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!

Last Day of School

It was 183 school days ago when many of us mamas had to let go of our fears and anxieties, trust that God would keep them safe, and let our Kindergartners start their journey...

First day of Kindergarten - August 2011

...and today is the last day of my Kindergartner's 1st grader's school year!

Last day of Kindergarten - June 2012

What a journey it has been! So much growth in just 9.5 months, and so many lessons learned. I loved watching my daughter conquer a few of her fears and try new things. My heart swelled when she lovingly gave her own things to her classmates, making her own decisions to show them love through little acts. I hurt along with her when friends said or did hurtful things, trying to navigate through this thing called friendships. It's all part of growing up, developing the character within.


 This morning we had the honor of watching our daughter (along with many other students, hand-picked by their own teachers) receive a Character Education Award (translation - our school district has "Traits of the Month" that are discussed in each school, and the Award went to students who displayed those traits all the time in their daily lives).

The Award was a surprise to Danae, and she didn't know we were going to be there to see her.

We are beyond proud of our girly girl! I might not want her to grow up, but wow - is she ever becoming a beautiful little lady, inside and out!

busyness and slowing down

Somewhere in the past few months - between the deadlines and the emails, the phone calls and the charts, the feeling of working constantly and the guilt of not finishing it all - I pushed aside the things I love to do (baking, reading, playing, running on a normal schedule, writing) and busyness latched itself on. 

I should have seen it coming. When prep time for the busy summer lacrosse season hits (usually February-May), I work a ton more hours than normal. But I didn't figure in the other hats I took on within the past year and how it would all fit.

Completely.my.fault. 

And completely in need of a change.

We are now learning to pull back. To do a bit less. To put aside a few hats for a bit. To slow down. To start saying "No" and not feel guilty about it. To stay home more and just "be".

And I'm completely fine with that.