back to school

This has been such a week...one to remember.
Outside of each day's moments to remember there have been a few that I am sure to never forget.

Ethan started second grade on Monday. He was anxious to go back to school but not overly so...we had a great summer. I did a little interview on the morning of his first day back. He was most looking forward to friends (no surprise there), happy to ride the bus, hoping to eat chicken nuggets and chocolate milk once and a while and still ready to walk away without saying good-bye or a "see you later."

The first day was a bit of a shock to his summer system. He told Mark he had some trouble with his teacher...she wanted him to do an activity or two...Of all the nerve! But, true to form he was raring to go the next day and even more excited this morning when his little brother would join him.

The school asked that parents drop off kindergartners for the first day at the door to there classroom...as if there is another way to get your ever present 5 year old off to their first day of school and without the complete meltdown of all mothers involved. Did they really need to ask? I don't know if I could have added "put Owen on the bus" to the day's to do list and still kept my heart in functional pieces. However, dropping him off at his classroom was still one of those moments...the kind where reality smacks your heart so hard you remember you are alive...because liquid starts running down your face!


Owen was excited in a subdued way and only had about 15 seconds of visible nerves...he sat close, took a deep breath and laid his head on my lap (as he has so many times in his 5 years)...but this passed quickly as I prayed in his ear for Jesus to help the strength He has put in Owen's heart to rise up and help him to face all the new things he would experience today.

After his teacher welcomed them he found his spot in the boy line and barely looked back before heading off to the adventure. I wouldn't have expected any different from this wise boy.

And, along for the ride (in many ways), are my precious girls...

Once we got home I could tell Audrey was a little misplaced. She sat at the table very quietly (anyone who knows her is aware that this is nearly impossible). After about 10 minutes of writing on a wipe board she turned a very sad face to me and on the verge of tears said, "I don't want to wait so long for the boys to come home."

We had our moment together and have enjoyed a wonderful morning together ever since. This will be very different for her and a complete do-over for me...girl-style! The last time I spend significant time with a 3 and 1 year old like this it was Ethan and Owen. What a blessing to have these days with my girls now.

What great expectancy I have for this school year...
what a wonderful husband and children to enjoy it with...
what a good God to bless us so richly.

audrey-girl is 3!

Today we celebrated the precious life of this spunky girl we have been blessed to call our daughter...

October 09

September 09

August 09

July 09

June 09

May 09

April 09

March 09

February 09

January 09

December 08

November 08

October 08 - Audrey's 2nd Birthday

impromptu family photo

saying goodbye to summer

true north

I was the catcher so I couldn't be in the picture.

Read this on another blog and love how it encourages my heart toward my current true north...intentionality with my children.

Enjoy...

Here is a list of Seven Gifts Which Do Not Cost a Cent:

1. The gift of listening - But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response ... just listen.

2. The gift of affection - with appropriate hugs, kisses, snuggling, pats on the back and handholding. These small actions demonstrate love in a powerful way.

3. The gift of laughter - share amusing stories, humorous cartoons, jokes, etc. Laughter establishes a bond between people.

4. The gift of a handwritten note - kind words change lives and last a lifetime.

5. The gift of a compliment - a simple, kind and sincere remark can change how a person feels about him/herself.

6. The gift of a favor - the simplest things like getting a glass of juice for your child or putting away hubby's shoes for him may not seem like much but demonstrate kindness to others in a big way.

7. The gift of a cheerful disposition - the easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. look him/her in the eye and speak kindly, from the heart with sincerity. {Proverbs 15:13 A Happy heart makes the face cheerful.}

it's all about the toppings

I am not sure who could argue with our thought that food is often just a form of entertainment...so much for whole grain waffles...bring on the "lip-cream", as Ethan calls it.

visitors

We enjoyed a lovely break from reality with Mark's parents this last weekend. Because of the incredible weather we were able to enjoy a few of our favorite hikes. The kids were especially delighted by the invitation for individual sleepovers with Papa and Nana at the "hooteal" (Audrey's incredibly cute way of saying hotel).

Here are a few of the 600+ pictures that were taken...

hallelujah

Elyse just took a nap!!!

Also, love these pictures...

another step

It wasn't something we really discussed or planned for but tonight we did it...

inspiration

celebrating fall

We are finding all kinds of ways to celebrate fall. We have had such a lovely week of weather and have taken advantage of any time we could be outside. We also enjoyed a great fall hike and picnic, carving pumpkins and some trick-or-treating.

birthday fun

my birthday girl

Our girl is 2. We are so enjoying all that is emerging from this little princess. Her vocabulary is incredible, her spunk and sweetness undo us and her hair leaves me speechless.

Unlike our boys, Audrey has not YET had to transition into being an older sibling. Ethan and Owen both had another new baby in the house before they turned 2. We have been mindful of these "extra" days with our girl before her sister arrives. We have been able to delight in and enjoy her with less distraction and we have loved every moment...well, almost. We weren't particularly enjoying her high-pitched protest this morning...she is beginning to redefine drama around here almost daily.

She is a delightful girl and now she is 2!

January 2008

February 2008

March 2008

April 2008

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008

September 2008

farmies, like roadies, but farmies

We are loving our farm days. They are early mornings...we have to leave the house at 5:45am...and we are really tired at the end of them but we love it! I wasn't able to get any pictures of Ethan because he was off on adventures: catching crickets for Quentin's bullfrog, feeding the cows, visiting the pigs, finding the cats, playing in the dirt, harassing the chickens, smashing squash, eating green beans, peas, carrots or whatever looks good from the share baskets or just general meandering about the farm with a small and extremely cute gang of boys and girls covered in dirt. But, here are my two other farmies...

Audrey sticks close to gather any stray veggies she can scarf down

Owen and part of his posse negotiating over shovels and buckets just outside the barn

st. mary's glacier

Yesterday, about mid-morning, we packed a lunch and headed to the mountains for a hike. Our destination was St. Mary's Glacier. It was one of the hikes listed in the kid's "passport to adventure" books that we are working through this summer from REI. All of the hikes/bike trails are "kid friendly" and we are finding them pretty "adult friendly" too. After we accomplish 5 hikes/bike rides the kids get a compass/whistle tool to hang on their backpacks.



On our way there the sky began to get darker and very foreboding. We drove through some heavy rain but I think our short time away from this glorious place had us very thirsty for the beauty and "space" of the wild we knew we would be enjoying. So, we kept going even if it meant we only picnicked in the high country. The sky cleared somewhat and even though Mark took some coaxing (the weather was VERY unpredictable and there was plenty of thunder to warrant his caution) we decided to go for it and make the ascent to the glacier. It was beautiful and rugged and wild. We did get rained on but no one cared. And our van and the picnic lunch that awaited us when we returned were a great comfort!






One thing I took notice of in my heart yesterday was that I am very prone toward thinking "larger and a bit more rebellious" thoughts after I have been in the wild. I find that I have a little more space to consider life in a different way. This happens nearly every time. I just finally noticed it yesterday. I love this place to be.