A Day Off

I caught a cold from working with the kids at our church's VBS. Although I am feeling much better today, I am a bit lightheaded from the medicines and I fear any posting would make little to no sense.
Regular entries will resume tomorrow. I know you are sitting on the edge of your seat. In the meantime, enjoy this photo of our cat, Charlie Chaplain, in a stroller (he is sooo very tolerant of Lil Bit's games).

Quick Quips

Today Morgan overheard me telling someone about the boys in her Vacation Bible School class. Thirty-two 3-5 year olds is always controlled chaos. Throw in one less teacher and a sugary snack, and the "controlled" part of that becomes less and less obvious. I was discussing this last night when Morgan overheard me say, "some of the boys have just insane amounts of energy."
Lil Bit pondered this for a second and then quipped, "why do you say some of the boys, Mommy? Have you not met all of them?"

Yeah, that is my angel baby. This one . . .

Backpacking

A mix of breathtaking beauty, and pain that can take your breath away. Ok, maybe the pain isn't that bad (except for the time that I tried to do a several day hike hours after having my knee manipulated by an orthopedist. can we say, "didn't think that through"?), but it sounded catchy. Or maybe not.

aaaaand, back to topic . . .
Since moving near the mountains, Chris has had the opportunity to go on a few different trips, and we are planning one this fall that I can join him on (now that Adeline is a little older and I am able to leave her overnight). We have gone on a few day hikes as a family, as well, and Lil Bit loves them. The last one we did was 3 miles round trip, and she was bounding down the mountain. Ah, the energy of a childhood, it is a beautiful thing--despite what I think in the early hours of the morning.
The most recent trip Chris took was over Memorial Day weekend, with his dad, brother in law, and a friend. They hiked up the mountain. This trail had steps.

Lots and lots of steps (which I actually find harder than a steep trail most of the time, but as I had no part in creating this trail and they did not ask my opinion, I had no influence). Imagine the effort it took to build this!

But the view at the top is worth it.

Look--twins! Don't you hate it when that happens? Or when your wife then posts the picture on the internet and people everywhere laugh at you wish they could look that good.

And here is a nice family photo (Chris, his dad, and Joe the brother-in-law) Really, I do love it. There is something about a bond between men in a family that is wonderful.

And now for some scenery shots.



oh! I meant a different kind of scenery (but they are handsome, aren't they? especially that guy by the fire--and I think it is a cool shot as well).
Here is the real scenery.


Chris took photos of flowers and butterflies while he hiked because he knew Morgan would like them. I love that he was thinking about his daughter like that even on a man's weekend!

Sitting On the Dock of the Bay . . . .

. . . Watching the tide roll away.
(almost Wordless Wednesday)





tomorrow . . . Mountain Men.

Graduator

'Graduator' is what Lil Bit called all the graduating seniors. This is our graduate, Christopher's little brother, Lee. I love the hat hair the graduation caps leave--and Lee was a great sport letting me photo it. (Lee really is handsome, but I seem to have a habit of posting unattractive photos of people lately!)


It was a great ceremony, a small enough class that they could do some recognition of the students who had special accolades. I was amazed at how many scholarships and grants came from the small community. Afterward we all went back to the house to celebrate Lee's accomplishments. (This is where all the pictures of the cousins, swings, and sliding came from.) It was a wonderful time, except for a few moments after Morgan had a collision with the swing in full momentum (next time, I think Morgan will listen when everyone shouts, "stop, Morgan!!!" ok, that is probably wishful thinking.)

Despite the goofy photo I posted of Lee, I really am proud of him and we are looking forward to all he will accomplish. He is an incredible young man with a determination and spirit that will serve him well.

Busy Week

This week is going to be hectic. My goal is still to post every day, but they might be shorter posts. We have Vacation Bible School this week, and I am assisting with the music, which means we don't get back to the house until after lunch. And then each evening we leave again by 5:15 for evening swim practice. So, I have resigned myself to the fact that all the great work I did over the weekend while Chris and Morgan were visiting Chris's parents will soon be for naught. (I should correct the statement about Chris and Morgan--Morgan was visiting, Chris was helping his dad, brother, and brother-in-law put a new roof on his parents' house.)
And in the 4 hour window I have at home each day I have to clean house, repair fencing (stupid horses keep scratching their backsides and popping boards off), and cook dinner. Ok, I can do it--but finding time for extensive blogging might be difficult. You understand, I hope.

