Dirty, Exhausted and Happy

This was taken this summer, but was often my POV.

I'd look over while doing dishes and see this guy, trying to wash his hands without pants on. 

I mean, really?

Shoes but no pants. 

It was a daily occurrence.

The kids and I had a very hot (over 100 degrees everyday) but very fun experience at Base Camp, our church's VBS this summer. We got to know some families at church and spend time learning crazy hand moves to funny songs.  We were up early and by noon felt like we had lived 2 full days. 

Dirty, exhausted and happy.

Go team blue! Team Kinder was, by far, the most fun group. They kept up with the big kids, had good attitudes and worked hard. 

Putting the S (science) in BASE camp -- sweaty goggles while these kids made lava lamps.

And finally - the heat getting to them. 

Abby and cousin Abram.

This guy looked like this every day at noon.

Nothing like reliving summer memories as we head toward Thanksgiving!

1304. our church community

1305. deciding to serve

1306. feeling connected

1307. others filling in with abby when i couldn't

Never Getting Married

This guy.

Killing me lately.

Such a big guy ("Mom. Your hair doesn't look crazy. You look beautiful.")

and yet so little ("Mooooom! Abby isn't including meeeeeee!")

I told him he'll make a great husband someday. 

"I'm always going to live with you, mom. With my whole family. I'm not getting married."

Let it be. 

Amen.

"Sounds good, Fordy! Stay with me always."

"Are you teasing, mom? Mom? Are you? Are you teasing? Sometime you tease me."

I just wanna eat him up.

And have him stay with us forever.

Will someone please alert the fairies that they are doing a stinky job of maintaining the fairy tree?

Thank you.

At least it looks pretty in pictures.

1300. that smile

1301. that laugh

1302. that intention

1303. that love

Star of the Week

This guy. 

He loves to swing. 

But he's graduated to the big kid swings, thanks to preschool and the daredevil antics that he and his pals pull off. His self-assurance makes me so happy. Perhaps this is because I hid behind my mother until I was 4 and was afraid of men other than my dad. Does this explain something about me? Yikes!

And this girl.

Star of the week at her school recently. 

(Which makes the moms try to smile through their grimace as they get the "Hurray! Your child is star of the week next week!" paperwork. They know it means that your weekend will now be filled with making posters and prepping for the big oral presentation.) #thethingswedoforlove #iknowitsonlybeginning

I love these shoes....

Apparently her teacher prefers blue...

Abby got to "present" her poster filled with her favorite things. 

She even got to pick out which "pointer" would best fit her. 

The rose. Like Belle, of course.

A little commiserating with her teacher - i love Abby's hand on her shoulder.

So proud of her.

Didn't even think to prep her on anything -- she just handled it. 

Of course, she's my star every week (sap!)

1295. no nerves
1296. fordy behaving while in class
1297. love, love, loving our sweet kindy teacher
1298. God's providence in putting her in this class
1299. grandparents attending

Flashback Summer '14 So Cal

It's been so long now, that I think this should actually be called a flashback.

So, here we are, flashing back to the summer. 

In early July, we headed to Southern California to spend as much time as we could with as many friends as we could. 

It wasn't enough. I fear that it never will be.

The kids did pretty great on the drive down. Memories of crying as we drove up and down the 5 in previous years were fresh in our minds as we passed familiar landmarks. I suddenly keenly remembered taking Abby to Northern California as soon as we could after surgery. Some of those hours in the car were long. But this time, leaning on electronics made for some happy moments.

We actually headed to Palm Desert first, more on that later. And about two hours out from our destination, the kids got restless and Grant decided we needed to stop for ice cream at Mother Moo, our favorite old organic ice cream shop. There were many days when the kids have said, "I miss Mother Moo!" since we moved. I've wondered if they even remember what it is. But as soon as we got there, at 9pm, they knew exactly what to order (vanilla bean! double chocolate!) and so did we (mint chocolate chunk! salted caramel!). It got us through that final two hours....

