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Another side of me

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I wrote a post about my Nehemiah journey, from here:

Actually just to the left, sitting in a comfy chair and typing away under this incredible view.

This is the rotunda of the Central Library in LA.
Thursday I was there.
With strep.

Right as the 5th of the 6 kids in our house was diagnosed with strep last week, I boarded a plane. Only a mom could understand that the opportunities I had in LA (even the dream of a quiet hotel room) weren’t enough.  They paled in comparison to my longing to work alongside my husband to take care of our babies and our nephews and niece. Oh my, it was hard to get on that plane.

When I was in highschool I literally DREAMED of Corporate America.  It won’t come as any surprise that I had a “plan” from very early on.  I chose colleges, when applying, that I thought would best catapult that start.  I didn’t end up going to any of the ones at the top of my list.  A gentle nudge, back toward the balance.  When I was in college, I was determined to avoid serious relationships.  I had dreams to pursue.  But I met RRL and began dreaming in a whole new way.  Another gentle nudge.  I still had plans to go to law school, pursue my career, and WAIT to have a family.  But the moment I walked down the aisle, I knew I was MADE to raise children with the man waiting for me at the altar.  Another nudge to not give up either dream, but allow God to work in ways I couldn’t imagine. 

I love being “business casual” three days out of the week.  I love wearing jeans the other 4.  I love working with people, learning, and participating in the financial life of the railroad.  I love that there are six little lives (and one handsome man) that are waiting for me when I come home.  I love the analytics of accounting and the creativity of child-rearing.  And I get to do both. 

Usually, these two sides of me work well in harmony.  Last week the two collided. The part of me that LOVES the opportunities I have working part-time, collided with the part of me that LOVES being the one to take care of my kiddos in a way that I like to believe no one else can.  I’ve known for several weeks that I was going to LA for just 36 hours.  It was a great opportunity.  An opportunity to use the knowledge from something I worked on for nearly 5 years.  I was excited. 

AND I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it once I was there.

I stayed in downtown LA, wore my suit to work, had intellectual conversation, and loved just being the CPA side-of-me.
And I did enjoy my “spare time”.  From the office I was visiting I rode Angels’ Flight (the shortest railroad)
to lunch at Grand Central Market.  Full of a flurry of activity and amazing sight and smells of foods from across the world.
I ordered a Turkey Sandwich.
And sat at a table alone laughing at my own predictability.
For “dinner” I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Biltmore.  I sat for more than an hour, not sharing my treats (or thoughts) with a soul,
Followed by two hours (not nearly enough time) at this famous library.  I browsed the FLOORS of books, prayed that technology wouldn’t ever completely replace books for my children, and then just sat to people watch and write…
and then went to bed early.
At some point during this day-of-fun RRL called to tell me that the “precautionary” strep test I did before I left actually did come back positive after further testing.  AWESOME.  exhaustion explained.
(here is where I insert an apology to those sitting next to me on the airplane.  I didn’t know.  I promise.) 
By this point, all six kids of the house had strep. I made “victim” number 7. RRL escaped with only a stomach bug (but there was nothing “only” about it). And the momma-at-the-core side of me was longing to be home.  Even though I was far away, the feeling of the week at our house was still heavy on my shoulders. 

Somewhere in the midst of all of this I posted on facebook that we had a house full of sick kids and were just having a really rough week.  It was sort of a dramatic facebook vomit, but it turned out to be so encouraging.  So many rallied around my family in the form of prayers and encouragement and HELP.  RRL and the kids had help from family and friends, a sweet friend went to the grocery store for us as soon as I got home, and we’ve had many-a-meal that we did not prepare. 

Once again, in the midst of the chaos, it became CRYSTAL CLEAR…our blessings abound. 
When RRL and I finally had an opportunity to recap those few days, he asked a question that only he could have known to ask, because he knows me so thoroughly.  He asked if walking the streets of LA, getting a taste of what might have been, stirred anything in me.  He knew I would love it.  And he was right.  I did.  But I told him that I didn’t pause long on the notion before I came to a resounding conclusion.  A conclusion that literally brought me to giggles as I walked along S Grand Ave.  While there are days that I could certainly do without, while it MOST DEFINITELY isn’t easy right now…I LOVE MY LIFE.  all parts of it.  just the way it is.  I couldn’t have planned it.  I wouldn’t change it.
I continue to be thankful for the amazing way the Lord creatively knit me.  For the opportunities He has given me to live my dreams.  For the husband that encourages and supports me so completely, who helps me both mom and CPA.  AND for the community that rallies around us during the weeks of “collision”.  Just like the good days are HIS and the bad days are HIS, I’m thankful that all parts of me are HIS.
Thank you for the ways each of you help me just be me.
ABL

RETREAT!!!

