tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76984007565967774622024-03-12T20:51:27.074-07:00Our Life Tidbits from the life of a young wife and momRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-44592586574072829742018-12-07T18:43:00.001-08:002018-12-07T18:43:19.637-08:00Happy Birthday James!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCI_94-1vmdQVRVLpt3X9gsanZd3uRDVoXZXh5eoBXXCdD6SAX_SLvg-RAvjelCC7s-1mrQESHAyShWfkpW25R0qiYoR2ucJuvsRmKJJJpZhWyK1FMK4v6yZZbMgPBQU-ax1ucZT2y-mt/s1600/Kiddos+July-0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCI_94-1vmdQVRVLpt3X9gsanZd3uRDVoXZXh5eoBXXCdD6SAX_SLvg-RAvjelCC7s-1mrQESHAyShWfkpW25R0qiYoR2ucJuvsRmKJJJpZhWyK1FMK4v6yZZbMgPBQU-ax1ucZT2y-mt/s320/Kiddos+July-0038.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear James,</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-a3d71eb9-7fff-1d51-205f-110453d3236c" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy birthday, sweet boy! I can’t believe you are five. You’ve grown into such a little man this year: thoughtful, focused, imaginative. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s been so fun to hear you learn to communicate even more this year. You have a grown-up voice that you use for explaining things; you love to tell us about what you’re doing. You make up so many words, though, that it can be hard to figure out what you mean. You build amazing things out of duplo--for a while it was saws, now it’s ferry boats. It’s been the year of “Why?” You love to learn how things work and ask lots of questions, sometimes even in the middle of a story I’m reading. (When you’re curious about something or asking “why” you tend to scrunch up your nose.) </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnSt2xzEDdwEYQ0aUw9qDYTqqaZeoByO3qbcjyxCWSm9ykOUMA94sChx9WjI51IqzWPzW6sIMh1AN7qyF0_k9a9BsSDT4nBLGJyaq0Z5RKZdyFe1j609yiKZA6mBtnuVvggarqJTWAnmW/s1600/IMG_7687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnSt2xzEDdwEYQ0aUw9qDYTqqaZeoByO3qbcjyxCWSm9ykOUMA94sChx9WjI51IqzWPzW6sIMh1AN7qyF0_k9a9BsSDT4nBLGJyaq0Z5RKZdyFe1j609yiKZA6mBtnuVvggarqJTWAnmW/s320/IMG_7687.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love your imagination. One day this summer you threw a stick in the canal and watched it float down: “da freighter is on a hunt! It’s a find da bad birds and kill da birds.” Another day you were spraying the lattice around the patio with the hose, and you and Emily were yelling: “Spray dem! Spray da bad sojers in da fence!” </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re fascinated with lawn and yard care. We moved this summer and you’ve been somewhat alarmingly enthusiastic in trimming (or removing) bushes and trees. I’d give you an assignment and you’d come back and ask “What you don’t want next?” You enjoyed the garden this summer, especially harvesting peas and digging holes; you really loved getting to tear out the corn when we cleaned everything out after frost. You quickly discovered that there’s a small tree here that you can climb; for most of the summer there was some assortment of tools, ropes or buckets in and around it. Daddy built you a sandbox and you spent many happy hours there. The little pool went by the wayside when you figured out that you could fill the sandbox with water. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lka7QPM7jwrhVycahSrL2LQPiJ0AcGR8anl1NrYZQmZxrYcnJx8pD2RJauHUHPc0GWeojZBVhNuJjZOM-9XZKjsu03Ewp_-5O9FjfVSpkKOseX_l6I6zjHcoZsrcqn7uYbYhC-6ofRtC/s1600/IMG_7208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lka7QPM7jwrhVycahSrL2LQPiJ0AcGR8anl1NrYZQmZxrYcnJx8pD2RJauHUHPc0GWeojZBVhNuJjZOM-9XZKjsu03Ewp_-5O9FjfVSpkKOseX_l6I6zjHcoZsrcqn7uYbYhC-6ofRtC/s320/IMG_7208.JPG" width="240" /></a> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kzP8vB7otL9WK-FcP22cDcj4JYbtbjLI4F9kRcgpyvZX-896xSMQR994LiDUfXLwfhjG_pCsKenzeub3Npqqsg4log0Gv0IxiII77iHgpWNJF6MSg9h_0l-dEj6NheN1v00GS177PlgR/s1600/IMG_7564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kzP8vB7otL9WK-FcP22cDcj4JYbtbjLI4F9kRcgpyvZX-896xSMQR994LiDUfXLwfhjG_pCsKenzeub3Npqqsg4log0Gv0IxiII77iHgpWNJF6MSg9h_0l-dEj6NheN1v00GS177PlgR/s320/IMG_7564.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You got to help a little with the house remodel and since then you’ve been fascinated by tools, measuring tapes, anything building-related. You observe so carefully and are really good at imitating what you see. You love getting to help Daddy and building things together. Daddy’s taken up archery and you have joined him; he built you your first bow early this year and you’ve gone through a few versions since them. Once I showed you a new arrow: “Oh. (long pause) It’s most amazing.”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvs-INB5cFWfPRKWy9o9Dgs1JDvAuLZMFTgN9flOGMYl5An5IJsPTo2ny-2VU2rEFD9_5pVDVojVOcEpHRDsQJcu9UOK4eUxlye0bhUn2K_cE8fEL6BBArRw7qyQ3u0YZ_CETU6VoGONHy/s1600/IMG_8746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvs-INB5cFWfPRKWy9o9Dgs1JDvAuLZMFTgN9flOGMYl5An5IJsPTo2ny-2VU2rEFD9_5pVDVojVOcEpHRDsQJcu9UOK4eUxlye0bhUn2K_cE8fEL6BBArRw7qyQ3u0YZ_CETU6VoGONHy/s320/IMG_8746.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One day you asked Daddy “Do you know know to build a battery-powered weedwhacker out of playdough?”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe: “I’m not sure how...” </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">James: “You will have to check on your phone.”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re a sweet affectionate boy, regularly asking for “mummy hugs and ‘nuggles”. I love seeing you and your sisters grow in your relationships; you and Emily are learning to get along quite well. You’re so protective of Maddie; “I’m consterned about Maddie and the stairs!” was a fairly common line before Maddie learned to navigate them. She does frustrate you when she wants to be in the middle of your toys, or the hole you’re digging (she thinks holes are for climbing in), but you go to her for hugs when you’re sad. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGNVRbkD3C6HpGLDeQ7g7LJwD17L5I3OafoRwM_P4TcMzJwSPUBiEwc0Bs_YdULu3omBr7D61MZAjF1EakPp1B9NsGMxMlJuvKe35be2imrTqJBTS1fzkPCSjMB0B8o2e9KCqsmjWC_cH/s1600/Kiddos+July-0051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGNVRbkD3C6HpGLDeQ7g7LJwD17L5I3OafoRwM_P4TcMzJwSPUBiEwc0Bs_YdULu3omBr7D61MZAjF1EakPp1B9NsGMxMlJuvKe35be2imrTqJBTS1fzkPCSjMB0B8o2e9KCqsmjWC_cH/s320/Kiddos+July-0051.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeq5S9dqkKzebzlHou8Ii9pbyJ0Iz44_xc5Jby258MY58lvfBZ-bDbB4Iu3cf1xN6JVrqmXvuysYZKZ9A6xaCfnScNlvhPAIzX4Q5pyi5fbIz0pbIp8LsKIYvyE-HCNnk0seqJtUxLc6X/s1600/Langemann+2018+Edited-0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeq5S9dqkKzebzlHou8Ii9pbyJ0Iz44_xc5Jby258MY58lvfBZ-bDbB4Iu3cf1xN6JVrqmXvuysYZKZ9A6xaCfnScNlvhPAIzX4Q5pyi5fbIz0pbIp8LsKIYvyE-HCNnk0seqJtUxLc6X/s320/Langemann+2018+Edited-0004.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You say thank you and no thank you and are so grateful if we get you something fun. Recently I gave you your dinner plate before I dished up salad and you said “Sanks for giving me no salad, Mom! I really don’t like salad.” Once I called out the window to check on you and you said “Dere’s a beautiful rose I wan’ show you!” This summer we were out for ice cream and when we were going to leave you said to me “I’ll carry your water…(I reached for my purse)...I’m gonna carry your purse too.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi0nL8LbUvb2z9oKUfZSR-VFYawhnM3wmNHVHhLVhgdKhF_WPF3yfEPjKPmFSDCLmZFRaZ2jrCEjFZ4FrcPo6WNULishsq_LIhiR_o8Tfgiv-W5DwHBcqH7gFI-OcbLf8KeuxUBhAXAm_/s1600/IMG_9250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUi0nL8LbUvb2z9oKUfZSR-VFYawhnM3wmNHVHhLVhgdKhF_WPF3yfEPjKPmFSDCLmZFRaZ2jrCEjFZ4FrcPo6WNULishsq_LIhiR_o8Tfgiv-W5DwHBcqH7gFI-OcbLf8KeuxUBhAXAm_/s320/IMG_9250.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Lots of imaginative play from you and Emily this year; favorites are either pulling all the cushions off the couch to make something or other (I think it’s a ship today, based on the bomp-ing sounds I hear) or playing moving truck in your room. Many times I’ve come up to find your bed full of all kinds of things, stacked precariously. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still my music boy: “I will play the trumpet when I get big. Now I play the broom.” (I think it was a bassoon.) One morning this year ago you woke up, sat up in bed and started playing scales on the kazoo. For a while everything was a drum set--boxes, food, overturned crates, sideways tricycles, etc. Daddy made you drumsticks out of dowels to spare the Lincoln logs. You improvise songs very loudly, with made-up lyrics about whatever you happen to be thinking about; sometimes you accompany yourself on the piano with equal vigor. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we are rehearsing you’re usually on the sidelines, playing or conducting. Your musical interests tend follow along with whatever Daddy and I are doing. For a while choirs were the thing; you built risers out of blocks and marched all your people up and down over and over. You also set up at least one orchestra in the living room, with chairs and (toy) instruments on each one. You’re also quite fond of coats and ties; clip-ons, bow ties, real ties. You’re the only four year old I know who can correctly tie his own tie (thanks uncle Michael).</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPSPBEmnYuZpjgFWDoWJc825aCDzcz2Zuskb4JpT9IxbcGZ4AW4GPob6dU4G9DOkXo8HfIkCisyACU1OPGA_g3wizv3fGdtWmNa9vm17a_L32QgcbkOKmlaL9feZFS6dVNfUOo2YlgTB7/s1600/Langemann+2018+Edited-0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPSPBEmnYuZpjgFWDoWJc825aCDzcz2Zuskb4JpT9IxbcGZ4AW4GPob6dU4G9DOkXo8HfIkCisyACU1OPGA_g3wizv3fGdtWmNa9vm17a_L32QgcbkOKmlaL9feZFS6dVNfUOo2YlgTB7/s320/Langemann+2018+Edited-0012.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve started doing a bit of school together; letters and numbers, mostly. You’re picking it up quickly and I enjoy hearing you talk about things: “what plus is dis?” or trying to figure out the letter sounds in a word. Not long ago you came to me and told me seriously that Monkey’s numbers inside him were going backwards (I think this referred to his age, since we’ve had more than one talk about why you aren’t going to be a baby again). We do Bible time together most mornings. You’ve memorized a handful of Psalms and other verses just from repeated reading, and you ask for your favorite Bible stories; lately Noah, Saul, and Jesus stories. I love to see you slowly grasping more and more spiritual truth. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re such a big little boy. I am so glad that you still love to snuggle and am treasuring these days. You’re a wonderful gift to us, James. We’re so glad we got you.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you forever,</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mummy</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcK6WxONU6QBDsy0DImLs8evq7vnnHftv8Nbq2C85zjOfsA8TTPQkhG90niLxu5eXrwniZFk5FOvCp-IIDwnLH6i73CppzhF9NoZL5KCB34OnA0Js_Gz8YiIt9sT76UfSaIIX0PWvF88I/s1600/Langemann+2018+Edited-0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcK6WxONU6QBDsy0DImLs8evq7vnnHftv8Nbq2C85zjOfsA8TTPQkhG90niLxu5eXrwniZFk5FOvCp-IIDwnLH6i73CppzhF9NoZL5KCB34OnA0Js_Gz8YiIt9sT76UfSaIIX0PWvF88I/s320/Langemann+2018+Edited-0024.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpasw_0TuCPznX7keNMtLrBTkoFQUjC_8Oyne9Cb4Ae_Ea-4RWZd4AWAwu5koU5UYe5LJ4K48DMX-tE6WADqaCZsDyGc-laNkMxFpemKC8ZYuuBytst1sEu6GJmW8bGlN_B4echXv6hOD9/s1600/IMG_9287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpasw_0TuCPznX7keNMtLrBTkoFQUjC_8Oyne9Cb4Ae_Ea-4RWZd4AWAwu5koU5UYe5LJ4K48DMX-tE6WADqaCZsDyGc-laNkMxFpemKC8ZYuuBytst1sEu6GJmW8bGlN_B4echXv6hOD9/s320/IMG_9287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-11381274268885676432018-08-10T14:16:00.001-07:002018-08-10T14:16:48.582-07:00Happy Birthday Maddie! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0ED04EBgCd3-WrEoSLb-I1KgpIco_-_HPZDsNqILimkn4i10J0j2meH4wfCPiwShXo_msnHomqNq1t8t7-7pUriq7r27WKLEOQZi08lippspVFyp7ve_V5UAJIv7gnQh4YUcEY6QAJoS/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0ED04EBgCd3-WrEoSLb-I1KgpIco_-_HPZDsNqILimkn4i10J0j2meH4wfCPiwShXo_msnHomqNq1t8t7-7pUriq7r27WKLEOQZi08lippspVFyp7ve_V5UAJIv7gnQh4YUcEY6QAJoS/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0061.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E-QgdfbpRGCefl7zTKiYU3usUMA7g2C1vF5WwbjFz08N5scxkN-VFsK4pJCIDKze01a0grWFWkjmeUFLZdQNqQl-JqIkg838BOXKYY8VCzIcV-ckKeR7e13nMgFmbBtJlhrArfUj-I2G/s1600/madelinerose-185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E-QgdfbpRGCefl7zTKiYU3usUMA7g2C1vF5WwbjFz08N5scxkN-VFsK4pJCIDKze01a0grWFWkjmeUFLZdQNqQl-JqIkg838BOXKYY8VCzIcV-ckKeR7e13nMgFmbBtJlhrArfUj-I2G/s320/madelinerose-185.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Madeline,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy Birthday, baby! You were born a year ago in the middle of the afternoon after a quick, slightly crazy labor. We brought you home that same evening, to the extreme delight of your siblings. I can’t believe you are one already! You’ve brought us so much joy this year. Here are some of my favorite things about one-year-old Maddie:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are funny, spunky, usually happy. You love your siblings and try to be close to them if possible, sometimes to their dismay if it lands you in the middle of their toys. You’re always so happy to see Daddy. You also love your grandparents. Grandpa is a favorite of yours and when Grandma M came home from a recent trip you were so happy to see her that you snuggled with her. (You haven’t been much of a snuggle baby unless you’re super tired...there is just too much to see.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIt-0U3r0d-tHY0ZJ30qTAH7exrRMwczgVntAQfP7cA66uEQw44KTC7WLhoas3NzcFYB8grJEWNwl10YrwFBWCOEynJ3-WfPPIXyK8zWIQqmzXsHenbCkcz3qXx1NKqRakX36H06tHnpVK/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0067.jpg" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtddxypvMKWKw7MSEqtG9pbO7-tYmrJu0bpJyoCHevk42dCYgY8adOEAtDadTxWJNi_IvIJbpu2qNLmXIGqUs14r4ULm0RA-ej3KGqqqxUHb8twMz2H58BwsZrfEWsonQRoUgnrSgPsv1K/s1600/Kiddos+July-0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtddxypvMKWKw7MSEqtG9pbO7-tYmrJu0bpJyoCHevk42dCYgY8adOEAtDadTxWJNi_IvIJbpu2qNLmXIGqUs14r4ULm0RA-ej3KGqqqxUHb8twMz2H58BwsZrfEWsonQRoUgnrSgPsv1K/s320/Kiddos+July-0096.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are very clear on what you do and don’t want to eat. I rarely even try to spoon-feed you anymore; you prefer to feed yourself. You calmly but determinedly refuse when you aren’t interested. You love scrambled eggs, most breads, and banana and adore berries. Meats and savory things aren’t so appealing right now. You cut your first teeth at 8.5 months, a good two and a half months earlier than your siblings, and now you have four; a cute little lopsided grin, since your top two left teeth came in together instead of two top center. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can be hilarious. Even as a baby you tended towards glee when one of your siblings started to cry….but sneezes, especially Daddy’s, made you cry. You love people; don’t like to be alone and don’t seem to mind crowds. You ham it up when there are others to watch you; lately you’ve been blinking slowly with a huge grin. We have this game where you alternate shaking your head and “nodding” along with the person holding you, but since you can’t figure out nodding you just wiggle your whole body. It’s so cute. Sometimes, especially when you’re tired, you get disgruntled and make outraged noises, glaring at me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJZG-NgyTp3B7pg0Xk-i0XN5gdsVqD9VIb3zuB3ipN9lCt5WjYx7502-haaxd_kFHPUtvW48d1qfNU2LO0_k5SMlunBGfekGg2ZKGFIJZ7QjZZMFlYdYwkTcvMAbaaf4kUEJ8OZzuDO1C/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJZG-NgyTp3B7pg0Xk-i0XN5gdsVqD9VIb3zuB3ipN9lCt5WjYx7502-haaxd_kFHPUtvW48d1qfNU2LO0_k5SMlunBGfekGg2ZKGFIJZ7QjZZMFlYdYwkTcvMAbaaf4kUEJ8OZzuDO1C/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDen_-a26q0Vrmo-j1k9tKVY97IVw9ZrqWRqBb07Hwx7370t1i6EnE31_T0jojou8Mw5IA6_XsaupTo-LfSPKEVu_UnVCRgxoMl7RYQ-Z2TgRodrUhjcCNSo_e5ODK7whafKVhNjFFgVw/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDen_-a26q0Vrmo-j1k9tKVY97IVw9ZrqWRqBb07Hwx7370t1i6EnE31_T0jojou8Mw5IA6_XsaupTo-LfSPKEVu_UnVCRgxoMl7RYQ-Z2TgRodrUhjcCNSo_e5ODK7whafKVhNjFFgVw/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(trying to put your hat on by yourself)</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are just getting mobile; finally crawling and going everywhere; you want to be right in the middle of the action. If crawling isn’t fast enough you have a funny lopsided scoot; crawling on one knee and one foot stuck out to the side. You pull yourself up and just started to let go and stand by yourself for a few seconds! You like carrying little things around; Duplo candles and plastic baby spoons or play utensils are your favorites. You’ve held onto them through mealtimes, naptimes, play time...sometimes I know you’re coming because I hear your toy clicking on the floor as you crawl. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbMcZCwkFXFBJr3BSv2lecbSE38yY8tWA_PxTLt5SRZKKkAVRVW1iVO-TeOruDr30MFfH9nhvcL5dDDcMuF6rJmb4291h0K6ARmFPy3MPGj7z7jDK_YmW1qihcj_fYbJLw7KheRe2sPgM/s320/IMG_6503.JPG" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;" width="240" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You’re figuring out words: “Daddy”, “see” or “I see” with the cutest little lisp, especially when you want my phone. You recently started saying something like thank-you. “Ni-ni” is for bye-bye, good night or all done. Sometimes you babble conversationally and it’s adorable. I think I heard you say Emily the other day, but you don’t seem to want to repeat it for me. You also have some terrifyingly loud sound effects that you tend to pull out when James is being a vacuum. Like your siblings, you love music. When we start singing you light up, waving your arms and bouncing. Sometimes you sing along.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoY6M3-7nWlLbCy3apcEsK0P5fyL2gUzIQncRtQ_gFkPZixFrhWyKZLW0WYQXvQbooCR9CgWzfsjglv4OvLrnrCkDd9q3tUKksfKSV4QFBMuYPeyY3h0PbbS9XZpl6oss4xrW3YTjnUWV/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoY6M3-7nWlLbCy3apcEsK0P5fyL2gUzIQncRtQ_gFkPZixFrhWyKZLW0WYQXvQbooCR9CgWzfsjglv4OvLrnrCkDd9q3tUKksfKSV4QFBMuYPeyY3h0PbbS9XZpl6oss4xrW3YTjnUWV/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0090.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(you were so happy when everyone sang Happy Birthday to you)</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You are such a gift to us, Maddie Rose. We’re going to have so much fun together as you get bigger; there are so many beautiful things to see and share! So glad that we get to be the ones to watch you grow. I pray that you grow secure in our love and Jesus’ love. Happy birthday! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Love you forever,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mummy </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ercOcSu7iWcoGpHFb6Xi1xGUOgDwdaONVtW5qI_ERKV97ZfWdg3g1z1cqKDwtYVHvHPgFMzg-Iq4DNt86G7d5bmro_9VxP1uVyafmWLAxY6OWMgVh532tjgLt8EegQE92r1T_mqhlKC/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ercOcSu7iWcoGpHFb6Xi1xGUOgDwdaONVtW5qI_ERKV97ZfWdg3g1z1cqKDwtYVHvHPgFMzg-Iq4DNt86G7d5bmro_9VxP1uVyafmWLAxY6OWMgVh532tjgLt8EegQE92r1T_mqhlKC/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0048.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo956w07NG0gWabEskOubCcpThRX8A1ophWZPHtWg0sqax6mp9Z80p_rZow8X64pc8OhHIjS_Jhi_l30bIFaYX5nqUrl6DXKZNAbssbdRddVFPy5VIEAqZcZogfixo5NaZPdYh1PqL0LS-/s1600/Maddie+1+Year-0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo956w07NG0gWabEskOubCcpThRX8A1ophWZPHtWg0sqax6mp9Z80p_rZow8X64pc8OhHIjS_Jhi_l30bIFaYX5nqUrl6DXKZNAbssbdRddVFPy5VIEAqZcZogfixo5NaZPdYh1PqL0LS-/s320/Maddie+1+Year-0065.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits to the wonderful <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Auntie Sarah</a></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-59317488780672389172018-08-07T20:33:00.000-07:002018-08-07T20:33:49.660-07:00Emily's Third Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04rNYC9xnSzodrCPSq56NKTJuJFo4XJnQHRitwgzP2wJYgHaLhDz5SV6LVpRlvyP4qN1F7uxsyMHcp78Gy1rYYkPezfhQ4jc1FA6r20KP9BIhdEoK3yPFzTA5WxeJQMUUW3fSFHPaMvUr/s1600/Kiddos+July-0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04rNYC9xnSzodrCPSq56NKTJuJFo4XJnQHRitwgzP2wJYgHaLhDz5SV6LVpRlvyP4qN1F7uxsyMHcp78Gy1rYYkPezfhQ4jc1FA6r20KP9BIhdEoK3yPFzTA5WxeJQMUUW3fSFHPaMvUr/s320/Kiddos+July-0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Emily,</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-cf2333a9-7fff-b676-017b-38c0744dd766" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy third birthday! You are a little sunshine girl; such a gift to us. You’re so caring and empathetic....spunky and vivacious when you’re comfortable with people; quite cautious when you aren’t. Here's a little snapshot of three-year-old Emmy:</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re my shadow and helper. You don’t like being too far away from me and you love helping with whatever I’m doing. You help me “smash” eggs in the morning for scrambled eggs and pull up a chair to help me (or lie with your blankie on the kitchen floor) while I’m cooking. You’ve become quite good at folding towels and washclothes. You were my big helper with putting in the garden this year; some things got buried rather deeply but you loved it and I’m so happy to see you loving the outdoors.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYZ6MyyhJ0NYyQCEytw5u0D4ysjNcAYGTlmVzP0oleG6bKWNV1ivm2fMBtUjjWVfznY-853Mj_ke2xhS1aRzTpcsks8IXzWJeibtAevF7Sfb27Vv4E1fgOR9FaNtXRMXAGQObXUazh-RU/s1600/IMG_5782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYZ6MyyhJ0NYyQCEytw5u0D4ysjNcAYGTlmVzP0oleG6bKWNV1ivm2fMBtUjjWVfznY-853Mj_ke2xhS1aRzTpcsks8IXzWJeibtAevF7Sfb27Vv4E1fgOR9FaNtXRMXAGQObXUazh-RU/s320/IMG_5782.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu5xwD57I3mbumhdholR4Y0L96qAgGWqxLWmaz0QHHEgLId9GkMvcy-Gk5hlQry40av_ucWnwrxWAXFN6rgP0jIbhZv5Y5QhYGIpS2tQUqfIjlZ5ekLtJ1tKMqZnJMeoMxPKSXEBghgqa/s1600/IMG_6421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu5xwD57I3mbumhdholR4Y0L96qAgGWqxLWmaz0QHHEgLId9GkMvcy-Gk5hlQry40av_ucWnwrxWAXFN6rgP0jIbhZv5Y5QhYGIpS2tQUqfIjlZ5ekLtJ1tKMqZnJMeoMxPKSXEBghgqa/s320/IMG_6421.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are surprisingly articulate. I love the way you open your eyes up big when you’re telling me something exciting and your little grown-up voice and unique phrasing. (“I tumbled!”; anything warm is “cozy”.) You’re always saying “When I was a little girl…” or that anything in the past happened “last year”. You told me recently, rather sadly, that you were “worried about da new house” (moving has been a big transition for all of us). The other day we were eating snacks; you took a goldfish cracker from your bag and tossed it on the ground: “Dat was a old dead one!”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN7HHRMhJFYSkJeEikxlDuFDr3nvqR7t0J8prsRs8Q5LwZ3Go0L7yMc1tm1_EAdT3-uZYVd4OdoUe6d9ZQ6mx8tSRVZP5miHlW3CKVajYXy8xY72n96C5F7Q7gW-MmPHN2rQ6A0A55UWV/s1600/IMG_6058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBN7HHRMhJFYSkJeEikxlDuFDr3nvqR7t0J8prsRs8Q5LwZ3Go0L7yMc1tm1_EAdT3-uZYVd4OdoUe6d9ZQ6mx8tSRVZP5miHlW3CKVajYXy8xY72n96C5F7Q7gW-MmPHN2rQ6A0A55UWV/s320/IMG_6058.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(when you saw your "pink house cake" for the first time)</span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You notice so much; a new outfit, if I change my nail polish. You love pretty things. Anytime you see me with any kind of product for my lips, you want some: “Lips on? Lips on?” (The other day you tried to introduce Maddie to “lips” but she thought it was something to eat.) For your birthday party you said “I want lips on--sparkly ones.” You want to try out my make up; recently you saw me putting on mascara and said “Is dat scary for you, Mom?” You also love to have your toenails done and find it rather sad when the “polish” wears off.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9Vjl-rERZjGwU0VHnx3LE1FdWtXNqTFm6GokBpKOioDnoyihIGw0RrpFJajsWOpwJD2C-B5yZSFFOR0zcvTzCA0GdMxTbsPkLiARbI__elWnVejB5VFTx2MwoscMk0ClFmIueYEASxIs/s1600/Kiddos+July-0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9Vjl-rERZjGwU0VHnx3LE1FdWtXNqTFm6GokBpKOioDnoyihIGw0RrpFJajsWOpwJD2C-B5yZSFFOR0zcvTzCA0GdMxTbsPkLiARbI__elWnVejB5VFTx2MwoscMk0ClFmIueYEASxIs/s320/Kiddos+July-0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBvNl8EH3YgTQz9m_rPku8vvpQcqOmQmqykBKS7FV-XMX-2GF4r64ms1mlC6z2zPwDw8MebNKTlIuskO-CQFsN96zEhT0qaVOgnYQi6X1QBH2GHGMomMqTB3Ca1nRrODzzE5QwrljbmdE/s1600/Kiddos+July-0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBvNl8EH3YgTQz9m_rPku8vvpQcqOmQmqykBKS7FV-XMX-2GF4r64ms1mlC6z2zPwDw8MebNKTlIuskO-CQFsN96zEhT0qaVOgnYQi6X1QBH2GHGMomMqTB3Ca1nRrODzzE5QwrljbmdE/s320/Kiddos+July-0020.