making memories

ahhhh memories.

what life is all about. i tell ya, there is nothing quite like looking at a picture, smelling a specific scent or hearing a certain song and having it transport you back in time to a particular experience that left a happy imprint on your brain. i can honestly say it happens to me quite a lot. something will stop me in my tracks and make me think of the "good old days" and i cannot help but smile. 

making memories is big deal around here. even back when dan and i started dating, a whopping 12 years ago, he has always talked about how much he loves making memories for me. it could be something as simple as making me a cd for my road trips up to visit him. something as creative as a surprise candlelit dinner at center ice of his college hockey rink. or even something extravagant as our european honeymoon. from the day we met dan has been providing me with memory after beautiful memory. 

now that we have our 3 girls this concept has only grown bigger and bigger. dan and i talk about it often...how important it is to us that we provide them with endless amounts of happy memories. we want our girls to look back on their days under our roof and smile thinking about all the fun we had. i think this past weekend will definitely live on as one of those happy thoughts...not only for ry & lil...but for dan as well. 

on saturday dan, scott and mary took the two big girls on their very first overnight camping trip. this is something dan has been looking forward too since the day we found out we were pregnant. he loves the outdoors and couldn't wait to experience all it has to offer with his gals. 

(he did a pretty good job of documenting the first camping trip for me!)

they couldn't wait to get on the road

they drove about 2 hours to mark twain national forest. dan & i have camped there in the past and we remembered the great lake/beach they have and thought that would keep the girls entertained for most of the day. once the boys got the tents set up they were ready to hit the lake

you can't beat sand and swimming all day

ryan gives the outdoors a thumbs up!

safety first

back at the camp sight the gals got into their pj's and played in the tent while daddy got the fire going for dinner. they dined on hot dogs and mac & cheese. then settled in for bed. i have to admit i was a little nervous about bedtime. mainly because lilly is such a mommy's girl and loves to have me lay with her before bed. i was worried she would get a little homesick. dan said she asked for me a couple times but once it got dark she sank into her sleeping bag, snuggled up to her dad and that was it.  

still smiling after a fun night under the stars

i was so excited, mainly for dan, that the girls loved it so much. i know his heart was filled with joy knowing that he made this memory for his girls. he cannot wait until may and i can join them. 

and speaking of may...

we had a delightful evening of mommy-baby bonding. we got a pedicure, ate some take-out, had a bath and hit the sack early. well, may hit the sack early. i cozied up in my bed with my needlepointing and dvr. 

making memories, indeed!