Sweet Sunday

Surviving

When I woke Ty Monday morning, he quickly informed me he wasn't going to school. I was surprised and cautiously mentioned he had enjoyed Thursday and Friday of last week. He quipped back, "that's because they trick kids on short weeks so they think it's fun there. This is Monday and it won't be fun anymore. There will be tests and work now." With that, he rolled over believing he was going back to sleep. The kid is too smart for my own good. He attended school all week despite is convincing argument.

Wednesday and Thursday Kate tried out for volleyball with only a three day camp under her belt for experience. We were delighted she had the confidence to put herself out there and tried to convince her the worst she would hear would be, "not yet". She found out before school Friday morning she didn't make the team. She was crushed and wanted to come home. Fighting every urge in my body, I left her at school knowing she would overcome her emotions and make it through the day. But the truth is, rejection hurts. A lot. And leaving her there to deal with those feelings of inadequacy all day? That hurt too. I am still so proud of her for trying and am looking into club ball options so she can gain more experience.

Kate has a phone now. This still feels rather uncomfortable. We have safety parameters in place but it never feels quite like enough with all that is lurking out there. Sigh. This parenting gig would be a lot easier to navigate on a private island somewhere. But until we are independently wealthy, I do have a village helping me weed through all that threatens our kids' innocence. Anne and I spent Saturday morning dissecting video games our sons are being exposed to as well. It simply doesn't end and I am apparently not content to stick my head in the sand and pretend it all works out best that way. But on the bus, Kate was exposed to a theme I am pretty ticked off about and it came to my attention Ty is also likely hearing bits and pieces about things he isn't old enough to understand. Now we get to determine where to start dialog he shouldn't be having yet. Seriously.....any takers on the private island idea?

Greg spent Saturday smoking a brisket that was as amazing as always. In between sessions watching the smoker's temperature, he played peek-a-boo via FaceTime with our grandson who is as fascinated with Pops long distance as he is in person. That baby is still adorable and we are content to sit and watch him eat, sleep, suck his thumb or smile through video chat. The only deal breaker is tears. Once he cries, I cry and we abruptly let them go. It breaks my heart as he has mastered the sad face and full pouty lip. Austin has skills and Mimi cannot handle the cuteness.

When we rescued Layla, we gave her the birthdate of August 1 because her actual birthday was not known. She was approximately 8 weeks old when we first met her at the neighbor's house in early October nearly five years ago. So she is officially (or as official as we care to claim) five years old now. She truly is a whole hand full. Despite being middle-aged for a boxer, she appears to have animated theme music playing in her head at all times and never lets discipline bother her. She is still the most happy-go-lucky mess we watched her quickly transform into once we brought her home from life in a pen. We took her to a park to play and because we were the only ones there, she got to run off leash. And as usual, per Layla's enthusiasm, "it was the best day ever". All days in Layla's mind are.

Our Saturday was full of family time, good food, bargain hunting at a local thrift store, smores from the oven because 90 degrees exceeds my comfort level for cooking over a fire and ended at the park. It was a good way to wrap a very full week.

Final Summer Days

We found ourselves home in time to grocery shop, start laundry, initiate a car repair for Erin and pack Kate for church camp Sunday. She returned home mere hours before preparing for the first day of school. In other words, all relaxing weekends must come to an end.

Ty recently decided to take up running. Out of the blue, he headed out the front door as he announced, "I am going for a run". I was slightly amused as no one in this house says or does anything remotely related to running. I wandered out to the swing to see what that meant in Ty's mind. Much to my surprise, a few moments later, he ran by and kept right on running. Within a few more moments, I saw him again as he tackled another lap. Alrighty then. He has been signed up for cross country through his school as a result of his enthusiasm and daily persistence. I don't know where this is going but I am happy to support him as long as parental participation is not required. 