But, for today, I will include a more beautiful picture of my cousin, Ashley, in apology for the one I posted last week. This is a photo of her last Fall in my little sister Molly's wedding (Ashley is on the left, with another bridesmaid, Missy).

Tomatoes

Last night I made 5 tomato cages with the leftover welded wire we had from the guinea coop (the cages you can buy always fall over on me by mid-July and I am tired of picking my tomato plants up off the ground). Then I used up the few tomato stakes we had to stake some others up temporarily. When I ran out of those, I used step-in posts for the rest. Necessity is the mother of grabbing-whatever-you-can-find-in-the-barn-and-making-do. Oh, is that not how the saying goes? Well, anyone who knows me well knows I am often guilty of massacring innocent cliches. Chris is constantly amused by statements like, "that's the plan, Sam" (um, that would be Stan) or "not the brightest cookie in the happy meal" (which is some convoluted combination of "brightest lightbulb" "smartest cookie" and "one fry short of a happy meal." or something.). There are many more, but I am completely unaware of most of them and only notice when Chris starts laughing hysterically someone kindly points out my mistake.

Back to the topic at hand. Tomatoes. We have twenty-seven tomato plants. Yes, I really do mean 27. And that is in addition to okra, bell peppers, bush beans, cucumbers, sweet corn, squash, zucchini, carrots, radishes, cantaloupe, and probably something else I have forgotten. We bought a farm and got ambitious--you know, because we didn't have enough else to do. Anyway, my goal for the summer is to learn to can. It is more than a goal--it is a necessity. So, if you have any recipes or tips---pleeeeaaaase send them!

If anyone is interested, I will gladly provide you with the blueprints to our amazingly designed tomato-plant-holder-upper system.

and PS--tomatoes must be some of the wimpiest plants in creation. Really, they are nature's most co-dependent plant. Mine are barely 3 feet tall, only a couple have even the beginnings of fruit and they still cannot stand up on their own! Hence, me battling the roll of welded wire to enable their co-dependence provide the support their delicate stems need.


Chili peppers. I knew I forgot something.

Oh Chute!

Ok, so these aren't really photos of a chute, but I have been playing a lot of this game lately.

Having kids alters your brain is so many unexpected ways. Wonderful ways, mostly, but some are just strange.

Anyway, back to the original story. Adeline has discovered a love of slides. She has a lot of trouble climbing up, especially in a dress.

Can you give a baby some help, here??

Anticipation

Almost . . .


WHEEEEEEEEE!

Adeline loved this and would do it over and over--as long as she could find some parent or grandma to con help her out. I tried many times to get a photo of her actually sliding. But the slide was short and she shot down, and I don't have a great camera. (actually, I am still bumming cameras off other people, as my one is still at my friend's house in Kentucky and the other one died.)

Take a moment and remember the freedom involved in sliding down a slide. Or riding a teeter-totter. Or sitting on a swing. No, really do it. You will find a part of you unties, relaxes. It is that perfect combination of guiding the motion and complete lack of control. That is something easily forgotten as we go through the mundane rituals of adulthood. I love staying at home with my kids, but the laundry and the vacuuming do get a bit old. I am so glad that Morgan and Addie interrupt me to play "get you"--a game where we chase Addie around and pretend we can't catch her that always ends in a lot of giggles and kisses--or do "science experiments" in the kitchen. We go through a lot of vinegar and baking soda and food coloring around here! That reminds me--I am supposed to go buy some white eggs and some grass seed for our next project. (thank you to my friend up North who sent us the wonderful Kids Science book--we use it ALL the time!)

And at some point, take a break and enjoy something simple. Like a Capri Sun.

The Zoo

We recently took a trip to a wonderful zoo that is (kind of) close to us. Lil Bit has been looking forward to this trip for months, but I am honestly not sure whether she liked the transit-train ride or the actual zoo more. (She has wanted to ride a train ever since she first knew about them--but really, how often do most people ride trains nowadays?)