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re very aware of your surroundings. You like things in their places and it’s disturbing to your soul when things change too much or are disordered. If I don’t say “amen” after a prayer, you are rather distraught. “I smell something!” has become a regular refrain. (Once it was “achully James” and once... “it’s my feet!”) I gave you Swiss cheese a couple of months ago and you said “It comed into my nose! I want lellow cheese.” </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your imagination is amazing: I got a few books of artwork from the library a few months ago and was looking at the pictures with you and James after naptime one day. We were looking at a two page spread of a winter scene, noticing details. You said “I’m cold!” and I went to wrap you in your blankies, but you said “I’m cold from the picture!”. Then we were talking about a man who was using a pickaxe on the ice and you said “I don’t like dat noise”. What noise, thought I? ”Dat noise he is making. I will dus stay close to you.” </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’re still a little music girl. You sing to your babies, play your (toy) violin with appropriate movement, like to play along when I’m playing the piano. You typically request “violin songs” when we’re going to listen to music. You also loooove stories. You always want more and I don’t think we’ve ever read so many to you that you didn’t want another. The Little House, Madeline, Kim Lewis books...you’ll sit and snuggle and listen. You're also quite the little baby mama. For a while you kept the entire collection of dolls in you bed. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeIZBE7JkR6svnwrFyevpV7B8dJ57rk8N3P-7mp2njGIrV5qV3JE_aKzqdiXjZz2s0qqOmyaJUyTNMowtAb2Fi7W89psWxu6C08jkRL4F1HEpMFdoHLuRsSDffK6AnNEKqM7HLpu_sraP/s1600/IMG_6289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeIZBE7JkR6svnwrFyevpV7B8dJ57rk8N3P-7mp2njGIrV5qV3JE_aKzqdiXjZz2s0qqOmyaJUyTNMowtAb2Fi7W89psWxu6C08jkRL4F1HEpMFdoHLuRsSDffK6AnNEKqM7HLpu_sraP/s320/IMG_6289.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You and James have both been asking more questions about Jesus lately. You love to hear all of the verses of Jesus Loves Me and ask specifically about the part where He washes away our sins. It's so exciting to me to see your awareness of spiritual things grow and to watch Jesus reach out to you. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You and James are getting to be good friends. It’s so cute to hear you playing and conversing together. You were sitting on the patio step eating dessert the other night, looking thoughtfully at the huge trees along the canal behind the house. You said, pointing at the sunny blue sky, “Look at dat shooting star up dere!” James, a minute later: “I wonder if we walk fru da trails if we will see a moon coming up...” You love Maddie and watch out for her; you’re quite vigilant to make sure she doesn’t get too close to the stairs, sometimes to her dismay. I can’t wait to see the relationship you two develop as you grow. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFWqvhVhTKv-JogAOTJMPsofX9h7iV6wnMB8lyuwWZjTwdp9Qk16GgVoXDP4sOW-kFZHa18xLYlQ6niDhCeNJHAwxOBzyFMsO7MOOZowL85bdQNMWqWKl7yhyuCNILsjXsBi7EtdtN-AX/s1600/Kiddos+July-0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSXXpYwRyqokczFIapMpb6vNi-I9DIyJG9pEvyWIbhkdhiNY9__iA0G9wDlKXeUszv7MBrWCASQk5Tvez4Q4Mke-K907w7Oc7J5bOB7l719xmi6IjBAw8YNPmLwQN2E3XWvqv5-NqKcjq/s1600/Kiddos+July-0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSXXpYwRyqokczFIapMpb6vNi-I9DIyJG9pEvyWIbhkdhiNY9__iA0G9wDlKXeUszv7MBrWCASQk5Tvez4Q4Mke-K907w7Oc7J5bOB7l719xmi6IjBAw8YNPmLwQN2E3XWvqv5-NqKcjq/s320/Kiddos+July-0003.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFWqvhVhTKv-JogAOTJMPsofX9h7iV6wnMB8lyuwWZjTwdp9Qk16GgVoXDP4sOW-kFZHa18xLYlQ6niDhCeNJHAwxOBzyFMsO7MOOZowL85bdQNMWqWKl7yhyuCNILsjXsBi7EtdtN-AX/s1600/Kiddos+July-0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFWqvhVhTKv-JogAOTJMPsofX9h7iV6wnMB8lyuwWZjTwdp9Qk16GgVoXDP4sOW-kFZHa18xLYlQ6niDhCeNJHAwxOBzyFMsO7MOOZowL85bdQNMWqWKl7yhyuCNILsjXsBi7EtdtN-AX/s320/Kiddos+July-0084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You bring us much joy, Emily Grace. I’m so glad we got you and that I get to see you grow up. You are loved and precious. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you forever,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mummy </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr7CsatQwoDwTSSsDAVjp6qLgcUMNKuMW-Zx-I8IBHFnZPGGXi6G0Cto4Nl4vQs5KqFZ2x-iac08haJfdw_bHD-tnKFv-K_UTNrbsnSpdLZhE1fLRfA20AwtkeXVshfWQSG1xkPuFXyYW/s1600/Kiddos+July-0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp7PK-OLp0eMjZbGuwMa2eoIw8347Uhjdaupo4rSRIHp_W0_DNJvDs1tUk84Fylv9QMdKmTrDA0Dr4ybnKdhQR60IBWIpNkH5yAJC1OdDi6_a_4WYciuzaLQX-os-XBrfw9FupywwU9a2/s1600/Kiddos+July-0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp7PK-OLp0eMjZbGuwMa2eoIw8347Uhjdaupo4rSRIHp_W0_DNJvDs1tUk84Fylv9QMdKmTrDA0Dr4ybnKdhQR60IBWIpNkH5yAJC1OdDi6_a_4WYciuzaLQX-os-XBrfw9FupywwU9a2/s320/Kiddos+July-0074.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr7CsatQwoDwTSSsDAVjp6qLgcUMNKuMW-Zx-I8IBHFnZPGGXi6G0Cto4Nl4vQs5KqFZ2x-iac08haJfdw_bHD-tnKFv-K_UTNrbsnSpdLZhE1fLRfA20AwtkeXVshfWQSG1xkPuFXyYW/s1600/Kiddos+July-0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr7CsatQwoDwTSSsDAVjp6qLgcUMNKuMW-Zx-I8IBHFnZPGGXi6G0Cto4Nl4vQs5KqFZ2x-iac08haJfdw_bHD-tnKFv-K_UTNrbsnSpdLZhE1fLRfA20AwtkeXVshfWQSG1xkPuFXyYW/s320/Kiddos+July-0018.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfN1i4JwenTql-fxAxAgdnhcXNNO1Pc5BIxAu9fQ3EnPK6t1PP6v3B6hjUKUYoBpS5VFnQMmIPnb6xB8A5nnSuff4QANt0IjBCl4xUS3QROMHYoRX1nSmeCBnBe5u2yymKvuILAgWLO6b/s1600/Kiddos+July-0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfN1i4JwenTql-fxAxAgdnhcXNNO1Pc5BIxAu9fQ3EnPK6t1PP6v3B6hjUKUYoBpS5VFnQMmIPnb6xB8A5nnSuff4QANt0IjBCl4xUS3QROMHYoRX1nSmeCBnBe5u2yymKvuILAgWLO6b/s320/Kiddos+July-0041.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit for all the good ones: <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Sarah Morgan Photography</a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-15804380566877464112018-01-11T14:24:00.000-08:002018-01-11T14:24:04.937-08:00Family Update 2017<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArDbRfUvr54albM0g6zK5V4SgdBpd9vPNoMfPFtWBXENC9mF0HfSTgYnDRKQ6ABUmGwBNlBxY0-EW6zFF2KDlgIm-ExLLBZ_A8_QgNTFZFbytoXjGU15rX12t5mvZ4YJxl6rruGZLOjpc/s1600/7L6A8300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArDbRfUvr54albM0g6zK5V4SgdBpd9vPNoMfPFtWBXENC9mF0HfSTgYnDRKQ6ABUmGwBNlBxY0-EW6zFF2KDlgIm-ExLLBZ_A8_QgNTFZFbytoXjGU15rX12t5mvZ4YJxl6rruGZLOjpc/s640/7L6A8300.JPG" width="425" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.4.18</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-80572067-e746-6812-317e-9820720fdfeb" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends and kindred, inlaws, outlaws, and otherwise:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greetings and salutations! Joe’s off with his brother and some friends tonight and—having settled the children and the house—I am here with tea, treats, and laptop in hand, prepared to update you on the life of the Langemanns in 2017.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the first several months of the year, Joe spent his time off renovating our kitchen and bathrooms with new cupboards, counters, and backsplash tile. Our dates for those months pretty much consisted of midwife appointments, a quick coffee and (another) run to Home Depot. I absolutely love the finished products! Working in a beautiful kitchen is good for the soul and the bathrooms feel like a ritzy hotel. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPQoKLy6L9yzcXuja0d0gjaR0OKu4-nSqCV5Yu7syRO2XcxLD9w7YUS6soKupbLHozJGqSxpwca6fNGkRj1IXLvGfzkj1MOy6UVzjpcfX-ytwR1ZdXuxo3YzZf2edBSJbU_cFXH3WzdU2/s1600/IMG_7948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPQoKLy6L9yzcXuja0d0gjaR0OKu4-nSqCV5Yu7syRO2XcxLD9w7YUS6soKupbLHozJGqSxpwca6fNGkRj1IXLvGfzkj1MOy6UVzjpcfX-ytwR1ZdXuxo3YzZf2edBSJbU_cFXH3WzdU2/s320/IMG_7948.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year Joe developed quite a passion for longbow archery. He found a local range, shoots often with my dad and/or siblings in my parents’ yard, and regularly finds some small accouterment to add to his setup. I love it; it’s so him. He’s still working in sales at The Deck Superstore and really likes his job. The commute is a little crazy from our home right now (looking to move this year!) but one advantage is that he’s made his way through several audiobooks in the course of the year. He’s a wonderful dad and I love seeing him on the floor with the kids, creating amazing things from blocks, </span><span style="text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Duplo, Lincoln logs, etc. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UZlrPL_-sifO2z0-IqhIqt-lu2JI_RodBNHTB-ciGgYb2PUjsj9eFq5Jcdy6iwPVyZ5IKv63d7R0LZ0VKJlgPogmGo6__6pV410fDCA4NmZOVDYjZO5mpxw70_GlxEbeptkMTW8W3exd/s1600/IMG_6945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UZlrPL_-sifO2z0-IqhIqt-lu2JI_RodBNHTB-ciGgYb2PUjsj9eFq5Jcdy6iwPVyZ5IKv63d7R0LZ0VKJlgPogmGo6__6pV410fDCA4NmZOVDYjZO5mpxw70_GlxEbeptkMTW8W3exd/s320/IMG_6945.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no trouble keeping busy these days. Caring for the family, creating yummy and healthy meals, keeping the house (usually mostly) tidy. The kids and I get out for walks just about every day (current setup: double stroller and Ergo) and in summer make good use of our local pool. I still love to read and set a record for books read in 2017, thanks largely to a new Kindle (a having-a-baby gift from my hubby), making reading while holding a baby much easier. I’ve made great use of the library e-book service. I participate in music as I can...Joe, seeing that rehearsals and concerts made his normally steady wife “buzzed”, kindly worked things out for me to play with the Colorado Young Sinfonia through the end of the 2016/2017 season. I loved those evenings of focused work on some wonderful music. Recently I’ve been playing piano for worship at church. It has been a long time since I did any church music; it’s good to be back.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of us participated in Bold Reflection in the spring. Our summer concerts were special times, especially since the group took the fall/winter set off. We’ve missed BR but were able to join our church choir in the same capacities: Joe sings and I’m accompanying. Figuring out how to include music in our lives with three small children is a bit interesting, but we are so grateful for opportunities (and numerous family babysitters) that allow us to make it happen.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, three small children! Madeline Rose was born on July 28, 11 days late. She was welcomed with great love and relief by her parents and with great enthusiasm by her siblings. Maddie is a sweet, laid-back, happy child and loves her older siblings. She rarely cries but has a whole collection of sound effects (including an ear-splitting screech) that communicate quite effectively. I am really loving this baby stage the third time around. I’m not nearly so worried about things like “will she sleep through the night” (probably, eventually) and “oh no is she acting normal” (yep) and much more aware that this is a short and special season of life. I love our nighttime snuggles. Her middle name comes with a funny story...we had a name for a boy but couldn’t settle on a girl name for a long time. We kept coming back around to Madeline and finally, in the last week or two before she was born, we decided we’d better come up with a middle name just in case. Problem was, we were totally stumped. So we put it to our families (via family text) and generated a whole slew of suggestions, including Belle, Ursula, Viola, and...more. Auntie Erin saved the day and Madeline Rose it is! </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0MyNZskonLcCbR6nDj6bsT841j3jlUOW297TK_hsq2VuALQ04QnnlJY_Eydwve8OJwB-EjHRO4OhvDUPxLDiE_eOnIVDvGKcMqf4lDqKhQlB0sYeLeatxJHxzBpb0pJJCtcfIAJ76xlo/s1600/IMG_9159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0MyNZskonLcCbR6nDj6bsT841j3jlUOW297TK_hsq2VuALQ04QnnlJY_Eydwve8OJwB-EjHRO4OhvDUPxLDiE_eOnIVDvGKcMqf4lDqKhQlB0sYeLeatxJHxzBpb0pJJCtcfIAJ76xlo/s320/IMG_9159.JPG" width="213" /></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBZnzaAABx3cHoSK7VKWpDgcURGHBdivrZ1bUqtxJ5gxCWJ7yXfQyfOVAbbnCZWilyhrqEJh73LnjQZcuz-_TBw_XuYF1zxn-gxN6HC0WPQPlxdWQXHGa0RpJRIVLfkzGKbYJ8IjC2Eu-/s1600/7L6A8404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBZnzaAABx3cHoSK7VKWpDgcURGHBdivrZ1bUqtxJ5gxCWJ7yXfQyfOVAbbnCZWilyhrqEJh73LnjQZcuz-_TBw_XuYF1zxn-gxN6HC0WPQPlxdWQXHGa0RpJRIVLfkzGKbYJ8IjC2Eu-/s320/7L6A8404.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily turned 2 on July 2. She’s the best imaginable mixture of sweetness and spunk… impossibly cute and so articulate. She is a caring little mama for her babies; a small collection of dolls and a blue teddy bear that she calls her sister. (If you hear one of us refer to Emily’s sister, it’s typically not Maddie we’re talking about. It’s the blue bear). I regularly find her singing one of them to sleep. She loves to sit on the counter while Mommy works in the kitchen (“Hop you on da counter? Hop you on da counter?”). She picks up on emotions when we read stories: “He sad! He happy!”. I love her wonderful response to music. She gets so excited, moving, dancing, and occasionally exclaiming when it gets too intense. Earlier this year she was obsessed with the violin. Anything could become a violin: two pieces of tomato, goldfish crackers, toys, tubes from the vacuum. Grandma had pity upon her and got her a toy violin for her birthday. She sings with great abandon and sometimes hilarious lyrics (“Who in da world, da Lord is come.”). She certainly has her ideas about how things work, or should work. On the way home the other night she wasn’t super impressed that I was driving instead of Daddy (who wasn’t even in the car): “Dat’s Daddy’s driver right now! Don’t use it! Can you scoot over?”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb48t6enjsCdK1ZAcPf8429Zle78KXpKSnSY0WjDb9Y1Ocu9Phl1kK3c4rFK2rCnOkCnHqmqZ6CKVk9wPrhNaM0Jtgu-SEfURnpqV8tmVHGzqb0RPoq_LfcBT6wYyu3io3ZJF1HHh_D6q/s1600/7L6A7819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBb48t6enjsCdK1ZAcPf8429Zle78KXpKSnSY0WjDb9Y1Ocu9Phl1kK3c4rFK2rCnOkCnHqmqZ6CKVk9wPrhNaM0Jtgu-SEfURnpqV8tmVHGzqb0RPoq_LfcBT6wYyu3io3ZJF1HHh_D6q/s320/7L6A7819.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James turned 4 in November. He’s getting to be such a big boy. Loves playing with Daddy and building things, digging outside, playing with his aunties and uncles. He’s all about construction equipment right now. I walked in his room the other day and he had a whole construction scene set up; Lincoln logs dumped all over and front loaders and dump trucks to load them into. He’s so creative; he’ll create expanded versions of toys (hooking a couple of trailers together to become a car carrier, or using a stethoscope as part of a leaf-blower) and comes up with wild and crazy headgear. He’s also a musician boy. Conducting, singing all the time...sometimes his own songs and sometimes real songs. If I’m playing the piano he comes up with some kind of drum set (container, two Lincoln logs) and just sits and bangs away along with me. I’m amazed by how much he picks up. He and Emily both sprinkle their conversation with references to songs and stories: “I see da light from above!” “I’m digging da celler of da new town hall!’. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1edvh74ho4-CMv4A82lbrevjWAq57u7MtntO033sy_LY6YCABqnUjPCRu0vRDM7ETI4rtdRBEg5U5WMKW4mvmGu0yrXt3Fd-yeoXAsTN09suN7yXAdC-PUJwWzeCxbywVryCmzOdfMD1_/s1600/IMG_9169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1edvh74ho4-CMv4A82lbrevjWAq57u7MtntO033sy_LY6YCABqnUjPCRu0vRDM7ETI4rtdRBEg5U5WMKW4mvmGu0yrXt3Fd-yeoXAsTN09suN7yXAdC-PUJwWzeCxbywVryCmzOdfMD1_/s320/IMG_9169.JPG" width="213" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s been fun to see the relationship between the two of them develop. This year they’ve gotten better at playing together peacefully for stretches of time longer than two minutes and it’s so nice. This exchange from July nicely sums the mixture of sweetness and insanity around here... James: “Look at you! You’re. So. Pretty.” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(about one minute later)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Say bird poop, Emmy! Say bird poop!” They also sing together….recently I heard (very loudly) “Blow up, blow up, blow up de ark!”</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3BTLMTusMrxs_VHtDsHcSc6yfgTIGSfGX469QpYFWD9d7hEpNMXW5kkuTtArIgiPJoHnnC-azBeLiKUu1fXfUwxq0Uxaw7rXaAJktWpn66k9oWVXk9T3-r0XMOsopMFqTA17xQmqiTEN/s1600/7L6A8631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3BTLMTusMrxs_VHtDsHcSc6yfgTIGSfGX469QpYFWD9d7hEpNMXW5kkuTtArIgiPJoHnnC-azBeLiKUu1fXfUwxq0Uxaw7rXaAJktWpn66k9oWVXk9T3-r0XMOsopMFqTA17xQmqiTEN/s320/7L6A8631.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joe and I celebrated 5 years of marriage in September. We are so blessed to share life together. We’re working out how to live well in this stage, how to nurture our kids and our marriage and care for all the practical stuff. The intermix of the two can be a little funny. Today we had a lovely date, talked about organization and routine, and then went to Costco and got crate-happy. Over a dozen crates later the toys are well-organized, at least…</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dto0NMvgXhq4rznoA_OPt_YiZC11ASojXUfwHeV06QXNZXP1Zpztevdg0bKkpF-Rvtz66zU9yPKV3TRcKIzwNaW0fl3PNxpA0-vl6J3mwMZL61CtAD8KReS2sCLECJ74RRsGiDQPvEE1/s1600/7L6A8467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Dto0NMvgXhq4rznoA_OPt_YiZC11ASojXUfwHeV06QXNZXP1Zpztevdg0bKkpF-Rvtz66zU9yPKV3TRcKIzwNaW0fl3PNxpA0-vl6J3mwMZL61CtAD8KReS2sCLECJ74RRsGiDQPvEE1/s320/7L6A8467.jpg" width="213" /></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvkHO_fiR407xC5PNjr1bGoBGP45Nx77Rd0qbRyqfxys82ZKKkunGlo-XeH-UEFwCbr2p0Wtmioi7d9_5qifRZxezDx_pCQ8RqU1kWUPnbIoTYWCBfQbCSBcsitaGizpPHHz1bet0Xg4_/s1600/IMG_7924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvkHO_fiR407xC5PNjr1bGoBGP45Nx77Rd0qbRyqfxys82ZKKkunGlo-XeH-UEFwCbr2p0Wtmioi7d9_5qifRZxezDx_pCQ8RqU1kWUPnbIoTYWCBfQbCSBcsitaGizpPHHz1bet0Xg4_/s320/IMG_7924.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, our travels were some of the highlights of our year! The usual Morgan family trip to Buena Vista in February was wonderful as always. In May, Joe and I flew out to Washington and spent a few nights in a fishing town on the Pacific coast! First time I’d seen the Pacific ocean. We had a lovely time together and spent as much of it as possible down on the beach. In October we made our annual trip to Michigan. It was one of our best vacations ever, long drive notwithstanding. We spent a few days on Lake Huron in a lovely little cottage right on the water, relaxing and enjoying the beauty as a family. Then we headed down to my grandma’s, where most of the rest of my family met us. I’m telling you, bringing a slew of babysitters on vacation is highly recommended. The kids loved the water, the sand, and the time with Grandma Noni and it was a wonderful relaxing and bonding time for all of us. It’s been such a gift to be able to spend these times with my grandma each fall.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have been given so much. Obvious things: a home, love, family, friends, music. And the deeper things: God’s care. Grace. A hope that doesn’t change. Attending a performance of Handel’s Messiah was a highlight of my Christmas season; the truth and hope contained therein is so refreshing and grounding for me. It helps me to take a step back and see that no matter the craziness of the world or the anxiety of life and the having of three small children, God’s story is bigger and the ending is good. Deep security lies in that and I am so grateful. We are also grateful for you, our dear family and friends. (Especially the ones who babysit). Wishing you a wonderful 2018!</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joe, Rachel, James, Emily and Madeline Langemann</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK4E1muFzyQJXCghAdSMEDrdlWY1-n5oEnwGzDFPrLhzCV7dIj3KKzocNYY4lX3tXl5w0zS7LRw5IPe0vNEb7Gwv428d-cno_RN0WfhTAHSHJaUWnJd3jpSY_vOdsuUrUSRVHibzYFBMB/s1600/7L6A8613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK4E1muFzyQJXCghAdSMEDrdlWY1-n5oEnwGzDFPrLhzCV7dIj3KKzocNYY4lX3tXl5w0zS7LRw5IPe0vNEb7Gwv428d-cno_RN0WfhTAHSHJaUWnJd3jpSY_vOdsuUrUSRVHibzYFBMB/s400/7L6A8613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>all the good photos by <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Sarah</a>...</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-11499217840993484392018-01-06T14:37:00.001-08:002018-01-06T14:37:56.659-08:00Happy 4th Birthday James! <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Only two months late on this one! Here's James' 4th birthday letter.)</span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKL2-9XeKQ2Gph9ix7Mg8enbzUmWI47Mo8Tz__CQpsFZwYhoTZ22ro3JJWOcMGBkuEtjz88dwrAT4mH0Qvj3Awh9S3bEtUy7A5YtGTcLQ2rAYKi2XmgkAQoXunkoa4bm8xdyEkCx4Zb3rH/s1600/7L6A7601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKL2-9XeKQ2Gph9ix7Mg8enbzUmWI47Mo8Tz__CQpsFZwYhoTZ22ro3JJWOcMGBkuEtjz88dwrAT4mH0Qvj3Awh9S3bEtUy7A5YtGTcLQ2rAYKi2XmgkAQoXunkoa4bm8xdyEkCx4Zb3rH/s320/7L6A7601.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear James,</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-3f62ed21-cd94-e219-ed81-3bfd51b9c84e" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Birthday, my four-year-old boy! Wow, it’s hard to believe that it’s been so long since we met you. I remember when Daddy carried you over to me after you were born. You were so little, but alert. Today, you’re growing into such a big boy. You’re thoughtful and caring but so full of crazy energy that sometimes I don’t know what to make of the combination. (We’re working on crab walking and kicking the air to get rid of all that energy...so as to protect your sisters).</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year: you love watching the summer lawn care crew and often imitate them...leaf-blowing, trimming the edges, trimming the trees (though we try to prevent you from doing actual damage to the bushes outside), raking the new rock that Daddy put in. You’re also quite enthralled with construction (“descutchin”) equipment: road work, dirt moving, etc. This summer the city resurfaced one of the roads near us and you’ve been steamrolling things ever since. (We try to keep the water usage part of the process to a minimum.) Just now there’s major earthmoving going on near one of our favorite playgrounds and you’ve been watching carefully and then coming home and recreating what you see. I’ve caught you with a scissors, wanting to cut off the bucket scoops of your front loaders to convert them to forklifts, just like the big one you saw. Helping Daddy is another favorite activity....especially when you get to go to “Depot Home” and maybe even the toy store.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6dFO0a8rAjBgpHA1r8_XFTs8OA-0-utO2NDYuJE7sA5QONplEG9n0wN6w5vRjwjhbc9xX2VFphBNHFQre7pzRYSiSvZ7n2ZcBTG8Vp1RjR4KRcHEn4rP4BHeDSCI0oOSaZ3bUgLcCC2p/s1600/7L6A7764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6dFO0a8rAjBgpHA1r8_XFTs8OA-0-utO2NDYuJE7sA5QONplEG9n0wN6w5vRjwjhbc9xX2VFphBNHFQre7pzRYSiSvZ7n2ZcBTG8Vp1RjR4KRcHEn4rP4BHeDSCI0oOSaZ3bUgLcCC2p/s320/7L6A7764.jpg" width="320" /></a> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stories are a big part of your life these days. It’s so fun now that you’re old enough to sit and listen to a whole story instead of just flipping through the pictures. For a lot of the year your favorite book was Dr. Seuss’ Go Dog Go (please beware, innocent parents, of this book). You and Emily randomly ask “Do you like my hat?” to which the only proper answer is “I do not!”. Unless it’s your party hat, in which case of course I love it. It’s not unheard of for you to wake up saying “Get up! It is day! Time to get going! Get up! It is day! Time to get going!”. More recently, we've been reading Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel. (relief...a book with a plot.) You now dig the cellar of the new town hall at the ball diamond, on the beach, through the rocks into the dirt off our patio. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You’re a sweet big brother to both your sisters (though recently you’re asking for another new baby and have made it clear that you’d like a brother: “two Emmys and two Jamesies!”). We have a couple of precious videos of you holding Maddie, talking to and about her: “It’s okay, Maddie! Don’t worry!....look at her liddow toes….she’s getting big like me!” You also tell me when she’s upset: “your baby’s crying!” You keep track of Emily and the two of you are getting good at playing together. You get concerned if she gets too close to the edge at the playground and the other day she was lagging behind us as we walked; you went back and took her hand to help her. You’ve also been known to attempt to reprove me if you think I’m not being nice to Emmy: “No! Let her do that!” (Oh my.)