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I know of two ways to use the word RETREAT. One being the experience of going to a quieter place, a solace, a time of renewal and refocusing. My “mental picture dictionary” for this one pulls up our teenagers on a spiritual high after a weekend of being fed God’s word and bonding with their peers.

The second being a more drastic escape, running for the hills to get away from immediate danger. Here I picture a war Sargent on his horse, holding up his sword and crying with urgency “RETREAT” as he gallops with his remaining infantry out of harms way.

Before last weekend I did not really think about how closely related the two definitions really are. RRL and I screamed “RETREAT” for ourselves and headed for the “hills” to try to escape the pressures of life that seemed to have the advantage. In some ways we were losing the battle. Really, though, all we were seeking was solitude, quiet and some spiritual renewal. I now link “head for the hills” and “I lift my eyes to the hills (Psalm 121)” closely together.

Actually, we didn’t seek-out the “retreat”.  We were led to it and it was given as a very sweet gift.  At what couldn’t have come at a better time for us, RRL and I had the awesome opportunity to be part of a unique experience at a Minister’s Support Network Retreat.  and OH MY was it a “retreat” in every sense of the word.  It is designed as a sabbatical for ministers, even those of us whose ministry doesn’t meet the classic definition.

The very logistics nightmare that it took for us to actually leave 6 children home, was indicator enough of just how much we could use a break.  We stayed up late the night before typing 8 pages of notes, instructions, meals plans and schedules for our little crew.  Laying out clothes.  Cleaning.  Grocery shopping.  In my simple mind I thought “I sure hope this is worth it”.  Oh how I must make God chuckle.  He knew we needed this escape together.

While we “escaped” we were fed, encouraged, and prepared for battle.  We left equipped, full of purpose and hope, and rejuevenated.  We listened while mentors and peers shared pieces of their ministry journeys.  We had the opportunity to tell a piece of ours.  We got to ask questions, study the Word, sing, and LAUGH.  A lot.  We enjoyed early morning runs, more food than we could possibly eat (but we sure tried) and made life-long friends in a matter of four short days.  From these sweet friends we learned that the best way to walk a hard road is TOGETHER.  Transparently.  Crying and laughing along the way.  And in all, pointing each other to a source of energy that does NOT run out.  Along the way, we were gently guided to these conclusions by three host couples who lived it out, right in front of us.  Thanks for sharing your hearts, friends.

The thing about a “retreat” that makes it different from completely going “AWOL” is that we came back.  And not back with our tail between our legs, but back with a new energy to face the very things we needed a break from.  After our short retreat, we didn’t come back to a change in circumstance at all.  In fact, we came back to one of the most difficult weeks we had faced as a party-of-eight.  But the Lord knew that.  He knew EXACTLY what we would face when we returned.  And I believe that is the very reason we went.  I love how He goes before us!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to our sweet family and friends that made this weekend possible on the homefront.  And thank you to those who gave of their talents to make a weekend of restoration like this possible.  Some of whom we have come to love dearly, some of whom we won’t ever even know by name.  But all who helped us “retreat”. 

Thank you,
ABL

Nehemiah: the beginning of the journey

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About 2-3 months before my nephews and niece came to live with us, a series of events lead me to begin an in depth personal walk through the book of Nehemiah. It started with an encouraging email from an amazing mentor.  I posted a short tongue-in-cheek entry on this blog about my three children consuming my time (funny how three seemed like such a handful just a few months ago).  He responded with:

Great picture – and as far as the reason you aren’t blogging….Sandra Stanley (Andy’s wife) references Nehemiah 6:3 – when he was working on the wall and people were trying to distract him – he said, “I am doing a good work and I cannot come down.”  Sandra says seasons in life change, but when her kids were little, that was her life verse.  When she was tempted to do other things – good things in fact – she would post that verse and remind herself – she was doing a good work, and wouldn’t be distracted from it.  So – ABL– you and RRL are doing a good work!

