Littles

It's been long awaited, but I was finally able to dust off the ol' long johns for a good old fashioned, classically rainy camping trip on the Boulder with two of my favorite little guys last weekend.

Camping with boys is nothing new to me, but camping with five year old boys was certainly an experience!  Although the trip was cut short  because of nasty weather, I still thoroughly enjoyed my time.  Upon returning, I promptly concluded what I already knew:

I am so stinking in love with my nephews.

Those.  Giggles. 

('Nuff said, if you've heard them yourself.)

Their proud little smiles while they cautiously handled their first cutthroat of the day,

the need for fire, s'mores, pancakes and nothing more to complete a camping trip,

and their constant, i mean constant energy.

I love them fellas.

During my time in Billings, I've been nannying part time for yet another great family I've had the good fortune in finding.  Olivia is going to be a fourth grader, and her brother, Conor, will enter the second grade next year.

I know it's just a silly, part time and temporary job, but I've really learned a few lessons in patience and humility while watching these guys.

Children are crazy.

And because of that, sometimes they drive me nuts.  Actually, I like orderly and quiet, and so I'm pretty much always on edge with this particular duo.  But they're sweet, too.  Olivia has taken to calling me 'KK' and aways loops her hand in mine whenever we go out in public.  Conor and I have a special bond over laffy taffy jokes and puzzles.

These two thrive off of constant noise, movement, chatter, songs, activities, games, ideas, messes...you name it.  It never stops.  And of all things, I think I've really learned that even though I'm the adult, I still cant control everything that happens pertaining to them.

 

But, I like control.  I am a control freak.  I want to control you.

Instead, I'm learning to sit back and smile as Conor makes a mess spooning sugar into measuring cups for cookies, and to allow Olivia to paint my nails a messy hue of neon colors.

I don't know quite what I'm getting at, but despite my frustrations during these months at home, I'm learning, or at least trying, to let go, take a breath and smile, because life is funny.

Sometimes cookies burn, dogs get loose, kids get punched (hopefully not by me), and the car doesn't start.  It's not the end of the world.

My legs still walk at the end of the day, and God is good.

God is always good!

Anyway, the kids and I went to the zoo earlier this week, and I had a blast!  Who knew the Billings zoo could be so much fun?  Grizzlies?  Yes, please!  I took some photos to print out for the kiddos and thought I'd share.

If you haven't gone to the zoo yet this year, give it a shot!  If anything, you'll probably see a river otter take a crap and get a nice farmer's tan out of the deal.

Who doesn't what that!?

Feeding Goats

We had to set up the camera on a bench, set the timer, and run back into place in time for the photo.  It took about six tries, and each attempt produced a hilarious picture.
This was the one that finally worked in our favor, and displays perfectly how I'd like to think our time together looks like, however...

...this picture defines the three of us a bit better :)