</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkSbwPfA7evvrpZOBFazPgGdDL1xBZJN37u4XFmDwUfDk5HwEPnhkRWOSEZJzdw_MFGgYbw2uq5Q5pk-OsQwWTY8frlpsuSuv28msn1acgLpeN1iMBTW8kZS-ubwzYnxYFarvzAwSMSGl/s1600/7L6A7907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkSbwPfA7evvrpZOBFazPgGdDL1xBZJN37u4XFmDwUfDk5HwEPnhkRWOSEZJzdw_MFGgYbw2uq5Q5pk-OsQwWTY8frlpsuSuv28msn1acgLpeN1iMBTW8kZS-ubwzYnxYFarvzAwSMSGl/s320/7L6A7907.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Music is such a big part of your life. You sing all the time, sometimes songs we’ve taught you and sometimes your own creations, often having to do with leafblowers, snowblowers, etc. You and Emmy sit at the piano and sing together--often Holy Holy Holy or You Are My Sunshine. Great Is Thy Faithfulness is another recent favorite and a must-sing every night. You love watching music videos--your current idea of a movie is an orchestral or Bold Reflection concert-- and you enjoy hearing mommy play and daddy sing in the “plior” (choir) at church. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Your grasp of language is pretty awesome. You have words that you use for things that nobody else can figure out. Some we’ve deciphered the meaning to...some we haven't. You say “I’m gonna plennon you!” and talk about “jego bugs”. You were going around “shooting” people by pulling an imaginary string away from them and we finally figured out that you’re actually “starting” them like you would a lawn mower. (See below.)</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8D8COsFowJNQqaEYonG8pMrd4na3wkSBgzsCA6lvwzlCllBH00MmZPG3PNla3eXAZuS5XXOphPAf2GPcQZ-FC6pu3eBGjnPDWZuOC844fbASA8k_chh9R-VT2fbziguIkdDFXhfnJOi0j/s1600/7L6A8384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8D8COsFowJNQqaEYonG8pMrd4na3wkSBgzsCA6lvwzlCllBH00MmZPG3PNla3eXAZuS5XXOphPAf2GPcQZ-FC6pu3eBGjnPDWZuOC844fbASA8k_chh9R-VT2fbziguIkdDFXhfnJOi0j/s320/7L6A8384.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You are a wonderful mix of sweet, sensitive little boy and exciting ball of energy. Sometimes in the morning you come out, all sleepy, with your blankies and climb in the big chair with me while I finish up my reading. I treasure our quiet snuggle times. You’re so precious and I can’t wait to see the way God works in you and guides you. We love you, Jamesie.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Love, </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mommy</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFVBX8XYYdQe7g3BBgxNB9Cb4Y7wIHBjNZbSubhecAMhzXtV4-0xxsuuCxmHuHPpEZKgJpz4lriM-bJCH6ahrk9BEpsiur433GzrGtDKWYFWuVvgvH39de_SQD742FqTcYnoWa_7aTAV7/s1600/7L6A7598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFVBX8XYYdQe7g3BBgxNB9Cb4Y7wIHBjNZbSubhecAMhzXtV4-0xxsuuCxmHuHPpEZKgJpz4lriM-bJCH6ahrk9BEpsiur433GzrGtDKWYFWuVvgvH39de_SQD742FqTcYnoWa_7aTAV7/s320/7L6A7598.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2O_06hI9mFczdjCbUFUcDYYZ8Bzs1OjMi6ukW97miKfqipTedlX5UuGEoGRHKLZ4rFiwyszU8sOkqDgdRdBGT153YNrOudLbkdeSRP0y8IlwoY6GdSl_paBGEopXKB2Ms0RSJvLcxqxZ/s1600/7L6A8115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2O_06hI9mFczdjCbUFUcDYYZ8Bzs1OjMi6ukW97miKfqipTedlX5UuGEoGRHKLZ4rFiwyszU8sOkqDgdRdBGT153YNrOudLbkdeSRP0y8IlwoY6GdSl_paBGEopXKB2Ms0RSJvLcxqxZ/s320/7L6A8115.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All pics from our wonderful Michigan trip; courtesy of <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Auntie Sarah</a>.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-27290020609337506082017-11-08T14:56:00.005-08:002017-11-08T14:56:50.884-08:00Happy 2nd Birthday Emily!<i>(Yes, Emily's birthday was 4 months ago. I wrote this letter in July but didn't get around to final edits and posting it...possibly due to the arrival of another precious girl, Madeline Rose, soon after Emmy's birthday. Since I'm now working on James' 4th birthday letter I wanted to get this one up first. Here's a snapshot of Emily at 2 years old.)</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><i style="text-align: start;"></i></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4NIc-T3Pm0I-Q2H239OiSqum1c29kwylIYfw4y3EvT-9hWgvWQvkC1JgutGu5F2yIYKT89cK5f5l8jEQhqnHGdUWm-MFVjVA5Fd5kCs7mkqAjyi180meQnypGjMEvmXmk3Y96L7hQIxP/s1600/madelinerose-123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4NIc-T3Pm0I-Q2H239OiSqum1c29kwylIYfw4y3EvT-9hWgvWQvkC1JgutGu5F2yIYKT89cK5f5l8jEQhqnHGdUWm-MFVjVA5Fd5kCs7mkqAjyi180meQnypGjMEvmXmk3Y96L7hQIxP/s320/madelinerose-123.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Emily,</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-ac49bd91-9dcb-24a1-a2be-9311f8928f37" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy 2nd birthday, little one! You’re such a delight to us and I want to capture a bit of your personality these days. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re an absolutely adorable brown-eyed curly-haired girl. We often say you look like a little hobbit. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I only think you’re so cute because you're my baby, but then I think “No, she really is that cute.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<i></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI7qvkzAWorcoyaISOpmWf-6TtN20BdtJ8Q7Ak-oBULLJntsxVADN3KM_JJTLFjKHfkjEtqxysskd1zZg822RKQ9updqLBJovhzrJE66S-OXcNUvnfhpCyQeCD8Y6BhaGxpLsGWED-KnZ/s1600/madelinerose-118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI7qvkzAWorcoyaISOpmWf-6TtN20BdtJ8Q7Ak-oBULLJntsxVADN3KM_JJTLFjKHfkjEtqxysskd1zZg822RKQ9updqLBJovhzrJE66S-OXcNUvnfhpCyQeCD8Y6BhaGxpLsGWED-KnZ/s320/madelinerose-118.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: start;"></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis4akbdBeXd3myj2Y-G5NouR_srlkF6Bn7-qclKkfLDWPzutYbMNI6REC_PJXtACmtR2-cQKmTPiZC47OIu2VpVThlreIlqLAZ8053MQ3c-CxxWmzar-2SbnNIq-fe7OEbSJWmg-Dz-Gj/s1600/madelinerose-120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis4akbdBeXd3myj2Y-G5NouR_srlkF6Bn7-qclKkfLDWPzutYbMNI6REC_PJXtACmtR2-cQKmTPiZC47OIu2VpVThlreIlqLAZ8053MQ3c-CxxWmzar-2SbnNIq-fe7OEbSJWmg-Dz-Gj/s320/madelinerose-120.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love your personality! You have so many words for a two-year-old. The other day Auntie Becca was watching you. You wanted to do bubbles and she said no...and you retorted “Mommy Grandma let you do it!” Oh my. You and James both have an obsession with asking if I’m single or married...over and over and over. You tilt your head to the side and say “Are you singow?” You also have a funny obsession with red traffic lights. Some nights when we’re on our way home from Grandma’s you get all upset and want to see a red light. You love to help me cook: I set you on the counter (to Daddy’s consternation) and you hang out with me while I make dinner. It’s one of your favorite things and a great way to keep you from fussing. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your relationship with James is pretty cute. He takes care of you whether you like it or not and you often get along with him...and often don’t. Lately you’ve been telling him things in this hilarious little voice and using his names….”Danes” or “Danesie”. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ9uc3QSocJd-D6u2KALMM5hdu6rpbiBMdAJv9PKpMD4itj7AKxII7HFcIG4dgCU4CDWbOVuw8H5Ikuc56bO9SOQl-ukpX_JLh_B092ZIHueFPvgVG1Msd86n8bb25W9uYdt5vVgdc2wg/s1600/madelinerose-102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ9uc3QSocJd-D6u2KALMM5hdu6rpbiBMdAJv9PKpMD4itj7AKxII7HFcIG4dgCU4CDWbOVuw8H5Ikuc56bO9SOQl-ukpX_JLh_B092ZIHueFPvgVG1Msd86n8bb25W9uYdt5vVgdc2wg/s320/madelinerose-102.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re a little music baby, just like your big brother. You love to sing (or chant the words) to favorite songs, which currently include Trust and Obey, Bless the Lord, and God Bless America. In the car on the way home a few months ago you said “Bless da Lord? Ny soul? Holy names?” James responded in his big brother voice “Yah, da holy names!” Lately when you see the American flag you start singing (or chanting) God Bless America. “Murca? Land I Love? Stand’e side her?” You love to play the piano when I play...actually, you love to play instead of me and get upset when I try to play too. You’ve been obsessed with violins, probably because I played a lot this past year. For a while almost anything was a violin--two sticks, two spoons, goldfish crackers, diced tomatoes. Grandma L just got you a little violin for your birthday and you’re smitten. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrTIAA99Uj5eLItmIM80O4t_FsgXtx17FVSCbpMf9dGJ3FvCsR4irMlLcdAmZHlLHHav3KgaAdbtG8QlvLeeICuVf5sJo-sA7wnqSsf1Y9P2JqiICIUiZQ9e-0W1UHryA3R58AwyJdj5a/s1600/IMG_8719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrTIAA99Uj5eLItmIM80O4t_FsgXtx17FVSCbpMf9dGJ3FvCsR4irMlLcdAmZHlLHHav3KgaAdbtG8QlvLeeICuVf5sJo-sA7wnqSsf1Y9P2JqiICIUiZQ9e-0W1UHryA3R58AwyJdj5a/s320/IMG_8719.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a long time I’d sing you songs before putting you down for your nap. You were picky about it...if you didn’t like what I sang you’d touch or swipe my lower lip (like a phone??) and tell me what else you wanted. “Dus and Obey” is a different song than “Dat one”, which is usually the verse of Trust and Obey (not the chorus). “Bless da Lord” and “Sun Comes Up” are also two different songs to you. “‘Si Know one” is Jesus Loves Me (this I know). Sometimes when you woke at night I just didn’t try singing you back to sleep because if I picked the wrong song there would be a serious meltdown. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are such a blankie baby. You still suck on your lips when you’re going to sleep, with a blankie right under your nose. You love sniffing those blankies; I can hear you sniffing deeply when we’re riding in the car. I tried to give you two different blankies as a baby so that you’d be more flexible with them, but you just ended up attaching to both of them. So now you sleep with two. Or four if we’re at Grandma M’s (where there are two more little crochet blankies). </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love your spunk and your caring spirit, my sweet girl. (When we read stories you try to give the characters your blankie if it’s nighttime or if they’re cold or sad.) I look forward to knowing the amazing, strong woman that I am sure you will become. You are precious to us, Emily Grace, and even more precious to Jesus. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love,</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mommy</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i style="text-align: start;"></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB500W4RULVkMxwun19wGzgfCuw60aoPoW2OeTj_RXsmiVS-ZnuzTree4vVdY4ccy46MXZVL5JomjVO8lagNlWQCU2sRBeQiQVwnC10rR3Rgjg1zcUA7D5629_eVR3Q6qEzvGLPNCMfmP/s1600/madelinerose-141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgB500W4RULVkMxwun19wGzgfCuw60aoPoW2OeTj_RXsmiVS-ZnuzTree4vVdY4ccy46MXZVL5JomjVO8lagNlWQCU2sRBeQiQVwnC10rR3Rgjg1zcUA7D5629_eVR3Q6qEzvGLPNCMfmP/s320/madelinerose-141.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jeijONUdpBOj7HcfUMmD-tfuPGRUZts7KaD5lGLDYgcnZbQSeXHcrrqp9wydmCscV3OA9gfc8SRNqvuuKiZIG7smmOaSpnQii7V5_DOqbKvjByl10_KfqG0x2uLPV7eH2ja7O9iyiLmb/s1600/madelinerose-177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jeijONUdpBOj7HcfUMmD-tfuPGRUZts7KaD5lGLDYgcnZbQSeXHcrrqp9wydmCscV3OA9gfc8SRNqvuuKiZIG7smmOaSpnQii7V5_DOqbKvjByl10_KfqG0x2uLPV7eH2ja7O9iyiLmb/s320/madelinerose-177.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
photos (except the violin one) by the wonderful <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Auntie Sarah</a></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-75153144071696252652016-11-13T20:19:00.002-08:002016-11-13T20:21:15.493-08:00Happy 3rd Birthday James!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-usBFNQnl8iTU3yhfsx5OJIP2WNu1J0cZugbVRTFus8iiALdWtLy9Ap3u_mFddVtRDYTJtrvoPi8gC-XS74OVf9jb9dfVFu-v81fXEcyMgxfcTNigMh8RWTOToh-PGTrbtJU0dFxODuxT/s640/blogger-image-835749032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-usBFNQnl8iTU3yhfsx5OJIP2WNu1J0cZugbVRTFus8iiALdWtLy9Ap3u_mFddVtRDYTJtrvoPi8gC-XS74OVf9jb9dfVFu-v81fXEcyMgxfcTNigMh8RWTOToh-PGTrbtJU0dFxODuxT/s1600/blogger-image-835749032.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>(James turned three last week and I've been working on this letter since then...)</i><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear James,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy birthday to our wonderful, whipped-cream-and-bacon-and-ice-cream-loving, thoughtful and imaginative boy! You’ve grown in so many ways...you’re adventurous though cautious, getting more and more friendly with people (I love the way you wave and say hi), and you are so observant. You learn quickly and remember things that surprise me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsW-k7CudEP-C3rLkgPA7jIpdIaH-d9s-kzkN0NuD6hcZ7OHWRAUg2-cbGGe1X52YDnGDAwYIgQegMlonHsZFX8EWPHlFhBvOjG1uqDJDBnAQvWNmwluFTZpcHIcOFYz1leeL0tsZuq7z/s640/blogger-image--764868273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsW-k7CudEP-C3rLkgPA7jIpdIaH-d9s-kzkN0NuD6hcZ7OHWRAUg2-cbGGe1X52YDnGDAwYIgQegMlonHsZFX8EWPHlFhBvOjG1uqDJDBnAQvWNmwluFTZpcHIcOFYz1leeL0tsZuq7z/s400/blogger-image--764868273.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re a sweet little man. You love snuggles when you’re sleepy, and lately you have started to give me sudden hugs and saying “You’re </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">special</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Mummy!” Your laugh is the best thing ever, and you’re so ticklish…”This Little Piggy” has you crumpling and laughing hysterically every time. You love your Emmy Bear, even if her liking for your toys frustrates you at times. The two of you are learning slowly to play together and you strategically try to distract her with toys if she’s getting too close to what you’re doing. Sometimes you hear her cry before I do. You give her hugs and want to take her down the slide, and you sing her “I’ll Love You Forever”: ”....my Emmy shall be!”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUzNXH0K114je3u7fy068qDc2ME9rS_VvTosoY3uwsn_4lfECqx6X-K2Za-n3J-Z3oqophF-10Qtj94toVQI-MHdXf5YCst7WzIoZXqiL5NChJbWEzuoaEYXsrLq_WiSM_Vstq3sxfmW2/s400/blogger-image-2140957215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUzNXH0K114je3u7fy068qDc2ME9rS_VvTosoY3uwsn_4lfECqx6X-K2Za-n3J-Z3oqophF-10Qtj94toVQI-MHdXf5YCst7WzIoZXqiL5NChJbWEzuoaEYXsrLq_WiSM_Vstq3sxfmW2/s640/blogger-image-2140957215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"></a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUzNXH0K114je3u7fy068qDc2ME9rS_VvTosoY3uwsn_4lfECqx6X-K2Za-n3J-Z3oqophF-10Qtj94toVQI-MHdXf5YCst7WzIoZXqiL5NChJbWEzuoaEYXsrLq_WiSM_Vstq3sxfmW2/s640/blogger-image-2140957215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’ve grown to be such a helper. You love to collect and take out the trash with Daddy. If I’m working in the kitchen you say “Help me? Help me?” and move a chair over to the counter. You love to dump and mix or just stand and watch. Sometimes I’ll be mixing ingredients in a separate bowl and I’ll turn around to find that you dumped them all into the main bowl! You don’t do dishes very often because of the water mess factor, but you sure love it...especially the “fire hose” that pulls out of the faucet.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3IPfZKhiYh21hy1IiF8E7rov5rOKzuIsulojugJb-piV0fX_WGqUgGMAxUZJJdW_mRuxzYfNmQxT4I-oa7XMOBbMYkg2TuvVKIZ5yreaZ2KrZ9UzGWThtkFSN3_0Q8Fk_MfmQ8Ztl9zX/s640/blogger-image-367853749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3IPfZKhiYh21hy1IiF8E7rov5rOKzuIsulojugJb-piV0fX_WGqUgGMAxUZJJdW_mRuxzYfNmQxT4I-oa7XMOBbMYkg2TuvVKIZ5yreaZ2KrZ9UzGWThtkFSN3_0Q8Fk_MfmQ8Ztl9zX/s400/blogger-image-367853749.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love your way with language. A few months ago you started saying “Ooomah”, and we were rather confused...turns out that it’s your version of a kiss: “ooo-ma!” The other day, as you used the back of a fabric pencil to brush off the toilet lid, you said you were “sweeping up da sugar-bugs”. You’re polite, often saying “pea-pease” and “sank you” and “‘scuse me!” without prompting. When you don't like food: “I like it no!” If the bath water is too hot you want it a “little looser” and you say “turn off the gate” if you want it down. Recently you knocked some salad out of the fridge: “Sorry dat, salad!”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You get so excited about trains! When we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s and we hear a train, there’s a general rush to get outside to see it. The Califonia Zephyr (the Amtrack train) is a favorite. Grandpa often says “Praise the Lord!” when you see it, so now you can’t have “Praise the Lord” without the California Zephyr. “Praise the Lord, the California Zephyr! The people train!” Some days you say that you can hear a train from our house...which is more of a tribute to your imaginative abilities then to your hearing abilities. (You have an awesome imagination.)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVjtqRUKAwtLHY72P5DWWmIxI_P6Z9fcSRWiVffZ_kcKgucWYgzbMkFiJi2Nz_1cr0316T0Gmn7DsFz1bnA9YKtVVRtn7fkYM9LcACFP6SUEebfdwNJnLA_oYFUFgl3ZSjMOdnwGpL4F6/s640/blogger-image--2095371003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVjtqRUKAwtLHY72P5DWWmIxI_P6Z9fcSRWiVffZ_kcKgucWYgzbMkFiJi2Nz_1cr0316T0Gmn7DsFz1bnA9YKtVVRtn7fkYM9LcACFP6SUEebfdwNJnLA_oYFUFgl3ZSjMOdnwGpL4F6/s400/blogger-image--2095371003.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You love to talk on the phone, be it real or imaginary. You’ll have full conversations on the blue Duplo phone (just a long piece of Duplo, actually), or you’ll talk to Daddy or Grandma on my phone--occasionally saying things that I say, like “Can you hear me? Are you dere?” You have so many aunts and uncles and cousins and you love to spend time with them. I’ll tell you where we are going and you’ll tell me what toys they have--orange garbage truck at Auntie Christy’s, little garage at Grandma L’s, green garbage truck at Grandma and Grandpa’s. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re our little music boy. You ask me to sit and play piano with you and you love it when you get to try out my violin. You sometimes play the “big-tar” (real guitar if we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s; a book, tennis racket or some other item if we’re home) or take a hymnal, stand by the big chair, and sing music of your own making. You’ve also learned a lot of songs; “I’m In The Lord’s Army”, “I’ve Got The Joy”, “Spring Up A Well”. One of your favorite things is what you call “doing a big Jamesie”: standing on the bathroom counter facing the small cabinet mirror door with the big mirror to your left. You sing “Spring Up A Well” and move the cabinet door around, watching all of your reflections. You also really love singing “Happy Birthday” (often to Mexico, for reasons unknown to us) and blowing out whatever candles are handy. When we visited Grandma Noni this fall you were walking through the kitchen one afternoon when you noticed a candle burning on the table; you climbed a chair, sang Happy Birthday to it, blew it out, and continued with your business. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzP2qAL_KEJ6XbF8hXe4lXlYiq1T3G5Y400PNxaLK9H8yOBQ8C7tca4AWSOF9HzDd6b4dFDDLe4LT3jVrRHe8-ryRFAo4IXW6mmx7jpyfWhQaV_0ma8Hvmkr2VQbvujO75oiXMeS7Hppm/s640/blogger-image-1830123943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzP2qAL_KEJ6XbF8hXe4lXlYiq1T3G5Y400PNxaLK9H8yOBQ8C7tca4AWSOF9HzDd6b4dFDDLe4LT3jVrRHe8-ryRFAo4IXW6mmx7jpyfWhQaV_0ma8Hvmkr2VQbvujO75oiXMeS7Hppm/s400/blogger-image-1830123943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You've had very definite preferences about bedtime routine that are only now starting to loosen up. We sang “Away in a Manger” pretty consistently for nearly a year after Christmas….often you’d ask for all three verses. “This is the Day” and “Jesus Loves Me” are also bedtime favorites. You used to be so particular about what toys you had in bed with you: five trucks (same five every time), monkey, blankie, water, a few books. You’re becoming a little more relaxed--monkey slept in the dump truck for a while there--but you still keep quite a collection in bed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Garbage trucks, trains, fire engines, car carriers...anything big and automotive makes you happy. Watching the garbage truck is a highlight for you. You also love watching the lawn crew and you now have a thing for lawn care equipment. You’ll take the broom outside, turn it upside down, and weed-whack the grass complete with sound effects. Daddy rigged a leaf-blower for you out of a backpack and the vacuum hose and you love it. Oh, and the vacuum...you love the vacuum. Unless I’m running it, in which case you take yourself off to sit on my bed till I’m done. Recently our whole complex was re-roofed and you've taken to roofing the ottoman, using a guard rail from your toddler bed as a ladder. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwbOwdgXWrtpyFJ5eYcSBgxKTtUrUx1rJqi09gGNrVaSJ4LO4CCu2Mz-41Cb7rZNOtJoAcTXl0NDqso0Uo8rtCEVPJizFa2jEfFMFXm1Kco_OBIWk1r2Qbvi93guQsPNt0M2epo5h-sfR/s640/blogger-image-153481124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwbOwdgXWrtpyFJ5eYcSBgxKTtUrUx1rJqi09gGNrVaSJ4LO4CCu2Mz-41Cb7rZNOtJoAcTXl0NDqso0Uo8rtCEVPJizFa2jEfFMFXm1Kco_OBIWk1r2Qbvi93guQsPNt0M2epo5h-sfR/s400/blogger-image-153481124.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love your abandon, seeing you run and play and fully lose yourself in what you’re doing. I love your gentle and caring heart. You’re such an imaginative boy and it makes me happy to see you playing in your own little world, with your “little green boys” and your trucks, or sitting and reading stories aloud to yourself. I love how you’re observant and cautious, the way you notice and remember everything. Daddy and I pray that as you grow, you will learn to know Jesus and to love and trust Him freely. We're so glad that we got you and that we get to be the ones to watch you grow. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love you forever, precious boy.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-cde2824b-5fef-6a9a-30f3-e54bf45597cd"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mummy </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwZ7brw2MUSQoS-clLpP98WhA9JcN1F6NlM5dXYV_gtVGa5wK7HnIrPt5-SmT6golng5qAs33OJfsT3J8cSbtc0SoVoHGQXJee3tmTA2k_W07fmcddfPtMFEBV8CyWUBJIfEMWBMp918v/s640/blogger-image--1362185024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwZ7brw2MUSQoS-clLpP98WhA9JcN1F6NlM5dXYV_gtVGa5wK7HnIrPt5-SmT6golng5qAs33OJfsT3J8cSbtc0SoVoHGQXJee3tmTA2k_W07fmcddfPtMFEBV8CyWUBJIfEMWBMp918v/s400/blogger-image--1362185024.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j67KqU7kGyMWwP9dj4G_x9Yy58Yc00LvAIPYoVhDRd5em4N_PRiUrhmSkPN8o9mt2Hg4OYzAb-AlEdhTHeS8UzxBN4iR2fX92iLvDd9lX6Lem4beX5gMnf10HXptx1kmALGnegwHigJ8/s640/blogger-image--85299152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8j67KqU7kGyMWwP9dj4G_x9Yy58Yc00LvAIPYoVhDRd5em4N_PRiUrhmSkPN8o9mt2Hg4OYzAb-AlEdhTHeS8UzxBN4iR2fX92iLvDd9lX6Lem4beX5gMnf10HXptx1kmALGnegwHigJ8/s400/blogger-image--85299152.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-26187460905252329462016-08-28T14:45:00.000-07:002016-08-28T14:45:31.943-07:00Everyday Life 8.28.16: happy things<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXno_XCt3Md2b22jZ1t_zM1BVQOSOeZ3OBW_wDctFcAVW94p8hVTBtH5hEVUcm8dtMfyaZS2fY0oRJ5oqrU0ryN9BXLjEV_AZ6gISfHEYHWJfwGMqIbKHC7vFjb88_1Mbi8BgeGAQXEUW/s640/blogger-image-977399282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXno_XCt3Md2b22jZ1t_zM1BVQOSOeZ3OBW_wDctFcAVW94p8hVTBtH5hEVUcm8dtMfyaZS2fY0oRJ5oqrU0ryN9BXLjEV_AZ6gISfHEYHWJfwGMqIbKHC7vFjb88_1Mbi8BgeGAQXEUW/s640/blogger-image-977399282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD77hkUg_h7b4i8vSZSuZ51P7ZQw6LuM2Xv1QARz6n4YuFO86fRzS6Dm6JjDBdDOoKIe5fln25ASo-306uo9AVfMDCv29Sx5i5JDDtYd7yTZh1YPxaCwfbqU1uXJxCZRwzehEe35eJt4/s640/blogger-image-1045683795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD77hkUg_h7b4i8vSZSuZ51P7ZQw6LuM2Xv1QARz6n4YuFO86fRzS6Dm6JjDBdDOoKIe5fln25ASo-306uo9AVfMDCv29Sx5i5JDDtYd7yTZh1YPxaCwfbqU1uXJxCZRwzehEe35eJt4/s640/blogger-image-1045683795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkitIJ1K0FhcEBzKhAjPAtnWEVauqZfEWZ0h3lkYzSq-_gg9Njt4VtlUjTTnryw8JnP4vuVNjTI30VCXTu-DvH65ZicpYmpBO-81X8uiROci6fuTQJIyysV-dIJNm1ew9BhZF9jMlSH0zp/s640/blogger-image--1639204721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkitIJ1K0FhcEBzKhAjPAtnWEVauqZfEWZ0h3lkYzSq-_gg9Njt4VtlUjTTnryw8JnP4vuVNjTI30VCXTu-DvH65ZicpYmpBO-81X8uiROci6fuTQJIyysV-dIJNm1ew9BhZF9jMlSH0zp/s640/blogger-image--1639204721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnwFTVgaZndsB5SLpzkxOh6yJ0oZLSFq9xV4sqAPs2IFicEShstr-DyWHJeGOjOv4NFGfak4Z55JAx81M-F1dtnNbPROsjpbYVwAmgj6zuCyV3NDEpFINvO5Gt44pwXGecX_C4l6PrTmC/s640/blogger-image--1908651802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm short on time this week, but I am going to take a few minutes and write out some things that are making me happy these days:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily's curls, especially after baths. Beyond adorable.