We took a walk yesterday down to the river and came across this snow like tree fluff which delighted the kids. This is about as close to snow as it gets here in our town!

We cooled off by the river and escaped the heat under the shady trees.

Gabriel is such a little imp!

Too cute. They went exploring for a good hour and a half. (I got a lot of reading done!)

River action shot!

Just a couple of bed time photos I thought were too cute not to share!

We visited with my sister yesterday and our children had a blast playing with each other. We got to her home around 2pm and left at 8pm. We spent all day outside walking around. We walked to the park, then to the store for ice cream cones, then took a wandering walk around the neighborhood admiring all the different houses and gardens. The weather was beautiful, nice and sunny. We walked for miles and had a wonderful time. I am so grateful our children truly love each other and really enjoy spending time together. I am so thankful for that positive family connection both for myself and for my children. Cousins are fun, life long friends!

♥ Happy 6th Birthday to Gabriel! ♥

Gabriel will turn 6 years old on Tuesday! He is such a lovely little boy.

I'm just a bit sad too see 5 fade away. It was such a sweet age and I really enjoyed this past year with him. Isabel's age 5 was marred by the start of her leukemia treatment so I didn't get to fully enjoy the sweetness that is age five with her. I really reveled in this past year and was able to really focus on him the way I couldn't when Isabel was in treatment.

Gabriel is reading already and loves kindergarten. He says creation station and math tiles are his favorite parts. He couldn't care less about Legos or Star Wars or superheroes but adores Hot Wheel cars, racing tracks, anything marble related and learning new tricks on his scooter. Gabriel can spend an entire afternoon blowing bubbles in the backyard and creating new games with complicated rules drawn on the ground with chalk. He is hoping for a finger board ramp for his birthday and can't get enough of video games. Alan is happy that he enjoys watching sports with him and they read Sports Illustrated Kids together. I'm glad he likes books, puzzles and gymnastics. He may not want to kiss me in front of his buddies anymore, but he still snuggles up close at night and hugs me all day long. I'm making him a dinosaur cake for his birthday party. *sniff* Goodbye age 5!

Here are some photos of the past few weeks:

Isabel made an Easter salad.

Lots of creative egg dying, of course.

Climbing trees

Gabe's a limber little guy.

A very fun birthday party.

The kids were delighted to dog sit their cousins puggle for a few days.

A successful trip to the Exploratorium.

Well, I took a little unintentional blog break. Isabel and Gabriel have been on spring break for the past three weeks and we've been busy enjoying the beautiful weather. Lots of day trips, sleep overs, birthday parties and general good times.

This is the first month without a blood draw or check up for Isabel! She only goes to the oncologist every two months now that she is one full year off treatment. It's wonderful! I thought for sure I'd be a bit more worried about not having the reassurance of her perfect blood counts, but I'm not at all. She's so happy and we've been too busy to think about anything but the next thing on our social schedules. It's been very, very pleasant to say the least.