Seven {7}

I'm never sure where the time goes...

...but the memories are there. And they are precious.

Happy 7th Birthday to our daughter, Danae. First-born, fulfilling the tell-tale characteristics of such.

Artsy and loves to create things. Helpful beyond compare. Mature and so intelligent for a seven-year-old little girl. And oh, so loved!

She's enjoying cupcakes with her classmates today, waiting for her mama and brother to show up for lunch at school later, excited to open her gifts from us before small group tonight.

Happy birthday, my girl.

September Update

So, based on my lack of posts, I'm sure you can tell that life's been busy. With school and activities in full-swing, it never seems to be boring in our household.


We took our final beach trip over Labor Day weekend...something we did the past couple of years. I say beach trip as if it's a big deal...but growing up on the beaches of NJ and having my parents who still live there is definitely a plus! And while it wasn't crazy-windy like last year, the waves were a bit overwhelming at times (I won't rehash the story...let's just say that my sister-in-law and I will probably never, ever again swim and hold children at the same time. I had nightmares for a week, Christa!)

Danae is doing rather well in first grade. Let me just tell you, though - between the packing lunches every morning, remembering which cycle day we're on, figuring out the weather and outfits, scheduling meetings, homework, projects, dealing with the emotional breakdowns (both hers and mine)...I swear, having a child in school is like adding a part-time job to the Mama's workload! Thankfully I love, love, love planning and calendarizing (do you like that word?), so it just takes a few weeks for everything to fall into place. Danae is seriously such a smart little cookie...and just like last year, we are needing to ask her teacher to challenge her a bit more. She does love school, but complaints of "I'm bored" are trickling in, so we'll need to get that remedied.

Caedon is...well, Caedon. Still all-boy, with snuggles and love in-between. Recently, while out dove hunting with his father and almost in tears, my son informed his Daddy-O that he doesn't want to grow up and move away from us. EVER. While I love this boy's snuggles and affection, deep down I'm wondering if he will still be with us when he's thirty.

Life for us, the parents, marches on, with church youth group starting (Sunday nights are a BLAST!), small group, school/school board meetings back in full-bloom, elder meetings, school functions to be at, work remaining busy, etc. We are getting a few house projects done and planning some small ones for the fall, and I'm looking forward to the ever-dropping temps! Never thought I'd say that, being a lover of the warm weather, but I seriously felt like an oven this summer.


And me...well, I'm just large, and getting larger by the day. That seems to be the word I use when people ask how I'm doing and they can't see me - "I'm large. We are having either another big boy or a chubby girl. How's it going out there?"


Here I am, two days shy of being 5 months along:

 (About 90% of my wardrobe is courtesy of friend Sarah and sister-in-law Shila. No, seriously...)

The bambino is healthy and growing steadily, measuring about two weeks bigger then he/she should right now. I'm being told by our nice friends and family that I'm "all belly", sticking straight out the front, looking good. However, when I asked my honest and realistic almost-seven-year-old daughter if I looked pregnant from the back, she informed me that my butt is big, and that it's because I'm pregnant. Eh...the poor kid doesn't know she's been blessed with the Puerto Rican behind as well, so she'll have it someday, too.


More updates to come!

1st grade and more...

So many "firsts" this week...


Monday: The first day of 1st grade for my first-born. And the first time she is in school all.day.long. *sigh* I miss that kid.



Today: The first time Danae is buying lunch at school. She gets to pick a day each week and was SO excited to be a big kid and buy it today.

Tomorrow: We pick up our first minivan. Hello, world of minivan drivers! We tried to avoid it, but there's no way to slam three car seats across the back of our beloved Outback. So, we said goodbye to her and meet our new/used ride tomorrow afternoon.



Throughout the week: feeling light punches and kicks from the child within for the first time. Love this feeling. :)


Hope you are enjoying your last week of August! One more beach day for us, and then I say bring on the Fall!

Happy 4th

Four years ago today, just after midnight, my first son was born.


Four years old...

Enjoying his most-requested (and only sometimes made) breakfast: wheat cinnamon rolls

My mind is always baffled by how quickly time goes by. How my baby went from infant to toddler to little boy, seemingly in a flash! I remember Caedon's birth so vividly. Natural, not too long, feeling great afterward...the easiest birth, yet my largest baby (he was just a hair under 10 pounds, 22 inches in length).

Now, my Caed is an all-action, dirt and wrestling-loving boy. He's so sensitive...loving to his mama and big sister...quick to hug and touch...often saying he wants a roommate to snuggle with. Yet, he's full of testosterone and creativity, often playing with dinosaurs and Legos for hours, setting up scenes and holding imaginary conversations. I could just sit and watch him all day!

Tonight, instead of taking him out to eat, Caedon chose "mac n' cheese at home" as his birthday dinner. He is a complete homebody at heart, often wanting to stay home instead of going to a store or someone's home. He's also a lover of fruits and vegetables, preferring both over his main meal. His birthday cake request? "I want a cake with apple slices in it." Needless to say, there's a part-wheat Jewish Apple Cake in my oven right now. :o)


Oh, how we love our Caedon and wouldn't trade or wish to change him for anything. Today, we celebrate him!

Costa Rica, Numero Uno

One week ago, Curt, myself, our friend/fellow Messiah grad/youth pastor Brandon, and nine senior high youth groupers hopped on a plane to Costa Rica. Our mission: meet up with Andy and Tina Gordley (missionaries from our church, living in Costa Rica), build bunk beds for a local children's home, work on much-needed renovations and small projects at the Gordley's home and another missionary family's home, interact with children at a local soccer ministry, check out a beach, and be exposed to the culture and lifestyle of Costa Ricans in general. Little did we know that many of us would fall in love with the people we met and learn many lessons (both big and small) along the way.

It's difficult to sum up this trip in just a few words. It would take me an entire day to provide details, explain what we did, describe the people we interacted with...it was quite an exceptional week. One that I would do again in a heartbeat.

I'll be writing blog posts in the coming days and weeks, providing stories, details, and pictures. For now, enjoy the following:

Summer, heat, distractions...and sleep

Another hiatus from blogging. My apologies!

While I have the best of intentions to maintain writing and keep this place up-to-date, sometimes other things take priority.

Things like:

Little get-aways with my hubby and kiddos (the beach, the aquarium, and hopefully more to come!)

Sleep

Maintaining children/a home/a job while attempting to keep down the food I just put in my body

Sleep

Trying to stay cool in this heatwave (and not lose mine while doing so)

Sleep

Enjoying as much family time as possible before my little girl becomes an all-day first grader (sigh)

Some more sleep

You know, those sort of things.

Yes, sleep/napping has turned into somewhat of a priority. Lately I don't seem to function correctly without a little daily snooze, plus a good night's sleep.

Oh, and food...for most of June, crackers, bread, and water were my best friends. We saw a lot of each other (pretty much every hour). If I didn't have them, I turned into a nauseous maniac.

No worries, though, my friends. I will survive this. It's all part of the first 12 weeks of growing someone who is - 

:o)

As the nausea lessens, my waist expands, and baby #4 grows within, I'll update as I can. For now, we pray for health and are excited to meet our next blessing, coming in January 2013!

Soccer Camp

We asked her if she wanted to try it out.

And did she ever!


Over-the-top excited for a four-evening soccer camp a few weeks ago...

Bought her cleats, shin guards, socks, and a ball. She spent several afternoons in the back yard with her Daddy-O (who, in her mind, is a soccer pro after she spotted his trophies and senior soccer photo at Grandma's house), dribbling, practicing, and trying to keep away from her sporty little brother.

Oh, the cuteness!