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKLQgDunR6K0ZNIaCidW5C7a75H02CehSh6IV7o7s_qYEARA8YPrQOlpAv8a1H24Znlhf7_wQ4tz9yUP-kJ4R9KYIHsFOGgskx-_pfk03izhyphenhyphenTMSPiUY8cc5xfwfU7edn1A4ZKC4f5-2h/s640/blogger-image--2111243924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKLQgDunR6K0ZNIaCidW5C7a75H02CehSh6IV7o7s_qYEARA8YPrQOlpAv8a1H24Znlhf7_wQ4tz9yUP-kJ4R9KYIHsFOGgskx-_pfk03izhyphenhyphenTMSPiUY8cc5xfwfU7edn1A4ZKC4f5-2h/s400/blogger-image--2111243924.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James and church... he talks about it ("Lillo Bibow Chapow") and he's starting to re-enact services. I'll hear him in his room: "Good morning, chapel!" Then he'll jabber a bunch of stuff I can't decipher and pray (usually over the food), and talk some more, and sing some songs. He gets a red hard-cover book and uses it as a guitar; strumming, singing loudly (not songs that we recognize), and swaying back and forth. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Cooler weather! It was in the 60's and rainy on Joe's birthday (Thursday). It's so refreshing. The colors are starting to turn already, too. Even though the days are still warm sometimes you can feeling the difference at night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James and his fascination with leaf-blowers, weed-whackers, and mowers. He'll get a tall piece of grass and leaf-blow with it, or take the broom off the patio and weed-whack the grass behind our condo...complete with sound effects. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJDwIPd00QPLcn_bJXIRclLs_lrwddPegXnPvKUrmMdnNW1O0sepozcJueZExO4KE4I5WN1PskiPv2PDUtfAPgdzfpvD2jCQNNm-PAa7iLYBybJoRZl2eQ_7R0difAINmqct8wK_7zPDz/s640/blogger-image-1819535351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJDwIPd00QPLcn_bJXIRclLs_lrwddPegXnPvKUrmMdnNW1O0sepozcJueZExO4KE4I5WN1PskiPv2PDUtfAPgdzfpvD2jCQNNm-PAa7iLYBybJoRZl2eQ_7R0difAINmqct8wK_7zPDz/s400/blogger-image-1819535351.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily talks! And she's only 13 months. I've been trying to work with James on using a happy voice and I've said it so much that sometimes Emily says "'appy voice! 'appy voice!". She calls James something like Dede or Gigi and she's quite clear on words like Daddy, wow, and no. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Time in the mountains last week. We were able to go and spend a day at some friends' property; it was quiet, amazingly beautiful, and so refreshing. I have many good memories up there from years ago and I didn't think that I would get to go back after they moved, so it was an unexpected and lovely gift. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqD77hkUg_h7b4i8vSZSuZ51P7ZQw6LuM2Xv1QARz6n4YuFO86fRzS6Dm6JjDBdDOoKIe5fln25ASo-306uo9AVfMDCv29Sx5i5JDDtYd7yTZh1YPxaCwfbqU1uXJxCZRwzehEe35eJt4/s400/blogger-image-1045683795.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Taking the kids to the library. They love it. Our library has a lot of fun toys; I can pick up and drop off my books and let them have some fun play time. Once day we'll do some more reading too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg9b9H-szwqBphGvJf0rTm3qVKOu-pOyhiRmpt70k7f5KfDoh5zjUEbFhIZumtYojlH9ZRXbK-HN3PO3UaD_b9EW0BNQ1z0ewjsEjGFrRLS4AfUq0gKcMTC9VjKy1aHJFhdN5hZBfTH66/s640/blogger-image-275353957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg9b9H-szwqBphGvJf0rTm3qVKOu-pOyhiRmpt70k7f5KfDoh5zjUEbFhIZumtYojlH9ZRXbK-HN3PO3UaD_b9EW0BNQ1z0ewjsEjGFrRLS4AfUq0gKcMTC9VjKy1aHJFhdN5hZBfTH66/s400/blogger-image-275353957.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James and Emily just started playing together in the last week or two. They'll "chase" each other around the house and laugh together. I love it and it keeps them occupied so I can do other things (like make dinner). Below, James gives Emily tastes of his ice cream.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkitIJ1K0FhcEBzKhAjPAtnWEVauqZfEWZ0h3lkYzSq-_gg9Njt4VtlUjTTnryw8JnP4vuVNjTI30VCXTu-DvH65ZicpYmpBO-81X8uiROci6fuTQJIyysV-dIJNm1ew9BhZF9jMlSH0zp/s400/blogger-image--1639204721.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James' mealtime hugs...very sweet if a bit awkward and potentially messy. He will ask for a hug midway through a meal and lately he sometimes says "Ah wuv 'oo!" as well. (Emily tries to get in on it by tipping her head as though giving a hug, even though nobody's there...)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Date with Joe in honor of his birthday. Actually having time to hang out together, just the two of us. His kindness and acceptance are such gifts. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUpdDek35PtGPSrHtZB034z7JfGMDJuiaQPxbE8hYH70KjFaozPx8aPa9RWn09CyU9PeHxKzJkBvly52Q2v0OeUj2jE6oBUxW4Kxr2Ps2RLNG8vKHG8SzBIGFqpKSwtnAnz5W5ZX_LGDr/s640/blogger-image-8347541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUpdDek35PtGPSrHtZB034z7JfGMDJuiaQPxbE8hYH70KjFaozPx8aPa9RWn09CyU9PeHxKzJkBvly52Q2v0OeUj2jE6oBUxW4Kxr2Ps2RLNG8vKHG8SzBIGFqpKSwtnAnz5W5ZX_LGDr/s400/blogger-image-8347541.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Preparing for our annual fall trip. This is partly happy and partly stressful, but getting to travel is a wonderful thing for us. Can't wait to be by the water. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And...piano time has become violin time for the next few months. I will be rejoining CYS for the fall concert set; Mendelssohn 5, Schubert Unfinished, and the Mozart Magic Flute Overture provided some strong motivation. Playing beautiful music makes me feel alive...it's like water for the soul. I can't wait to be back at it, even though this music is h.a.r.d. and there is a lot of it. I need to learn some more about focused practice techniques and how to make a little practice time go a long way. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
That's all for this week! Between travel prep and re-routing my extra time to violin practice, posts may be a bit more rare but I'll try to keep sharing bits of life as I can.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-12645243750640402292016-08-12T14:49:00.000-07:002016-08-12T14:50:11.760-07:00Everyday Life 8.12.14: photos and random thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojVoeEeIH_UrWtBeVdPlkA7zn8jNEySrIpoEZ1aO6MENItnxCj1K3QNtE0XgvASooBBGzgrfN3GsgBldkLa148gBtrXWCXptlHn91moKeUFgDfYSXsgFmJ_DI1ckC8Se7VcIsbCnixA7w/s640/blogger-image--75442209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojVoeEeIH_UrWtBeVdPlkA7zn8jNEySrIpoEZ1aO6MENItnxCj1K3QNtE0XgvASooBBGzgrfN3GsgBldkLa148gBtrXWCXptlHn91moKeUFgDfYSXsgFmJ_DI1ckC8Se7VcIsbCnixA7w/s640/blogger-image--75442209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspQLccM07nAKSzmqzLe3lG_aiqKPVOQkjyy26bb8xdJKS3is-Wv_Uf0MyIMWAoe2JoPtIiryqUcPr9Mzqio_t54CkeFnayKR1jqkAtovTQLCKpajCuOw62qrVIrLO-EWfONcai91U50OX/s640/blogger-image--721575542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspQLccM07nAKSzmqzLe3lG_aiqKPVOQkjyy26bb8xdJKS3is-Wv_Uf0MyIMWAoe2JoPtIiryqUcPr9Mzqio_t54CkeFnayKR1jqkAtovTQLCKpajCuOw62qrVIrLO-EWfONcai91U50OX/s640/blogger-image--721575542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHIZVXXpWqQbE6LIUj8thtABpZt1I0GdTH2-F67ZOHVI0yTLNNMQzenSjXP0ehNjC4V-vVLyFE7MPTRlCTAthTZX3FtN3qsGKuBoMOmjk8POGIGvMQMQakI3y0llsP3MrDKW8OegSelW9/s640/blogger-image-1585767307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHIZVXXpWqQbE6LIUj8thtABpZt1I0GdTH2-F67ZOHVI0yTLNNMQzenSjXP0ehNjC4V-vVLyFE7MPTRlCTAthTZX3FtN3qsGKuBoMOmjk8POGIGvMQMQakI3y0llsP3MrDKW8OegSelW9/s640/blogger-image-1585767307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmzuYJ4l6dAcbdN2adZjfNrCXKcQqBSs6nXCyQMXG2oiCsia6zNbe-6r-fJhV3Zy9kKm5TN9p9XWJ4egFA6kIJrr2Ls3xDXlkMPXyt0X73_zG50LDBMaAegujsmYV-i9olB8SQwbL90ct/s640/blogger-image-119686091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmzuYJ4l6dAcbdN2adZjfNrCXKcQqBSs6nXCyQMXG2oiCsia6zNbe-6r-fJhV3Zy9kKm5TN9p9XWJ4egFA6kIJrr2Ls3xDXlkMPXyt0X73_zG50LDBMaAegujsmYV-i9olB8SQwbL90ct/s640/blogger-image-119686091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0J5GPx1-ODstxFRhqnKl1SZVDjFXjkMY74nXHbJyfJkMYR5GYrKy2oj7f5uld9MSr46YuLU34kTaARCobmeOtBAD65fub0PsM9GWDkzUFpMw2BjrshdvbA7oSLZDZ7Akhcw6iwk9QF4U/s640/blogger-image-943432994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0J5GPx1-ODstxFRhqnKl1SZVDjFXjkMY74nXHbJyfJkMYR5GYrKy2oj7f5uld9MSr46YuLU34kTaARCobmeOtBAD65fub0PsM9GWDkzUFpMw2BjrshdvbA7oSLZDZ7Akhcw6iwk9QF4U/s640/blogger-image-943432994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTbURSRqNy2VSIRsxk9pV9LL_KC2ESPfvEMYBM_OgReSOx30CilZw5IsPrDXIx8Jwe-dNWZSoe_hemci532TQOBYE4cQ7ttvbsMOI7oEfiVChlea9WmSQqFo4ntI6jWfc5rk8lpgUZA6e/s640/blogger-image--1138720200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTbURSRqNy2VSIRsxk9pV9LL_KC2ESPfvEMYBM_OgReSOx30CilZw5IsPrDXIx8Jwe-dNWZSoe_hemci532TQOBYE4cQ7ttvbsMOI7oEfiVChlea9WmSQqFo4ntI6jWfc5rk8lpgUZA6e/s640/blogger-image--1138720200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeqbpFMIP8xo2YFr-A_kYeSwTn4JzoRjgKgz-2v6ap-kuTnDuKHvbg0hQg8pCaSV7NQqeypE2x8ciuNlUXCMO8pjm_FaHv8-7aahvp_LFplUeVYKG35WasfejSyXwW4RKiHwGQMiaFWl6/s640/blogger-image-1059725926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeqbpFMIP8xo2YFr-A_kYeSwTn4JzoRjgKgz-2v6ap-kuTnDuKHvbg0hQg8pCaSV7NQqeypE2x8ciuNlUXCMO8pjm_FaHv8-7aahvp_LFplUeVYKG35WasfejSyXwW4RKiHwGQMiaFWl6/s640/blogger-image-1059725926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT5jxCbzxjBMflzGjQ8f_nrliUWVbN9LMVCEoO-7O9mWXM5wV1nhatXCDCvc0XAOWjtiCTQZqFWyd3hfI-wfNbIbcK3O7eadwLzELA5CSIjjqnOs3eJGQL_9FqkIsFzr3oqIQn7VRZt7f/s640/blogger-image-1009195664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghT5jxCbzxjBMflzGjQ8f_nrliUWVbN9LMVCEoO-7O9mWXM5wV1nhatXCDCvc0XAOWjtiCTQZqFWyd3hfI-wfNbIbcK3O7eadwLzELA5CSIjjqnOs3eJGQL_9FqkIsFzr3oqIQn7VRZt7f/s640/blogger-image-1009195664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3ZwWdaZwCnpfxTlbK3iFMRtXHKef7sy8-x1ABXdHza762a4aeAOcqzRTNGILIHbw1N3cGLptQlCAFlx3ctDI-24a54F_O5vJbYOyLjDe6ZCP8JZIyYLhLVUY7bptb7BO2DIGEaPM4i7x/s640/blogger-image--795229363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I don't have a lot of words today <i>(not ones of general interest, anyway...I shall spare you my rant on the lack of good photo software in Windows 10 and my thoughts and concerns on how to prepare for and enjoy a road trip with toddlers)</i> so I'm going to do a random photo post and just write whatever comes to me. Here goes...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3ZwWdaZwCnpfxTlbK3iFMRtXHKef7sy8-x1ABXdHza762a4aeAOcqzRTNGILIHbw1N3cGLptQlCAFlx3ctDI-24a54F_O5vJbYOyLjDe6ZCP8JZIyYLhLVUY7bptb7BO2DIGEaPM4i7x/s640/blogger-image--795229363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeqbpFMIP8xo2YFr-A_kYeSwTn4JzoRjgKgz-2v6ap-kuTnDuKHvbg0hQg8pCaSV7NQqeypE2x8ciuNlUXCMO8pjm_FaHv8-7aahvp_LFplUeVYKG35WasfejSyXwW4RKiHwGQMiaFWl6/s640/blogger-image-1059725926.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I think the weather is finally starting to cool down. Last week we had a couple of days cool enough for jeans and a light sweater! This was taken on a walk at a nearby lake. Getting outside is soooo important for me.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTbURSRqNy2VSIRsxk9pV9LL_KC2ESPfvEMYBM_OgReSOx30CilZw5IsPrDXIx8Jwe-dNWZSoe_hemci532TQOBYE4cQ7ttvbsMOI7oEfiVChlea9WmSQqFo4ntI6jWfc5rk8lpgUZA6e/s400/blogger-image--1138720200.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
I'm realizing that there are so many things that I can be teaching him, and he learns so fast; it's actually kind of overwhelming. We stopped the other day to watch the bees and I told him a little bit about them. Now it's part of visiting this particular park: stop and watch the bees get their nummies. <br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0J5GPx1-ODstxFRhqnKl1SZVDjFXjkMY74nXHbJyfJkMYR5GYrKy2oj7f5uld9MSr46YuLU34kTaARCobmeOtBAD65fub0PsM9GWDkzUFpMw2BjrshdvbA7oSLZDZ7Akhcw6iwk9QF4U/s400/blogger-image-943432994.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
Emily adores the fridge. She's often fussy in the evenings before dinner and wants to be with me right when I'm having to make dinner. Measuring cups and plastic containers and lids keep her busy for a while, but the fridge is the big attraction. She's also getting better and better at pulling herself up.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmzuYJ4l6dAcbdN2adZjfNrCXKcQqBSs6nXCyQMXG2oiCsia6zNbe-6r-fJhV3Zy9kKm5TN9p9XWJ4egFA6kIJrr2Ls3xDXlkMPXyt0X73_zG50LDBMaAegujsmYV-i9olB8SQwbL90ct/s400/blogger-image-119686091.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
The sprinklers came on while we were walking the other day! I showed James what to do with them. So fun.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHIZVXXpWqQbE6LIUj8thtABpZt1I0GdTH2-F67ZOHVI0yTLNNMQzenSjXP0ehNjC4V-vVLyFE7MPTRlCTAthTZX3FtN3qsGKuBoMOmjk8POGIGvMQMQakI3y0llsP3MrDKW8OegSelW9/s400/blogger-image-1585767307.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
Little Miss Personality. She's hilarious. This morning she was practically falling asleep right before I put her down for a nap but she was still smiling and laughing. Some evenings we've tried keeping her up to do Bible/singing time with James. Sometimes it works but sometimes she's just too tired and fussy. She is so cute in hats. She does better with cool hats than her older brother did at this age...he wouldn't usually keep them on any longer than it took him to reach up and pull them off. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nD1VKqGrmMfJDbOE3IkMU1pK3lQ_i4Z-1VWLbO9sKJ3xSjMfcE6GfMqH88IjLro1CvM3JPvgzLnnGcoPh3HPnwsIgxCG0TWidHdLsiTQAzkpI2M-jko0TRrounM2uixWEPLPEwD0LwYw/s640/blogger-image-129523438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nD1VKqGrmMfJDbOE3IkMU1pK3lQ_i4Z-1VWLbO9sKJ3xSjMfcE6GfMqH88IjLro1CvM3JPvgzLnnGcoPh3HPnwsIgxCG0TWidHdLsiTQAzkpI2M-jko0TRrounM2uixWEPLPEwD0LwYw/s400/blogger-image-129523438.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspQLccM07nAKSzmqzLe3lG_aiqKPVOQkjyy26bb8xdJKS3is-Wv_Uf0MyIMWAoe2JoPtIiryqUcPr9Mzqio_t54CkeFnayKR1jqkAtovTQLCKpajCuOw62qrVIrLO-EWfONcai91U50OX/s400/blogger-image--721575542.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
I love watching them. They're just starting to get better at playing together and entertaining each other. James has some rather funny strategies for keeping Emily out of his toys. If she's getting too close to his stuff he'll say "Emmy need hugs? Emmy need hugs?" (The logic seems to be that if I give her hugs she won't be there to mess with his toys). Earlier today I didn't come and pick her up when she "needed hugs" so he said "Emmy need books!" and got her some to play with. So precious. <i> (If we're being honest, there was also the time when James got his head stuck under an upside-down box because Emily climbed up and sat on it. The box had cutouts in the sides so it was kind of like a tunnel but still... Poor James. It was hilarious.)</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojVoeEeIH_UrWtBeVdPlkA7zn8jNEySrIpoEZ1aO6MENItnxCj1K3QNtE0XgvASooBBGzgrfN3GsgBldkLa148gBtrXWCXptlHn91moKeUFgDfYSXsgFmJ_DI1ckC8Se7VcIsbCnixA7w/s400/blogger-image--75442209.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
He built this garage by himself! My big boy.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAydeXXbz_CfjyBvdYcKWBKSsKTPXw3u-rJHE_z56_K0TpRrHX2iRoMhGN-HJPWfnUy5hMgAmLA7LutLclWEMlQryD4-TRGJEHmjiLVUMVVTWW_AlKW_NPiB-BxrApgv-4LPALa8uU2G2o/s640/blogger-image--2001884143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAydeXXbz_CfjyBvdYcKWBKSsKTPXw3u-rJHE_z56_K0TpRrHX2iRoMhGN-HJPWfnUy5hMgAmLA7LutLclWEMlQryD4-TRGJEHmjiLVUMVVTWW_AlKW_NPiB-BxrApgv-4LPALa8uU2G2o/s400/blogger-image--2001884143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbGGg9w99WOxXyz-ykuYyZwMVMUjcy8zM5OPRsEhmsz8PfICVYYlj_qDKlGA2f6KBRE02Wx_vbuWzYGHlMZZlJkLkqdusg_VY30swygd-GzwZkp7nQ8L19itDSUBJFn_HIKcOn-wkx5jw/s640/blogger-image-340128630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbGGg9w99WOxXyz-ykuYyZwMVMUjcy8zM5OPRsEhmsz8PfICVYYlj_qDKlGA2f6KBRE02Wx_vbuWzYGHlMZZlJkLkqdusg_VY30swygd-GzwZkp7nQ8L19itDSUBJFn_HIKcOn-wkx5jw/s400/blogger-image-340128630.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Joe is such a great daddy. It's good for me to see how he loves our kids and wants to give them good gifts. He's been talking for weeks about getting heavy-duty metal sand toys for James and yesterday he finally tracked some down. He and James took off after dinner to pick them up. James is quite happy with his new toys. So is Joe. :D</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
In other news: Joe and I just finished watching Wives and Daughters. That made for a few enjoyable evenings. It's a good movie...relaxing enough to not be stressful when you're tired but meaningful enough to be well worth watching. Besides, the costuming, locations and scenery are just gorgeous. I love well-made period pieces. Also, for the record, I am currently reading Introverts in the Church by Adam McHugh, Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick, and The Lost Heiress by Roseanna White (re-read). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
All for now! I just heard Emily and soon it'll be time to get James up. I'm going to grab some coffee and a bit of ice cream--black walnut divinity is the latest flavor I tried. I love it, but if you don't like walnuts you certainly wouldn't. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-58711266055335223282016-08-07T15:38:00.001-07:002016-08-07T15:39:14.700-07:00Everyday Life 8.6.16: the kids these daysSunday afternoon. It's been a good week but one with lots of people time, which has led to my feeling more than usually introverted. I'm happy to be here with a cup of tea and some chocolate walnut biscotti for a bit of writing time. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
There are so many little things that I don't want to forget about life right now:<br />
<br />
Emily's randomly curly hair that's just getting long enough to reach the bottom of her neck when it's wet. <br />
<br />
James' growing love of stories. The way he loves to read Joe's Bible. He's quite fond of James Herriot's Treasury for Children (a beautifully illustrated book of animal stories) but he's mostly interested in looking for the cars...hmm. <br />
<br />
The way Emily is so incredibly flexible and likes to stick her foot in my face while she's nursing. <br />
<br />
James' love for visiting Grandma's house. I told him we were going to go later in the day and next thing I knew he was pulling out the diaper bag to get ready to go. <br />
<br />
Emily's love of animals, particularly dogs. She barks ("arf! arf!") when she sees one and sometimes she barks just looking outside. This afternoon we were outside for a minute and the dog upstairs started barking and Emily barked right back...hilarious. I think we need to work on other animal sounds, though, because last night she barked when she saw a goose. <br />
<br />
James' fascination with climbing ladders, thanks to his favorite book (the Little Golden Fire Engine Book). He climbs a rock wall ladder at the park (by himself!) and likes to climb up the side of his chair, up the side of the rocking chair, up to the changing table via the potty chair and diaper genie...fortunately this passion hasn't translated yet to figuring out how to climb out of his crib.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
Emily is almost as adept at James now at making what I call the screaming vacuum noise. I've taken to asking them to please be quiet vacuums...<br />
<br />
James is learning to count! I've heard him get all the way up to 12, possibly 13. <br />
<br />
Emily is crawling! Still not her preferred method of transportation, but she uses it in tall grass and is getting better at it. She's also pulling herself up and Joe tells me that she climbed up on James' toddler bed today. Oh dear. <br />
<br />
James is finally pacifier-free. (!!!) Last week we decided that most of his few remaining pacifiers were too damaged to use safely (he was biting through them) and ended up just taking them away. He did much better than we'd expected but it did complicate bedtimes for a few days...poor little guy. Lots of snuggles helped. Now naptime is a little more touchy but bedtimes are better and we're so relieved to not have to grovel on the floor searching for the missing paci in the middle of the night! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
My "piano time", as James and I call it, is one of my favorite parts of my days. It's part of our morning routine. After brekkies, walk, "gate time for Jamesie and nap time for Emmy-Bear", and my shower, I pour a cup of cold brew with milk, let James out of his room, and sit down at the piano for 15-30 minutes. Scales and arpeggios for warm-ups (I cycle through keys, playing all major and minor scales, major, minor, dominant and diminished arpeggios, and scales in thirds in one key per day) and then I work a bit on my pieces. It's good to pull out the metronome, work hard on something specific, and feel myself making progress. James likes it too and recognizes the music I'm working on if I play a recording of it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
Tonight we're off to Joe's mum's place for a snacky dinner and some worship time around the piano. It's been years since we've done that, but it was kind of our signature thing as families: when we got together we would often end the evening around the piano singing our favorite worship songs. We've missed it.<br />
<br />
All for now! Joe's getting the kids ready so I'd best be off. <br />
<br />
Rachel<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEmrPu2gWd-9y6RraEBUUyXp556BUtGr1tqQF_-raks00wqZn9aeRd8AcOGG-_bo9K3LcvtigsR6XxhTjXUv-Yk3clMNdHff3c6oETlHrdtCcSuHqxp5DnrIPLZkHpFnZxxfgolfbd2SM/s1600/IMG_4061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEmrPu2gWd-9y6RraEBUUyXp556BUtGr1tqQF_-raks00wqZn9aeRd8AcOGG-_bo9K3LcvtigsR6XxhTjXUv-Yk3clMNdHff3c6oETlHrdtCcSuHqxp5DnrIPLZkHpFnZxxfgolfbd2SM/s400/IMG_4061.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>some mountain beauty from a few weeks ago</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-90716277914425150322016-07-30T14:39:00.001-07:002016-07-30T14:39:33.806-07:00Everyday Life 7.29.16: sailing etc.<i>Friday, 7.29.16</i><br />
<br />
I'm by myself this evening--for another little while at least. Joe's not home yet from the gathering of the brothers and brothers-in-law for Man Time and I'm enjoying some quiet now that the kids are in bed and the house is tidy. Emily settles down wonderfully well at night. James not so much; he just doesn't fall asleep for a while. I've already changed two stinky diapers this evening (same child, abovementioned). I have been working on getting to know Windows 10, particularly the photo app. Any new technology is frustrating to me; I knew the old Picasa interface quite well and it's taking me some time to figure out how to get this newfangled thing to do my bidding. Anyway...<br />
<br />
Yesterday we finally got Joe's little sailboat, Alberta, out to the lake! It's been quite a process getting ready; she hasn't been out for two years. It was a lovely and refreshing evening. We spent a lot of time at this lake the few summers before we started dating so we have lots of memories there, many of them centered around the boat. (I didn't know at the time that Joe was very intentionally on the boat every time I was. And neither of us will soon forget a certain moon-lit night sail.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8S-189Kqvguo_pjyVHiEA5LPwQAA_KlZDPuilFnJXNaHeP-Gwr33n7SYVozDxOMklhQw_CtbMBLK1cqXsdIwK2LlBc5tkWg7VaoKOtBT5spTtSofd9jwARz9kTTi6rOVtNrs5B06AsgI/s640/blogger-image-244599147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8S-189Kqvguo_pjyVHiEA5LPwQAA_KlZDPuilFnJXNaHeP-Gwr33n7SYVozDxOMklhQw_CtbMBLK1cqXsdIwK2LlBc5tkWg7VaoKOtBT5spTtSofd9jwARz9kTTi6rOVtNrs5B06AsgI/s400/blogger-image-244599147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVmNWaZVaoUv9MWhZc880livy0VQUmm-dJLJDLg8wBrKFriZVU4lMbEUAyCGghvJ02n2RujkfHscFbvxw28W7eaf5dgXtgs4-E4-LTkz_4KycTVUj7ZWl0FpviTRJts1cgvpexzGs-UqL/s640/blogger-image-335208052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVmNWaZVaoUv9MWhZc880livy0VQUmm-dJLJDLg8wBrKFriZVU4lMbEUAyCGghvJ02n2RujkfHscFbvxw28W7eaf5dgXtgs4-E4-LTkz_4KycTVUj7ZWl0FpviTRJts1cgvpexzGs-UqL/s640/blogger-image-335208052.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James and Emily loved the sand! Kept them happy and busy for a long time. We're going to have a wonderful time on the beaches of Michigan this fall. We've started planning our annual getaway and the countdown has begun! Can't wait. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeO33KSWaB7MuL7wTFn3MLzfrGkbjW6W-qvmgiFps3TJhsFdeSCybAPMJVM0EPuF15awRIQupbEodc20_ke7I_rxSYASsRcMGIC1i62wmYL1dG8nEIvMYTSgrKLOaVJbpMKBEiHDPezU3/s640/blogger-image-151394758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeO33KSWaB7MuL7wTFn3MLzfrGkbjW6W-qvmgiFps3TJhsFdeSCybAPMJVM0EPuF15awRIQupbEodc20_ke7I_rxSYASsRcMGIC1i62wmYL1dG8nEIvMYTSgrKLOaVJbpMKBEiHDPezU3/s640/blogger-image-151394758.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCzrYSFH0ss_wmedKT6GBAD-hA6GIgs0MTd1lxx4_iEIOMeBwe9DDSuzA92AdFKvctSFFeXqk-jfC6G49HXcgwF1vD23nd-GpaLg6txG1u5yqLzCCXsuv95LX6nmKg8JmhZ-rk9mTMNWP/s640/blogger-image--1234305054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCzrYSFH0ss_wmedKT6GBAD-hA6GIgs0MTd1lxx4_iEIOMeBwe9DDSuzA92AdFKvctSFFeXqk-jfC6G49HXcgwF1vD23nd-GpaLg6txG1u5yqLzCCXsuv95LX6nmKg8JmhZ-rk9mTMNWP/s640/blogger-image--1234305054.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>Saturday, 7.30.16</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>(Didn't manage to finish this yesterday but didn't want to completely re-write what I wrote. Hence the journal format.) </i> Life these days: Busy. Crazy. Joe's still working a lot. It's a blessing but it's also been taxing for him (and for me, because he's gone more than usual). Grateful, though, that the busy part of his job is seasonal and that we have a vacation coming up! We've been working on ways to make the most of our family time. Some days I feed the kids dinner before Joe gets home and we go to the park in the evening. It's fun and refreshing for all of us. James loves being chased or carried by Joe and Emily has decided that laying in the grass, though a ticklish endeavor, is quite fun. It's hilarious to watch her intentionally tip herself over backwards and then giggle and cringe from the grass on her neck. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjLcMamezqUoSWTWqb0YSSEOUaas5UtNN6EHixwIfTJPy_MCLaclGpsH-dQS2DJv5G-Dv5KIC5g9J0W6LXZeRZa-sOla_0fNHkoF565rcWb8h-gTrFrqp4ahBXCOhMuICQu6e5oPPP9GR/s640/blogger-image--906830117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjLcMamezqUoSWTWqb0YSSEOUaas5UtNN6EHixwIfTJPy_MCLaclGpsH-dQS2DJv5G-Dv5KIC5g9J0W6LXZeRZa-sOla_0fNHkoF565rcWb8h-gTrFrqp4ahBXCOhMuICQu6e5oPPP9GR/s400/blogger-image--906830117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0GWYCoSk805WtU8LMC5hSKQqpxiwkLw7DTfcgih9jbgl4sK6qeCKDgNEmOvPwbzTrVuqimgmGqxTAvosmBDtDBLg6xZzCUup56Noo14JxEL7HLPIDDMiZqQDAfB71IKA8RNm-hxBl2yT/s640/blogger-image-35373003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0GWYCoSk805WtU8LMC5hSKQqpxiwkLw7DTfcgih9jbgl4sK6qeCKDgNEmOvPwbzTrVuqimgmGqxTAvosmBDtDBLg6xZzCUup56Noo14JxEL7HLPIDDMiZqQDAfB71IKA8RNm-hxBl2yT/s400/blogger-image-35373003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Funny anecdote of the week: yesterday I after dinner I put Emily in her walker and gave James, still in his high chair, some ice cream. A minute or two later I heard a wail from James and looked up from the dishes: Emily had swiped his dish of ice cream from his tray and was cruising off with it. I restored the dessert to its rightful owner but a minute later Emily grabbed it again, this time making off (fast) in another direction. That was the end of walker time for Emily...and James finished his ice cream in peace. :) </div>
