Hello Summer

So here we are.  The end of the school year.
I feel a lot excited.  And a little nervous.
I love the freedom of summer - to go where we please, when we please. 
To spend long days outside....or in the air conditioning if it's 100 degrees. 
To visit the beach. 
To swim in the pool. 
To go on adventures.
But it also means that almost every single time I go to the grocery store (or Target or ANY kind of errand), I bring 3 children along with me.
Have you ever grocery shopped with 3 kids?  (I know, many of you have....)
But in case you're wondering it involves 3 kids talking at once (each louder than the other) and asking "can we buy Lucky Charms/sour patch kids/popsicles/etc?" and running in aisles and hiding behind displays and wanting to help bag groceries and generally making my head spin. :)
I also have 3 kids of different age groups and maturity levels.  Different genders.  Which means one kid is begging to go to the mall (guess who?) and one kid is hating the mall (guess who?), and one just needs to get home for a nap (and again, guess who?)! 
However, we all enjoy the pool, and friends, and Dunkin Donuts, so I think it'll all work out in the end. :)
And luckily, I love them all to death, so even their frustrating points are bearable for me.

So, this past week involved lots of transitions. 
First off, Carter finished kindergarten!  They had a program and sang some songs for us parents.

Then the teachers handed out "diplomas".  This was after 30 + minutes of standing up and singing and the room was very hot and so Carter looks absolutely less than thrilled to be marking this milestone. :)

A few days later was the actual last day of school.  In the morning we took Audrey to the bus stop one last time as a 3rd grader.

The "bus stop girlz"
(This is probably how they would spell it since they are all so "cool" and all.)

Carter's went to school a couple hours later.  He posed nicely for this one picture with his friend Rebecca and then completely refused to even look at the camera.  In fact, he was running away from me.  I guess he is not into the Mom paparazzi.

Here is his back side view with his friend Melwyn.  It's the best I could do. :(

See?  I even tried to trick him into a picture with me but he moved at the last second.  Grrr.

Carter coming off the bus.  He is now a 1st grader.  Hard to believe!

Audrey coming off the bus.  She is now a 4th grader!  Equally hard to believe.

Every year we have a big picnic/play time with our neighbors on the last day of school.  

One mom set up a volleyball net.  Why do they all look like junior highers all of a sudden??

Another mom set up the water slide!  Always a big hit. This was Chloe's first time to try it!

 

 

The kids also decided to make a towel fort in the swingset.

At one point, I was talking and turned around and saw Chloe swinging all by herself.  I guess someone gave her a push, and she kept pumping.  Yay!  Now I don't have to stand there and push her the whole time!

 

Of course popsicles made an appearance.

So, after this last day of school, the temperatures have been in the high 70's and today it is raining cats & dogs.  Good thing we have this list to keep us occupied!

 

So far today it has been so yucky out that all we've managed to do is visit Target, play computer games, watch a movie, and play legos.....ugh.  Sure hope it gets nicer out soon!

Chloe at 3 1/2

I thought I would do a blog post about Chloe. 

I said to my mom the other day, "I wish I could just freeze her right now."  We are just in such a fun stage!  Chloe is delightful and funny and sweet and loving and helpful and obedient and such fun to be around.  

Tierra thinks she has a "sparkle"?  She's got nothin' on this girl.  (Sorry, Bachelor reference!)

 

This girl could spend hours a day coloring.  And she has some mad coloring skills for a 3 year old!  She walks around with what I call "artist hands"....markers are her medium of choice so her hands are constantly covered in markers.  Even if I just wiped them 10 minutes ago. 

Last weekend, Chloe, Audrey & I went to the middle school performance of The Little Mermaid. I was a little concerned about how she would sit still for a whole musical but she sat entranced the whole time! 

Chloe loves to play with her dolls Marley, Cassidy & Avery.  She got a double stroller for her dolls for Christmas, so often a few of her "kids" will come with us as we walk to the bus stop to pick up Audrey & Carter. 
Chloe gets brought along to many play dates and coffee meet-ups and apparently she has been listening in as the moms talk.  Lately when I'm talking with friends, Chloe will chime in, roll her eyes and say "Marley & Cassidy always poop in their diapers!" or she'll come up to me while I'm in the kitchen and report (hands on hips) "Mom, Marley & Cassidy are in time out because they weren't listening!"  Sure enough, I'll go peek in her room and they will be sitting on the bed. :)  She also tenderly wraps them up and reads them stories.  Such a good mommy.  :)

Last week  I made my first trip to urgent care.  And it was with Chloe.  (Honestly, I am amazed that we've made it this far without a trip to urgent care or the ER.)  I was afraid she might need stitches but we got off easy with a butterfly bandage.  Chloe appears to be so prim and docile to people who don't know her but at home she is wild child....climbing chairs, jumping off beds and sofas, tackling her 50+ lb. brother, trying to wrestle Daddy....

Chloe loves school and is now a proud member of the "zipper upper club" - which means she can zip up her coat all by herself!  She has made many friends in her class but she has one friend that is her favorite buddy.  When I come to pick her up, I often see them sitting and giggling in the hall together.

