On August 28th, Daddy Jim and I shared our wedding vows with one another with our church community present. You, Madeline & Daniel were standing right next to us. Oma & Opa came from Minnesota, Amy & Lizzy came from Seattle, and Grandma Judy and Judi J came from Ohio. We were surrounded by many people who love us all so very much! Toni, who works with Daddy Jim, made many yummy cupcakes.

The whole day was as beautiful as it was because of Kate. She was my dear friend through all of the arrangements and through the whole weekend. She empathized with me when others had no idea. She was joyful and peaceful and beautiful and selfless. We are so blessed to have her as a honorary member of our family. We joke that the wedding was actually Kate’s and mine. 🙂

Here are some pictures to remember the day:

We’re at the beach. We’re typing now. (chuckle). There is a very cool plant in front of us. – (Maya trying to narrate this post)

Hey Baby Girl –
I have had the most amazing week with you!! You have become an incredible swimmer – in the pool and in the ocean! And, even more importantly, you have developed such a beautiful, joyful spirit – even when things are a little less than perfect (like when you are ze-zausted, or when plans change in ways you wouldn’t have chosen, or when everyone else seems kind of grumpy). You are such a JOY to do life with… I cannot even begin to tell you!

Here are some pictures that will give you a picture of the joy-FILLED small person I have the privilege of hanging out with!! 😉 I’m such a blessed Mama!

CHECK OUT THAT WAVE!

And THEN we got “Pumbled”

Recovering… Whew!!

Eating Crepes

Hey Bugadaboo –
(I wrote this to you 2 nights ago – just posting it now from home.)

Tonight is the last night of Family Camp at Ironwood Springs Lodge, and, despite the crazy heat, we have had a great time!!! You have developed a new best friend in another blond 6-year named Ava – Ava is my cousin Jessica’s oldest daughter. You two have been practically inseparable – coloring and painting together, swimming together, sleeping together in the same twin bed each night… story times, s’mores, showers, and pillow fights. When you weren’t with Ava, you were taking care and playing with little Sojourner (my other cousin’s little 2-year old) or Niklas, your cousin.

It was such a joy to be with you this week – you have such a developed sense of wit, you play independently as well as with me – snuggling and giggling with me throughout the day. You have been a fantastic listener and cooperator. You swam so much I could practically see you getting better hour-to-hour. You swam in and out of the deep end, hardly noticing where you couldn’t touch. You swam a ton under water! You Uncle Mark, Daddy Jim, Dan (my cousin Ranae’s husband) and Auntie Jessica threw and flipped you in the air over and over and over and over again, and you just camp back for more.

You were so excited to see and spend time with Oma and Opa – wanting to sit with them at dinner, play with them and do crafts with them. You swam over to them to talk with them. I know they felt so special because of all of the kindness and enthusiastic love you showed them!

We head home tomorrow – and though, it will be sad, it will also be nice to be home. We will definitely have to make this trip and gathering a priority every year. We are so very, very blessed to have such an amazing family! They are a special crew of people who all care so much about each other and bringing God’s love and kindness to everyone they meet. I feel so grateful that we are part of this big, wonderful family!!

Here are a few fun pictures from the trip!

Uncle Wally showing his new book to Cousin Jessica

Oma is the first to hold your Mama’s book! The publisher over-nighted it to the ranch

Hi Peanut –

I have written many times about our wonderful stops at our dear friend Jo Ann’s house on the way to or from school to pick flowers. Her yard is a mystical wonderland of the widest array of flowers you or I have ever seen. And she is the most selfless person in the world with sharing the blossoms as they emerge. This year alone, I think she has helped you choose, pick and assemble more than 7 bouquets – gifts for teachers, centerpieces for the classroom, and bunches for you to bring home. You are absolutely giddy about spending time there. In addition to the flowers, Jo Ann is our friend and adviser. When we were struggling with strategies for how to lovingly deal with a friend at school who was getting under your skin a bit, she sat down with us for quite some time to help us brainstorm… and days later, she asked us how things were going. As we left her house each time, she would say – give me your forehead, and she would give you a sweet kiss and tell you she loved you.