<br />
Anyway...we're off to some friends for dinner and I had best get us ready, since getting out the door always takes quite a while these days. All for now!<br />
<br />
Rachel<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUTTOsbIiw7j2YQrt3RVNr6J9hOZQfr-yHlgfk_73_2zGXr11kyFjXSpyhaocZ4mVvpYJPokS1GBsvQHJ-uIhSAQI1ceLn5CzFkpvTwNi7o5jYNdSc50LI77iXaYjELkgjBeb9t8AyL5y/s640/blogger-image--1904322683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUTTOsbIiw7j2YQrt3RVNr6J9hOZQfr-yHlgfk_73_2zGXr11kyFjXSpyhaocZ4mVvpYJPokS1GBsvQHJ-uIhSAQI1ceLn5CzFkpvTwNi7o5jYNdSc50LI77iXaYjELkgjBeb9t8AyL5y/s400/blogger-image--1904322683.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>We like the grass too. </i> :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-84389984831106626352016-07-22T15:02:00.000-07:002016-07-22T15:02:02.243-07:00Amazing Super-Dark Chocolate Sauce<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lately I have been on an ice-cream making kick. (My culinary inspirations go in phases. It was biscotti a few months ago; now it’s ice cream. I just ride them while they last.) My favorite recipes have been those of Jeni Britton Baur (of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jenis-Splendid-Ice-Creams-Home/dp/1579654363">Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home</a>); they’re a little more involved and labor-intensive, but they make some of the most amazing ice creams I’ve ever had (including Coldstone’s). The <a href="https://food52.com/blog/4263-jeni-s-splendid-blank-canvas">basic ice cream base</a> is amazing with berries and chocolate; it’s like Coldston’es Sweet Cream. <a href="https://food52.com/recipes/14257-jeni-s-splendid-lemon-cream-ice-cream">Lemon</a> is one of our favorites and it’s even better made with limes. And I love anything <a href="http://m.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/salty-caramel-ice-cream.html">salted caramel</a>; I’ve been putting this in my cold brew coffee lately.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-4c975ebd-149c-635e-b01e-352c984e925d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interestingly, though I love dark chocolate, I wasn’t super crazy about dark chocolate ice cream; I prefer other ice creams (especially sweet cream, lemon or lime) served with a really, really dark chocolate sauce. We love this recipe; it’s fast, super-dark and rich and goes really well with most ice creams. Leftovers harden beautifully in the fridge to a fudgy consistency and I eat it by the spoonful with a sprinkle of pink Himalayan salt. It rarely lasts more than a day...I just whip up another batch next time we eat ice cream. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The quality of cocoa used here makes a big difference. I’ve been completely converted to Canadian cocoa (the no-name brand in the big yellow canister). It’s much darker and richer than Hershey’s or other inexpensive American brands and it’s super affordable. If you’re traveling to Canada, have friends traveling to Canada, or have Canadian family who don’t mind running international errands for you (thanks, family!), pick some up and give it a try. With this recipe, I’m plowing through the cocoa. Good thing Joe’s family travels hither and yon on a regular basis. :) </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">~ ~ ~ </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Super-Dark Chocolate Sauce </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(adapted from the chocolate syrup portion of Jeni’s <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/The-Darkest-Chocolate-Ice-Cream-in-the-World">dark chocolate ice cream</a> recipe) </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ c. sugar</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ c. cocoa powder</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ c. coffee plus a little extra; I use decaf just in case.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.5 oz dark chocolate--I usually use good quality chocolate chips or chunks of dark Belgian chocolate from Trader Joe’s.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ t. Vanilla</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sprinkle of salt</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mix the sugar, cocoa, and coffee in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir until you think it’s cooked enough--maybe a minute or two. Add some dark chocolate--I’m very approximate with amounts. Stir till it’s all melted in. Add the vanilla and salt. Thin with extra coffee if it’s too thick for your liking. Serve over ice cream. Store leftovers in the fridge. I’ve had success re-heating it on the stovetop. Or you can just serve glops of it chilled with your ice cream. Enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0aJtlT4pxckYiOeHuO4JxXXcu1bdSGSPRC_AjWh8nQXMOt8_hHsHTjUVoG43wE4htvZNxwnqqGojxDcybazryxPPzkYm_VKR0OYELs3nieAmzksqN6bjte14q9esUBtHyzP2PbiFAjYm/s640/blogger-image--2081487484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0aJtlT4pxckYiOeHuO4JxXXcu1bdSGSPRC_AjWh8nQXMOt8_hHsHTjUVoG43wE4htvZNxwnqqGojxDcybazryxPPzkYm_VKR0OYELs3nieAmzksqN6bjte14q9esUBtHyzP2PbiFAjYm/s400/blogger-image--2081487484.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-35112603067227344032016-07-15T15:21:00.000-07:002016-07-15T15:23:44.695-07:00Everyday Life 7.15.16: having company, growing kiddosWell hello. Last week my easy post idea turned out to be quite challenging (how hard can it be to write up a day in my life, thought I? Much more time-consuming and clunky than I expected) and I just didn't take the time to finish it. It was surprisingly hard to let myself off the hook of writing every week, but I'm back today... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
Yesterday Mum, my sweet Canadian mother-in-law (she's "Mum" and my mom is "Mom") and Christy and her four littles came over to swim and have lunch. I fully expected it to be crazy but it worked out well and we had so much fun! We had a wonderful time out by the water together and the kids did great in our little place. I've resisted the idea of having families with small children over because I thought it just wouldn't work in our two-bedroom condo. Well, my nephews and niece proved me happily wrong. Ginny even organized James' room before leaving.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWgap7y5EIy-NTRdPitAeFAzfsiC2LUhbh6B3vJ2T5WELF_-69WjWN48QAqJBzI97U1H-8yrfjPICobEDXzRLwKw2Ef_X9wOz663TsfV6sd0B3e3WZKwCZ3QsJw3D8JSue6xje4AMtPLZ/s640/blogger-image-1604870853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqWgap7y5EIy-NTRdPitAeFAzfsiC2LUhbh6B3vJ2T5WELF_-69WjWN48QAqJBzI97U1H-8yrfjPICobEDXzRLwKw2Ef_X9wOz663TsfV6sd0B3e3WZKwCZ3QsJw3D8JSue6xje4AMtPLZ/s400/blogger-image-1604870853.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Sometimes I don't want to do new things with the kids because I think they'll be hard, or stressful, or it just won't work out, or it conflicts with so-and-so's sleep schedule. But each time we've done it anyway, I have been favorably impressed at how well it's gone (and that life doesn't end when naps are disrupted). Our road trips to MI are prime examples. Also things like driving the kids up the Mt. Evans road and being out till nearly 4...not optimal, perhaps, but we had fun and we didn't implode, explode, or otherwise die (though poor James did get carsick). Or taking the kids to the pool by myself, or having people over...things easier done than over-thought, perhaps? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5EtyQq26A7iG65bTBHsyGIsLAPkop3OTRU6BMsE-K-zWUy82RQ8DxdWaMOGgCo40XrK9kDSvts1RIwowWeA3uLndw6zPHsZcySMntqEnm9s93IgxhxlYOkyRPb-7Vb6eLSDkFzPBJnJ5/s640/blogger-image--1686861743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5EtyQq26A7iG65bTBHsyGIsLAPkop3OTRU6BMsE-K-zWUy82RQ8DxdWaMOGgCo40XrK9kDSvts1RIwowWeA3uLndw6zPHsZcySMntqEnm9s93IgxhxlYOkyRPb-7Vb6eLSDkFzPBJnJ5/s400/blogger-image--1686861743.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
<br />
Emily is mobile! She's puttered a bit but hadn't moved around the house much on her own until just a couple of days ago. I set her down in James' room to play with toys and have a little quiet time and when I went back to check on her she was playing with the diapers in the bathroom. Well then. She still doesn't crawl--either scoots on her seat or pulls herself around on her tummy. It's pretty cute. She is so grown up; really getting to be a little girl and not a baby. Her sleep schedule's all crazy right now. Some days she doesn't quite need two naps a day but one isn't enough either. There have been a few times where she's missed a nap or has a really short one...which can be tiring all around. But we've had some fun times together too. She especially loves stories involving animal sounds. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FfxPzFpumgJZSj1cwW-paN6ezWKdn8zTx1do2cCdKW0NvkWj07OkICX1YfmfznHWgJ9ZHVc7pmyrKCPY64cLDOIeajat_NY46M4w64o3qa68GPu0Yqt_dhsSi5jexLFSIxt2CmdPi9PV/s640/blogger-image--443157599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FfxPzFpumgJZSj1cwW-paN6ezWKdn8zTx1do2cCdKW0NvkWj07OkICX1YfmfznHWgJ9ZHVc7pmyrKCPY64cLDOIeajat_NY46M4w64o3qa68GPu0Yqt_dhsSi5jexLFSIxt2CmdPi9PV/s400/blogger-image--443157599.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
It has been a bit of a game-changer to have my baby start moving. It makes me realize how grown-up James is. He's getting so obedient and helps me with carrying and getting things. He's quite a singer. He'll take a book and use it as a guitar while he sings songs of his own making. He also "reads" (recites) stories to himself when he's napping or narrates them through the day ("up da ladders go da firemen!" "busy police car, things to do!") and he's learning Psalm 23 just from our repeating it so many times. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IbdzgG0-Ya38aqvzYniCwOOi3Kh70CmwuevCSTUKtxEPOBdc_yCXSlVGfLl5pa1nm8Rhh1uNstZfqG6mUJgBRTZ5ajh-KX-HpoVcAtEQgXF86j0CTV0F3iLMiByi2uGG0Aibp63Yx266/s640/blogger-image-184405920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IbdzgG0-Ya38aqvzYniCwOOi3Kh70CmwuevCSTUKtxEPOBdc_yCXSlVGfLl5pa1nm8Rhh1uNstZfqG6mUJgBRTZ5ajh-KX-HpoVcAtEQgXF86j0CTV0F3iLMiByi2uGG0Aibp63Yx266/s640/blogger-image-184405920.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Last night I was putting Emily to bed and James came in to say goodnight. I told him to give her a hug and she reciprocated...a little funny since both of them seem to think that hugs involve putting your head down on someone else's shoulder. It was pretty adorable. He also likes to help get Emily up from her nap. Working on only doing that at the end of naptime...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRROahf642ZWoyumOov4IcP3Egv7PulBQwErD85vh5gvZII_-1asvgeM7hJdSnwIFufQcVE6y9AI74lR0iOXgtP-_75eVwBvAcfbE2eJS2sRikNDLwRaS_CAdBv_QRnwvxXoxh46Po1oB5/s640/blogger-image-1050155309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRROahf642ZWoyumOov4IcP3Egv7PulBQwErD85vh5gvZII_-1asvgeM7hJdSnwIFufQcVE6y9AI74lR0iOXgtP-_75eVwBvAcfbE2eJS2sRikNDLwRaS_CAdBv_QRnwvxXoxh46Po1oB5/s400/blogger-image-1050155309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
Yesterday James ate a coffee bean when I was making the cold brew and I wasn't successful in getting all of it out of his mouth before he swallowed it. Fortunately it didn't have a terrible impact on his ability to wind down. :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Joe and I are both reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G1J1D28/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1#navbar">Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less</a> by Greg McKeown. Well, he's listening and I'm reading, in accordance with our (strong) preferences as to learning styles. We have both really liked it. The idea of trade-offs has been good for me so far; realizing that I can't do it all and that to take one opportunity means turning down another. It's helping me to think more realistically about my time. I tend to hope that I can do it all if I just work quickly enough and am organized enough, but I usually end up vaguely stressed and disappointed with my actual productivity compared to my aspirations. Choosing what not do to is a novel concept but it makes so much sense.<br />
<br />
Also, there's just the paradigm shift of motherhood. The important things don't always look like checked-off items on a list. Unless you put sitting and playing or stories or evening walks to the park on your list...which may not be a bad idea. <br />
<br />
I'm off now to read stories to my little boy and eventually to dinner prep. I've been vacillating between making spicy Thai noodles or Cajun chicken pasta all afternoon. Currently leaning towards Cajun...<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyN-GEDzxUEOi11d1acxlx0dC20WxG16xnwy2XwKPzi5_lr7yWrS2ndggxK55Y4Qg3szIU8t_JqrrNp7g7YS1KxBAU1AUL1DubjAyP1zrmmNARduR0s2RDALsr8ydoy-GHfPLDscWWp6L/s640/blogger-image--994791855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyN-GEDzxUEOi11d1acxlx0dC20WxG16xnwy2XwKPzi5_lr7yWrS2ndggxK55Y4Qg3szIU8t_JqrrNp7g7YS1KxBAU1AUL1DubjAyP1zrmmNARduR0s2RDALsr8ydoy-GHfPLDscWWp6L/s640/blogger-image--994791855.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz_qSE9LA_4P3e5aq3ClUH_R1h0XWU_k_HRSKLN8hTRpiff1ZfIAgwl1OpfcaVFlBwHFc2OsGQv5Z8iR0JWpm3cflEiKVbZwtOrBLweV_85jRmNfBgtMOriTrB92cskbIoWICK1IkZLmj/s640/blogger-image--1584092308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz_qSE9LA_4P3e5aq3ClUH_R1h0XWU_k_HRSKLN8hTRpiff1ZfIAgwl1OpfcaVFlBwHFc2OsGQv5Z8iR0JWpm3cflEiKVbZwtOrBLweV_85jRmNfBgtMOriTrB92cskbIoWICK1IkZLmj/s400/blogger-image--1584092308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>a couple of favorite shots from our evening at the park</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5EtyQq26A7iG65bTBHsyGIsLAPkop3OTRU6BMsE-K-zWUy82RQ8DxdWaMOGgCo40XrK9kDSvts1RIwowWeA3uLndw6zPHsZcySMntqEnm9s93IgxhxlYOkyRPb-7Vb6eLSDkFzPBJnJ5/s640/blogger-image--1686861743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-90038041897674357482016-07-02T20:29:00.000-07:002016-07-14T19:54:30.076-07:00Happy 1st Birthday Emily!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emily Grace,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-adc3f50f-aec2-3498-6a98-338e61b990fc" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QKkvqcLTf5WJB2SrFxmdr2OYAxOY4HIsB8rcIAb9Soc9r4i8NeOWPJXxL31JWu3OfLyeZm05dbTMHcdPZeoOjR5r2QzTWuskq7FnIYFGNvCoYzJrvWfxyD9lNHlBfARtg4Dxgus0Bzz2/s640/blogger-image--1870457416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-adc3f50f-aecb-334b-d44c-bc433b748902"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy 1st birthday, little princess! One year ago, just five minutes after midnight, you were born after a fast and slightly crazy labor. Before I even really saw you, I heard Daddy saying “Look, sweetie, it’s a girl!” You had my dark hair (which you’ve kept) and your Daddy’s nose and you were such a beautiful little girl. We were both so excited and blessed. We named you Emily Grace because it was the most special name we could think of, and we’ve called you Princess since before we even left the birth center that morning. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QKkvqcLTf5WJB2SrFxmdr2OYAxOY4HIsB8rcIAb9Soc9r4i8NeOWPJXxL31JWu3OfLyeZm05dbTMHcdPZeoOjR5r2QzTWuskq7FnIYFGNvCoYzJrvWfxyD9lNHlBfARtg4Dxgus0Bzz2/s640/blogger-image--1870457416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QKkvqcLTf5WJB2SrFxmdr2OYAxOY4HIsB8rcIAb9Soc9r4i8NeOWPJXxL31JWu3OfLyeZm05dbTMHcdPZeoOjR5r2QzTWuskq7FnIYFGNvCoYzJrvWfxyD9lNHlBfARtg4Dxgus0Bzz2/s320/blogger-image--1870457416.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-22dfadf1-ec79-baf5-06a9-a6212ac4eef1"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">You bring us so much joy. Since you were tiny, people have commented on how happy you are; a common saying among your aunts, uncles and grandparents is “Emily is always happy!” or “Emily is just so happy!” While I can’t say you are always happy (particularly if you don’t want to go to bed), you are a happy girl. You love to be around people and you really love your family. Your brother makes you smile and you’ve already learned how to make him laugh hysterically...buzzing your lips sure does the trick. And James loves you; if you’re in bed crying he wants me to go take care of you. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re already starting to talk and you have the most adorable little high-pitched voice. I have to listen carefully but sometimes what I think I hear surprises me. You try to repeat what you hear, and I almost think I heard “Wow! Pretty!” when we were talking about fireworks this morning. (You did experience your first fireworks last night, but I don’t think you even noticed. We let you play with my phone to keep you from crying from sheer exhaustion while James was enthralled by his first fireworks show.) Last night you said “James” and you say “Wheee!” when you’re on the swings or slide at the park. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVKhZZtGpextGHzkvbYoaQ0LljUA5XmXTuk1i52e8KuQouNQtyrecYNgf0HAETKzxFaINhSDyx2J02Ko1JWWjMHAWYlhvYjwmxnHRqX_fnVm598bUCFkBXYorYJw_mr2brnxU_M2aCoNi/s640/blogger-image-827458673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVKhZZtGpextGHzkvbYoaQ0LljUA5XmXTuk1i52e8KuQouNQtyrecYNgf0HAETKzxFaINhSDyx2J02Ko1JWWjMHAWYlhvYjwmxnHRqX_fnVm598bUCFkBXYorYJw_mr2brnxU_M2aCoNi/s400/blogger-image-827458673.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are a Daddy’s girl. You’re so happy to see him when he gets home from work and you’ll almost always go to him from me. Especially at bedtime, since I’m the one who usually puts you to bed. When I’m feeding you at night and Daddy moves in bed, you perk up, get excited and start trying to talk to him. And Daddy loves you so much, little one. He regularly talks about how cute you are and how much he loves you. One of my favorite things is watching him dance with you. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b7oboBcoBeWKJrgTH4zlj4Bo_ZPhAuKk_uhEjioHFEHshxsjRLOY7SKy8-D5BDoHFX-1fTFD1nR4JuN20rI3PDJn6PZjPqNy2mkiJFRH-8s6h9DcNLTMWFHs3cnnrB9r-RM3WiXbAGyi/s640/blogger-image-676990536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b7oboBcoBeWKJrgTH4zlj4Bo_ZPhAuKk_uhEjioHFEHshxsjRLOY7SKy8-D5BDoHFX-1fTFD1nR4JuN20rI3PDJn6PZjPqNy2mkiJFRH-8s6h9DcNLTMWFHs3cnnrB9r-RM3WiXbAGyi/s400/blogger-image-676990536.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes I wonder what you’ll be like when you get a little older. Outdoorsy? A reader? What instruments will call to you? Between Daddy and me I don’t think you’re going to be able to escape having quite the imagination. I'm excited to get to know the girl you're growing into. I’m also looking forward to the day when I can share all my favorite stories with you. But at the same time I love my baby girl and don’t want her to grow up too fast. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t believe that I have a daughter. I prayed for a little girl, Emily, before you were even conceived. Now I pray that you will seek Jesus, not out of fear or duty but out of love. That you will grow to be a strong, confident, gracious woman. I want you to know that we love you. We’re so glad we got you and we will always, always love you. You’re our special girl. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love you forever, Emmy-Bear. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mummy</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMVP8qFMIN2iyw5qOlYD4_eJTm1pw8iSdXJt0JLdR9I84t-WpOt3l7FqaIaMuEqd9IBCJJdVlUEqFTJ4R33yycxNdEUt7qrW9ZLOUwaAXBdJAfIORvvyqFQ8W6MjsIJsUdZrJxQ6WGBuE/s640/blogger-image-54893901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMVP8qFMIN2iyw5qOlYD4_eJTm1pw8iSdXJt0JLdR9I84t-WpOt3l7FqaIaMuEqd9IBCJJdVlUEqFTJ4R33yycxNdEUt7qrW9ZLOUwaAXBdJAfIORvvyqFQ8W6MjsIJsUdZrJxQ6WGBuE/s640/blogger-image-54893901.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>Photo credit for photos 1, 2 and 4 to <a href="http://www.sarahmorganblog.com/">Sarah Morgan Photography</a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4b7oboBcoBeWKJrgTH4zlj4Bo_ZPhAuKk_uhEjioHFEHshxsjRLOY7SKy8-D5BDoHFX-1fTFD1nR4JuN20rI3PDJn6PZjPqNy2mkiJFRH-8s6h9DcNLTMWFHs3cnnrB9r-RM3WiXbAGyi/s640/blogger-image-676990536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-69195953564844458912016-06-25T16:05:00.001-07:002016-06-25T16:05:20.735-07:00Everyday Life 6.25.16: kids, coffee, another good book<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4BcnHjzvKSeCuwtGVqaBjBrFttAR3PlkLWurw2fjsk5iUnB1EvjDymjLYyRLxylBuOT-XrPI_QYUl362HSMUNeq7yTJNrLz_RRkXhRYWaErtuDD6U72W8-3QJ7i67_ZBAOO2p042Qy9U/s640/blogger-image-442510042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4BcnHjzvKSeCuwtGVqaBjBrFttAR3PlkLWurw2fjsk5iUnB1EvjDymjLYyRLxylBuOT-XrPI_QYUl362HSMUNeq7yTJNrLz_RRkXhRYWaErtuDD6U72W8-3QJ7i67_ZBAOO2p042Qy9U/s640/blogger-image-442510042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvIMtG3mU-FSWKntFQ_VnZJmjtWzw3vjIuuBlfFe2HRSEKUfgunV2yH57iOJTNsKHLBZumrvK5xgW_Ov9k_l0Gcmz82LnuYhB9fqrlcMXi-l4SsadhgGDxs2vc-ZxA22bZBkBXKi3m-50/s640/blogger-image-1543255981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