Sandra (via this good friend) was absolutely right.  Our “work” of raising our children is good work.  Its a work that we can easily get distracted from each day.  And some days, distracted each hour.  I’ve carried this thought with me for months.  Through two different bible studies in the months since that email, it spurred me to start thinking about my “purpose” in a different way.  While I have lots of dreams, my essence at the very core right now is to teach the six children in my home about Jesus.  About love.  About giving.  About living life to the fullest.  WOWZERS.  Now that’s a “good work” and boy howdy, “I cannot come down” because it is a FULL TIME job.

His email didn’t JUST spur me to rethink my “parenting purpose”, though.  It stirred something deep within me.  Something I’ve literally spent years praying for.  A LOVE for God’s word and a firm belief that it is alive and relevant. 

In a nearly audible voice, I kept hearing that I was supposed to “read the book of Nehemiah”.  I confessed this craziness to my bible study group at the time.  We were right in the middle studying about our “purposes” and dreaming big about what those might be.  I told them about my renewed purpose as a mom and then I dropped the crazy-bomb on them.  I actually told them that I felt like one of my current-life-purposes was just to read this one book of the Bible.  WEIRDO.  Seriously.  OF COURSE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO READ THE BIBLE.  It felt crazy the minute it came out of my mouth.  But I couldn’t let it go.

I’m a planner.  So when I first felt the urge to study Nehemiah, I immediately went to the logical place…the internet.  Instead of picking up the bible to read, I started researching ways to study Nehemiah.  I found none.  DON’T GET AHEAD OF ME- I know there are probably lots of good books and many a sermon series out there on the topic.  But, for whatever reason, I couldn’t find them.  I kept hearing the Lord say (ABL paraphrase), “JUST READ THE STINKIN’ BOOK ALREADY”.  So I did.  Over. and Over. and Over.

I have never EVER studied the Bible on my own before. I’ve READ the bible, I’ve participated in Bible studies, but I’ve never just let HIM guide me through a study of His word. After just reading it from start to finish many times, I started back at the beginning journaling through the words.  I’ve literally been taken verse by verse, like uncovering treasures under rocks, through that book. Its been painstakingly slow, yet I can’t get enough. Its a 13 chapter book, I’ve been journaling through it since January 1, and I’m only 10 chapters in.

That journal, as silly as it may sound, has felt incredibly private.  I’ve shared with RRL, of course, but have not felt released to share much of my journey publicly.  It is a bit like when you have a conversation with a dear friend, revealing parts of your heart and sharing intimate details of your journey.  You have things revealed during those conversations that you can’t wait to share with others, yet the conversation itself was so intimate.  Its hard to know which pieces are the journey, only to be understood by the traveler, and which pieces are the resulting lessons, meant to be shared so others can journey, too.  

Someday, I hope to share more on this blog about my Nehemiah journey because it has so closely paralleled our current walk as a party-of-eight.  But for now, I simply felt the need (and freedom) to encourage those following along on our “circus” adventures with six kiddos, to let the Word speak to you. 
I know many of you are walking REALLY difficult roads right now, some much harder than I can even imagine.  I am thankful that many of you trust me enough to let me know about those struggles.  I often feel overwhelmed that I do not have any answers that can take away those heart-aches.  But I am learning about a tool to help with the journey.  I’ve learned that the God, through His word, meets you where you are. All of my thoughts on the words I read in Nehemiah are through the lens of my current experiences. And for the first time in my life, I LOVE that about the Bible. I love that my lack of “theological knowledge” or use of “appropriate study tools” doesn’t keep the Word from speaking TO ME (or you).  Because it was written FOR ME (and you)! 

Be encouraged, fellow travelers!
ABL

Good thing she loves us…

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A special message, from 6 special someones, to a very special birthday Grammy…

It’s a good thing you love us so much…since this picture is officially DAYS overdue.  While there is no blood relation between these two sets of three, one thing that bonds them together is that they all call you Grammy and love you very much.  I’m thankful for that link that they have.  I can’t say thank you enough for the way you love and nurture them.  The last four months would have been more than we could bare without the much needed respites you provide.  Thanks for all the times you bravely take all 6 of them to do one of the things they love most…be with YOU!

Love,
ABL

Welcome, guests!

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Every now and then, I run into someone or get an email from someone who kindly comments about this blog. I generally assume that my audience is composed of our families, a few friends, and those just got stuck here by adding DRRF to their Google Reader. So, when I meet someone who is reading along on our journey, that I didn’t expect to be, it takes me aback and makes me think. (Granted, this has happened approximately twice…but still, it makes me think. Have I mentioned that I am occasionally slightly over-analytical?)