Morgan and "Aunt" Ashley (Meghann's cousin) in the equivalent of "Grand Central Station." Actually, judging by this photo, I am not sure who is more excited about the trip.
PS if you think Ashley and Meghann have a family resemblance--it isn't your imagination, we look more like each other than we do our siblings.
PPS Ashley hates this photo, she thinks she looks silly. She really is very beautiful though (and remember--we look alike!)

Meghann and Adeline on the train. Addie had been woken up from a nap to be put in the backpack carrier, so was still a little dazed at that point.
on a side note--my little sister, Molly, just informed me that pre-kid I swore I would never use one of those backpacks. I have no recollection of that conversation or why I would say that. But, they are a whole lot easier than a stroller--and I burn extra calories and build more leg muscle hauling Addie's wopping 18 pounds around. (I did have a lot of bottled water and juice and snacks in there, too, for the kids--so I was carrying a bit more than that when all was said and done, but Addie is still a shrimp, and I love it.)

The pool behind us (with the big red ball) has a hippo in it, but you can't see her under the water in the photo.
The elephants had a whole assortment of rubber balls as well--I think the hippos and elephants play dodgeball at night when all the people go away. hey, it could happen.
This young elephant is taking hay right out of her mama's mouth. I guess kids of all species can get pretty demanding.

The zoo had these lines going across a whole section for the orangutans to climb on. they went from one enclosed area to another. They were up pretty high, but apparently they are too graceful to fall. This was Morgan's favorite part, she said.

This is just a picture of Bitty Bit during our lunch break--it is cute and I wanted to share. She had cheezits in her hands and was thus prepared to take over the world.

All in all, it was a wonderful day--both seeing the unique animals and spending time with Ashley.

Wordless Wednesday

Girls in White Dresses

With Blue Satin Sashes With Flip Flops and Giggles (and a balance beam)

The Bits and their cousins, Rileigh and Avery. The Girls in White Dresses are all on the balance beam.

Adeline thinks she can do it too.

Quick Quiz: Addie is not wearing a white dress because
(a) I did not have one for her.
(b) white dresses and babies are a disaster waiting to happen.
(c) this dress is so much cuter anyway.
(d) all of the above

Still Trying.
(if you guessed d then give yourself an A+ not that it will be worth anything ever)

Ah! She made it. All the girls sat down behind her. Isn't my niece Avery Beautiful?

And my niece Rileigh is gorgeous, too! (And a bit of a ham--I love that about her.) Oh, and Addie is done with the balance beam. It wasn't nearly as fun as those older girls made it out to be.

So, we are back to the Girls in White Dresses. Look how adorable and sweet and innocent and . . . hey! are those bunny ears on my daughter? Ok, so scratch the innocent--but they are adorable and sweet and a whole lot of fun!

Fathers . . .

Dads are essential. They are little girls' first Knight in Shining Armor, first Prince Charming. It is cliche, maybe, but I see the truth in it every time Christopher walks in the door. There is a confidence my girls only gain from the stability of their dad. Wrestling matches, special "dates," or working on a project together all strengthen that bond and I love watching him always make time for those moments. Even Adeline will "tackle" daddy--and when he arrives home in the evenings, her world revolves around him. For at least thirty minutes, she wants nothing to do with anyone else and will literally cling to him if I try to hold her. Although it makes doing much else rather difficult, I know that those are precious moments that flee all too fast.

Thank you, Christopher, for allowing those moments to happen every day. Thank you for never being "too busy" for Morgan to help you or to read Adeline the same book over and over again when she crawls into your lap. Thank you for listening to tall tales about Care Bears and how Morgan needs to take them medicine for the "Winter React Disease" or letting her call Champ Bear on your cell phone. Thank you for pretending to let the girls win in wrestling matches or races so that Morgan can shout "I beat!" and dissolve into giggles. Thank you for catching them when they fall. They will know they can always turn to you. Someday soon we won't be kissing scraped knees and you will be fighting the urge to go injure that teenage boy that broke your daughter's heart. But whether the tears are over a stumble in the driveway or a lesson in life, they will always know you are their safety net. And even when they are all grown up--even when they are married and have kids of their own--they will still see you as "Daddy" and they will always be your little girls. I love you, Christopher.

