A day with Kate

 

 

Kate and Shelby have missed each other quite a bit lately so Jenn and I took them to lunch and then to a park this afternoon. They've been buddies for 7 years now. As it turns out, the moms have been too! Or as Jenn says, we're family.

From the sweetness of ballet in the living room to this face at the playground. The sass is real. 

And while I sat chatting with Jennifer at the park, I made a new friend. He was curious about me until he noted I had not packed a picnic. I am not going to lie. He was a little too close for comfort so I warned Jenn that should he suddenly move, I would be screaming like a banshee and running for my life.

New Camera!

UPS delivered my new camera today! This is very exciting news. First, Kate gets to claim ownership of my ten year old Olympus and second, she also gets to be the center of attention while I play with the Cannon! It's a win-win for Kate!

I am still working with the auto point and shoot mode. I can't wait to experiment more. Brutus; however, would prefer I seek another subject. He was busy exploring the newly plowed field behind our house so my constant calling irritated him immensely. The teens will share his sentiment I am certain.

Today

Devyn often says, "I love my Kate". Today I told her that I also love her Kate; however, I tend to think of her as my Kate. Devyn quickly countered, "nope, she is my Kate".

After the untimely death of Princess Peach I noted Emmit chasing Zoomer on a regular basis. It appeared to be an endless game of tag. I also realized both Mr. Incredible and Superman were never out from behind the filter. I had originally questioned their overall health. I am a little slow on these matters but it finally occurred to me to watch closely and then I realized Emmit wasn't playing with Zoomer. He was attacking him which allowed me to draw a further conclusion that Princess Peach quite possibly did not die of natural causes. On a whim, I removed Emmit to a fishy time out and stood back to see what would happen. Not only did Zoomer relax but both of the others came out of hiding for the first time since being given their new home last Monday.

Emmit the murderer has been sentenced to solitary confinement for life. Wiser council suggested we send him to the ocean by means of the porcelain throne; however, my conscience has prevented me from carrying out the execution. I now have two separate fish vessels in which to provide on-going care. Awesome.

Ahoy Matey! Ty got his 5!

Shiver me timbers! We've been invaded by a band of pirates! They pillaged our loot and hoisted our booty.

Scallywag=small child prone to mischief.

Our plank required a water feature today. It was hot! The kids loved the sprinkler supplying "hurricane conditions"

 

 Blimey! Me had a good time!

Ty's buddy brought his 3 week old baby brother with him. We were all quite smitten.

Ty chose to have his cousins and three special friends celebrate his birthday. He still won't allow anyone to sing to him and really doesn't appreciate being the center of attention but had a blast. He is now officially a complete handful!

Vacation Week

We spent Greg's vacation week being intentional about family time. There were large family meals for lunch, little projects completed and evenings around the bonfire where Kate and Ty collected lightening bugs for the first time. I realized I am the bedtime police and need to back off a bit....how can Kate be nine and catching lightening bugs for the FIRST time? Ty's face was full of joy and surprise each and every bug. The teens were lounging in the yard with us and every one of them commented later about his sweet face full of amazement.

Grandma Carol and Grandpa Dale gave Ty  a glo fish tank for his upcoming birthday. He's pretty pleased.

There were rainbows, a new aquarium, an anniversary date and the kids went fishing with Lauren's friends. Togetherness was the theme and we feel charged and ready for the next season in our lives called, "Back to School" even though I am still shaking my head at it's rude interruption of summer.

Under the heading of back to school, we have a big announcement. After a few conversations and a meeting with our local elementary school principal, we've enrolled Kate as a third grader. She is excited and ready to make more friends. Miss Social has lacked the daily interaction with peers she craves. After discussing her academics, petite size and social challenges with the principal, we agreed not only on a third grade placement over fourth, but on a very kind and happy teacher named Mrs. Cox. After meeting Mrs. Cox and the principal, I have wondered to an extend why I have been so opposed to public school for my little ones. This is a much happier building than the one we dealt with in Ohio. The people who work here clearly like their jobs and love the kids. I still don't appreciate testing or common core but have set aside my reservations about those issues for now. Each child is an individual and overall, I think this is the best choice for Kate.

White and dark chocolate with fruit and gluten free brownies? Yes please!

Greg and I indulged in dessert at the Melting Pot for our anniversary. It was beyond pleasant and Greg was surprised he enjoyed the experience. It was nice to linger over coffee and tea to chat about some of our big life decisions. We settled the schooling debate, made a church commitment and agreed to update my camera in one conversation. It's amazing what can be accomplished with uninterrupted conversation! At the end of our date, we were called home to perform our first fish funeral. Thankfully our son doesn't appear to be too sentimental about fish yet and eagerly flushed Princess Peach once she was scooped out of the tank.

We've had several doctor appointments and a trip to the ER without answers to Lauren's stomach issues. It's frustrating to see a teen in so much pain she can't move but not have a clue what to do about it. The medical opinions are vastly different and work in contrast of one another.