This blog is primarily for documenting our family memories. But let’s be real. This is the world-wide-web. If I simply wanted to document our story, I would do so in a journal or scrapbook, tucked in attic boxes for our grandchildren to discover someday. Because I choose to document our memories here must mean there is a piece of us that I want to share.

BUT. Only a piece.

It’s a little like inviting guests to your home. You clean, you prepare, you bring out the best. Its not that you are lying about the “junk” that you store away in closets, you are just determining the impression that you make. You hang pictures on the wall of favorite family vacations, of everyone looking at the camera smiling, of significant moments in your lives. Its not that these are ALL of your family history, just the pieces you want to share. You lecture everyone to be on their best behavior, tell funny stories about your children, and be sure to hold your spouse’s hand during the before dinner prayer. All of those things are true and sincere, but it is not as if that is the way our family ALWAYS behaves.
I hope the guests of our blog know the same to be true. I post about the funny things our kids do, the fun activities I do with them, how much I love RRL, and about our faith that the Lord is carrying us along this journey. All of those things are so very true. But be reminded that these are only pieces of our story. 
When you visit these pages, I am the narrator of the story. I get to choose what we share and in turn, how our family is portrayed.
You won’t read much about the times I get frustrated with those same adorable children. I don’t write about the days I regret being too busy with laundry, dishes, and diapers to stop and read stories when requested. If I get to choose, you’ll likely not hear about the argument I had with that very same husband I adore. I may share about difficult days, but maybe not about the days that make it harder to see God at work or the days I simply choose not to listen to Him.  I may share about our journey and the blessing it is, but please know there are also days I wish I could write the story differently.
But though you don’t read those pieces here, those pieces happen in our lives. This blog is only a piece of the story.
The hard times are molding us and shaping us to enjoy the good times all-the-more, so I don’t want to dismiss them. We learn from them and therefore value them. We do share about those times, too, with those from whom we seek counsel or that we think can relate. When it’s appropriate, we even talk to our children about the values of asking for help, admitting your mistakes, and forgiving others.
We have so much more of a story to tell, but we are mindful that this is the world wide web.
Here I have made the choice to narrate the story in such a way to glorify my God, honor my husband, and brag about my children. Because these are the things we are CHOOSING to remember and choosing to share.  Along the way, just as we invite guests into our home, we hope others feel more than welcome here to share a piece of our family journey. 
But when you visit our blog, remember.  Remember that just like when you visit my home and spy a hidden dust bunny, a closet crammed too full, or (gasp) a sink full of dishes, we are not picture perfect. We just get to choose the pictures.

That said, WELCOME, GUESTS. Stay awhile. Let’s visit. And as I get to know you better, maybe I’ll open a closet or two.

ABL

*The “perfect” family picture above has been my facebook profile picture since Easter.  The other pictures, taken minutes before, tell the real story about the occasional sibling rivalry, the background lecture, the frustrated mom…our “perfect” family.

REWIND: Some good ‘ole races

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So I need to do a few (or a 100, but few seems less stressful) rewind posts to get caught up on the last couple of months.  The first is going to be a pretty long toss in reverse, going all the way back to the end of February (gasp, I know…where does the time go).

RRL and I did two half marathons this spring.  And both, for different reasons, were amazing experiences.  Of the races we have participated in, these might be my favorites so far.

RACE #1

The first was the FTW Cowtown, in February.  It was awesome because it was only the second that RRL and I ran together.  We’ve both participated in several, but for various reasons, this was only the second time that it worked out for us to run together.  And the first kinda doesn’t even count.  It was in Houston.  YUCK.  ’nuff said.  So this was the first ENJOYABLE race that we did together.  He’s my very favorite running buddy.  And if that weren’t enough we ran “with” another family member, too! 
*our signs say “In red, white and blue we are…Running with Camp Eggers  Kabul, Afghanistan.  We love Lt Dan, USAF.”
We found out, only days before the race, that my brother (then stationed in Afghanistan), was having a “Cowtown” race at Camp Eggers in Kabul.  Though it wasn’t exactly the same day/time, it definitely felt like we were getting to do something with him and support him in an active way.  I’m already a SAP about family…and about finishing races.  So you can bet there were lots of sappy moments involved when I was already missing my little bro, and then finding out that a piece of us would be together in this way.  I loved that the Cowtown Marathon thought this was important, and sent tshirts, medals and supplies to my brother and other organizers, so that this could be something that families would always remember.  I know ours will. 
A local news channel also got wind of the story about a brother and sister and brother-in-law running this race together. 

