers at Josh's family graves.  We hope to make both yearly traditions with our boys.