We needed this

There are times when your family goes through a difficult time and comes out on the other side stronger, refocused and in a strange way blessed. In many ways July was a terrible month for us. There were frequently times we kept saying just get through the next few weeks and we will be in a better place. There is no way to describe everything we have faced. There were too many small moments of tears, tantrums and fears to describe it all. In a quick summary we had three moves: Kirsten moved her classroom, Ken helped pack and move out all of the items in a duplex we needed to move into while Kirsten packed the entire house of our own belongings. Luckily we had tremendous family and friends to help us. Through this the kids suffered with hand, foot and mouth disease documented in an earlier post. In additon the kids absorbed a lot of the family stress and reacted in their own ways out of frustration. We moved from a 2,600 square foot 4 bedroom house into a 900 square foot 2 bedroom duplex. We lost the beloved family pet hamster when a neighbor kid currently known as the "devil child" squeezed and tortured it to death. We participated in 2 garage sales and are adjusting to living with only what we need. We are also learning to communicate with one another and try to accomodate the various needs of the family.

There have been times where it has been very difficult, but we are also very thankful. There is still a lot of laughing and generosity in our home. I always used to laugh that despite the fact we were living in 2,600 square feet I would often have all 4 children usually within a 10 foot radius of me at all times so nothing has really changed. I have also realized that it is very important that I set aside a little bit of time each day to do something by myself. Currently I am excercising to books on tape. Perfect for a multitasker like me.

The other thing that works for us is that we try to get back to the things our family really enjoys. Summer isn't normal without our usual fly fishing trips. So when we could do this trip I breathed a sigh of relief. This is normal. This is what our family loves to do.

Baby Huck had to be introduced to our family tradition. Considering that he was outside and had a 1,000s of rocks within his reach he was an instant natural.
Our eldest took on her role as cruise director immediately ordering the crew to gather
wood for the prompt building of a fort. Baby Huck rushed to follow her orders,
but a rather large log proved a frustrating obstacle.

Of course Ken provided the entertianment with the capturing of fish, which the kids promptly placed in their fish trap in order to further play with.

Yep we definitely needed this! I had to take this last picture. Towards the end

of the night baby Huck came and positioned himself like this between my legs and

laid back to relax and just watch his siblings. Too funny.