Summer Break Week 2

We started our week with Kate's private baptism after church on Sunday. It was quiet and exactly what Kate wanted.

Monday we went to the zoo and was surprised by how few others were there given the 75 degree day and Monday being the day we all got in free with our Summer Cultural Passes. A neighbor boy joined us and at one point, they asked to play in a playground. Within minutes, they had every child there involved in a giant game of tag. It was a perfect day at the zoo.

Lauren is often calling with "is this normal" parenting questions. Austin is thriving and yet she worries as most first time moms do. He loves his books and has discovered how to use them to help him communicate. One picture dictionary book may have to be banned because the "I" page has a picture of ice cream. Austin finds the book, locates that page and brings the book to his parents jabbering as he leads them into the kitchen. He knows what he wants and is very disappointed when they can't or won't entertain his request.

They went to dinner with friends the other night and Austin was sitting on the friend's lap coloring when Lauren asked what was on the kid's menu. Austin started excitedly pointing at a picture and shaking his head yes. He was certain he was having ice cream for dinner.

And to top that off, the little guy has decided to start using the potty this week. He is fifteen months old. I realize I am biased, but he is pretty smart and rather cute too.

Tuesday we planned to visit a historical farm but instead dealt with a clogged drain that flooded my laundry room and kitchen.  When I text my husband about needing to rent a plumbsnake, he claimed to have installed an indoor pool for our anniversary and complained I am not a happy recipient. Sometimes I wish that man was half as funny as he thinks he is. Anyway, Kate babysat for friends for a few hours and when I picked her up, we headed to the local orchard to pick strawberries instead. I am excited to have arrived on the first day of black raspberry season too. They are my favorite and I haven't successfully picked them in years because the season is so short and I usually miss it.

Superman ice cream from the creamery was in order after all their hard "work". I am thrilled they haven't outgrown outings like this. I will always want to visit with my camera in hand.

We made a trip to the Bernheim Forest with our cultural passes on Wednesday to meet some friendly giants. We all loved the unseasonably cool day exploring nature and hiking together. 

Some of us were worn out afterward but quickly recharged in time for another adventure closer to home. I recently discovered we have an old cemetary that served as a final resting place for recently escaped slaves in the late 1800's. It's clear some efforts have been made to restore some elements of it but I am hoping to find out who is running that program to see if our family can contribute. Both Kate and Ty learned a little about that era and are both interested in serving where we can.

On Thursday my parents visited for the day. We had salads out for lunch and then picked up someone's early birthday gift. He bent the rim on his old bike and had outgrown it so a replacement was in order. Given how much he rides, he got it a month early.  

A few years ago I started  working on a mantra. Respond vs React. It has served me well and I have made great strides in my responses to life, in that I no longer have emotional meltdowns and can quietly process more thoughtful answers. However, recently it has occurred to me that this feels very much like praying for patience, which as any Christian can tell you is a bad idea. You see, when you put these prayers out there, God has a tendency to let you practice. A lot. All this to say that life feels a little overwhelming and I am realizing that responding looks a lot like internalizing and perhaps that isn't the healthiest approach either. One would think that by age 45, I could have it all worked out but I don't. I am losing my mind one kid at a time because in a house as full as mine, if it's not one thing, it's three things. 

When I learned Noah was off work on Friday, I planned to knock another item off our Summer Bucket List and took Ty and the neighbor boy to the firehouse. They LOVED their personal tour. 

Kate, who waived the firehouse stayed behind and played with a flourless cake recipe because her dad is missing baked goods. He has joined my grain free diet and lost ten pounds on top of feeling better. So a dessert that doesn't break the rules was in order. 

Summer Break Week 1

We were at the library multiple times, toured an old cemetery in search of family names we learned in local historical buildings, attended the dollar movie with a friend, celebrated a graduation, explored fossil beds along the Ohio River with Benjamin who spent a few days with us and read a lot of books. It was a full week but relaxed compared to school weeks.