And to my own Daddy. You chose us, you chose me. I am sure there were easier roads to fatherhood that marrying a widow with two children. But I am so glad that you picked this life. Many of my favorite childhood memories are moments we shared. I remember riding my bike on your runs when I was a kid. I remember taking walks with you as a teenager. (I also remember the time you picked me up from my first double date and had to go for a "walk around the block" for an hour and a half because the guy had his arm around me.) I remember you laughing at all the drama through every age--but never in a mocking or condescending way. You always gave me perspective, you kept me grounded. I never doubted your unconditional love and have never felt like I was anything less than your daughter. Just as you have never been anything less than my Daddy. And now that I am grown, I still love talking to you every morning, or debating late into the night about things we agree on but still love to challenge each other about. I love that you still laugh at drama--although it is (usually) my girl's drama now--and that you still give me perspective. You have been the standard every guy had to live up to--and that everyone except Chris paled in comparison to. Thank you for loving Mom every day and for being a rock for our family. I love you, Daddy.


And to all the other fathers that I know and don't know. Thank you for the time, for the energy, and the love your pour out each day. You are your childrens' rock, their example. Every little boy wants to have a dad they can be like. Every little girl wants a dad that makes her feel like a princess. Never underestimate your importance to them. Even if they don't tell you every day, you are deeply loved and depended upon.

Graduation!!

Congratulations, Lee!! We are so proud of you and excited to see what you will accomplish in the years to come.

I will write more later--but at the moment we are rushing out the door to attend the graduation ceremonies.

The Death of a Camera

I finally did locate my little Nikon Coolpix. It had fallen out of my purse in a store while I was visiting some friends. (Out of desperation I started calling every place we had visited. Desperation can lead to good things, apparently.) They picked it up for me, and it safely resides at their house until they are able to send it back home. In the meantime I have been using the old camcorder we bought six years ago. Even then the picture quality for still shots wasn't great, so it is definitely on the low end of digital picture quality now. But, it was something. Until a couple weeks ago.
At first, I thought it was just something screwy with the light. And these pictures turned out kind of cool. (These are Meghann's mom with the girls on our front porch.)


and just for reference, this is what the lighting looked like when I stepped to the other side of the porch:


Then I tried to snap these pictures of the girls playing outside. Again, I thought maybe the strong afternoon sun playing tricks with my camera, but thought it was a little odd.


At this point, I knew something was wrong. These are photos of the girls playing on the slip n slide. Can't you tell?


So, until the Nikon makes it's way across several states via the ever-reliable USPS, I must rely on old photos or the rare occasions where Chris can bring home the work camera.


(Posts will be pretty short this weekend. Chris's little brother graduates from high school tomorrow and we will be celebrating with the family.)

Commercials

I don't need to watch television. Lil Bit will quote all the commercials for me. Word. for. word. As I was working on something, she started telling me about a commercial for "pancake puffs". These are some of the phrases that have just been quoted to me:

"if you like pancakes, you'll love pancake puffs." why does this remind me of those perfume knock-offs? if you like 'Happy' you'll looove nutty-as-a-fruitcake
"great plain, with just maple syrup" pancakes, with maple syrup? you don't say!
they send you a book and you can have "jalepeno puffs, pigs-in-a-blanket puffs, crabcake puffs, banana puffs, blueberry puffs . . ." but the real question is can I have jalepeno-blueberry puffs?
"good for special occasions, perfect for snacks, breakfasts, lunch . . ." special occasions, eh? I bet those pigs-in-a-blanket puffs will go great at the next black tie cocktail party. (not that I have ever hosted a black tie cocktail party)

she is a marketer's dream.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

This is years ago, but the cute factor is still there. Meet Lottie--now eight years old (about eight weeks old in the photo).

Swimming

It is going to be 100 degrees out today. Again. All weekend Chris and I worked in the brutal heat. Ok, Chris worked all weekend. I worked all Saturday and a little bit on Sunday. And then I felt like a slacker because Chris was still putting up fence on the paddock. But, I rested on the couch until the guilt passed. If I had lemonade, it would have been perfect. But cocacola worked.
I mean it--it is so hot, I am not sure the guinea eggs I am picking from the nest aren't already hard boiled. Ok, so that was a bit of hyperbole. But it is almost straight truth.

