Family Photos

We made sure we got lots of family pictures!

here are a few of them!

It was so fun to be together again!

The Original family!

Twins on Mother's Day

Mother/Daughters

10 Random Fact Friday

1. Landon has a huge scrape on the side of his face from falling down some cement stairs. and yesterday got a HUMONGOUS goose egg right beside that on his forehead from falling straight into the corner of the door jam! ayayay - this kid makes me so nervous!

Please, please excuse the gross disgusting drool that is there!
My dad would be appalled I posted this picture.
His drool is MUCH better due to speech therapy
But not when he wacked his head and was crying, so sorry

2. I'm still just relishing in the wonderfulness of what our weekend was! It was so awesome to spend so much time with my family!

3. I thought our lives would slow down after that trip - but they are not! Still busy busy busy

4. Tonight - Richard's boss is taking us out to eat! and I could not be more ecstatic!!!!!!!!!! We have a babysitter and we don't have to pay for the meal! I cannot wait!!!!!!!!

5. The only that I "HAVE" to do today is vaccuum - I hope I get that done. It seems that the less I have to do, the less actually gets accomplished. I need a huge list of things so that I stay on task!

6. The weather while we were in the midwest could not have been more perfect! Sunny, warm, but not too humid! We spent so much time outside! The boys loved it - and momma loved it even more.

7. all Carson wanted to do today was go to the tennis courts with his wagon - so That's what we did!

8. The air quality in Fort Collins right now is terrible and it's all people are talking about. There is a really bad fire burning, and the smoke is awful in town. Thankfully it hasn't seemed to affect our family much - but I know a lot of other's with Asthma or other related health problems are struggling. Let's pray that it dies down soon

9. Did I mention I'm really psyched for tonight??!!?? oh yea I did - but just making sure you all knew :)

10. Carson wouldn't eat his yogurt today b/c it was "bumpy". It was a different brand and the consistency slightly different. He seems to be so picky about different/new textures and something that is not "normal". It's weird. But I know can be normal for some kids. I tried my hardest to not have a picky kid - but alas, He is picky! If nothing else, I've learned to not judge other mother's b/c they seemingly aren't doing it right, I believe every decent mother is trying to do it right. Sometimes you just can't control everything - and we have to be ok with that!

Cousin time

One thing that I was so thankful for this weekend was time my boys could play with their cousins. I know that these times will be few and far between and I want my boys to know their family and enjoy time with their cousins. Watching them interact and play (and fight :)), was so fun. Carson's excitement to get to play with Daniel and Aaron every day, his excitement to find out they were going to our next destination with us so he can play there! All of it was just so wonderful for this momma to enjoy!

Here are some good pictures of them just enjoying each other!

Cute baby Dominic

Mother day Photo Shoot

Fun at the Farm

Smelly cows!

 Chasing Cats on the farm!

Riding the Tractor with Grampie

little Brother Graduates! Wow!

We just got back from our trip to the midwest last night. Man! What a trip it was! Lots of time spent with family making memories and experiencing life milestones. It was a packed 5 days but we enjoyed every minute of it.
You see - our family is a very close family - 3 sisters (twins and exactly a year and two days apart made for best friends in every situation of life) and a brother and awesome parents. Growing up we were the only ones that understand everything about each other. When we were in the states people didn't understand our lives in Ecuador, when we were in Ecuador people had no clue about life in the states.  WE spent hours in the car together on furlough, we loved each other during hard times in the ministry. WE stayed close to each other and always had each other's backs. Fast forward a few years and we are spread out all over the states and Ecuador and it's about to be spread over the whole world. Times to get together are fewer and farther between so we cherish these moments and understand the importance of them - you see - we understand what it's like to stay close even though there is distance between us. We understand the hard part of saying good bye and the joy of saying Hello again - and we appreciate time with each other so much!

Run Down of our trip -
Wed - May 9th drive after work an hour down to Brother's House in Denver. (insert boys screaming for about an hour and half and not going to sleep until about 11:30) :)
Thurs - May 10th wake up bright and early (5:30) and leave for airport by 6 am. Fly 2 hours to Chicago. Get picked up around 11ish. Drive 5 hours to Dunbar WI (I think it took more like 7 hours) finally get settled into hotel and down for the night
Fri - May 11th drive 40 min to school for awards chapel. Then back to Iron Mt MI to the hotel for a small family celebration of my Brother graduating from college!!!! Good Job Jeffrey!
Saturday May 12th - drive 40 min to Northland International University to watch my brother graduate. Celebrate afterwards for a while. Finally leave about 1pm. Drive to chicago to drop of my sister and her husband, then 3 more hours to my Grandparents house.
Sunday - May 13th - enjoy a great Mother's Day with my wonderful amazing mother, and my grandmother, and my twin and my own family
Monday - May 14th Celebrate my parents 29th Anniversary, visit my Aunt's farm, and enjoy as much family time as possible
Tues - May 15th Drive 3 hours back to Chicago airport, fly 2 hours, drive about an hour and half back home. Get home about 8:30ishpm.

good Job Jeff!

Proud Parents - happy to be done paying for college :)

Proud Grandparents

This picture cracks me up - trying to get a picture with a ton of screaming kids :)

The Original Family!! :)

Siblings

Cute! Uncle Jeff with Daniel
p.s. he was the only one not screaming I think :)

It was quite the trip, with tons of traveling. Boys did awesome for what we required of them.  They played and played with their cousins, got to know Gramie and Grampie better, and great Grandma and Great Grandpa (who opened their house to our whole family and put up with a lot more noise and rambunctiousness that they are used to). It was an awesome long weekend!