In church last Sunday, I was once again reminded why I remain so much more comfortable hanging out downstairs with the four year olds. During communion, I was reliving all the ways I had felt overwhelmed the week prior and God interrupted my thoughts with a vision of him carrying me, kicking and screaming like a toddler being removed from a situation I wasn't yet ready to leave. The image has stayed with me all week, showing me all he ways as an adult I can discern when a child needs a nap, a snack, a hug or firm discussion but still rely on myself and not God when I need the rest. How easy is it to see it in others and yet not see fully what it is I need? So Christ is more than willing to carry me but I resist, thinking I can shoulder all my world alone. He still loves me, more so even than I can love the child who was once again running away last week because I served Brussel sprouts.  He showed me I am very much like my child, resisting what is best for me and in this moment, that is the need to rest in God's grace. So whereas I learned more than I anticipated and leaned into that message a lot this week, I am looking forward to hanging out in the pre-k class this Sunday.

Gorj

Sometimes when life feels overwhelming, I find humor in the strangest of things. Recently, two young adults have announced their intentions of moving out this summer. Both of those same daughters are facing serious health issues with varying degrees of attentiveness and both ends of the spectrum drive me a little crazy when I am  not actively working to avoid losing my mind.

So when Makenna tried to unload an impulse purchase she and Noah made several months ago on our friends, they quietly waged war. This resulted in "Gorj" being propped up in Greg's truck when it was returned. Greg having none of this, set Gorj up to greet Makenna when she got home that night.

Makenna, believing her father had chosen sides when he in fact just wanted the giant monkey out of his truck, retaliated. This is not going to end anytime soon and is sure to get more colorful. I know all the parties involved well and believe Makenna has not chosen allies well.

But she gets bonus points for creativity. A few days after I put Gorj back upstairs, he showed up in the middle of the night in our bathroom clutching one of Greg's safety books.

Again, I put him back into her room so she crafted a new plan. She pulled a favorite sidekick in and they left the giant monkey on Noah's front porch. I assume he will be back.

Kicking off Summer

Friday night, Greg grilled steaks and we all dined on the back patio. Erin hung out with us because she was recovering from her biopsy which was answered in a negative for precancerous cells pathology. She will retest the abnormal cells again in six months. She wants something more final but will have to accept the answer as it is for now. Anyway, celebrating the exhale for the moment and enjoying fresh corn on the cob, Lauren video chatted and joined us from Texas. Austin, eager to show me what he was up to, took the phone into the fort his daddy built him and pointed around in the darkness excitedly talking in his own language about it. I was happy to explore with him, if even virtually.

We think we have convinced them to visit in July and pray it all works out. I cannot wait to spend time with them again.

Ty and Kate each had a friend spend the night Friday and the guests were quiet enough and actually went to bed so we all got sleep even though one choice was a little unconventional......Kate and Kaiya slept on the trampoline and even the sun rising on their dew covered accommodations didn't wake them. My call to breakfast did.

We spent the day together tackling some maintenance projects including a final attempt to prevent a bird nest in my dryer vent cover. Next up? Open season on wild birds, according to my redneck husband. The neighbors are either amused or annoyed with us.

We made a summer bucket list while sitting poolside at a friend's house and then I served Brussels sprouts with dinner so Ty had to move out again. It's unfortunate his electronic devices made it back into his posession for only twenty four hours before he lost his mind over vegetables. And again, we had witnesses which is my favorite part of parenting. But he then remembered he wanted to shoot his bow with his dad and forgot to run away.

Despite occasional drama, I kinda like the boy so I am glad he is still here this morning.

Final Day

After sending Ty off to his final day of third grade and Kate to the last of seventh, I went into their bedrooms to tidy up for the last time. They will start making beds again tomorrow, because the mom in this house recognizes where she has fallen short in this independence goal. The kids will love this, she says smirking.

Anyway, Kate had her writing folder sitting on her nightstand and given she has allowed me to read exactly zero writing assignments this year, I flipped through it. As a general rule, she does not enjoy reading or writing but this poem charmed me and I asked if I could share it here. She conceded.

Where I'm From 
by Kate Baughman

I am from cats and dogs

from makeup and footballs.

I'm from the crazy house on the hill

that is like a circus.

I am from the trampoline in the backyard to

the flower baskets on the front porch.

I'm from big family dinners and laughing, 

from Mom and Dad.

I am from flexibility and flips

and sleeping in.

I'm from once upon a time and happily ever after,

from learning ABC's

I am from big Thanksgiving dinners and from

Homemade Mac N Cheese and ice cream.

I'm from crazy stories of my sisters

and parents.

I am from trampolines and concussions, 

from gymnastics and dance.

I'm from lots and lots of food

and a big family.

I am from Ohio.