So, days like this there is only one place for a Lil Bit to be. Working on her flip turns in the pool. Yup, swim team has started back up. Actually, it started before Memorial Day, when the water (and the air) was still so cool cold Lil Bit would actually shake. Ahh, the good ol days. Now, she and the other kids get to enjoy the temperate water while the moms all sit on the deck and melt from the heat. It is not pretty. (Although, I must say, the group of moms that are there when I am there must be some of the most naturally beautiful women I have seen. Not straight-off-the-cover-of-vogue-airbrushed-pretty, but truly beautiful in a way that only comes with confidence and contentment. I love being around them.)

Yesterday I got smart and used Bitty Bit as an excuse to get in the water re-introduced Bitty Bit to the joys of a pool. She loved the water, even though she went under a couple times (I would pull her up and she was still grinning--I suspect she was going under semi-intentionally). And I loved being knee-deep in blissful coolness. It was a little bit of heaven smack dab in the middle of the inferno.

The Rest of the Story - from Chris' Perspective

The other day we traveled to my parents to pick up Meghann’s horse (Annie) and Morgan’s pony (Jasmine), we were all looking forward to a nice visit with my parents before traveling home with the horses. When we got to my parents we just relaxed and enjoyed our time with everyone. My sister and her family came over, my little brother and I hit golf balls around in the yard (he is a MUCH better golfer than I), the girls enjoyed playing with their cousins. After eating an early supper we decided it was time to load up the horses and head on back, especially since we wanted to get back before the girls bed time so that we could have time to keep a close eye on the horses when we turned them out in their new field for the first time.

The last time we loaded the horses--in the spring of 2007--Annie nearly broke my fingers while we were trying to load her (I still am not able to bend my pointer finger as much as I should), but through this experience we discovered that loading Jasmine first worked wonders when loading Annie. So this time, naturally, we load Jasmine first, no problems, and wondered what we were going to do with all of our free time when we get home…

This will only take a minute…30 minutes later Annie is sweaty, I am sweaty, Meghann is sweaty, my brother got bored and pulled up a chair (probably to watch the show) and there is Jasmine standing calmly on the trailer…

We need to try something else…30 minutes later (1 hour into the event) we decide to pull Jasmine off the trailer, remove the center divider and try to load Annie again, by this time my frustration level is rising fast so I hand the lead rope off to Meghann…

Bring out the straight jacket…30 minutes later (1 hour and 30 minutes into the ordeal) Meghann cracks, and I don’t mean she tires out, I mean she blows a gasket, she loses her cool, she flips her lid. My dad, sister, brother (who almost got run over by Meghann and Annie while in his chair), brother-in-law were all standing around dumbfounded by the events, and I was sure at some point stream-of-consciousness cussing was about to commence (Meghann does not swear). Instead of reaching for the shotgun, Meghann intelligently leaves to clear her head…

Back for more…15 minutes after the great crack of 2008 (1 hour 45 minutes into the conflict) Meghann returns with a clear mildly calm head…

Victory…wait…yes Victory…2 hours after the first thought of loading the horses Annie walks on the trailer, not in defeat, but like it’s what she intended to do all along. Once Annie was in Jasmine loaded right up and we were off, 2 hours later and a lot more exhausted then anticipated. We arrived home after dark, and once again reminded that no matter how well you plan, horses have a mind will of their own.

Lights Out

At 8:45 last night, I heard this through the monitor:
"mooooommmmmyyy!!! Mommy! please, I need your help! moooooooommmmmmyyyyyyyy"

Both Bits should have been asleep for at least an hour, since their bedtime is 7:00 (ish). So, I admit, I am not to thrilled as I trudge up the stairs, and the first words I say as I enter the room are, "is this really important?" which is really a silly question, because a five-year old has entirely different views on what is important.

Lil Bit sheepishly answers, "well, it isn't really important, but it is kinda important--Addie keeps turning the light off and on from her crib and I can't go to sleep!"

Ever laugh at your child's distress? I did. It was funny, and not nearly what I was expecting. I giggled for a good couple of minutes. And Adeline giggled with me. And Morgan started laughing too. Then when we had gotten the sillies out, we set about finding a solution.