I'll be posting more pictures throughout the week. Don't want to overwhelm you with too many! But boy! did we have a great time! Thank you God for giving us this gift of family and time together!

One last picture of my Love.
I realized there wasn't any pictures of him - and I needed to prove
he was there with us :) too bad I didn't get a good picture with the whole family!

Love your Neighbor

Can't think of a good title for this post.
Man - we have been super busy. And I don't even feel like I have anything to write and show for it! It seems like my days are filled with being a mother with toddlers, taking care of my house and all the responsibility that comes with that, helping other's in need, serving the community around me, activities in the church and social activities (which I love). I don't want to just list everything we've done b/c that's annoying - needless to say we have been packed busy!
 I've been challenged so much with giving up of my time. Loving others in my life by giving as much as i can, unreservedly, unselfishly. But that comes with selfish feelings of being tired, wanting to just chill, doing what I want. What a battle inside my heart of giving to others of my resources and time to show Christ's love but also balanced with taking care of my family and my house. Our pastor's have been going through 1 John in our church services and I am challenged to show my faith by loving others in so many ways. Not judging others, assuming the best of everyone, giving of time and energy and money with no holding back. But after a couple weeks of seemingly every day doing something - I"M TIRED! Where is the balance???!??

This Dazed look before church is exactly
how we all feel around here. ha

Still trying to figure it out! I'll keep you posted.
If you have any helpful hints I'm interested in hearing how other's do it without just getting "TIRED" and feeling like not doing it anymore!
Or maybe it's ok to "take a break". Maybe it's ok to just chill and recharge. I think so :)

Anyways- all that to say - we're going on a trip! A fun trip to see my whole family! My parents, my sisters, my brother graduate, and my nephews. i cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a big list-maker. So I have a ton of lists
I hope I don't forget anything

But I have tons to get done and figure out before I leave. so i probably won't post until we get back - but hopefully by then I will have fun family pictures, lots of funny stories and a refreshed perspective. I think this Gardner family needs a change of pace - and some good ol' chill time!

weird storm came through and sucked our screen door in. We were locked inside
on Sunday morning and Richard had to  break it to get out!
weird!

See ya in a few days!

10 Random Facts Friday!

1. This whole week we had colds as a family! But thankfully no one threw up except for Landon, so in my book it wasn't too bad. I lived in a state of paranoia waiting for the next person to throw up - but just a fluke puke :)
2. We're doing something with people every night from Weds - Saturday night! Wow! It's a good thing I like socializing. :)
3. I'm also watching someone else's kids from Weds - Sat every day! Truthfully I'm really glad to help others b/c I understand what a big help it is! and now I have a bunch in the bank for my own kids (hehehe)
4. Swapping babysitting is really the only way to go - was reading on fb on a friend's status about the going rate for a true babysitter - and came to the conclusion that Swapping babysitting is really the only way to do it!!!
5. all week long I have ideas for this here post, and now I can't seem to think of any of them.
6. I think I'll call myself a runner now that I completed the half, b/c it's in my blood now, I love the feeling of a good run the morning.
7. Carson had his first Dentist apt. I was wicked nervous - but it went ok. the first visit they introduce him to the tools, and see if he will let them look in his mouth, and try to get xrays. It went pretty good. Prognosis - I need to get him to stop sucking his thumb (any tips??? he only does it to fall asleep and if he's upset about something) and I need to start flossing his teeth!!! UM - how in the world do you do that???!!!!??!!
8. This week I really re-focused and concentrating on praying to God for each moment that I needed patience and I remained calm in a lot of the frustrating circumstances that present themselves with toddlers. I'm thankful that he's teaching me and slowly I'm learning how to try to be a self controlled momma and wife! Still have a long ways to go - but God's love and grace are unchangeable.
9. In 6 days - we are leaving for a 6 day trip!!! And i will be able to see my whole family! I CANNOT WAIT!
10. This weekend marks a year since Richard Graduated! I cannot believe it!

Have a great weekend everyone and ENJOY!

Beauty in every day life

This week we really took a break from STUFF! We've been busy meeting friends at the park, watching other friend's kids, doing church things,  hanging out all weekend long building friendships and "community", and truly ENJOYING ourselves. But all fun must come to an end. I really think we drove the  boys into the ground. They were pretty sick/tired this week. It was had been weeks of running here and there, shorter naps, and weekends even worse with random meals and tons of Snacks!!!! And I think we as humans can only take so much of that.

This week for literally 3 days we STAYED HOME! We watched a tiny bit more tv than normal and we didn't play with any friends. :( But we are on the mend and right back on track! We had fun still and we really ENJOYED our week. It's always nice to have a change of pace every once in a while. And we're re-charged for a chock full weekend. :) I truly ENJOYED my days with the boys, not feeling any pressure to do other things, truly playing with them and showing them all my love and attention. It was refreshing - even though they were sick and extra whiny.

P.S. We're going on a trip next week and I will be with my entire immediate family! sisters, brother, parents and children, (and grandparents) all celebrating my brother's graduation from college and a bonus of all being together on Mother's day, with my Mother! I'm PSYCHED! Because this momma needs some special time with her mom and sister and needs to see her kids play with their cousins! Can't wait!