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Cowtown-Runs-Through-Afghanistan-Airfield-116953558.html

Which made it especially fun to be running along and have people read the signs our backs, recognize “Lt Dan” from the interview, and ask us to thank him for his service…while were running.  SO COOL.  Of course, we were more than thrilled to be able to pass along that thanks to him.  We are some of his biggest fans!
RACE #2
Our second spring race was ALSO extra cool because we got to do it with ANOTHER family member who worked SO hard to accomplish this goal…. My sweet Momma!  (Doesn’t she look incredible for having just walked 13.1 miles in just a mere 3 hours and 2 minutes? She is awesome.  SERIOUSLY).
Remember the SAP part?  Well, letmetellyouwhat.  Crossing the finish line holding my Momma’s hand on one side and my husband’s hand on the other…a memory I’ll always treasure.  And to make it even sweeter, this race was only a couple of weeks after our niece and nephews came to live with us.  I can’t tell you how much I needed to have these few hours of time with two of my favorite people.  The Lord was so sweet to orchestrate this…we’d planned on it for months, long before we knew just how much we would value it.
And while we walked, of course, the honoree of our February race was still not far from our minds.  Here’s Momma saying ‘We love you Lt D!” as we passed under the flag he works so hard to protect.
So there you have it. 
The family that runs (and walks) together…
Well, we’d stay together ANYWAY.  But this sure was a fun way to do it!
ABL

Princess Lou is TWO!

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Guess who turned TWO today?
Two years ago, we had just been to night two of our church’s VBS.  I was four days past my due date already and starting to feel certain that our sweet baby girl was going to live inside of me F-O-R-E-V-E-R.  I mean, not that I was dramatic about it or anything. Lo-and-behold, I didn’t make it to night three of VBS.  PRAISE THE LORD.  The funny thing is that when Lou finally decided it was time to arrive, she came with a BANG.  No messin’ around.  I should have known, then and there, that we were in trouble.  The best kind of trouble.  But trouble none-the less. 
Our sweet girl has been doing things on her own time ever since.  And when she decides IT’S TIME…you better just watch out.  She’s comin’ through.  Take this last week for example.  Lou decided last Wednesday that she was done with her beloved pacifier.  Just when I was starting to wonder if she might go to college with it, she loved it so much…she decided to throw it away.  BAM.  Just like that and never looked back.  But nothing- NOTHING- could have prepared me for what she did next.  She 100% COMPLETELY potty-trained herself.  Instantaneously.  I’m really not exaggerating.  She decided while she was at the babysitter’s house on Thursday that she didn’t want to wear diapers anymore.  AND QUIT.   Number one, number two, day, night. EVERYTHING.  And not like, I run her to the potty every five minutes.  Like, she tells me when she needs to go and goes.  Just because she decided she could.  I’d say that pretty well sums up the way she walks through her little life.

As a side note… I don’t want to give Lou all the credit for potty training. I do COMPLETELY believe that the Lord knew she needed that and that we NEEDED that.  On top of the current craziness at our house, I feel fairly certain if potty training #3 had been anything like her brothers…it might have K-I-L-L-E-D us.  no joke.

Another word that would sum up our Lou these days is confidence (which might be a nice way of saying- she really LOVES herself).  I can’t count how many times I’ve heard her say “You see this dress/you see this bow/you see these shoes?” or caught her looking at herself admiringly in the mirror.  I’ve already started teaching her the verse “I praise YOU because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” lest she start to believe that she had anything to do with her own amazingness.  As rough and tumble as she can be with the boys, she is 100% GIRL.  She loves to wear dresses, has her favorite pink leopard print Crocs, never leaves the house without a bow (and rarely without a purse or a baby) AND requires ice in her drinks whenever possible.  Her Daddy sometimes says she is high maintenance.  I think she just has a lot of confidence in who she is and what she wants.  That’s different.  Right? RIGHT?
Sweet Princess Lou-
Oh how we LOVE you.  You make our home a brighter place and the Lord’s timing in bringing you to us was so sweet!  We love the way you giggle, the way you dance, the way you wrinkle your little nose and (most of the time) we love the way you know exactly what you want.  You are CRACKING US UP these days with the things that you say.  I LOVE how you blend the things you hear your brothers/cousin say with the things of your girly play world, proving that your “dainty” 20lb self is a force to be reckoned with. You love to say “SUPER FAST” while being a super-hero princess.  You like to go “really higher” on the swings with your blond hair flying behind.  You LOVE LOVE LOVE anything that has a princess on it, and of course Elmo is still super high on the list.  You play pretend in your kitchen with CB and it always makes me laugh when you say “What you want to eat?….Sorry we don’t had dat”  I love that you ask me at least 100 times a day “which one you fav-rite?” Likely because you ALWAYS know EXACTLY which one is YOUR favorite.  Do you wanna know what my favorite is, Lou?  MY favorite is when you say “DIS MUCH…” with your arms wide open for me to sweep you up and smother you with hugs and kisses.  That’s my favorite.

