engraved memories

these pictures were taken on a little pull off road in laguna beach yesterday afternoon. it was so much fun to watch the kids. they were just amazed at the size of these leaves! it was awesone just watching them run around amongst these gigantic trees and play tag. they even modeled for me on the stones and by the rocks. it is funny how living in the valley prevents kids from experiencing certain things.... we were at this place for nearly an hour, with the ocean only a few miles down the road and the kids didn't want to leave. they just liked running around in a great big field of grass around enormous trees with humungus leaves and climbing on great bug boulders. as a mother, it was one of those moments that will remain engraved in my mind forever. for me, it is the simple things that i cherish and remember.... i thanked God for this. looking at the pictures now, i realize how big my son looks. he is not a large kid but in these past few weeks he seems to be coming into his own. it is nice to see him becoming such a sweet, responsible, pre-teen boy. i love the pictures of us hiding behind the leaves and the picture of my oldest nephew sitting on the rock all by himself. the time spent here was some-kind-of-wonderful.