A few months ago we went to Chloe's school conference.  Her teacher told me that she asked Chloe (mostly out of curiosity) to point in a book to something that started with the letter A, B, C, etc.  She said she was surprised because Chloe could do it with every letter she asked her about, and many kids her age are just learning to identify letters.  Now it has kind of become a game we play where I ask her "what is something that starts with N?"  And she will go "nn, nnn.....nose!"  She is a little sponge.  It probably doesn't hurt that her big brother has always been obsessed with letters. :)

Well, I'm sure I'm leaving something out but it's getting late and I'm losing steam!  

Chloe girl, we sure love you and are glad you're a part of our family!  Keep being the sweet and spunky girl you are!

Birthday Highlights

Just a few highlights from Carter's birthday....

It's kind of hard to see here, but Audrey made "Carter is 6!" out of Knex.  I thought that was so sweet since Knex are one of his favorite toys.

The birthday boy with his crown from school and his presents from us & his Grandma & Grandpa.  He had been sick the day before his birthday so I was SO glad he was better and able to celebrate his day.  He and I went out for breakfast, just the two of us.  Such a special memory.

In the evening, we went out to dinner & then bowling!  Being the excellent mother I am, I forgot to take the camera along. :(  But at least we have our memories. :)

Carter enjoying a new game from Grandma & Grandpa with Daddy's help.

This has nothing to do with Carter's birthday - but isn't she just adorable all dressed up like a princess?  This is one of her favorite things to do these days.  Anyhow....

We had a family party a few days after Carter's "real" birthday and here he is ready to open presents.

He got a DS from his Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop for his birthday.  It was a total surprise and he was thrilled!

 The handsome birthday boy.

 I got this number cake idea from Pinterest, where else???

Blowing out candles!

After he went to bed, we found out that Carter had sneaked his DS under his pillow.  Kinda naughty, but also kinda cute....

To Carter, my 6 year old boy

Dear Carter,
Today you are 6 years old.  I know I sound like all grown-ups when I say this, but I can't believe you are already six.  It really doesn't seem like all that long ago you were the little guy that I was chasing down the sidewalk, and here you are, counting money and building elaborate cars out of K'nex and losing teeth.  You probably won't read this for a long time....but I write it just to capture a picture of who you are right now.  I don't want to forget this stage of your life, and maybe you will want to remember it someday too. 

You were a very much longed-for baby.  You already know this, but after Audrey was born I had another baby in my tummy that died.  It made me so sad.  I REALLY wanted to have another child right away, but I had to wait for nine long months until God put you in my tummy.  I know that doesn't seem like a super long time, but it felt like an eternity then.  I was so, so happy when I found out you were in there and again when I found out you would be a boy.  And when you were born?  Well, my joy was complete.

I love watching you become who God made you to be.  Even at 6, you have such an amazing mind.  You learned to read when you were four, and you read so well now.  When we read together, I see words that I don't think you would know, but....yup, you know them.  You have a great memory for things that interest you.  You can tell me all kinds of facts about the solar system, you like to study the globe you got for Christmas, and the other day, you quoted to me our neighbor's license plate number.  That shocked me, yet it didn't.  On the other hand, if something doesn't interest you - well, it just doesn't interest you.  Crafts, coloring, etc - yeah, not your thing.  And that's okay.  :)

You live very much in the moment.  This is kind of a blessing and a curse.  I love that you just enjoy what you are doing and get totally wrapped up in what you are working on....however, it is sometimes hard to move you onto the next thing and you don't always think ahead, because you are just thinking about right now.  But when you get soooo focused, I just think -- some day you are going to do or discover something amazing.  Whatever it is that you choose to do with your life... I am sure you will be very good at it.

I also love that - because you live in the moment - you don't worry about what others are thinking of you.  You still flap your arms sometimes.  I thought you would grow out of that a long time ago, but you still sometimes do it, mostly at home.  Sometimes someone will be over and ask you what you are doing, and you just simply say "I'm flapping my arms because I'm excited."  I need to be more like that.  You just enjoy what you are doing unapologetically and don't worry about looking silly.  Just please don't flap your arms at your wedding someday, K?  :)

You have always had a very sweet temperament, and that is still true of you.  You love to give hugs although I will say that you told me early in the school year to "stop kissing you at the bus stop".   :)  But you have always had a gift for encouragement and just naturally will compliment others on what they are doing well.  You also easily give things of your own to others and share easily. This makes my heart so proud.  I know that God will use those qualities to build others up and draw people to Him. 

 On a less "deep" note - lately you have become a better eater.  I sure hope this continues.  You have spent a good part of the past year being picky and refusing to eat much of what I serve for dinner.  Lately we just insist that before you leave the table you at least try bites of what is on your plate.  It seems to have worked because over the past few weeks, you have become increasingly adventurous and willing to try more and more foods.  Wow, this has made dinner time so much more pleasant.  I hope you keep being "brave" and that in life you will be more and more willing to try new things as well.  Your natural tendency is (like mine) to stick with the familiar.  But it is a big world out there full of lots of great things and I hope you have the courage to experience all the good the world has to offer.  (And - I'm a mom so I feel compelled to say this - I hope you have the courage to stay away from all the bad as well!!  Because that is certainly out there too....)