You had a lot to give up in the last few months of your second year.  You are no longer the baby in the house, you aren’t the only girl anymore, you share your room and even your bed.  But big girl, you have risen to the challenge and I’m so very very proud of you.  I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but someday I hope we get to sit together as women and talk about how it made us stronger.  I have tears in my eyes as a write this because as the Lord works in our family, the world would say that a tiny blond two-year-old couldn’t understand it.  But somehow, I know they are wrong.  I know you don’t understand everything, but when I watch your tenderness toward your (nearly) twin cousin and your baby cousin, I know you DO understand His love- maybe even in a way that the rest of us are still learning.  I’m learning from YOU.  Thank you, sweet little sister.  May the Lord continue to bless you with abounding compassion, may He use your zeal for life and your determination to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  May you never forget that indeed YOU ARE fearfully and wonderfully made.  You are one of His works, and THAT makes you wonderful (Psalm 139:14).  You are wonderful- and you also happen to be one of my very favorites!

I love you baby girl.  How much?  THIS MUCH!
Momma

Everyday Adventures- part I

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I pray all the time that this crazy season in our lives will be one that all six of these kids remember as a blessing.  I KNOW this will absolutely shock you, but with six kids there are times when my patience isn’t perfect, I make parenting decisions I regret, I have too high of expectations.  I pray all the time that HIS grace will fill in the gaps, that miraculously they will only remember that I love them, that they learned a lot, and that we had LOTS of fun! I pray that they’ll see HIS glory in our parenting, and not our human-faults.  Here’s hopin’
One thing I’ve been working hard at is keeping my camera available during the days.  I hope that these pictures of some of our everyday adventures will help remind all EIGHT of us about the good times that we were blessed with during our time together, however long it may be.  I hope these are some of the moments we will remember.
What was your favorite thing about today?
AB LOVES trains.  AND Woody.  Each night we go around the dinner table and ask everyone what their favorite part of the day was. He almost ALWAYS says “Play with Trains” or “Play with Woody”.  This day, he was both!
Needing some “Me” time

Cbug has LOVED having a cousin so close to his own age to play with (they are less than one month apart).  He loves that sometimes HE gets to be the one to “take care” of AB instead of KJ always taking care of Cbug.  That said, Cbug likes his “me” time.  Just about everyday, I’ll find him off somewhere by himself, playing alone.  I try to respect this and make sure the other kids give him a little space- although its hard to find a quiet spot when there are 5 other kids playing in 1400 sq feet.  This day he succeeded for a little while at least…here is what I found behind his closed bedroom door.  All of his cars lined up in a “parking lot”, organized neatly and all the other toys cleaned up…with music playing and Cbug happy as a lark.
*On a side note, Cbug is wearing his Daniel in the Lions Den shirt from our Church VBS.  HE LOVES THIS SHIRT.  I’d love to think it is because this story of a Bible Hero has impacted him, but he loves it because of another hero.  He calls it his “Uncle Daniel” shirt.

Throw and Catch
Sweet baby B LOVES balls.  It is hilarious to watch him drop them, roll them, chase them, bounce them, all over the house.  The hard floors make it especially fun and keep him entertained for long stretches of time.  Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t get free reign.  I do barricade the back half of the house using the living room couch, ottoman, and his exercauser so that the big kids can play with “big kid toys” without having to fear that they’ll be eaten by this hungry little cousin/brother.