Kate is navigating seven classes this year and has a well decorated locker because she had Makenna's assistance with back-to-school shopping. Needless to say, my budget was busted but they bonded and had a blast together. She, like her sisters before her, attempted to negotiate her way out of gym class by volunteering to be her favorite choir director's assistant. Unfortunately her request was denied despite the teacher campaigning on her behalf. I suspect she isn't finished haggling over this. She is a Baughman daughter, after all. 

Ty has a great team of patient and sweet teachers this year. I was able to have a meeting with them before they met our son and was thrilled with everything I heard about their approach to third grade. It is always stressful for me to relinquish my kiddos to strangers as each school year begins and this was no exception. I have been wrestling with a lot of big feelings but am holding out hope it will be a great academic year. Both teachers greeted each child they met with a hug and then explained third grade's homework philosophy is to have kids work hard at school so they can play hard at home. Goodbye insane second grade homework packets! I will not miss you!

It is July and we have seen the end of laid-back summer days already. I will appreciate this more when we take two weeks off in October. But at the moment? Not so much.

18

When Makenna was three, she had the most active imagination. Her world was full of friends no one else saw, bear hunting adventures in our bathroom, safari expeditions in the local woods where she discovered elephant tracks, and all her people fully wrapped around her sweet little fingers. To say we were constantly on our toes would be an understatement. I walked into her room to see what she was up to one evening and she was surfing on books. Upon my arrival, she splashed me with imaginary water and cracked up. She was certainly my most whimsical child and full of wonder. The extent of her creative brain never ceased to amaze me.

We enrolled her into preschool the day she threw a fit about real children trying to join her at a kids' table during a birthday party because those seats were already taken by Arielle and Cinderella. As it turns out, Makenna preferred the children she could make do whatever she desired and those with their own opinion were not welcome in her world.

That back-fired a bit as I was met daily by the teacher who stressed how Makenna dictated exactly where the other children could sit and who they could play with. The problem was how the other kids obeyed her. Sister was bossy. Sometimes she still is.

Her spirit has tamed somewhat with age but at eighteen, she is a natural leader. She still bosses kids around at work providing after school care and most people naturally listen to her as she often has great ideas and excellent problem solving skills. Although at times, I do suspect she would prefer Cinderella to real children who have opinions of their own.

She recently graduated high school and isn't certain what her future holds. She is a creative leader and loves kids so I have no doubt the perfect fit for her will reveal itself in due time. Given her young graduating age, we are not rushing her into a college experience even though she was accepted into a couple of programs. By next semester she will be ready to make some bigger decisions and whereas I know some people question our sanity by giving her time, we have faith in Makenna and trust she will do great things wherever she lands. It's simply in her spirit.

Now that she is exhaling from a draining technical theater experience and is currently relaxing with a friend on a beach in Florida, her batteries are being recharged and she is welcoming her "adult" years in style.

Happy birthday to you, Makenna Grace! You continue to bring our world joy, questionable humor and a lot of insightful wisdom. I love you and look forward to walking alongside you as you navigate this next season of life.

Relaxation Station

The name says it all. Four years ago, when Greg and I last slipped away for a weekend, we landed at the Relaxation Station in Brown County, Indiana. Knowing we were long overdue for some time away together again, we booked the first available weekend around our anniversary on the 9th of this month.

It was unseasonably cooler than expected and that afforded us the opportunity to hike and enjoy being outside far more than we could have hoped going into this weekend.

We appreciated evenings in the hot tub and quiet mornings listening to the rain dance through the trees while sipping coffee and tea under the gazebo. The weekend was exactly what we needed to rest and reconnect from a busy life; one we feel blessed to lead together.

While we were away, Erin took excellent care of Kate and Ty. The house ran as it usually would, sans vegetables.  It's a compromise we were willingto make. Erin is awesome and the kids had a blast with her.

Makenna is enjoying life on the beach with a friend and Lauren sent me this gem while we were away. 

It is a blessed life indeed.