Lovin the Lake

Growing up, my sisters and I spent our summers with my grandparents in their cottage on a lake. We swam, took boat rides, and went tubing, skiing, and 'surf-boarding' on a daily basis. So the exhileration of a speed boat ride and the refreshment of a swim in cool lake water are my idea of a perfect summer day. So I was very excited to share one of my favorite childhood experiences with my kids. They both loved it. Elise even went tubing behind the boat with Jeffrey and me. Unfortunately we forgot our camera at the dock, so we had to settle for a recreated still shot of us on the tube. Elise hates getting water in her eyes. So, for the duration of the ride she clamped her eyes shut and kept her face pointed down just an inch above the tube. Although she looked like a poor little blind girl, I guessed from her giggles that she had fun.

Both Zion and Elise went swimming with us later. Zion doesn't seem to mind water in his face at all, so he took to the lake like a little fish. I only wish that my sisters could have been with me for some fun in the lake.

This video has nothing to do with our trip to the lake, but Zion insisted that I allow him to play peek-a-boo with you.

"and then I was born"

As I prepared supper in the kitchen, I heard Elise creating one of her narrations. I wasn't paying much attention, and so I mostly heard, "and then I ***, and then I ***, and then ***", etc." I sure wish I had been listening to the rest of the narrative when I heard the final events, "and then I closed my eyes, and then I was born!"

Flower Girl Training

This morning Elise practiced her role as flower girl in the upcoming wedding of Aunt Lori. We set the stage to model the real event, with a few notable alterations. The decor was plastic IKEA chairs; the attendees were Herman the hedgehog, Teddy Bear, and other stuffed friends; the flower basket was a soccer ball basket, and the flower petals were Cheerios.
After a few successful practice rounds, Elise summarized the role of a flower girl: "Lots of people sit and watch Elise. I walk and throw Cheerios, 'cause they're not flowers. Then I stand. Then someone holds my hand and says, 'Go home.'"

In other events, last Sunday we took the kids to the YMCA. Here are a few pictures from our fun swim.

All About Z

In honor of Zion's fast approaching first birthday, this post is dedicated to my little man.

My little baby is growing up. I have absolutely loved every bit of Zion's babyhood. Before he was born, I was gearing up for the incredible work of caring for a newborn. I was reluctant to give up the freedom that I had rediscovered as Elise grew from a baby to a more independent toddler. But God had a delightful surprise in store for me. I was privileged to experience one of the best things in life - to be holding a perfectly sweet, snuggling baby while playing with my fun, imaginative toddler. Zion convinced me that instead of my hands being full taking care of a baby, my arms had been oh so empty without one.

Having enjoyed Zion's babyhood so much, I wondered how I would feel about him growing out of it. I'm really okay with it. I love that he likes to copy me and Elise. I love that he crawls away with a grin when I chase him. I love that he can play catch. I love my little toddler in the making.

Nicknames: Little Z, Buddy Boy, Zy-Zy, Zy-Guy, Bubba Z, Little Little, Little Dude

Favorite activities: bath time, unrolling toilet paper rolls, exploring cupboards, getting tossed in the air

Favorite foods: fruit, curried tofu, and PBJ sandwiches. Their is no food that Zion won't eat.

Accomplishments: walking with help, saying 'Momma' and 'Dadda', crawling up full flights of stairs, clapping, waving, throwing a ball

What makes him so special: his easy smile, his laugh, his love of water, his big kissable cheeks, and his ability to make all the work associated with a baby seem like such a small price to pay for getting to hold this sweet, chubby, grinning baby in my arms.

Summertime Fun

Since my last post, we had a picnic in the park, splashed in sprinklers at the sprayground with our church playgroup, and had a disappointing visit to an international puppet festival.

Zion flying high with friend Victoria Grace.

Elise enjoying the new rock feature at Crockett Park.

"Sprayground" - Elise loved the fountains and didn't even seem to mind getting her face wet.

These are the only puppets we saw at the "International Puppet Festival". We arrived in time for a show listed on the program as, "Milk Weeds". This turned out to be a folk band. No other shows were scheduled for the next few hours, so Elise made a show just for us.

Fathers' Day

This Sunday we celebrated Fathers' Day with a day full of Jeffrey's favorites.
1. Sleeping in
2. Hiking: We loaded the kids in our backpacks and hiked Radner Lake
3. Eating: Lunch consisting of Jeffrey's favorite meal - homemade curry and rice and homemade strawberry pie for dessert
4. Fun with the kiddos: pool time in our front yard
5. TV: That night we watched basketball and Star Trek with his favorite companion - me.

Lots of splashing and closed-eyed squeals of delight.

Proud Daddy.

Zion on the Go

Zion keeps me on the run. Here are just a few pictures of his adventures.

Zion is cruising furniture and zooming using his walker. We are taking bets on when he will start walking on his own.

Zion loves to explore my cupboards, including climbing inside.

Zion's favorite playroom is our bathroom. Elise never played with our toilet paper - I think this is one of many new experiences that our little boy will bring to our family.

Zion sound asleep after a tiring hike - tiring for me that is. I wish that I could find a place to nap so easily.

Camouflage meets Princess

Elise is a girly sort of girl. Her favorite color is pink, and she loves tea parties and playing dress-up. But my friends have little boys. And so the following is what you get when you mix the two.

Elise trying on Owen and Noah's camouflage Crocs.

Owen trying on Elise's princess high heels.

Noah trying on Elise's fairy dress.

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed. Notice that it is Noah in the dress, not Elise.

Plans for You

Here is a picture of Elise with her best pals, Owen and Noah during a pool party April, 2007. The boys's mommies, Tiffany and Kelli are two of my best friends here in Nashville. And now for the reason for my sadness today: Kelli and Noah are moving to Florida this week. My heart hurts, badly. And so today I sat on the couch feeling oh so sorry for myself. Not only will I miss Kelli, but I'm also sad because we will also be moving in one year when Jeffrey finishes his residency, and then moving again a year later after he finishes his fellowship. Our plans include continuing building up then leaving friendships. And today, this current loss and plans for more loss got me wondering about the wisdom of this path we are on. I was trying to find some way to alter things so I wouldn't have to feel this pain of loss and change again. I tried to cover my sorrows with TV and a bowl full of ice cream. But finally my show ended and I had to turn the noise off and just hurt. Then I heard a call from God to listen to Him. So, half expecting to leaf through my Bible aimlessly, I picked up His word. My Bible fell open to Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." My answer to my question of how to plan my life to avoid this pain - I can't. I don't even know what, or who I will be able to cling to and who I will have to let go. But God has plans for me - plans that are good.

So, I just wanted send out this blog in gratitude to Kelli and the friendship she has given me. And to the Lord who comforts me and who is has good plans for us both. Farewell my friend.

Elise's Story

As we watched the setting sun through the car window, Elise told me this story: "The sun is going night-night. He is putting on his pajamas and a diaper. The sun goes night-night. Oh, he made poopie. We put clean pants on the sun." She then exclaimed, "I told a story! I said, 'The sun is going night-night ...'"

and so it begins

This is my first blog. So, I'm not sure how to start. Will this be silly, serious, or sappy? I don't yet know. So I will just start with introducing my family, and let time tell where this blog leads.

My husband, Jeffrey. My 2.5 year old daughter, Elise. My 11 month old son, Zion.

Zion sharing a swing with future best friend Benson.