Rainy day Monday!
Although our neighbors would likely disagree, I considered it a stroke of sheer LUCK that the city decided to dig up some pipes in our neighborhood on a rainy Monday morning.  What could be better for three little boys (and their tag-along sisters) than getting to use their umbrellas AND watch construction trucks. AT THE SAME TIME. RIGHT IN THEIR VERY OWN YARD.  Seriously, I could not have planned a better Monday morning activity for these three.  Unfortunately, it was on a randomly cold May morning, so we didn’t get to stay out long.  But in the meantime, the construction workers were so thoughtful to wave, smile, show the boys how things worked, and let us watch. 

Do you have trains that move?
I love my job.  I really do.  I love that I get paid to do something I enjoy and that I get to only do it 3 days a week. The company I work for is amazing and my work family has taken really good care of me over the years.  When I had surgery, when I made the decision to work part-time, at the birth of each of my children, and once again this last week.  We were invited to campus for a special party for our house full of kiddos.  THEY LOVED IT!  They were on CLOUD NINE getting to see trains, eat cupcakes (and cookies AND punch AND fruit), have lots of attention…and did I mention there were TRAINS? All 6 (or at least the bigger 5) were so thrilled that they got to walk up the stairs of a real railcar.  They REALLY wanted to take a ride and were really disappointed that “my trains” don’t move.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard since then “Momma/Aunt A…you work at the trains, right?  You DO have some trains that move, right?” Someday I’ll break it to them that I’m just a CPA.  But for now, I’ll let them think what they think.  For now, I’ll know the truth…whether I actually drive (or even ride) the trains doesn’t really matter- I’m incredibly blessed by my work family.  Thanks so much to each of you that made Wednesday so special for us.

 

Fun times, for sure!  More “everyday adventures” coming soon.  I’m just too tired from all this fun to post about anymore tonight.
ABL

Last day of School

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Although our preschool goes year-round, we still celebrated the “last day of school” before the summer program began.  The day before KJ’s graduation, the littler kids (Cbug, A, and C) had a small end of year program.  Since I forgot to take pictures before they left that morning, for their last day of school, I snapped a few before we left for the program that evening.  I’m so glad I did- they were looking especially handsome/beautiful all clean and dressed-in-their-best.
KJ started at this little preschool two years ago, and we have loved every minute of it.  But I have never loved it quite as much as I did the day I sat in the school office, telling the assistant director about my niece and nephew.  They threw their arms open for these two, totally “bent” all the rules to make the best possible situation for their mid-year transition to the school, and walked step-by-step with them as they worked to adjust to the new place.  I’m so very thankful for the ladies that took care of all four of these precious ones while they were at school, especially in the midst of this crazy season for our family.
(When you see Cbug’s picture with his teacher, would you join me in a unified song of praise that Mrs J has 3 boys of her own at home and just KNOWS how to love boys)

For comparison purposes, here are all of their first day and last day pictures.
KJ
First day
Bummed that somehow I didn’t get a picture of KJ by himself on the first day.  I was so loving the boys excitement over going to school TOGETHER that I didn’t think farther.  Ah well.

Last day
AB
First Day
On A’s first day, Cbug thought he might need a little extra encouragement and suggested that A wear the multicolored macaroni necklace that Cbug had crafted.  Nice touch to his first-day-of school attire, I thought.
Last Day
Cbug
First Day
Last Day
I can see the biggest change in Cbug.  He has gained TONS of confidence this school year…not that these pictures would tell you that or anything (smirk).  Is it just me, or does anyone else see these and CLEARLY picture the ham-of-a-teenager that our Cbug will be? Watch out (and stick around for the fun)!


CB
First day

Last day

 Aren’t they the sweetest?  We are so blessed to have a place for them to spend a few days during the week where they are so well loved and learn more about Jesus!
ABL

FIVE things about #5

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Ok- I know no one else is quite as amazed that we have a five-year-old as we are. I PROMISE this will be the last 5th birthday post.

I just need one more to document his big day happenings. LET.ME.TELL.YOU, boy howdy… did we celebrate. The fact that his big day happened to fall on his preschool graduation day, made for a VERY full day of celebrations for Mr. KJ.  So full that there were way too many pictures to even get all the good ones on the blog.  I posted a bunch more on facebook, if you are interested.

Without further ado- here are FIVE things that our FIVE-year-old did on his FIFTH birthday.