One day when we arrived, Jo Ann had a task for us. She had done some research about how to press flowers, and found some conflicting results. Some people said that pressing flowers in wax paper was best. Others advocated for the use of card stock.

So, Jo Ann gave you the challenge to conduct a scientific experiment and figure it out.

We picked 2 of many different kinds of flowers (more than 12), and pressed one of each kind in wax paper and one in card stock. All of our samples were stored safely in a large book she had ready for us. When we came back the next week, she had the book ready to give to you along with…

your very own science journal

complete with the protocol for our experiment all written out!!

Today, we completed our study – here are photo representations of our data and your analysis. Wax paper won, 7 to 5 – a pretty close result – perhaps we will have to collect more samples to increase the trustworthiness of these conclusions. 🙂

We had such a ball!

Sample 1: Cardstock “came off easier”

Sample 2: Wax – “came off easier”

Sample 3: Wax – “has more color”

Sample 4 – cardstock – “bigger”

Sample 5 – wax – “flower was more transparent”

Sample 6 – cardstock – “stayed together”

Sample 7 – “stem shorter”

Sample 8 -wax – “not sloppy”

Sample 9 – cardstock – “smaller”

Sample 10 – wax – “Stayed together”

Sample 11 – cardstock- “Smooth”

Sample 12 – wax – “More color”

Hey Sweet Pea –

Tonight was your observation night for gymnastics. You wanted me to invite Judi & Jim – so I did, and they enthusiastically came! Daddy Jim, Daddy, Judi, Jim and I were your cheering squad on a set of bleachers. We cheered as you did somersaults and handstands, the bars, the long trampoline, and the vault! You seemed very happy that we were there to watch you!

Guess what happened at the end!! You got a medal for all of your hard work this semester!!!

Then we went to dinner to celebrate! And YOU got to ride in the convertible!!

What a wonderful time!!

After dinner, Jim and Judi drove to our house so you could show them the new playset and the chairs you and your friends painted Monday when Cooperative Play was at our house. You fell asleep rather quickly (no surprise) on my belly after a quick chapter of Magic Treehouse Book #3.

Love you Peanut! Happy Dreams….

A few weeks back (May 12), you had your school music night and Madeline had her opening night for “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.” Here are some pictures from the night:

On our way to gymnastics, you said,

“Mama, ya know, my armpits get sweaty sometimes when it’s not warm yet.

“At gymnastics?

“Yeah

“Well, you’re working hard at gymnastics…”

“No Mama, it’s before we get started.” And then you went on to explain how you used to be nervous about whether or not you would be able to do gymnastics… and that “beginning part” would make your armpits wet. Pretty sweet.

********

Today at Billy Elliott (a Broadway play we saw in Toronto that had way too much swearing) – a character swore and I whispered in your ear, “You know we never say that, right?”

“I know, Mama.”

The next line was something about hating someone or something, and I repeated, “We don’t say that either.”

“I know, Mama.”

The next line involved another, worse swear word. Without skipping a beat, you said, “And we don’t say that either… I know, Mama.” I laughed.

hey Beautiful Girl –

About 4 weeks ago, you started back at gymnastics… and it really seems like you’re loving it. You go FULL FORCE for 1.5 hours every Wednesday night from 5:30-7pm. You don’t want to leave when its done. You’re still learning some of the basics, but one of these days, you will just TAKE OFF!! You are soooo strong and coordinated. You are so graceful with your hands and your feet when you dance. In no time, you are going to be doing back flips down the mat!!

And LOOK HOW LONG YOU ARE!!! It’s crazy how much you’ve grown in just the last month!! Wow!! Don’t blink for sure! You are already wearing a size 13 shoe!! Nuts.

Enjoy the pictures!! I sure do! (Though I got yelled at for trying to take them… :} ) Love you Beautiful, Stong Girl!

Whew! And I’m tired just uploading all of these!! 😉

Love you Bugadaboo!

I could not love you more…