It's naptime and the kids are quiet. I'm at the table with my computer and cold-brewed coffee and I have a list of tasks to accomplish, not least of which is writing this post. Also on the list, just for posterity's sake, are updating the budget, downloading SquareCash, emailing a friend...and lots of other stuff that's bouncing around in my head. But alas, I am subject to the limits of time and ability so finishing a photo book and updating our entire love story draft will likely not happen today. I'm learning to be realistic in what I attempt....maybe. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Speaking of cold brew, it's wonderful stuff. I grind coffee on the coarsest setting, put almost a cup of grounds in a quart jar, fill it with cold water, and put it in the fridge overnight (or longer). It's technically supposed to steep 12-16 hours but I've left it in longer without problem. When it's done, strain it and enjoy your coffee with a bit of milk. It's sweeter than hot-brewed coffee, with a bit of a caramel flavor. We love it and it's nice to have coffee in the fridge ready to pour, especially on Sunday mornings. I have actually had to cut back on when I drink it because I was getting so over-caffeinated that I was starting to have trouble sleeping. Decaf cold brew, perhaps?? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy-rKGm2tmj5QKysTNbFpt8VO7n9M98V2afNdU_tqWqk7YOCE44N_k5WDXoGlSrvzJLSLF25hYyck7FOq_jQoecOIvVC3ftKXlc2F7FTjY1EgXhIW84aDstJalg5aQy6EaKW_1NiZR5l6/s640/blogger-image--320277067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy-rKGm2tmj5QKysTNbFpt8VO7n9M98V2afNdU_tqWqk7YOCE44N_k5WDXoGlSrvzJLSLF25hYyck7FOq_jQoecOIvVC3ftKXlc2F7FTjY1EgXhIW84aDstJalg5aQy6EaKW_1NiZR5l6/s400/blogger-image--320277067.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvIMtG3mU-FSWKntFQ_VnZJmjtWzw3vjIuuBlfFe2HRSEKUfgunV2yH57iOJTNsKHLBZumrvK5xgW_Ov9k_l0Gcmz82LnuYhB9fqrlcMXi-l4SsadhgGDxs2vc-ZxA22bZBkBXKi3m-50/s640/blogger-image-1543255981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily: such a precious child. Her hair is starting to curl and her eyes are turning brown and she's beginning to talk! She'll take a phone (or another object, including her hand or mine), put it to her ear and say "'Ello?" "Daddy" is her favorite word. I think she's using it for people in general, though, not just for Joe. (Though she certainly loves Joe.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Still not crawling or walking, but she's pushing herself with her feet, dragging herself along with her arms, sometimes doing both at once, and scooting along while sitting by putting her hands down between her legs and pushing/pulling herself forwards. She also does a sort of pushup/plank. Doesn't get her anywhere but it's sure cute! She hasn't pulled herself up yet but if I stand her somewhere she's really stable, even if she's only holding on with one hand. I wouldn't be too surprised if she just took off walking one day. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvIMtG3mU-FSWKntFQ_VnZJmjtWzw3vjIuuBlfFe2HRSEKUfgunV2yH57iOJTNsKHLBZumrvK5xgW_Ov9k_l0Gcmz82LnuYhB9fqrlcMXi-l4SsadhgGDxs2vc-ZxA22bZBkBXKi3m-50/s400/blogger-image-1543255981.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5yvZtlINeKHIU_ACJXebnTChiFFnL9n4dF2KWgCnDtw99WAG7mDBO58B391_b-NgaHhEjgh6esrpn95OmJM5BH61cOWalSTRT0C4xAlkQX9mvTrnQtFQUyyjQwx-flUbJAqS1bDIQ1am/s640/blogger-image--1042733828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5yvZtlINeKHIU_ACJXebnTChiFFnL9n4dF2KWgCnDtw99WAG7mDBO58B391_b-NgaHhEjgh6esrpn95OmJM5BH61cOWalSTRT0C4xAlkQX9mvTrnQtFQUyyjQwx-flUbJAqS1bDIQ1am/s400/blogger-image--1042733828.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily tends to be fussy after naps and before dinner. I've discovered that a few pots and lids and some fruit (citrus works well; she can't damage it easily) keep her happy for a while. And when that gets old, the piano makes a wonderful babysitter. I strap her in her booster chair and push it up to the keyboard so she can play. She loves it and it keeps her happy and occupied so I can finish dinner.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dPt3uwyRnTCMwbNOz9ndJXuSPXlFQ7mUP3LjeM4tf_4pC08CtgklbwfcbLdNxjYjktfdJEL0q0QPu69xOhggstedJdrEKjFJouWuLIu-dehxvOEq_d57AZXxaSl7LRRMbvxg0xXfcYoL/s640/blogger-image--1053992425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dPt3uwyRnTCMwbNOz9ndJXuSPXlFQ7mUP3LjeM4tf_4pC08CtgklbwfcbLdNxjYjktfdJEL0q0QPu69xOhggstedJdrEKjFJouWuLIu-dehxvOEq_d57AZXxaSl7LRRMbvxg0xXfcYoL/s400/blogger-image--1053992425.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
She also loves it when Joe and I kiss while one of us is holding her. She tries to push our heads together so we'll do it again; cracks us up. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFBNnzKEoYqV0nxT5hAORxxuVSO_-rX5HY83K2zD7JjFYScDG3FYSsY5NzhtU-FEMRL22IAKl4Vq8EHOwG9B2G_4YFaD7ztbDTKtrxYqF1BO_Li0tlr4SHVXDgg_9NuBHp4U7et-PDiGe/s640/blogger-image--1282880165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFBNnzKEoYqV0nxT5hAORxxuVSO_-rX5HY83K2zD7JjFYScDG3FYSsY5NzhtU-FEMRL22IAKl4Vq8EHOwG9B2G_4YFaD7ztbDTKtrxYqF1BO_Li0tlr4SHVXDgg_9NuBHp4U7et-PDiGe/s400/blogger-image--1282880165.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
James has grown into such a little boy. I still rock him before bed (he would be distraught if I stopped) but he's been having a hard time lately figuring out how to get comfortable and where to put his legs. His imaginative games are so funny to watch. Today he had one of Joe's belts attached to one of his trucks and was pulling it around, like a puppy on a leash. He's started this trash collection game: he stuffs clothes or rags into the cleaning bucket and dumps it into Emily's walker. The first time there weren't enough dirty clothes for him so he got his clean jammies out of his drawer and put them in with the dirty rags. Now I try to make sure he has rags to use... <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVQuG-K0bjXq7-dUi93tOZS1kIz45rvYSzVUhFkQQtGtYlh8NdyGjM8KZO_CCNLwh7sIiD1PLBt9_beyVHg0AxNWRjgiiV7FGS2L612QrSdLjtFflENq-HoTQ42gIFkg8JMsRh20TSOK/s640/blogger-image-724585732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmVQuG-K0bjXq7-dUi93tOZS1kIz45rvYSzVUhFkQQtGtYlh8NdyGjM8KZO_CCNLwh7sIiD1PLBt9_beyVHg0AxNWRjgiiV7FGS2L612QrSdLjtFflENq-HoTQ42gIFkg8JMsRh20TSOK/s400/blogger-image-724585732.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
James loves to help in the kitchen and has a sixth sense telling him when I switch from puttering around and cleaning to actually cooking or baking something. He'll start to push a chair over, saying "Help me?" Today he did a great job of unloading the silverware from the dishwasher and then re-loading the dirty silverware. <br />
<br />
Sometimes when he has a question or request he'll repeat it over and over, regardless of response. He'll say it like a question (strong upward inflection), then like a statement (downward inflection). Question, statement. Today on our walk it was "Emmy in da fwing? Emmy in da fwing. Emmy in the fwing?..." <br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4BcnHjzvKSeCuwtGVqaBjBrFttAR3PlkLWurw2fjsk5iUnB1EvjDymjLYyRLxylBuOT-XrPI_QYUl362HSMUNeq7yTJNrLz_RRkXhRYWaErtuDD6U72W8-3QJ7i67_ZBAOO2p042Qy9U/s400/blogger-image-442510042.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> Yesterday he took his apple outside and just sat on the patio for a while. </i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<br />
He napped in his toddler bed the other day! It was only because of major emotional trauma, however. James has almost always slept with a fan on in his room. The other day the power went out during naptime and he wasn't asleep yet--poor guy was so upset when his fan just up and stopped. I finally got him settled back down but before he was asleep, the power came back on. The fan turning on unprovoked was just about as disturbing as having it turn off. So I settled him down again and put him back to bed. Then the power went out again. And came back on two minutes later. By this point he was sitting in his crib staring at the fan and sobbing, exhausted. I snuggled with him in the toddler bed and when he finally calmed down he fell asleep quickly and soundly. Sweet boy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDx3cYcTaCuxhmHnIIS8rMOgD0tSblBjsaMZVjzmbhljByz1UcJ_A5FvJQOwKwuBv6v6lTpJTF54kJi4zfj2WhojAoo1tJTuM8y6Wk4-D96WrMjhAtdkaeSWKJ7X1JJ8WtIBnaTJkNUQA/s640/blogger-image-386165915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDx3cYcTaCuxhmHnIIS8rMOgD0tSblBjsaMZVjzmbhljByz1UcJ_A5FvJQOwKwuBv6v6lTpJTF54kJi4zfj2WhojAoo1tJTuM8y6Wk4-D96WrMjhAtdkaeSWKJ7X1JJ8WtIBnaTJkNUQA/s400/blogger-image-386165915.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I just finished another really good book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Life-Embracing-Attentiveness-Distraction/dp/0830844120">The Listening Life</a> by Adam S. McHugh. It's a very broad look at the role of listening in our lives: listening to God through Scripture and creation, listening to others, and listening to ourselves. I thought I was a good listener but I realized that I have a lot to learn. I especially appreciated his thoughts on Scripture and his insights on what being a good listener to others really involves (silence does not equal listening), and his list of ways we <i>don't</i> listen well was hysterical and convicting. I didn't agree with everything and some of it I'll have to think about for a while, but overall I highly recommend it. I'll probably even buy it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And finally, when you take your kids to the park, swing on the swings. It's good for the soul. The end.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpvJ67owZokZ8S_nEjFDz-2gQ_2NlUW9Sujfu6MdrhXby9XD6iv8goP9k64O98H9Ar-GzMw2hdAT1iiFJEM9VUxi7sP0Io3iyikZBw0YbAf0CxGVSynfyD4QlQmzZqnL-vGvbWsKfo9m1/s640/blogger-image--818971971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpvJ67owZokZ8S_nEjFDz-2gQ_2NlUW9Sujfu6MdrhXby9XD6iv8goP9k64O98H9Ar-GzMw2hdAT1iiFJEM9VUxi7sP0Io3iyikZBw0YbAf0CxGVSynfyD4QlQmzZqnL-vGvbWsKfo9m1/s400/blogger-image--818971971.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-45829638655902643862016-06-18T20:11:00.004-07:002016-06-18T20:11:53.275-07:00Everyday Life 6.18.16<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHDPAkXRz826IADha2NWc3JprXl2sWk-aELNK9ceg_Xiy6BcDK-nrgUzZwPQXsnG4Oi9846jLPS7BM6_87G7AIxLcfhki_tYRCyimB84VynT47kIQXbb53bNEhWNu-lmW-QSWO3S5IZ93/s640/blogger-image-1478150753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHDPAkXRz826IADha2NWc3JprXl2sWk-aELNK9ceg_Xiy6BcDK-nrgUzZwPQXsnG4Oi9846jLPS7BM6_87G7AIxLcfhki_tYRCyimB84VynT47kIQXbb53bNEhWNu-lmW-QSWO3S5IZ93/s640/blogger-image-1478150753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkkWrZexRe9C5YsdrtKM_lSi95gz8MvE0WLBUVHZuMeVq8akcE821G6_ng6NFD5STt_v3aC7xGlPdpSVB7t1DWaauHUC9Zl9G3_-0nGAECDeHKRhV8uBlE_3BBXBVz5NHQLkERKYI6ROa/s640/blogger-image--48912283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkkWrZexRe9C5YsdrtKM_lSi95gz8MvE0WLBUVHZuMeVq8akcE821G6_ng6NFD5STt_v3aC7xGlPdpSVB7t1DWaauHUC9Zl9G3_-0nGAECDeHKRhV8uBlE_3BBXBVz5NHQLkERKYI6ROa/s640/blogger-image--48912283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeFc3Rxc5CSoiQBZToGoIKAKBUD4rghZceiS1ebKLpRwFtulQdfR2yNyXJMQ1ZWFPVxz-n0ZcbKLabQyrmFot8ittY7kTrA3uPaLuB8bdSbm3WzOUrAosS6CEjvWAYAR0ShnvHN8Ql7fw/s640/blogger-image--592064772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeFc3Rxc5CSoiQBZToGoIKAKBUD4rghZceiS1ebKLpRwFtulQdfR2yNyXJMQ1ZWFPVxz-n0ZcbKLabQyrmFot8ittY7kTrA3uPaLuB8bdSbm3WzOUrAosS6CEjvWAYAR0ShnvHN8Ql7fw/s640/blogger-image--592064772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabbYpflR6eL8bW8FIowKCH-w6nzS0YLySyKaoKYf-aFZZmN_1bNTKXMYoP1JgrmhC0KrpSJqnS_SAyCCtnYg1Ac85Jj40dW311I7LwL8QEpw3nhOgjXNBoErDSzK02PQOSu8gpc_oghwX/s640/blogger-image--202919061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabbYpflR6eL8bW8FIowKCH-w6nzS0YLySyKaoKYf-aFZZmN_1bNTKXMYoP1JgrmhC0KrpSJqnS_SAyCCtnYg1Ac85Jj40dW311I7LwL8QEpw3nhOgjXNBoErDSzK02PQOSu8gpc_oghwX/s640/blogger-image--202919061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUXoj9IKZHlSIz8zoLIyLCZCdhzL5FH01d38fzTAjkGL_3xz3N4HkKtxEdnjfcfGkTEu_Oa7BTMx2V32xyzXVpSEGtOPQBNxJP-Fh-7I_VrvpNtLaupTG4BfReayxmDtfl6K_4MQFJZM9/s640/blogger-image--1545735365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUXoj9IKZHlSIz8zoLIyLCZCdhzL5FH01d38fzTAjkGL_3xz3N4HkKtxEdnjfcfGkTEu_Oa7BTMx2V32xyzXVpSEGtOPQBNxJP-Fh-7I_VrvpNtLaupTG4BfReayxmDtfl6K_4MQFJZM9/s640/blogger-image--1545735365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOxZesWIOBo_NyB-anwDHlZyqGuWbMsZ3ICsbFX-aGYtpbH4aQFztmFmTnF88Oh2j3gFMxes3797CRKjmSjiPnv_QcU9t9xguBpEQSuvothUxewUq2CWuUodCcWCu758zypphbKi2nVxo/s640/blogger-image-332946372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOxZesWIOBo_NyB-anwDHlZyqGuWbMsZ3ICsbFX-aGYtpbH4aQFztmFmTnF88Oh2j3gFMxes3797CRKjmSjiPnv_QcU9t9xguBpEQSuvothUxewUq2CWuUodCcWCu758zypphbKi2nVxo/s640/blogger-image-332946372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEfI94_BLtrLqriB99ObMGeFlz3nh0Tz4iyrgkQkp9pKO1GVU_QrbjKXCy6hZHPYCXCWd0PbchTfM3pJgHiP_g1Df0a5zOf-LqGhS8N2FD4e9gUjMlpEo_Eh26SRSxK16v2RC86XvS1ud/s640/blogger-image-370612492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEfI94_BLtrLqriB99ObMGeFlz3nh0Tz4iyrgkQkp9pKO1GVU_QrbjKXCy6hZHPYCXCWd0PbchTfM3pJgHiP_g1Df0a5zOf-LqGhS8N2FD4e9gUjMlpEo_Eh26SRSxK16v2RC86XvS1ud/s640/blogger-image-370612492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRyzYqpH-wzcxOq-S6sLAxpG_CUY9_6zaNTdbiY_kzCfg4YwROYt-8j2f0T99dQzuQOq8FzSceA0-___1q9qFMKo7sGsygzlUnQaVnW89y5AE2nEBiDSE3rJZYZSLrzCuhTJfpdeniwmF/s640/blogger-image--1622237756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On Thursday Joe didn't have a voice lesson so we actually had the whole day free! We rather ambitiously headed up the Mt. Evans road. I remembered Summit Lake being particularly beautiful, though it's been over 10 years since I was up there. We ended up driving all the way to the summit while we were up there...might as well. Emily was asleep by that point so Joe sat with the kids and I headed to the summit, just a short hike from the parking lot. I usually prefer the scenery just a bit lower down, but it was amazing to be on top of the world again and to be able to see so far. (Added benefit: no cell reception or data for most of the drive!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXghyphenhyphenX9vADF5E5eaeBKpqu8oJ1F_vuiSQSITq7Ma3Vm9mxgyThHdqjShW9jP4TB3Q7rH3CYYFS0ZXMbmKIenyQOzSCd6BKk9LEZFuAP5xupnzDUW6QPE47P56ucGSRIwi05qm15EM6LYA/s640/blogger-image-57087927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXghyphenhyphenX9vADF5E5eaeBKpqu8oJ1F_vuiSQSITq7Ma3Vm9mxgyThHdqjShW9jP4TB3Q7rH3CYYFS0ZXMbmKIenyQOzSCd6BKk9LEZFuAP5xupnzDUW6QPE47P56ucGSRIwi05qm15EM6LYA/s400/blogger-image-57087927.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Speaking of drive, I'd forgotten just how...exciting, shall we say?... the Mt. Evans road is. It's just a little strip of pavement precariously glued to the side of a rather imposing mountain. Sometimes it's just best not to look down. And some people were driving motorhomes!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeFc3Rxc5CSoiQBZToGoIKAKBUD4rghZceiS1ebKLpRwFtulQdfR2yNyXJMQ1ZWFPVxz-n0ZcbKLabQyrmFot8ittY7kTrA3uPaLuB8bdSbm3WzOUrAosS6CEjvWAYAR0ShnvHN8Ql7fw/s400/blogger-image--592064772.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Two kids certainly add to the excitement of a mountain excursion. It's just different. Still good, but one's subconscious expectations of going to the mountains and sitting quietly by a lake while letting the peace and quiet sink into one's soul are slightly difficult to achieve with a baby who just wants to be put down (but there's nowhere safe to put her) and a two-year-old on the loose. So we'll adjust....enjoy the mountains through the eyes of the little ones and go on a date to the mountains if we want quiet. I'm glad to be able to share this beauty with the kids; I want them to have lots of good memories of family outings together. I realized driving up how many memories I have in the mountains. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkkWrZexRe9C5YsdrtKM_lSi95gz8MvE0WLBUVHZuMeVq8akcE821G6_ng6NFD5STt_v3aC7xGlPdpSVB7t1DWaauHUC9Zl9G3_-0nGAECDeHKRhV8uBlE_3BBXBVz5NHQLkERKYI6ROa/s400/blogger-image--48912283.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Our pool is finally open! Mom and the girls came over on Tuesday so we could go swimming. It's a little much for me to take the kids on my own--I'd probably have to make them take turns sitting in the stroller and I don't think that would go over very well. Emily loves the water! It was her first time swimming; she was just a newborn last summer. James loves the water too, but he's still getting used to the whole pool idea. He mostly sits on the edge of the stairs and splashes with his feet or enjoys the snacks and sunshine aspects of swimming.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOxZesWIOBo_NyB-anwDHlZyqGuWbMsZ3ICsbFX-aGYtpbH4aQFztmFmTnF88Oh2j3gFMxes3797CRKjmSjiPnv_QcU9t9xguBpEQSuvothUxewUq2CWuUodCcWCu758zypphbKi2nVxo/s400/blogger-image-332946372.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUXoj9IKZHlSIz8zoLIyLCZCdhzL5FH01d38fzTAjkGL_3xz3N4HkKtxEdnjfcfGkTEu_Oa7BTMx2V32xyzXVpSEGtOPQBNxJP-Fh-7I_VrvpNtLaupTG4BfReayxmDtfl6K_4MQFJZM9/s400/blogger-image--1545735365.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I mentioned Joe and his voice lessons. He's been studying with a great teacher for a few months now; he has an amazing voice but had gotten to the point where he felt stuck on his own and didn't know how to keep advancing. It's been so fun hearing him sing, playing his accompaniments for him and seeing his confidence grow. I love that we can do this for each other--give each other the chance to still pursue personal interests in the middle of parenting and life. (He watched the kids while I played with the Colorado Young Sinfonia for their anniversary concerts a while ago, so it goes both ways.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We just got out James' train tracks again. He built a train on them, but Emily pulled a few cars off. He laughed loudly, then said "Sowwy, Twain! Ooopsies!" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I recently started one of my favorite books again: Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge. It's a beautifully written story and it rests me. This will be the 6th time I've read it, if I'm counting aright. All of the characters are so real and I relate to different ones at different times. Lately I've been thinking about Sally and her joy in the tasks of everyday life. Compared to her father, who wanted all of the latest conveniences in order to free himself for other things, <i>"...Sally did not want to be set free for anything, for it was living itself that she enjoyed. She liked lighting a real fire of logs and fir cones, and toasting bread on an old-fashioned toaster. And she liked the lovely curve of an old staircase and the fun of running up and down it. And she vastly preferred writing a letter and walking with it to the post to using the telephone and hearing with horror her voice committing itself to things she would never had dreamed of doing if she'd had the time to think.."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a refreshing thought and practice, finding joy and fulfillment in the work itself instead of just the completion thereof. To relax and enjoy doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, tidying the house instead of just scrambling through tasks with a constant vague feeling of stress that I'm not doing enough fast enough. I'm all for working quickly, but if I am always feeling stressed because I can't do it fast enough something's a little off. I think I like Sally's way better. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRyzYqpH-wzcxOq-S6sLAxpG_CUY9_6zaNTdbiY_kzCfg4YwROYt-8j2f0T99dQzuQOq8FzSceA0-___1q9qFMKo7sGsygzlUnQaVnW89y5AE2nEBiDSE3rJZYZSLrzCuhTJfpdeniwmF/s640/blogger-image--1622237756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRyzYqpH-wzcxOq-S6sLAxpG_CUY9_6zaNTdbiY_kzCfg4YwROYt-8j2f0T99dQzuQOq8FzSceA0-___1q9qFMKo7sGsygzlUnQaVnW89y5AE2nEBiDSE3rJZYZSLrzCuhTJfpdeniwmF/s400/blogger-image--1622237756.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Speaking of enjoying the task at hand, I've come to appreciate the 35-minute drive to my family's place. It's a little mini road trip (that's a compliment; I love road-tripping). I get the kids strapped in, load all.the.stuff, and relax for the drive. Emily's happy, James talks about trucks, and I listen to music--often my favorites from Les Miserables. It's actually somewhat restful.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabbYpflR6eL8bW8FIowKCH-w6nzS0YLySyKaoKYf-aFZZmN_1bNTKXMYoP1JgrmhC0KrpSJqnS_SAyCCtnYg1Ac85Jj40dW311I7LwL8QEpw3nhOgjXNBoErDSzK02PQOSu8gpc_oghwX/s400/blogger-image--202919061.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
All for now, folks. Need to tidy up a bit more and spend some time with my guy. Have a lovely Sunday!<br />
<br />
Rachel<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHDPAkXRz826IADha2NWc3JprXl2sWk-aELNK9ceg_Xiy6BcDK-nrgUzZwPQXsnG4Oi9846jLPS7BM6_87G7AIxLcfhki_tYRCyimB84VynT47kIQXbb53bNEhWNu-lmW-QSWO3S5IZ93/s640/blogger-image-1478150753.jpg" />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-43525370444346898362016-06-11T15:45:00.002-07:002016-06-11T15:45:20.718-07:00Everyday Life 6.10.16: keeping organized<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGHEtRFkaOg8gHKMblNC0tLurwQydFrOP0RBGmxsOIXOLhMTMlnlBwRjcN1hAUZ9ijiqfiH7hKF4TwaHMIJ3VaPcsVwryjXws9kJktY9cjkQiWVm8F-uIGOc2z2-Hg46hOmyUC2n37NAe/s640/blogger-image-1588864827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGHEtRFkaOg8gHKMblNC0tLurwQydFrOP0RBGmxsOIXOLhMTMlnlBwRjcN1hAUZ9ijiqfiH7hKF4TwaHMIJ3VaPcsVwryjXws9kJktY9cjkQiWVm8F-uIGOc2z2-Hg46hOmyUC2n37NAe/s640/blogger-image-1588864827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cMoplpdYuV4WqMseTYYN9lkXk_Wyzd1wlKx7tmV-VZIvJ7XErSYYftCBnAIhmkK-q5WNgjeslbIShKvXJSOgTyfFTJDCCsJY0PQJ4Yh-HxudJZZ5BE16X8cGalNe_ZZqjdDbA0n7azPp/s640/blogger-image--1087332995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cMoplpdYuV4WqMseTYYN9lkXk_Wyzd1wlKx7tmV-VZIvJ7XErSYYftCBnAIhmkK-q5WNgjeslbIShKvXJSOgTyfFTJDCCsJY0PQJ4Yh-HxudJZZ5BE16X8cGalNe_ZZqjdDbA0n7azPp/s640/blogger-image--1087332995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcKXaLUn-y97gZ6Ur3OJyWbHxsULe4A0M_OmItT0lqIozX64BjmZmEbpbAR98g9bPsIuaNCiAI8qu4ekgFEBdZECTh52xdfRRQ98s9ByEkRZzc6LTMba_Yxlty37xSp9FqBvbn4Vlsa36/s640/blogger-image--324045733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcKXaLUn-y97gZ6Ur3OJyWbHxsULe4A0M_OmItT0lqIozX64BjmZmEbpbAR98g9bPsIuaNCiAI8qu4ekgFEBdZECTh52xdfRRQ98s9ByEkRZzc6LTMba_Yxlty37xSp9FqBvbn4Vlsa36/s640/blogger-image--324045733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ22VYazX0onmXW7uLI4maaY-8PHCWhQuZJKSbHgdE7BgD5jfes8VmXg8iNQee0B1k97yeLqygQwvl8viTICd-EH1ig9bKrRp-QGeAc3FV3jqJ_qfR0gy7eaFrbq5QsVox7f9hR_YzLfTd/s640/blogger-image--1581288876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Summer is here with a vengeance. Yesterday was the hottest day so far this year (unless mayhap today has topped it) and the indoor temperature leveled out at 81 degrees on the thermostat in the hallway--cooler in the bedrooms, warmer in the kitchen. It didn't help that it took me until today to realize that "fan" and "cool" are two different settings on the AC. At least it's working now! Our pool is finally open and James and I took the first swim of the season yesterday while my kind mum-in-law watched Emily. I love the water.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Today I thought I would write about a few of the things that are helping me to stay more organized and less stressed these days. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This week I've gone back to one of my original ways of keeping myself on task: a simple little notebook. One page for each day: I write out my tasks in the morning and check them off as I finish them. I've tried using my phone reminders app for this, but I do so much better when my list is in plain sight and I don't have to remember to open the app on my phone. (Besides, a notebook simply doesn't have the immense capabilities of distraction that my phone has.) It's helping me to remember simple things (vitamins) and to be realistic in what I attempt in a day...helps me not to be disappointed when I don't clean all the kitchen cabinets and work on that photo book in addition to all of this. :) When I did this in college I would number tasks in order of importance, but at this stage of life I'm not sure that would make much difference. If something doesn't get finished it rolls over to the next day or gets dropped. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPJ_adbHubcHj7FHscbHTrlSXTjotckPAGTu2OXRZcWWulSjFL6Bd0epQwbt64nY_JGeNF_FL4TJB8kSOp0skbruvLQjD4Xosog-qQZI1zZs5BO29Md7XTdPxyDlJwMGlybs41nZjkxS9/s640/blogger-image-2066206130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPJ_adbHubcHj7FHscbHTrlSXTjotckPAGTu2OXRZcWWulSjFL6Bd0epQwbt64nY_JGeNF_FL4TJB8kSOp0skbruvLQjD4Xosog-qQZI1zZs5BO29Md7XTdPxyDlJwMGlybs41nZjkxS9/s400/blogger-image-2066206130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm definitely a list person. Writing out a tentative weekly menu has been helpful for me; it takes a bit of stress off of the decision-making each day, even though the plan gets changed up regularly through the week. I just bump things around when we end up eating elsewhere or having another, better idea (burgers weren't in the original plan). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ22VYazX0onmXW7uLI4maaY-8PHCWhQuZJKSbHgdE7BgD5jfes8VmXg8iNQee0B1k97yeLqygQwvl8viTICd-EH1ig9bKrRp-QGeAc3FV3jqJ_qfR0gy7eaFrbq5QsVox7f9hR_YzLfTd/s640/blogger-image--1581288876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqKJroOw76SXMdeFNCNNZekN3VUTSWHOKaDmA8yokd5Tzb3Z9nB1vpOhb1C109RZepaY61j_2Gh1Jlm5Uha5hjMYOHNXfNn8ob4mBdPDf3u06dIEvqzshveWGwjNgOw5TMpW0YJu34ZkE/s640/blogger-image-1590038863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqKJroOw76SXMdeFNCNNZekN3VUTSWHOKaDmA8yokd5Tzb3Z9nB1vpOhb1C109RZepaY61j_2Gh1Jlm5Uha5hjMYOHNXfNn8ob4mBdPDf3u06dIEvqzshveWGwjNgOw5TMpW0YJu34ZkE/s400/blogger-image-1590038863.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I just updated my meal idea list. I have it categorized (pasta and random misc., meatless, chicken, beef) and I try to make sure that we eat a reasonable balance between all categories. I just scan the list till I see something that looks good and then I write it on the menu (taking into account, naturally, whether or not the ingredients are available). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ22VYazX0onmXW7uLI4maaY-8PHCWhQuZJKSbHgdE7BgD5jfes8VmXg8iNQee0B1k97yeLqygQwvl8viTICd-EH1ig9bKrRp-QGeAc3FV3jqJ_qfR0gy7eaFrbq5QsVox7f9hR_YzLfTd/s400/blogger-image--1581288876.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