We got to stay at our dear friend's home while they were away but got some good time with them before they left. Abby got to sleep upstairs with the sweetest God daughter  I've ever met and Ford got some tips on how to be a big boy from this cutie :

There was swimming....

Coloring at the homeschool table...

Donuts for breakfast...

Meeting new little boys for Fordy to hold hands with...

Reconnecting with old pals...

Meeting new little brothers...

Sharing Elsa love...

There was nose-picking and there were tears....

Trampoline jumping...

and "big girl" time...(i pray that she learns from them)...

...pizza time with the parents of kids that i went to preschool with...

and these crazies. i prayed for each one of them before they were born.

It's a bond that can never be broken - my love for them. Even from afar.

I'm so glad my kids know them.

And of course, 4th of July madness.

Happy late Independence Day, everyone! (wink).

Better late than never.

1290. air conditioning in the car

1291. a lovely place to stay

1292. generosity of our friends

1293. reconnecting effortlessly

1294. working out problems over text

Daisys

I can still remember canvasing my neighborhood with a Girl Scout cookie form in my hands, the dream of going to Disneyland on those sales never fulfilled. I remember the "bridge" ceremony at brownies and learning the Girl Scout creed. And now, the torch has been passed along! I lasted about two years -- let's see how far our girl takes this.

Abby's first Daisy meeting included 14 girls, every girl in both Kindergarten classes (those boys are still ruling the school). I love that she now knows (most likely) every girl who she might be in class with for her entire elementary school career. Small town at it's finest.

Learning and coloring in the creed :

Sitting in the friendship circle after singing Make New Friends (this hasn't changed!)...

And their second meeting allowed all the girls to wear their vests to school. The local CHP officer visited and even showed off their K9. Next month -- off to Apple Hill to make apple pie on site.

1286.  still getting the biggest hugs and kisses from fordy

1287. abby's hand holding

1288. impromptu hugging with each other

1289. "it's good we are together, Abby."

Five Years Ago Anniversary

It seems like about 2 years ago that I wrote this post, the one from almost exactly one year ago.

This year was much less eventful. So uneventful, even, that I didn't wake up with the memory of that day, five years ago, bouncing around in my brain.

The very dark morning in which we took our baby who'd been fasting for hours and drove her into the depths of a hospital parking garage, not exactly knowing when we'd leave there with her.

The minutes that felt like slow-motion where they took her away through those operating room doors. Away from us. But toward a surgeon with large hands who somehow, by the grace of almighty God used her small tools to operate on a heart the size of a walnut. The oddly peaceful and strange hours where we hid in our car, trying to sleep, away from the hospital smells and sounds. The "coincidence" of needing to pump and accidentally running into our surgeon who finished early declaring, "Yes. That was a very large hole. She's going to be doing much better now." And then, relief.  Fingers that couldn't text fast enough and call quick enough to spread the good news. The news I was secretly afraid we'd never hear.

And then this smile on day two post surgery...

And the long days of quick recovery that followed. Being discharged realizing that other babies in our room never would be. Those would spend all of their fleeting days in that hospital. An entirely new level of thankfulness spread over us then. And then leaving -- where Grandma and Grandpa back at our house sanitized the whole place. This guy looked like this -- and that was without an Ebola scare. :) Can you imagine if it was today? Hazmat suits would be at the ready.

And here we are currently -- awaiting the whistle for the Dolphin Dash at school. 

And to be honest, on the days when I want to ring her neck, I try and remember how hard I fought for her to live. And it puts things all back in perspective. 

1282. health

1283. not syringe-feeding her the breastmilk fat

1284. no crying during eating

1285. growing, running, sweating

Summer Dancing and Park-ing

Abby was a part of a recital this summer - we showcased those tap shoes we bought at the beginning of the year. I might be biased but I think these little cuties were the hit of the show. And Ford sat still the entire time. The day was a win!  I was so proud of her...

And Ford kept up his intense love of swinging and park-loving. 

Every chance he got (whenever Abby was at a playdate) he begged and begged. 

It was only my pleasure to oblige.

1278. cool nights

1279. tech stuff working flawlessly

1280. conquering fears

1281. sales at the right stores for Abby