1) Celebrated during a donut-shop outing with FIVE siblings/cousins.
He opened presents (with some help from his bro, as is their own personal little tradition), picked out his favorite donuts and got lots of phone calls from adoring fans (for which his fingers were too sticky to hold the phone himself).

 

 2) Legoland Discovery Center

with FIVE of his favorite fellas (plus his favorite Momma).

 

I’d definitely recommend the LDC as a place to visit ONCE. It was a bit overpriced, very crowded. BUT it did prove a far-superior alternative to KJ’s original request (ChuckECheese) and the boys LOVED it.
(below L to R) Build-your-own race car, Earthquake demonstration, Mini city and a 4D movie.
Quick funny story about how we decided on LDC for the party locale. KJ has been talking for nearly a YEAR about his ChuckECheese party. Can I just tell you how much that place makes my skin crawl? Seriously, I have GREAT disdain. BUT, I had told him that he could choose where he went this year (since he was a whole hand old and all).  I was determined to convince him the CC was not the winner. I’ve made no less than 1028376392 alternative suggestions. All with no success. When I started talking about Legoland he was excited and I was SHOCKED that he was willing to consider something other than his plan. FAST forward to just a few days before his birthday. His good buddy/across-the-street neighbor, Katie, told me that while she had been keeping the kids, KJ told her about the upcoming festivities. And mentioned that he wasn’t sure we’d make it back in time for his graduation all the way from Legoland. She asked “Oh really? Where is Legoland?” To which he replied,
“I don’t know exactly, but its really far. I think its pretty close to Costa Rica or something like that”

YUP. Apparently the LAND part of LegoLAND really stuck- he was picturing a whole LAND of legos. SERIOUSLY. So, we had to do some fast talking and website browsing to convince him that while LDC was just a mall amusement area, it would still be super cool. Luckily, he bought it…and I don’t think he was too disappointed. He still loved the adventure of it, even if we didn’t get to fly on an airplane to get there.


Then again, any place these five-year-olds (or nearly 5) go together…is SURE to be a fun adventure!

3) THE CAKE
He designed and enjoyed a FIVE layer cake.

This actually probably deserves a whole post on its own. BUT I PROMISED there would only be one more birthday post. I did not, however, make any promises about its brevity 🙂

Other than the party location, the primary concern for KJ, while planning his big day, was his CAKE. Literally for MONTHS we’ve been having conversations about what his cake would be like. Often, driving along in the van, he’d holler from the backseat a new idea or specification about the cake. When all was said and done, I had to sit down with him the night before I made the cake to actually draw a diagram and be SURE I had it down. I HAVE NO IDEA where he gets this level of attention to detail…but his perfect cake was to be… “Five layers (you know, since I’m five) of Strawberry, then Chocolate, Strawberry, Chocolate, Strawberry with strawberry icing in between each layer and chocolate frosting on the outside, because if there was strawberry icing on the outside it might look pink and pink is for girls. AND it needs to have Spiderman on top” (the web was momma’s addition) Oh how I wish I could have documented all of the conversations that lead to this final conclusion, or had a picture of how he would use one hand to count to five (to be sure he didn’t say Strawberry/Chocolate/Strawberry too many times) with using the other hand to indicate the layers on top of each other. Oh, I love this boy!

4) GRADUATION
I would have SERIOUSLY been a mess about KJ turning 5 on the same day he graduated from preschool if this had been his REAL graduation from preschool. While most of his class is heading off to kindergarten, for KJ (and his Momma) this was just “practice” graduation. After a lot of thought, prayer and input from others, we’ve decided that he’ll stay another year before going to “big school”. So it wasn’t like I was all emotional quite yet. I’ll tell you what, though, if the welling of tears I got when I saw him walk in wearing his little robe (that swallowed him) and cap in the “practice” is any indication…WOAH, watch out whoever sits next to us next year- you might just see the UGLY cry. It was fun that we got to have a night with just him and some of the people that love him. He ATE IT UP.
It did make me laugh that he spent a large portion of the program in “ready position” with his hands on his knees.  For no reason.  He was like that for so long that eventually the girl next to him thought maybe that was the way they were supposed to stand, and gave it a whirl, too!

5) PICTURES
KJ had his picture taken approximately 500 times this day. And it didn’t go to his head, AT ALL (cough, cough). Here are a few of my favorites.

What a wonderful day, celebrating a wonderful 5-year-old.  Have I mentioned that he is FIVE?  If I haven’t, he’ll be sure to tell you next time he sees you!
ABL
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