As part of overhauling my cleaning schedule I made a list of household chores. I know that all these things need to be cleaned but if I don't have a framework for when it should happen it can all pile up in my brain and create stress. I wrote down all of the cleaning tasks I could think of and split them out by category (I went with Weekly, Monthly, Occasionally, and Very Rarely, thereby avoiding the pressure of having to remember things Quarterly and Yearly.) I aim for finishing the entire Weekly category plus one or two tasks from the Monthly category each Monday; time will tell if that's doable on a regular basis or not. :) This is still a prototype. I'm thinking that as I go along some things will be switching categories and I've already added some items that I forgot at first. It is certainly helping me so far though!<br />
<br />
~ ~ ~<br />
<br />
The kids are awake. We're heading to Joe's mom's this evening for a campfire and hotdogs with the family. Hopefully the weather will cool just a bit; they live up in the hills so it ought to be more temperate there anyway. I need to figure out a topping for the chocolate chip cake I made and get us ready to head out once Joe gets home. All for now! Have a lovely weekend!<br />
<br />
Rachel<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-58315658804584011542016-06-05T11:08:00.001-07:002016-06-07T20:36:54.676-07:00Everyday Life 6.3.16: refreshing times<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Last Sunday Joe was a dear and watched the kids so I could go out for a couple of hours by myself. Wow--I knew I could use some time to re-group but I was surprised by how refreshing it was. I sat by the creek at our local park for an hour or so and then moved to the library when thunder threatened (and the library had opened). I'd forgotten how much time I used to spend in libraries before I was married...wonderful places. It was delightful to be able to browse the aisles, pulling a pile of books just because I felt like it (it's like free shopping!), and then to sit down by the huge windows overlooking the lake and write for a while. It was wonderful and my soul felt much more put-together by the time I got home. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVbHN8WyfJI0s4BR0glehn_iR418FqLTDu8KI6qNpiOzDKYbbGolTIuHyB3XaLUb1Q7laZ61MvVonWR_AcUjiswvR7_eKw1uorxN4piBt8MwViOGJLQ1BVnZoia3k7m2tUTfw7XNP7Jup/s640/blogger-image--48018644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDVbHN8WyfJI0s4BR0glehn_iR418FqLTDu8KI6qNpiOzDKYbbGolTIuHyB3XaLUb1Q7laZ61MvVonWR_AcUjiswvR7_eKw1uorxN4piBt8MwViOGJLQ1BVnZoia3k7m2tUTfw7XNP7Jup/s400/blogger-image--48018644.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On Monday I ran out and picked up some plants. I love to garden but our north-facing patio doesn't offer much opportunity (or sunlight) for many plants, so while we live here I'm settling for growing herbs and shade-tolerant flowers in pots. Just getting my hands in the dirt makes me happy. I'm excited to have fresh herbs for my culinary endeavors through the summer and I even took transplants from a couple of my herbs at home--the peppermint that nobody can eliminate and my original oregano plant (it's starting to think it's a bush). James absolutely loves to help me water.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYElA7BdTiC3FVpFLaXCmCNpm80_fw0nuAipUV4DRN9CpdAsmWqWb4PkBtaHXPW593jCifdmcWXIdth51CcckrQoYVczvcoggE5ZtfsUpU4uEXpSHoKsq4_G67AjbzwY5tygjZIfiGBneU/s640/blogger-image--969806955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYElA7BdTiC3FVpFLaXCmCNpm80_fw0nuAipUV4DRN9CpdAsmWqWb4PkBtaHXPW593jCifdmcWXIdth51CcckrQoYVczvcoggE5ZtfsUpU4uEXpSHoKsq4_G67AjbzwY5tygjZIfiGBneU/s400/blogger-image--969806955.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James cracks me up with his little ways of saying things. "Open da wight?" (open the light?) when he wants it turned on. Or "Open da date?" (open the gate?) when he wants the blinds open. "Da Dawbage Twuck!" is one of his most favorite things now. I got him a garbage truck book and it's now his favorite by far; he's well on his way to having it memorized. He sings a lot and when we visited my parents he was doing some pretty awesome left-handed finger-picking on Grandpa's guitar. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0MJnVfqDG3ibZrqI24oe0UnLzvmfZ_RbfqOvxKjsFbm9JTaWwh6wE8tpHFFkM5YrXbNPP9tszSqldeQG3g3qy3wQd8DmaJTOxo2RP5z0H7NQaYk0IMnO72dsuqzj_RiqrK53iwVV3nRQ/s640/blogger-image--1097215300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0MJnVfqDG3ibZrqI24oe0UnLzvmfZ_RbfqOvxKjsFbm9JTaWwh6wE8tpHFFkM5YrXbNPP9tszSqldeQG3g3qy3wQd8DmaJTOxo2RP5z0H7NQaYk0IMnO72dsuqzj_RiqrK53iwVV3nRQ/s400/blogger-image--1097215300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily is 11 months as of Thursday. She brings us so much joy. The other day my mom was on the phone and Emily put her little hand up to her ear and started talking too. :) I got her a Pride and Prejudice board book (it's a counting primer: one English village, two rich gentlemen, and so on). It's sooooo cute and it's fun to start collecting more girly books. (Don't tell her, but I'm getting her Sense and Sensibility for her birthday next month.) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVMFwQH19fL6TUmNliKGHin-QqXgG8YIC0W2P5eZXunf7a2kYTNxvYpuOY3jNoZWDNsSnWyW_mKNOqG9ebyZbpuofD3oCxbJ5SQWHBg1VH814-mMmRXoKD0dZB7eU5NAF3eYI4iCcpy4e/s640/blogger-image-672219786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVMFwQH19fL6TUmNliKGHin-QqXgG8YIC0W2P5eZXunf7a2kYTNxvYpuOY3jNoZWDNsSnWyW_mKNOqG9ebyZbpuofD3oCxbJ5SQWHBg1VH814-mMmRXoKD0dZB7eU5NAF3eYI4iCcpy4e/s400/blogger-image-672219786.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig87jXIidS8vp-xI0LrQRkHfuld3b7Yf0i_qVgzJu5Mt5GtHb0DL4RrMzg9u8AjSPF1hzv2rGQJ9cwiPO0Vxep7piGzV6j5MkZ9kUok1lmX4pKz89LFkzdkZReXHjF9j7UGYlgYzbxAmSH/s640/blogger-image-1841278446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig87jXIidS8vp-xI0LrQRkHfuld3b7Yf0i_qVgzJu5Mt5GtHb0DL4RrMzg9u8AjSPF1hzv2rGQJ9cwiPO0Vxep7piGzV6j5MkZ9kUok1lmX4pKz89LFkzdkZReXHjF9j7UGYlgYzbxAmSH/s400/blogger-image-1841278446.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm so grateful for good friends. Especially when they also happen to be family. The other day I took the kids over to Christy's (Te-Te, James calls her) and we had a lovely time sitting in the sun with tea, biscotti and handwork while the cousins played. It's so nice to have a friend who's a few years further along the motherhood journey than I am. (It's crazy to think that about ten years ago we were sharing thoughts about singleness, college, and such.) Long term friendships are a wonderful gift.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgeMS8F5Bff9ymkTF6_jDlLITGsYCKqWLMtkivrNiH6_4cwzF5GOSE9NvwJIHTh36WVce55ZfKXRiYgrmy0wAnC1408ijG_wxi5-I_rel1-uA9WPvihEvNKY07BIJz80DV1NkvhTS8XP3/s640/blogger-image-963789893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgeMS8F5Bff9ymkTF6_jDlLITGsYCKqWLMtkivrNiH6_4cwzF5GOSE9NvwJIHTh36WVce55ZfKXRiYgrmy0wAnC1408ijG_wxi5-I_rel1-uA9WPvihEvNKY07BIJz80DV1NkvhTS8XP3/s400/blogger-image-963789893.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Well, this one has percolated for a while. It's Sunday again and I should get this up before the new week begins. Have a lovely week, friends! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCYQEeK4k1NUuJ4shR0rGkn9hwdwwZeOOO3YNTcOO8josEuBz3j_sxcX8MVXTYHUG54m8hwN34K8f1HE89nDmWBPCseC-__7u8aVPCmChjY3K8kP66OotV2CDLwu74yfdaCTcll97hkwe/s640/blogger-image--362447940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCYQEeK4k1NUuJ4shR0rGkn9hwdwwZeOOO3YNTcOO8josEuBz3j_sxcX8MVXTYHUG54m8hwN34K8f1HE89nDmWBPCseC-__7u8aVPCmChjY3K8kP66OotV2CDLwu74yfdaCTcll97hkwe/s640/blogger-image--362447940.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGcYwWfqWtGKwFjpFh6RHr-VLTo3KIAjcczpPMZz0SLJsDbR6gMgxE160YJSBhs85NGnCaBu_QL5cNgS5XXW6b4CbB527qLWPD38eho-EI2w4zYn3vOqoM5kPEog2N7u0G8O33EIK3ChE/s640/blogger-image--1151679506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGcYwWfqWtGKwFjpFh6RHr-VLTo3KIAjcczpPMZz0SLJsDbR6gMgxE160YJSBhs85NGnCaBu_QL5cNgS5XXW6b4CbB527qLWPD38eho-EI2w4zYn3vOqoM5kPEog2N7u0G8O33EIK3ChE/s640/blogger-image--1151679506.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Park time with Grandma!</i></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-91094228547328155112016-05-27T15:07:00.001-07:002016-05-27T15:07:38.950-07:00Everyday Life 5.27.16: It's a sleepy day. Business is crazy for Joe right now and he's working a lot of hours, the effects of which filter down to the rest of us and make it feel just a bit extra busy all around. It's good; his job is seasonal so an intense summer is normal. It's just a little crazy while it lasts. (And this summer so far is quite beyond the usual craziness)<br />
<br />
Joe and I did get to go on a date yesterday afternoon. It was lovely to get out. After dinner we walked around the lake in the rain. The combination of rain, clouds and water have wonderful memories for us: roaming the streets of Camden, ME on a rainy fall day. Freezing but loving it on board the schooner Angelique. Our little cottage vacations on Lake Huron. We absolutely love to be near water and are hoping to sail again this summer (Joe has a little sailboat, Alberta, that he built several years ago and some of our favorite friendship-building, pre-dating memories are centered around it). <br />
<br />
<i>(This is a journal entry post. Since I don't have anything big to say, I'm writing for myself, for the future. I want to look back and remember what life is like today. You all are more than welcome to listen in.)</i><br />
<br />
Did you know that Daddy Long Legs (the 1912 book by Jean Webster) has been made into a musical??? The recording is available on Apple Music and I have really enjoyed listening to it. It's small; only two actors and three musicians (piano, guitar, cello). Sounds like they stayed quite true to the story. I'd love to see it if it ever comes to Denver. In the meantime, I've added it to my Musicals playlist, created especially for listening to while cleaning. <br />
<br />
I'm trying to optimize my time to accomplish a bit more this summer. I switched almost all of my cleaning over to Mondays and I think that's going to help; it's easier to just clean for a couple of hours and get it all done than to try to do a task or two every day. Hopefully that will leave an afternoon or two a week for other work. I would love to work through our photos and get either albums or a few photo books made. We have lots of printed photos so I'd like to go through, organize them and see about scrapbooking them or putting them in albums. I've never been the scrapbooking sort (not.at.all.) but it's quite a bit less expensive than doing lots of photo books and we already have a lot of pics printed. I'm thinking some kind of super-minimalist scrapbook? Black or neutral pages, minimal decoration and captioning? Ideas, anyone?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<br />
Emily: we call her Emmy-Bear, or as James said the other night, "Night-night, Ummy-Burr!" She cut her first tooth today! She's almost 11 months. James was 11 months when he cut his first tooth, so I guess our kids are late teethers. I don't mind that at all. :) She hasn't been fussy and for that I am grateful. She also rolled over in bed of her own accord! She's been content to just stay on her back and push around with her feet a bit, so we've been working on rolling. Guess she figured out that it's a viable transportation option. Speaking of Emily, I just can't get enough of this picture. Sarah did a photoshoot of the kids in their wedding outfits the other day and this is probably my all-time favorite photo that we have of Emily. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9f6qQwh_LcgsajC1BsJS6Bzf_3SEtOFnaa7RfzN6I-eSxe6PYG9je7PVtfy5Z-sTsj8p4n5gMnc6ZlH7RKfinYnGvGBzPcEOnsCOi7mxmBpCbjSjgqOaLDOdLN8By7JD6yaHtcAEDOp2/s640/blogger-image-1599978310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9f6qQwh_LcgsajC1BsJS6Bzf_3SEtOFnaa7RfzN6I-eSxe6PYG9je7PVtfy5Z-sTsj8p4n5gMnc6ZlH7RKfinYnGvGBzPcEOnsCOi7mxmBpCbjSjgqOaLDOdLN8By7JD6yaHtcAEDOp2/s400/blogger-image-1599978310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
James. Such a little man. Talking more and more, sometimes in words and sometimes in his personal language (sounds like gibberish with a lot of D's and G's, and he tends to use it when he's "talking on the phone"). He likes everything in its place and is good at knowing where stuff goes: shoes on the dryer. Coat hanging in the laundry room. Today he picked up a shoe off the floor and tossed it into the coat closet. Lately he's been helping me to bring in the groceries when I shop; helpful for me and he loves it. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5ifIh5RqeXOE4tU4MOyfvFtBCSK7mK7q8LWROA_QuMrXUMP6K4NqX3yHMw5Nmvz6GVVnKT-aniHjUYO5kNn2Vb6C-8zV6zrigMLls4LUuA1j2nJSnwIeLguqyeooDxUig5gSpWuAwNXJ/s640/blogger-image-825371528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5ifIh5RqeXOE4tU4MOyfvFtBCSK7mK7q8LWROA_QuMrXUMP6K4NqX3yHMw5Nmvz6GVVnKT-aniHjUYO5kNn2Vb6C-8zV6zrigMLls4LUuA1j2nJSnwIeLguqyeooDxUig5gSpWuAwNXJ/s400/blogger-image-825371528.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I got an ice cream maker for Mother's Day. So fun to experiment with flavors! I have so many that I want to try. So far this <a href="http://leitesculinaria.com/99598/recipes-sweet-cream-ice-cream.html">sweet cream recipe</a> is a favorite. I also made Earl Grey biscotti from <a href="http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/earl-grey-biscotti-recipe/">this recipe</a>. My family loves them; I personally think they're fine but could be improved, possibly by using a different base recipe.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Well, the littles are waking up (Emily is, at any rate; James is a sound sleeper this time of day) so I'd best be off. Later!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-52508158529294822872016-05-20T14:32:00.002-07:002016-05-20T14:32:50.524-07:00Everyday Life 5.20.16Good morning! I'm writing this (starting it at least) in my moments of morning quiet. I've started getting up before the kids do in order to have time for devotions, the occasional workout and just generally getting myself in order before the day. I'm loving it; usually it's worth more to me now than the extra sleep. Quiet is a wonderful thing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxbiGilZIv5jQaWMwj637COU87UlBpo0SHOxC631mSu3JNZvQlo3LaXZdaFklbjNmXLvj3C6G52VOM0_B9jT98Ez1KKLAj5FxFYNluFXTCh9Zzt-sP3MmHlsjGB490gBK-4SW0a3_CYfs/s640/blogger-image-1345621230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxbiGilZIv5jQaWMwj637COU87UlBpo0SHOxC631mSu3JNZvQlo3LaXZdaFklbjNmXLvj3C6G52VOM0_B9jT98Ez1KKLAj5FxFYNluFXTCh9Zzt-sP3MmHlsjGB490gBK-4SW0a3_CYfs/s400/blogger-image-1345621230.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />
I am reading a fascinating book on habits right now: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Before-Mastering-Everyday/dp/0385348614">Better than Before</a> by Gretchen Rubin. I'm loving it and it's inspired me to think through my day, intentionally working on routines and habits. Things like taking vitamins every day. How I plan my housework during the week. Practice or reading vs. social media or Internet. It's kind of like spatial awareness for time: knowing what needs to happen, what I want to happen, what I'm actually doing. It has been so good. I am about two-thirds of the way through the book and I highly recommend it. One of my biggest take-aways so far is that we have only a limited amount of self-control and decision-making power, and that forming a habit of something pre-makes the decision for you, freeing up more mental space for other things.<br />
<br />
One of the most important things that I'm working on now is re-incorporating piano practice into my day. Music is a huge part of who I am, and it puzzles me sometimes that I don't make a higher priority of it. It helps me emotionally, it's good for the kids to hear me play, and I don't want to wake up in 10 years and realize that I haven't kept up one of my most important gifts. I am trying to practice in the mornings (another point from Better than Before: if it's important, schedule it in the morning) after walking and showering. I'm working on technique, as always. I love technique: listening, working, getting full control of my fingers. I haven't learned much in the way of new music since our marriage, but I'm starting the Lecuona Malaguena just for fun (because Spanish! Drama! All The Noise!). Also working up one of the first Brahms pieces I ever learned: Intermezzo in A major. It's amazing to me how much memory is locked away in a piece of music. My piano books are a storehouse of memories. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUJw2wMxfSRLH2FzLOa-3Xr3bzrNhGhZki0lUpxmiGai-TduZIFBoPGTwEYGrt7E28UhbPy4NO6ebDlkPC1v1miDBZ00DGGx2Bga64349H_MI7ZFAciKW-ZJo3c1le3-2xCrXizvD66Zc/s640/blogger-image--1593681879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUJw2wMxfSRLH2FzLOa-3Xr3bzrNhGhZki0lUpxmiGai-TduZIFBoPGTwEYGrt7E28UhbPy4NO6ebDlkPC1v1miDBZ00DGGx2Bga64349H_MI7ZFAciKW-ZJo3c1le3-2xCrXizvD66Zc/s400/blogger-image--1593681879.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>singing like daddy</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
One of the odd parts about being a mom is that there are so many different seasons that follow each other in rapid succession. Early pregnancy <i>(on and off the couch: bare minimum accomplished, unless you count reading)</i>. Later pregnancy <i>(a little more normal but cleaning the bathrooms still feels like a full day's work)</i>. Postpartum <i>(who is the beautiful little person, and who am I anyway?)</i>. Settling back into regular life with another child <i>(how to organize my time? my home? my children?)</i>. And then the kids get older and keep changing too... I'm realizing that I need to live well in my current season, while accepting and even planning for the fact that it will change. I want to streamline the necessary parts of life, leaving us with more time for the truly important and beautiful.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-vnwHhDiUtrvua2FOi4ss0h931-K_QVczHHI87bCCsRqbAR6clYBgjt0veOGo8wv8Wj41Wbqy0isfGdwThZUsv8UwdwZdZHPY56QfJM7CGCEm-wu2b8ncOOESUnTZtHjeW1Djhien2dI/s640/blogger-image-100147733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-vnwHhDiUtrvua2FOi4ss0h931-K_QVczHHI87bCCsRqbAR6clYBgjt0veOGo8wv8Wj41Wbqy0isfGdwThZUsv8UwdwZdZHPY56QfJM7CGCEm-wu2b8ncOOESUnTZtHjeW1Djhien2dI/s400/blogger-image-100147733.jpg" width="300" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>hitchhiking a ride with baby sister</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0RqRfQsEVnZgGtJg9QI_hCZQiqlhRE-tuoqS5002jFtKUxka6yneXLsn080u9LNv63Ts_qZqGA4h6mxDmV2MXBkXAW_Q18U7sTe9AtSD-j1cV7I8NC0ze-JZzrW7dWswmXPZDNVT4DTv/s640/blogger-image-1656791636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0RqRfQsEVnZgGtJg9QI_hCZQiqlhRE-tuoqS5002jFtKUxka6yneXLsn080u9LNv63Ts_qZqGA4h6mxDmV2MXBkXAW_Q18U7sTe9AtSD-j1cV7I8NC0ze-JZzrW7dWswmXPZDNVT4DTv/s400/blogger-image-1656791636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>just too cute</i></div>
<br />
One of our every-day routines right now (weather permitting) is going out for a walk right after breakfast. Our condo gets very little sunlight and I've realized it's important for my well-being as well as for the kids for us to get out regularly. Lately we've been stopping at the park; Emily loves to swing and James loves the slides ("a tum too, Mummy?"). He wants to walk home, which is fun and exploratory and quite snail-paced. How far he actually gets to walk depends up on the current time in relation to Emily's naptime. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYSzh3PGD7hL7DM5Ye_L6zJcI2o9__-fcLBQBpL-XY6BT8GkXZoGhzNTUVObEt87sTzXm1IrMiUN-KYp3-xrPuzxNx40eJFw74rLrTQtb_5F_W7U8az1d7EpoNucHj79pwue4p2M71F1e/s640/blogger-image-258682647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYSzh3PGD7hL7DM5Ye_L6zJcI2o9__-fcLBQBpL-XY6BT8GkXZoGhzNTUVObEt87sTzXm1IrMiUN-KYp3-xrPuzxNx40eJFw74rLrTQtb_5F_W7U8az1d7EpoNucHj79pwue4p2M71F1e/s400/blogger-image-258682647.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Emily is getting cuter and cuter. I love how alive she is. She's started creeping along on her back: planting her little heels and pushing herself backwards towards whatever she's after. It's hilarious. We put her in the little red car at my parents' recently and she was thrilled. She can actually drive herself....backwards. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDW2F9kw2VX2Q9iFVyaz9QqJbG0Vl-8J6OQisBuFFIWf2NmIGfDYjsPl3SzBU1CNYEWLfTN6_pdn5_xgVZ-SAWqqNVflU6mCwPwTpTPno2H9S-r53AnorSF-91cQKlqUil-TB_9Bv0pbN/s640/blogger-image-1972674470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDW2F9kw2VX2Q9iFVyaz9QqJbG0Vl-8J6OQisBuFFIWf2NmIGfDYjsPl3SzBU1CNYEWLfTN6_pdn5_xgVZ-SAWqqNVflU6mCwPwTpTPno2H9S-r53AnorSF-91cQKlqUil-TB_9Bv0pbN/s400/blogger-image-1972674470.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Funny moment from the park today:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Little Boy to me: "You're a teenager!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Me: "Well, actually I'm the mom."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Little Boy: "Well, you LOOK like a teenager!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Do I? I guess sunglasses help....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
All for now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-KQYkfMAS6DYEzLWngF5tqzfvsJ9sb-K5Dyg2XNPZZNY5j2ZNOPsoXToJjsfDaR3tllwxP2MWEWJ2vN7SerGRiTZKnKM01u54c0mrwwLf2kiIhk2HQn4hOgD5X5GFTN7GFm4JDOFnSVq/s640/blogger-image--34039124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-KQYkfMAS6DYEzLWngF5tqzfvsJ9sb-K5Dyg2XNPZZNY5j2ZNOPsoXToJjsfDaR3tllwxP2MWEWJ2vN7SerGRiTZKnKM01u54c0mrwwLf2kiIhk2HQn4hOgD5X5GFTN7GFm4JDOFnSVq/s400/blogger-image--34039124.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-9510281288020325672016-05-14T16:32:00.000-07:002016-05-14T16:32:56.217-07:00Book Reviews | Part One<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello! I’m back with those book reviews. When I listed the best books I’ve read so far this year, it was to my surprise that most of the list was non-fiction (since I read far more fiction). There were also too many to fit all of the reviews into one post, so this will be part one of two. For now, the non-fiction: </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-b0154044-b14a-a008-4405-684691856ec4" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Guard-Preventing-Responding-Child-Church-ebook/dp/B011ASEG14/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463268163&sr=1-2&keywords=on+guard">On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church</a> by Deepak Reju</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b0154044-b198-ea3e-2473-2e2418eba394"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not a particularly light read, though it’s accessible and very important. This book covers the convergence of child abuse and the church thoroughly and honestly. Reju touches on our great responsibility to protect our children, the problem of trusting and laid-back churches and those who would exploit that tendency, habits of predators, and ways to practically protect our children and to care for those who have been hurt. Good balance of grace and hope with awareness of the realities of the world we live in. Every parent, church leader, and children's worker should read this book.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Good-News-About-Marriage-Discouraging-ebook/dp/B00I76BAZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463268129&sr=1-1&keywords=the+good+news+about+marriage">The Good News About Marriage</a> by Shaunti Feldhahn</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="591"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0px; border-left: solid #000000 0px; border-right: solid #000000 0px; border-top: solid #000000 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve all heard the pessimistic modern analysis of marriage, right? 50% of marriages end in divorce, the divorce rate within the church is the same as the divorce rate outside, etc., etc. It’s depressing and it can leave couples feeling that marriage isn’t worth it, or that perhaps they’re just in the doomed half and there’s no hope for a happy marriage for them. When Shaunti Feldhahn tried to find the actual statistics, though, she couldn’t do it...because they don’t exist. This is a fascinating read, with lots of (easily accessible) statistics and explanations of how those numbers came to be accepted and what the research actually indicates. Did you know that the actual divorce rate is closer to 30%? And that most people who are married would still choose their spouse? A quick and encouraging read. Highly recommended.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Women-Secret-Their-Greatness-ebook/dp/B00PWOH1SS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463268083&sr=1-1&keywords=seven+women+and+the+secret+of+their+greatness">Seven Women: And the Secret of their Greatness</a> by Eric Metaxas </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I devoured this book. It had been a long time since I’d read history or biography and I loved this collection of short biographies of influential Christian women (Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hannah More, Corrie Ten Boom, Rosa Parks, Sister Maria, and Mother Theresa), most of whom I knew little about. It’s inspiring to encounter strong, feminine Christian women throughout history and to see their great differences, their similarities, and how they were used of God. These obviously aren’t exhaustive bios but they make a great introduction and starting point for more research. (I’m now partway through a longer biography of Hannah More.)