 

Well, I love you very much Carter and I pray for you each day.  I can't wait to see what the next years of your life hold for you and I pray that I will be the kind of Mommy who brings out all the best in you and helps you overcome the difficulties you will face.

God bless you, my sweet boy.
Mommy

Words

Words.  They have power.

For example, has anyone else noticed the whole "one word" New Year's resolution thing?

Basically, the idea is that you pick one word that you want to focus on in the next year.  I really hate to jump on bandwagons but I kind of like the idea.  It's not a big list of lots of things that I will forget about in 3 weeks.  It's just a word to think about, a word to strive toward over the next year.  A word to inspire.

I gave this some thought and prayed about it, and the word that kept coming to mind was "courage."  I want to be more courageous.  I can appear on the outside to have it together - but on the inside I am often fearful, worried about what other people think, and sometimes I hold back from trying new things.  I want to work on stepping out of my comfort zone and being willing to do what God is asking me to do, even if it feels uncomfortable.

So (hang with me here, this does relate to words...) back in the fall, I began helping lead a women's Bible study at our church.  I am kind of getting to a point with the kids where I feel like I can actually take on outside responsibilities and I was excited to take on something new.

But honestly, after a couple months I was doing what I often do - questioning myself. I wonder - is leading a group really my gift?  I worry about whether I am tripping over my words.  I get concerned about what people are thinking about my ability to lead.  I compare myself to other leaders and find myself coming up short.  Then that negative voice in my head starts with the negative words.  Words that discourage and tear down.

Really, what I should be doing is praying about it if I have concerns - isn't God our source of wisdom and discernment?  (Yes, duh, Amy.)  So yesterday before Bible study I prayed that God would use me through this study and that I would have a right attitude about it all.  And I was remembering that I needed to have courage to do what God has called me to (because I do feel that He has placed me in this role), even if I'm not always "comfortable" leading.  I just need to do it and trust God to help me where I am lacking.

So today I went to our meeting, and everything went as usual.   But as we were leaving one of the women in my group stopped me and said "I've been meaning to tell you....you do a great job leading the group."  She went on to say some other encouraging things.  I thanked her and told her how much that really meant to me.  She has no idea what kind of mental wranglings I have been doing over the past months.  But her words were an answer to prayer.  Her words encouraged me and breathed fresh life into my soul.

This reminded me anew - we need to take care with our words.  What words we allow to define us, and what words we cast off.  Because, perhaps you are like me and live with a critic in your head.   But also we need to be careful about what words we speak to others - are they words of encouragement?  are they honest words?  will they help someone to grow or will they make someone wither?

God, please give me the courage this year to step out into whatever You call me to do.  Help me to be obedient.  And help my words to encourage, uplift and inspire. 

Reflections on a sleepover

This past weekend Audrey had her 9th birthday party with friends.

She wanted a sleepover. 

{shiver}

But I made a plan, and we went forward with it.

Step 1:  Send Chad & the kids to my parents' house for the night so as to cut down on chaos.

Step 2:  Enlist a few friends to help out (again, so as to cut down on chaos).

Step 3:  Plan plenty of fun activities to keep girls busy and expending their energy in a purposeful direction (again.....so as to cut down on chaos)!

Audrey & I decided to make it a "spa" party.

My friends and I gave the girls facials, hand massages, manicures & pedicures. 

Goody bags included mini-manicure sets, eye masks, body lotion, nail polish & flip flops.

The girls really seemed to enjoy it all!

Success!

We started out with pizza on the deck.

Not very spa-like but hey.

 My friend Kathleen used to own a spa and she came and gave the girls mini-facials.  While they were getting facials, I gave them hand massages.

 We even put cucumber slices on their eyes!

 Ahh, relaxation.  This was the quietest they were all night.

Well, until they fell asleep!

 After facials we played a game that Katie made up.

We had them wear their eye masks and then we had them all smell different lotions and try to "guess the scent".

Next up was manicures & pedicures but we were so busy painting 140 nails that I really don't have any good pics.

Suffice it to say, they soaked their feet in foot spas, and Katie scrubbed all those dirty feet and painted all the toes.

Then I painted all the fingers.

Thank heavens Katie really enjoys doing pedicures, because in general....feet gross me out.

And let's just say - some of those feet were pretty dirty.  :)

After this was cake & presents.

 Which I probably should have done earlier in the evening because I got them all good & sugared up right in time for bedtime.

 In fact, this girl finished up all the leftover cake from everyone else....

Then Audrey opened presents.

Her friend made her this pet rock!

And she got a bunch of gift cards among other fun things...she is so excited to go pick out some new stuff!

So off we go to the mall tomorrow....

At bedtime, the girls took awhile to settle down but I went down to where they were "sleeping" around 11pm and did a final lights out.  

They went right to sleep!

The next morning I gave them breakfast and then actually....it was a pleasant morning. 

They hung around and played....and I sat with a cup of coffee and hung out in peace!  

It was fun....but I'm glad it's over now!