Sun. Sand. Water. Giggles.

We have been getting out on the river just as much as we can this summer. So much of me grew up on the river and I have so many great memories of it. I am so glad our boys get the opportunity to build similar memories.

These shots are back from our first boat ride in June. We have been out several other times since, but sometimes you just have to put down the camera and enjoy the sun, sand, water and giggles and hope that you can instill this memory better than a picture would. :)

 

Our boat, named Whitney.

At 4, Harrison is starting to understand things have two names for example, a bird is a bird, but a red bird in Minnesota is typically called a Cardinal and Violet is a dog, but she is a springer spaniel. Oh my goodness does this kid ever ask questions and the same questions over and over and OVER. It can be exhausting! So in conversation Harrison pretty much gives a second name to everything. At the park he names those horses on springs--- typically, "Iron Man," "Superman," "Captain America," & "Spiderman." At home he pretends he's a dog named Whitney about 50% of the time.

He talks about Whitney a lot. We read the books "Dog Heaven" and "God Gave Us Heaven" a few times a month at his request. I know at 4 he doesn't quite understand death beyond you go to Heaven and you never get to come back. It's hard to explain this concept to this age as much I have explained what happened to Whitney 100s of times. Besides having Whitney's collar hanging from my review mirror in the car, I don't talk a lot about her. I often wonder if it's God's way of keeping Harrison talking about her so much, so she isn't just a distant memory, that she was and will always be a part of lives. I've actually done some research on my own first memories from childhood. A lot of what I read makes sense. A first real memory is often a loss of something, or something traumatic/life changing. My first real memory is at my Great Grandma's funeral. I don't remember her, but I remember the day of the funeral. I remember what dress she wore, what the her hair looked like, even the details of what the casket looked like (crazy I know). I was about Harrison's age. So putting this all together, Whitney maybe his first real memory, not maybe Whitney herself, but the impact her leaving us made on Doug & I and our family.

Whitney loved swimming and loved the river. One of the best decision's Doug and I ever made was to buy our boat late last summer. Whitney got to spend a few really great days digging in the sand and swimming. This was Heaven to her. And as much as I have cursed God for taking her from us, she gets to do what she loves everyday and knowing that helps keeps us moving forward.

So back to naming things, because I was going somewhere with this, I promise! :) Since everything has two names, Harrison suggested we name our boat, "Whitney."

On Saturday, we all went out on the river for the first time this year on our boat named Whitney.

 

The River: Saturday, August 3rd, 2013



River continued.

 

 

It feels great to dig our feet in the sand on the weekends. I've actually took the last 3 weekends off of photo sessions to get out on the river as much as we can before that icky white stuff starts to fly... And with our luck in Minnesota it snowed in May this year, it might snow in September. Another year like last year? I'm packing my bags and moving outta this state. Seriously.

 

 

There are no words to tell you how much I love this photo.

 

 I took Harrison tubing for the his first time. He loved it until we hit a unforeseen wave and our tube flipped. He survived the incident (remained pretty calm in fact)...but I don't know when he will be ready for tubing again.

 Even Whitney Dog got out on the tube with mom for a while and it even served as a baby jail---talk about multipurpose.

 Miles is starting to love the water and is realizing sand isn't all the tasty, but a couple of handfuls never hurt.

 Tiny prints.

 Family is everything.

 Oh and this little one? Crossed off another summer photo pose of the bucket list.

The River: Sunday, July 28, 2013

Summer is going by way too fast... I even heard someone say the other day, "Summer is almost over." Gasp!!!

We are sucking up every moment of having our new set of fins for the river. I have lots of updates coming and Miles 10 month update (Gasp, again).

But for now... I'll leave you with these.

 

The River.

I miss the water. Growing up on the river are memories I'll have the rest of my life. I loved nothing more than long boat rides, looking for shells, swimming and digging in the sand. Doug grew up on the lake, water skiing and doing much of what I enjoyed. Over the years we have had the fortunate part of knowing or borrowing boats to get out on the river at least a few times a year.

Last weekend was our first chance/only chance to get out on the river all summer. The Raadt Family invited us out for a boat ride/sand bar. Harrison was only 2 last year, so his memory of our couple outings last year is long forgotten, so riding the boat Saturday was like riding in a boat for the first time. He reminded myself as a kid in saying, "I want to go fast," every time the boat slowed down.

I didn't take many photos, instead I took a little break and enjoyed the sand between my toes.

We are currently boat browsing on a tight budget.