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reliving-Passion-Meditations-Suffering-Resurrection-ebook/dp/B003JMF3H6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463268037&sr=1-1&keywords=reliving+the+passion"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reliving-Passion-Meditations-Suffering-Resurrection-ebook/dp/B003JMF3H6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1463268037&sr=1-1&keywords=reliving+the+passion">Re-living The Passion</a> by Walter Wangerin.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For some time I have been curious about the traditional church year’s season of Lent. It makes so much sense to me to have a time dedicated to pondering Christ’s work and preparing our souls to celebrate Easter, which otherwise tends to fly past without my giving it much notice. This 40-day Lenton devotional goes slowly through the Passion as told by Mark, often narrating from the point of view of one of the characters in the story. I loved it and will certainly be using it again. (If you want a shorter Easter devotional, check out Love to the Uttermost from Desiring God.) </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Debunking-Myths-Forgive---Forget-Bruner/dp/1519215762/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463263483&sr=8-1&keywords=kay+bruner">Debunking the Myths of Forgive and Forget</a> by Kay Bruner</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="591"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0px; border-left: solid #000000 0px; border-right: solid #000000 0px; border-top: solid #000000 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, when I first saw the title I was a little leery. This look at Biblical forgiveness and restoration was excellent, though. I hadn’t realized that the well-known saying “forgive and forget”--and by implication move on as if nothing happened--is actually not a true representation of Biblical forgiveness per Matthew 18. Kay points out that in the case of actual serious sin (her example was her husband’s long-term internet porn addiction), “forgive and forget” doesn’t bring restoration and can easily end up enabling the sinner rather than bringing them to repentance. Gave me some great food for thought and helped my understanding of Biblical forgiveness, reconciliation and confrontation. (Kay Bruner’s autobiography <a href="https://www.amazon.com/As-Soon-Fell-Memoir-ebook/dp/B00MS8IKSG?ie=UTF8&ref_=asap_bc">As Soon As I Fell</a> is also good.) </span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4LzSU1U9tBNoU82gfDHeH9cq6RuhtsXBT5rS48VrRsdzKOWSe1UzDmyeGR7LtArWYAyW1RnLaRhsXwvQsU7LheiC86Ug5TBonbMZRj4wOWQwoQDk6RbxZoN_wGkZihJUHIIcB5pmXmT9/s640/blogger-image-424520264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4LzSU1U9tBNoU82gfDHeH9cq6RuhtsXBT5rS48VrRsdzKOWSe1UzDmyeGR7LtArWYAyW1RnLaRhsXwvQsU7LheiC86Ug5TBonbMZRj4wOWQwoQDk6RbxZoN_wGkZihJUHIIcB5pmXmT9/s400/blogger-image-424520264.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>My currently-reading pile</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-32064877640915503122016-05-07T19:44:00.001-07:002016-05-07T19:44:48.766-07:00Everyday Life 5.7.16<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Well, I had every intention of pulling together a post of book reviews this week but it's going to take more time than I have available; I'm a day late as it is. A few pictures and thoughts instead, perhaps? And I'll be working on those book reviews.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiyoIzfT7tOxXUskqpG5B4dq_9mUFlTkdPUP1erwRXiohq_DPv0RFDgCDNXfuYBslnSwZ7lR43dZfSfGMZ5EHQiHE50N_lXwNCsxiDUwm1ZegL98g7RfzXfnBeJfZWCdN7DKO9HBwB69x/s640/blogger-image-527543505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiyoIzfT7tOxXUskqpG5B4dq_9mUFlTkdPUP1erwRXiohq_DPv0RFDgCDNXfuYBslnSwZ7lR43dZfSfGMZ5EHQiHE50N_lXwNCsxiDUwm1ZegL98g7RfzXfnBeJfZWCdN7DKO9HBwB69x/s1600/blogger-image-527543505.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Grandma was in town for the wedding and just left yesterday. I always enjoy getting to spend time with her; she's one amazing woman. Before she left we got a four-generations picture. It's so amazing to think of the legacy of strong, wonderful women that Emily has (and not just on my side, but on Joe's as well). Equally amazing to think of our maiden names and all that they symbolize: Caroselli. Fielhauer. Morgan. Langemann. There are such memories contained in those names. I am so grateful for the stories and the heritage that I've been given.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfsDzgzVQzXQt-cKVFGtb7PyvJTMT6uZadWsULqwJAS88qdhqCqN4cvhhJso-vAnWqeMIjz97TDk0Rvw5oGc0ro26pYcJpT4ARzk283EgimQls81mUvRMEuNDL_ibMhCI-5NuvC350uMy/s640/blogger-image-1224223968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfsDzgzVQzXQt-cKVFGtb7PyvJTMT6uZadWsULqwJAS88qdhqCqN4cvhhJso-vAnWqeMIjz97TDk0Rvw5oGc0ro26pYcJpT4ARzk283EgimQls81mUvRMEuNDL_ibMhCI-5NuvC350uMy/s640/blogger-image-1224223968.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCdI_kWsJYw4ZPPt5EtYe1wxCak7mu5MNF5M2gUp7rD5E-YE9HEjhtNJyV00CxLQEWLteEcH1RDicC74GI-eGFR21ayItTGXq8M3qEkUkwC5iee3aHGmczF8ZA8QHgrwo9CSQfha-PVZU/s640/blogger-image--1938294119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCdI_kWsJYw4ZPPt5EtYe1wxCak7mu5MNF5M2gUp7rD5E-YE9HEjhtNJyV00CxLQEWLteEcH1RDicC74GI-eGFR21ayItTGXq8M3qEkUkwC5iee3aHGmczF8ZA8QHgrwo9CSQfha-PVZU/s1600/blogger-image--1938294119.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
This boy celebrated his half-birthday on Tuesday: two and a half! He's growing up so much. He sings, talks on the phone, tells me stories, still loves his garages and trucks and fire engines. The slides at the park are a favorite. His latest occupation is to get out all the brooms and either ask me to sweep with him ("mommy broom?") or "vacuum" the floor with them, often using the wrong end. I'm relieved that he is starting to use a lower-pitched tone for his vacuum imitation.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIS7I5q58ZkOKOXct7TO-cu6nK10LLwimrE8PDbMsyyWcvxlIAoMLkr_DF9zVfiXOv4VYHtt9sZvUL-cAaoRYmO1z56YG65srPiNyLmXgg7A8ThF5dC8rpnJ8E-VTCFfeLLMX7DVIeI2c/s640/blogger-image--754866911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIS7I5q58ZkOKOXct7TO-cu6nK10LLwimrE8PDbMsyyWcvxlIAoMLkr_DF9zVfiXOv4VYHtt9sZvUL-cAaoRYmO1z56YG65srPiNyLmXgg7A8ThF5dC8rpnJ8E-VTCFfeLLMX7DVIeI2c/s640/blogger-image--754866911.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSQIa4-fQw3fGGebC5PhqSUxzWtBQZYhTEExCg0ziW3vCBHWXlT9qvfMtaQ4zpVY4RniKjdv-VF81IjoPyANw9q_ZIA6qz_FBEWANPIWnAoYVxRXVPjCNzMcfkmj3x7JJFnvLxE-mZptT/s640/blogger-image-432199869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSQIa4-fQw3fGGebC5PhqSUxzWtBQZYhTEExCg0ziW3vCBHWXlT9qvfMtaQ4zpVY4RniKjdv-VF81IjoPyANw9q_ZIA6qz_FBEWANPIWnAoYVxRXVPjCNzMcfkmj3x7JJFnvLxE-mZptT/s1600/blogger-image-432199869.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We celebrated 10 months of Emily on Monday. What a little character she is. She's still not interested in normal modes of locomotion such as crawling, but she's learning to scoot herself around on her tummy or her seat. And she races all over in the walker. She's going to talk early, I think. She just started dropping things (intentionally) and looking up with brows furrowed: "Uh-uh!" Emily looooves her daddy and just about jumps out of her skin with delight when he gets home from work. Watching them dance together melts my heart. She's been getting a lot more interactive with her dolls, talking to them and playing with them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLarqiEB638QemwISoKpYb6UuFOn8fnVCHyPrTSdHvb41RZJDE5cjVp_Teitdu_uNeuFmkWVUGqauFLjeRpeYQpz-QfHPYqZWMGpM6fSYCVFf95ARR-IFTyh2pkF3srUGYkFtv4aPxYbD/s640/blogger-image--262346233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLarqiEB638QemwISoKpYb6UuFOn8fnVCHyPrTSdHvb41RZJDE5cjVp_Teitdu_uNeuFmkWVUGqauFLjeRpeYQpz-QfHPYqZWMGpM6fSYCVFf95ARR-IFTyh2pkF3srUGYkFtv4aPxYbD/s400/blogger-image--262346233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I've been doing a lot more crocheting lately, preparing gifts for various friends and family. It's nice to put in a movie during naptime and work away. The above is what happens when I'm halfway through one project and decide that I really need to use that yarn for another posthaste: working from both ends of the skein at ones. Slightly awkward but certainly workable. I'll have to post pictures of some of my projects, once the designated recipients have them in hand. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Speaking of movies--I just watched the 2007 Persuasion. I've seen the old one (1995?) a couple of times but hadn't experienced the new yet. I was favorably impressed! Though I think that's because my expectations, set by various reviews I'd read, were quite low. Acting was good; Wentworth and Sir Walter stood out especially. Costuming overall good (though why were Anne's so very different than her family's in quality?), locations lovely. The pacing though...ugh. I felt like the writers, who so far had done well with accuracy, suddenly had to wrap it up posthaste. Cramming the last quarter to third of the book into one last mad run through Bath (in which one meets all the right people at all the right times!) just doesn't quite cut it for me. The iconic drawing room/letter writing scene, which was left out entirely (though the substance thereof was distributed throughout the movie) is much more...subdued, to be sure, but deeply heartfelt and subtly romantic. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnvJFV73nR5fVlUVEK1hWska1aYXlLACZEePFzCOBPn_Pzvb4ooSgLNzW8oi7v0QZKpdM5i9WIpHVRMp1WXTh6Ub3gNtkgWJivMzC6wtn85T9k2LGYef1RzSL8BVVLfDewKmYHwWJhxjG/s640/blogger-image--1573216207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnvJFV73nR5fVlUVEK1hWska1aYXlLACZEePFzCOBPn_Pzvb4ooSgLNzW8oi7v0QZKpdM5i9WIpHVRMp1WXTh6Ub3gNtkgWJivMzC6wtn85T9k2LGYef1RzSL8BVVLfDewKmYHwWJhxjG/s1600/blogger-image--1573216207.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Anna came over yesterday and watched Anne of Green Gables with me while the littles slept. Sister time is always good and it's treasured even more now that we're all growing up and getting jobs and husbands and kids and things like that. We drank tea and ate lots of biscotti...I think there were only two left on this plate by the time we were done. Left to right: chocolate espresso, almond with chocolate drizzle, anise dipped in chocolate. I just went to town with the chocolate while I had some melted. It's great on the almond ones, but the anise are so delicately flavored that the chocolate kind of overpowers them. Maybe not quite everything is better dipped in chocolate. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I'm going to wrap this up. It's been a long though good and productive day. My sweet man is finishing the dishes while I finish here and the kids are already in bed...time to brew some tea and do something relaxing. Cheers!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCnwhSUvZ7GWg2IAB_ZOvVnGSTgYd_dAQC906Sf-G1ghMsiv3UUa1Q1jLeE8BDx57Cto-OkD6dxYK_VFpm3F2zTXa7TIHPnoD-VYOMxq6X-XKy_WrmWHB_TPnVBLBtos1t0gWWpe7mjWa/s640/blogger-image-550224243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCnwhSUvZ7GWg2IAB_ZOvVnGSTgYd_dAQC906Sf-G1ghMsiv3UUa1Q1jLeE8BDx57Cto-OkD6dxYK_VFpm3F2zTXa7TIHPnoD-VYOMxq6X-XKy_WrmWHB_TPnVBLBtos1t0gWWpe7mjWa/s640/blogger-image-550224243.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>Joe and I on a date at the lake this week</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-77826445937808474982016-04-29T19:39:00.001-07:002016-04-29T19:39:28.548-07:00Everyday Life 4.29.16Good thing Will and Rebecca chose last weekend for their wedding! It's snowing again; has been all day. Fortunately it's not cold enough for it to stick very much. <br />
<br />
Speaking of wedding, it was such a special day. Perfect weather and lovely company. I really enjoyed being part of the festivities, from preparation to all the pictures to music to speeches during the reception. There was so much joy and it was a beautiful reminder of the amazing-ness of the gift of marriage. Any major event does tend to leave one with an emotional letdown, but we found that spontaneous renditions of music from Les Miserables are quite helpful in overcoming such feelings. Joe's "Bring Him Home" is stunning. And I love being able to participate from the piano. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<br />
My kids are so much fun, and sometimes I wonder what in the world I'm doing being a mom? I wouldn't trade them for anything in a million years. Emily has grown a lot lately and I've wondered a couple of times "Where's my baby and who is this beautiful little girl? Right now she's talking to her dolly on the floor next to me. I love her spunky personality. She's very adept in her walker and adores it when I don't close the fridge before she can get there. <br />
<br />
James is nearly two and a half and it's so fun to watch him develop. He's falling in love with story books, especially the Little Golden Fire Engine Book. He wants it over and over and over. His imagination is developing and I love it. He'll "eat" things off the page of books, and either Daddy, Mummy, or Bebe are in multiple vehicle in the story. (It doesn't help that at this point he seems to call all men Daddy and all women Mummy--"see da Daddy?"). He pretends to vacuum, complete with (very high-pitched) sound effects. Garages are amazing to him, especially when they go up and down. Garbage trucks are the most wonderful inventions and he can't get enough of watching them "dump". He's still a sweet little cuddle boy, though, asking for a "Hug?" or (most often) "Hug-hug?" or if he's really desperate "hug-hug-hug-hug-hug..." whenever he needs them (often at the dinner table) and wanting me to sit on the floor and snuggle him periodically.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<br />
I've been reading a lot this year. I keep up with my reading lists and post the occasional short review on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1710704-rachel">Goodreads</a>, in case you're interested in following along. I hope to do some bookish posts here when I can get around to compiling some short reviews. I still prefer paper and ink, but I've done a lot more e-reading since having kids. My phone is so handy for a quick read while nursing (or while I'm out), and I like my Nook even more; it's a lot closer to a real book in size and page appearance than the screen of a phone. It's difficult not to be able to flip around while I read but the ease of one-handed reading and carrying several books in a small format help to balance that (part of the time). I've been using <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/home/">BookBub</a> and <a href="http://gospelebooks.net/">Gospel E-books</a> to buy favorites when they're on sale and I now have a sizeable collection in case of necessity. (Yes, books are a necessity.) I just ordered another lot of books from the library. Even if I don't get around to reading all of them, just ordering them makes me happy. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~ </div>
<br />
Almost time for dinner prep. Lentil soup with roasted potatoes and asparagus tonight. I may even make some more biscotti. These <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/nonnas-biscotti-351136">almond biscotti</a> are delicious (if you don't mind almond flavoring), especially when drizzled with dark chocolate, and were a hit with my family. I love these <a href="http://themondaybox.com/2013/01/chocolate-espresso-biscotti/">chocolate espresso biscotti</a> even more; they're intensely dark and amazing. I wouldn't suggest making them with your toddler before naptime, though. Whether it was the caffeine in the cookies or the fact that he'd slept in I don't know, but he didn't nap at. all. that day. <br />
<br />
<br />
Cheerio! A lovely weekend to you, friends.<br />
<br />
Rachel<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYjXE63Awjm7Gzz6h8bn8WD75AB6MfVVbD6hg9r-PzXFqi581I6ZqVEd-E92BT-C4l1cQNGi15xrOk9F7ECq_ADTkVAcIbavJZOj3PewaWBFtNvI47_CoivI5DyPm4SddRkfKtKgNkS01/s640/blogger-image--2140617634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYjXE63Awjm7Gzz6h8bn8WD75AB6MfVVbD6hg9r-PzXFqi581I6ZqVEd-E92BT-C4l1cQNGi15xrOk9F7ECq_ADTkVAcIbavJZOj3PewaWBFtNvI47_CoivI5DyPm4SddRkfKtKgNkS01/s400/blogger-image--2140617634.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i>A favorite photo from the wedding: all of the Morgan siblings and spouses. Photo credit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimbingRosePhotography/">Climbing Rose Photography</a>.</i></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-17431459641135312412016-04-22T14:17:00.000-07:002016-04-22T14:17:43.298-07:00Everyday Life 4.22.16: pre-wedding edition!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
We have a wedding tomorrow! It's not just every day that one's sister marries one's brother-in-law so this is extra special. Rehearsal is later today, leaving me with limited writing time. I'll settle for pictures and a few words (gingerly pecked out between coats of nail polish). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiOZT9Vt8_9R3iViNvigB64epacQGaSlYGuYdON4DLIGIZVY22AnbLa37f-wzlB6LmFl7IoIar7W0_L1TBgP2MoyZnBs7A8bfDL0EZrAS9lWxY_pFBdyGyNZnEwiHDPskvGCpMcRMqO9C/s640/blogger-image-1782461854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiOZT9Vt8_9R3iViNvigB64epacQGaSlYGuYdON4DLIGIZVY22AnbLa37f-wzlB6LmFl7IoIar7W0_L1TBgP2MoyZnBs7A8bfDL0EZrAS9lWxY_pFBdyGyNZnEwiHDPskvGCpMcRMqO9C/s400/blogger-image-1782461854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Joe's family is all in town together for the first time in 2 years. Look at that awesome bunch! I am so blessed in my in-laws. (Always good to marry the brother of some of your closest friends.) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios6vnwMbCnCABh-WE81ocg_1KTAKmFPbkAMSEfV3XC-D7w4fmRj70cLaeWY4_VFLKOUSzrFK4zjclpUvCzkxp-lfHgM7UP1-dQYojqKvX-wIaDDU4jFd2ICOanB_wvabAfwMmo-zvd6sG/s640/blogger-image-740922839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios6vnwMbCnCABh-WE81ocg_1KTAKmFPbkAMSEfV3XC-D7w4fmRj70cLaeWY4_VFLKOUSzrFK4zjclpUvCzkxp-lfHgM7UP1-dQYojqKvX-wIaDDU4jFd2ICOanB_wvabAfwMmo-zvd6sG/s400/blogger-image-740922839.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
...because her cuteness surpasses the universe. Check out those bath curls. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMksmmcAMUv2V_rsi-0UzcHS_QXXaTiI9mfRVa8l6wAqU8XI48WYM-08avT2B8EVV8S4Dd9_uN6if6dD7ygET_lTSZjUkV2AYLitfwpP4os4QnqdHCQ2z9Wx2U3ybUgfFAbJ5613FyVjF/s640/blogger-image--1450228200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMksmmcAMUv2V_rsi-0UzcHS_QXXaTiI9mfRVa8l6wAqU8XI48WYM-08avT2B8EVV8S4Dd9_uN6if6dD7ygET_lTSZjUkV2AYLitfwpP4os4QnqdHCQ2z9Wx2U3ybUgfFAbJ5613FyVjF/s400/blogger-image--1450228200.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Trying out wedding finery. Not to be outdone on the cuteness scale.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtmqVDu5zdH7hI-NM8PznN8icYitZ0Nys2VMZytlB4vzwKvvTIiBDPjYBbfzF6xNkjme2PvhSwjL1da5Ni3LGDjeIE9H8yX4GgEc24irCryTLAr4igkpIGW3zkDdcseehIezkZ1axNThw/s640/blogger-image-1040515673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtmqVDu5zdH7hI-NM8PznN8icYitZ0Nys2VMZytlB4vzwKvvTIiBDPjYBbfzF6xNkjme2PvhSwjL1da5Ni3LGDjeIE9H8yX4GgEc24irCryTLAr4igkpIGW3zkDdcseehIezkZ1axNThw/s400/blogger-image-1040515673.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sisters outing! Nails, coffee and laughs. Love these girls.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwxdajVisiSU2m4cbeokeGPaJqRFsHc7k7QTrN-keX4-j6l2xEMDN2FZ1L_xzO3TPDiEo3PukSTMnHAzfX1rRwed3qvsC-6pRTSd0GMfjWVHLNh8UQ8PqK9i2FBA5GrVUy4mUqa5WiM4/s640/blogger-image--346744353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHwxdajVisiSU2m4cbeokeGPaJqRFsHc7k7QTrN-keX4-j6l2xEMDN2FZ1L_xzO3TPDiEo3PukSTMnHAzfX1rRwed3qvsC-6pRTSd0GMfjWVHLNh8UQ8PqK9i2FBA5GrVUy4mUqa5WiM4/s400/blogger-image--346744353.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCwBMSMgQRve8LwmWJVd-QqMWohGjJv97EnJvsgohmcjSD2aXrCKIFcL9teCSpUJEqUC015B052Z7pUjdij3DcV9OyG6TkoXXF8gr-66FttgAecCa2p8R9ft0KD4N8i-UUfXhlQzylwrZ/s640/blogger-image-735544555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCwBMSMgQRve8LwmWJVd-QqMWohGjJv97EnJvsgohmcjSD2aXrCKIFcL9teCSpUJEqUC015B052Z7pUjdij3DcV9OyG6TkoXXF8gr-66FttgAecCa2p8R9ft0KD4N8i-UUfXhlQzylwrZ/s400/blogger-image-735544555.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
So glad that it's light enough for walks after dinner! The blossoms survived the snow, and James decided that the stairs and slide at the playground are great fun. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAhLQiSR1S5lCWnOdz3Dtx7ZZ1Xuyr1bTa2xWL9UDRHWY0O_ctbo_WW66AXs35UWt1DpTxTImDkNg8idTfRXVV37VqVYzz2Dvm_NMVQn86_bB-sU7YPqV14dvPVOtt0ukeAZ17BTq9RoR/s640/blogger-image-1219900303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAhLQiSR1S5lCWnOdz3Dtx7ZZ1Xuyr1bTa2xWL9UDRHWY0O_ctbo_WW66AXs35UWt1DpTxTImDkNg8idTfRXVV37VqVYzz2Dvm_NMVQn86_bB-sU7YPqV14dvPVOtt0ukeAZ17BTq9RoR/s400/blogger-image-1219900303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Last Friday I slipped away from home group and ran to Mum L's for a quick rehearsal of wedding music. I transcribed/arranged the piece Rebecca chose for piano, flute, viola and cello. I had forgotten how magical it can be to hear something you've written come alive, come off the page into a beautiful living piece of music. It was so rewarding. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
And that's it for today, friends! Forgive the lack of centeredness; I'm not going to take the time to format this today. Too much happening. Enjoy your weekend!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Rachel</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698400756596777462.post-40303500362694077622016-04-15T16:22:00.003-07:002016-04-15T20:14:33.576-07:00Everyday Life 4.15.16Today is quiet. Both kids are sleeping. I just worked over wedding music on the piano and finalized some notation stuff and now I'm drinking coffee to combat the late-afternoon tiredness. It's quiet outside too. Still and grey. The grass is green, trees are starting to leaf out, blossoms are beautiful in defiance of a whopping storm we had a few weeks ago. Another whopping storm is on track for this weekend, starting with rain later today and turning to snow tonight. I'm grateful that the wedding is next weekend, not this weekend.<br>
<br>
Yesterday I was getting out carrots for muffins. James grabbed a large one and I let him keep it. Want to encourage healthy habits, no? He took a bite right off the end and then started hobbling around, using it as a walking stick. (Yes, it was a large carrot, but he still had to bend over substantially to get it to touch the floor.) A few minutes later, he was in the living room talking on his new carrot-phone. Later in the afternoon he came to me in distress: "Carrot? Gone?" Since his mouth was full of carrot I thought that perhaps he'd actually eaten the whole thing. But no, there was Carrot out on the porch, just out of reach. It became the new activity: hide/throw/otherwise stow Carrot in a hard to reach location, and come to Mummy or Daddy in distress for help in retrieving it. So works the brain of a small boy. (I wish I had pictures, but I wasn't fast enough and he wouldn't re-do it for the camera...)<br><br>
<br>
Tonight we have small group. Since we've been attending a much larger church than anything I've ever been part of before I have seen the importance of home groups/small groups/whatever you call them. It's been slightly out of my comfort zone to meet with and get to know these people, but it has been so good. It has blessed us so much to develop relationships and study Galatians with other younger couples with small children (lots of small children). It's our turn to bring dessert and I made a chocolate chip cake.<br>
<br>
Emily is awake and needs to eat before we go. Sometimes I feel like the things that fill my days are so small and un-earth-shattering. But it's my life right now, and it's so good. I'm going to try to celebrate and write beauty into the tiny things, instead of apologizing for the lack of deep and amazing substance in my posts. Cheers!<br>
<br>
Rachel<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFgZLSxfDxoF2fCkGhI7MRPvTR83BOqPasmtn_zZJgABC6laxBYRHEOAbQUm4oP7X_8IxmmdCwrx-VriMz6KNk-tRiZXbgLgne3_xOkpdyNDNr9g1jNjB78oKPSeplGMBO-ezOK_DxKdD/s640/blogger-image--991140442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFgZLSxfDxoF2fCkGhI7MRPvTR83BOqPasmtn_zZJgABC6laxBYRHEOAbQUm4oP7X_8IxmmdCwrx-VriMz6KNk-tRiZXbgLgne3_xOkpdyNDNr9g1jNjB78oKPSeplGMBO-ezOK_DxKdD/s640/blogger-image--991140442.jpg"></font></a></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01109820726869483004noreply@blogger.com1