Near Miss

We took the girls biking on the river trail yesterday. Libby got a bit excited about the speed she gained going downhill and turned around to see (I think) if I was watching. She nearly plowed head on into a metal fence that wouldn't have budged a millimeter. She corrects at the last second saving herself from a trip to the ER. Holy heart attack for her mother. Excuse my shrieking. I couldn't help it....

Summer.... Finally!

Summer has finally arrived. Shane's home and we had the best day today hanging out as a family doing nothing. Libby kept saying she wanted to have breakfast with our whole family. Or, swim with our whole family. Or, play in the sand with our whole family. You get the picture. Shane's been fishing a ton and today the girls were so happy just to be with him. Here's a look at our last few days.... I'm moving my captions underneath the pictures. I've just printed my second book from my blog and some of the photos and captions don't line up they way they should. I'm hoping by moving them that'll fix the problem....

Peyton gets her jump on while playing in the water.

(I see you looking at me.)

Playing in the sand box brings grins.

Libby waits for breakfast with an impersonation of Grandpa.

My shoe girls. If we have them, they have to try them.

Fearless. About some things.

Look who can pump her own legs now.

I took this one because the slippers Peyton has on were made for me as a little girl by my Grammy Pearl. My girls love them. Usually, Libby has them on, but today Peyton intercepted them. Grammy would've loved that they're wearing them.

Best Buddies

There was a time when our dogs were our only babies. First Bruiser and then Grunden. Looking back even now, I'd say losing our Bruiser was one of the sharpest pains I've experienced in my life. Including childbirth. I'd do labor ten more times if it meant a lifetime (my lifetime) with Grunny. That's the problem with loving a dog. Their years are just not long enough, and there's no epidural to numb a loss like that. We so love our boy, and Peyton loves him too.

I was only going to include the last two pictures, but as I scrolled through photos from this month I found LOTS of pictures of Peyton with her boy. Two peas in a pod. There's a reason we call them man's best friend. Or in our case, little girl's best friend. She feeds him almost every meal, calls him, "Nuuuuuuunneeeeey.....", and tells him, "good boy!" Their bond is a strong one....

Uh....hello? You gonna eat all of that?

Waking slowly from a nap.... This one's my favorite.

Life's better with your best friend.

The Truth About Your Father....

Dear Libby and Peyton,

Today is Father's Day, and I think it's time you knew the truth about the man you call your Dad. He is the man in your lives; the man in mine. He is undeniably head over heels in love with the two of you; the three of us. Four, including Grunden. We are at the top of his list.

I met your dad when I was 14. I knew who he was before that, but didn't meet him until we were in Spanish class together our freshman year of high school. He claims he would've asked me out then, but he was busy dating my friends. I would've said yes. He was everyone's friend. He was outgoing, goofy, smart, playful and very sensitive about his ears. That sensitivity has (thankfully) diminished over the years. He was a skater, snowboarder, student, athlete, artist and had the best handwriting of anyone I knew, girls included.

Your dad is (for this generation) pretty old fashioned. He thinks a man's word should be good and a hand shake should seal the deal. He believes in manners, respect and looking someone in the eye when you're talking to them. He believes in his right to own guns and that you should never point one at another person. Not even if it's a toy. He has no time for bull. From any of us. You'll never have to guess his political stance. He already told you. Yesterday. He's strong-willed, and if he's made up his mind, good luck to you if you want to change it. You'll have to be very persuasive. Even then he's going to see right through you. Be prepared when he calls you on it.

Your dad's a very hard worker and will likely expect a strong work ethic from the two of you. From the age of twelve he worked summers on a ranch to earn his own money. He works tirelessly to provide for our family and never complains about working a 15-hour-day on four hours of sleep, even when others have assumed being a fishing guide must be a pretty cushy job. When you work hard and have achievements of your own he will be over the moon with pride for you. I know because he thanks me daily for the hard work I do as a mom, and a teacher. He's been my biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. He supports my ideas, and thanks me often for supporting his.

Your dad's a great fishing guide. He claims not to be the best fisherman, but I think he has good business sense and his customers have been coming back now for 13 years. That's something. Many of his customers are now close family friends. He can't wait to make little outdoorsmen out of you. Hunting, fishing, snowboarding, mountain biking, camping.... try it all with your dad. I think you're going to love it. Nothing makes him happier than watching the two of you experience life. Indulge him with the things he wants to see you do.

Over the years your dad will undoubtedly take a firm tone with you. When he gives a reprimand I've already seen the two of you snap to attention. He means it. But, you've also already realized that his bark is worse than his bite, and that underneath it all he's a teddy bear. In three and a half years you've already managed to make him laugh when he was trying to be authoritative. You've made him cry with your sweet words while holding his scruffy face between your hands. I often wonder what your teen years will be like. Go easy on him when you get there. Realize at ages two and three, your teenage years are already hard on him. Letting go of you in any capacity will never come easily.

The man we love will be authoritative and unbending one minute and dancing in his boxer briefs the next. He is without regard for the neighbors who might be watching. He is unapologetic for his antics and, come to think of it, your teenage years might be harder on you.

You should know too that being a Groshong is something your dad is very proud of. He is only prouder that the two of you are Groshongs. I have the basic idea of what that means in my mind, but it's not for me to explain, anyway. That's between you and your dad.

It's because of the two of you that he holds this title Dad and we celebrate him today. Before, he was son, brother, nephew, grandson, cousin, friend, and husband. But he was never a Dad until you two showed up. You are the two perfect people to complete our family and your dad knows it. We thank God every night for the blessings He gave us in you. Your dad never wanted anything more and never imagined loving a role so much.

Love,

Mom

Happy Father's Day, Darlin'.

We love you to the moon....

....and back.

Clean Cut

My girls clean up nicely, huh?

Thank You Corey.

Trying to Place Her....

I was mowing the yard today when Peyton wandered out looking like this....

Aside from desperately needing a haircut, there was something so familiar about her that I grabbed my camera and took her picture. It was bugging me. I couldn't exactly figure out why her shaggy little look made such an impression. Then, it hit me. I grew up loving this look. Only it wasn't Peyton's.....

Julane, Are you with me on this one?

My Baby is Two

It's so cliche, I know. But, where do two years go? I'm afraid the next 16 will go just as fast. Two years ago today at 10:45 a.m. our baby girl, Peyton Shane Groshong joined our family. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and our lives have never been the same. Here are some highlights of the last two years. Scroll through them at lightening speed and you'll know just how I'm feeling today....

Happy Birthday sweet girl. We love you so much!