(I should add that we live in an 100 year old house and when the electricity was installed, switches and outlets were put in odd places. the switch in the girls' room is right smack dab in the middle of a wall--no where near the door--and, unfortunately, in a location Addie can reach from her crib. It has never been a problem, that I know of, until now and I am not real sure that I can rearrange the room so she cannot get to it. Luckily, they have a ceiling fan in their room and I was able to just turn the light off there, so the switch quickly became boring.)

A Day at the Office

Can I just say that my husband is the love of my life. His carefree-ishness (I make up words on a regular basis, you must excuse me) and goofy sense of humor keep every day interesting. Oh, and he is devastatingly handsome. In addition to all this, he must be a great boss and run a really fun department! The guys all work together really well and he enjoys his job (as you can see). Dan (aka Bono in this video) came up with this idea, but they all had a blast making it. Chris is the one who comes out of the office and starts playing air bass.

Rainbows

Driving home on from Chris's parents' farm, we saw the most incredible rainbow. It truly was breathtaking--the colors were very deep and vivid. As we continued down the road, the colors faded a bit, but we were then in a position to see that it was a full arch. Lil Bit was thrilled and announced that she had never seen a rainbow in real life before. (I think she has, but not in a while.) We were able to just enjoy the beauty with her, and let ourselves fall into the wonder and amazement that children have. Then it made us think of a story which we shared with her.

Ten years ago this month Chris and I drove up to visit his parents, like we did every Wednesday that summer. We had been dating pretty seriously for a while and this was a wonderful chance for me to spend time with his family. One day we got up there and his mom had packed us a picnic lunch and told us to take the boat out, as it was a gorgeous day. So, after Chris "beat up" (not really) his little brother for saying "I know what you're going to do!" we headed out on a mini-adventure. Lee meant "practice kissing" but Chris thought he was talking about his real plans for the day. Poor kid was only eight at the time, and I am sure he will need years of therapy to overcome that trauma!
We followed the river out to the bay--I had never been this far before and was delighted to see an island with an abandoned lighthouse on it. "Let's have a picnic there!" This was Chris's plan the entire time, and he was thrilled that I suggested it. It was really a beautiful day, and the island was a perfect place to have lunch. We talked and joked around a lot and I mentioned how unique the location was after he told me some of the history.
"Well, maybe I can bring you back here sometime in January and propose," he suggested.

"Or you could just do it now." I laughed.

Suddenly, he was down on one knee, and all I could think was, if he is joking, I am going to seriously injure this boy. But he wasn't. Saying yes was an automatic. This was the one person I never wanted to live without. He was the guy who had seen me go a bit crazy during some very difficult periods of life and didn't run--in fact, had moved closer to me. (Which still amazes me--there were days I wanted to run away from myself, but he never waivered.)

A huge storm started moving in and it was time to race back to the the farm so we weren't on open water (or on an island in the middle of open water) during a lightning show. Except the boat wouldn't start. Not exactly a promising beginning to our engaged life! Finally another boat came near and was able to contact the marine operator who wired through to Christopher's family. His uncle came out and towed us back and we barely beat the storm in.

Neither of are ones for superstition, so we were able to laugh about the storm and broken boat being a "bad sign". And yet, as we drove the 2 hours back from his parents' home, it was wonderful to see a full rainbow arching over us--a promise that there is always the other side to the storms of life.

Home

This is home.
I love driving up my gravel drive. I love the strip of grass that grows up in the middle on part of it. I love the wildflowers that poke their heads up along the fence. I even love the less-than-intelligent guineas that often refuse to get out of the way of the vehicles. The fence isn't quite finished, we still need to cut the rest of the post tops off and paint it, but it is a beautiful fence already, and I love it. The shadows it leaves on the drive in the morning are wonderful. (I don't absolutely love the power lines, but I doubt the power company is going to reroute their lines for my aesthetic tastes, so I just ignore them--and they really aren't all that bad.)

But none of that is what makes it home.

It is the little things. The sounds of the girls playing in the back (complete with , "adddiiiieeeee! noo!" and then giggles from both of them). Watching Chris work on a field or a fence--or, even better, working with him. Seeing one of the horses rolling in the grass. Hanging out with friends in the kitchen. Sitting on the porch swing with Morgan and watching a lightening storm up in the clouds.

Home is family and the simple pleasures we enjoy together.

Confidence

It looks like this.





And this.