This week, Erin had to get all the vaccines I have avoided over the years because she is enrolled in a medical program. I am more than relieved I bowed out of that appointment and Justin had to be there to listen to her cry and complain about shots. He is a good guy but has had a blast laughing at her reaction to the vaccines. She is a little dramatic, to say the least. I am fairly certain I need to find a new doctor to avoid making eye contact with the staff who had to deal with that one!

Look closely and you will see a second rainbow. It was a gorgeous evening.

I renewed my commitment to eliminate sugar from my diet for a season after our anniversary date. It's been 48 long hours. That stuff is so addicting! My inflammation has been increasing despite being off grains for a full year now so I knew what I had to do. Knowing and doing are vastly different. I really want some chocolate. Really. Want. Chocolate. 

Our weekend promises to hold more of the same. We have two birthday parties, school clothes shopping, church and lunch at my favorite Cuban restaurant on the agenda. It should prove to be the perfect ending to a great week.

We Still Do

Twenty years ago we said, "I do". We were oh so young had no clue. Growing up together has worked for us; the old soul who requires order and structure with the relaxed, easy-going partner who simply loves but it hasn't always been easy. We quietly argue but quickly make up. We live without regrets, loyal to each other and the family in which we have been blessed. If I could turn back the clock and talk to that young bride before she made her commitment, I would have some advice since I now view weddings through the eyes of the parents rather than the bride. Age and experience are on my side.

A letter to my twenty year old self,

You are about to make a commitment unlike any decision you have ever made before. You are promising to love this man every day throughout eternity. Go ahead and consent to the name change. It's important to him. Stop stewing about letting go of your maiden name. You are being selfish. You will choose to love him despite his annoying habits, his dirty laundry (and girl, it will be dirty because he likes to work outside and his first job after the wedding will be with a plumbing company), his sense of humor that will sometimes miss the mark and how easily he will recline on Sunday afternoons despite your growing to-do lists. He will make you laugh until you cry almost daily. He will be seriously injured and it will terrify you to realize how easily you could lose him. He will love you deeply and passionately, even when you and your know-it-all attitude are anything but loving. He will cherish you but won't buy you flowers no matter how many times you write it on his list of things to do.

He likes what he likes and is hesitant to try new things, especially foods. Stick with the basics but encourage grilling as early as possible. That little hobby will be the gift that will keep giving! Embrace midnight omelets. For everything he is not in the romance department, the way to his heart is through his stomach. Besides, it's as close to breakfast in bed you will get. Some of the deepest conversations will take place over those omelets.

He likes to be praised. He loves to rub your back and read your writing but isn't the best listener. Try to be patient; after all, you too fail to listen as attentively as you should. As you grieve the loss of babies unborn or born too soon, he will first care for you and cope with his loss once you are standing again. You will grieve together but know that it will look differently for each of you and that is okay.

Set boundaries with your extended family early. In fact, elope. It is what you really want anyway. That wedding will not be about you so you shouldn't feel obligated to provide it. And then there will be holidays. Sister I can tell you this will be an on-going bone of contention. It is best to put your foot down early. Preserve that time. Don't spend it running all over creation because your kids should come first. And speaking of kids, don't invest too much stock in the effectiveness of birth control. It's a joke only God gets but I can assure you that you will love every one of His little surprises despite the plans you have made. Trust me, it will be good for you to learn sooner rather than later that you control very little in life as a whole so go with it. It all works out in the end.

Marriage isn't easy. It takes effort. You have likely heard a good marriage is a 50/50 compromise but I challenge that theory. Marriage takes 100% from each of you, all the time. There will be hard days when you don't like each other very much. There will be draining seasons of endless repairs, empty bank accounts and sick kids when the mere idea of loving one another is nauseating but trust me, it is more than worthwhile. God will use this marriage to grow you and mold you into woman He has called you to be. You are blessed to be loved by this man. Cherish him. He loves you more than he will ever express in words but you can rely on a daily love note in the way of a cup of tea as you peel your eyes open each morning. This man is your man. Keep him. Love him. Encourage him. Your marriage is worth every bit of the hard work.

And finally, don't take life too seriously. You have a best friend who loves you unconditionally. Celebrate the little things and cherish the life God's blessed you with.

Photo credit Makenna Baughman who only gagged three times during our mini photo session

The Decision.

She's been through a lot. Her choices were not wise and she's struggled with the consequences. Eliminating the boyfriend and his influence has been a process in which she's grown and learned a lot about her own strength. After a needed week away for church camp, she returned determined to rededicate her life to Christ. This morning she asked her friend Sydney to re-baptize her. Sydney has faithfully prayed over Lauren and encouraged her with scripture throughout the last year and a half. At one point she was on Lauren's last nerve but we thank God for Sydney and so does Lauren. God used her to love Lauren back to her roots and away from the destruction of an unhealthy relationship.

"Your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me" is the refrain in the song we sang just prior to Lauren's baptism. It brought me to tears. You can hear a version of it here. It is a beautiful reminder. God's hand remains on our precious daughter.