A Few Pics

I love Nashville in the wintertime. This month we've worn heavy coats some days, and tank tops on others. We had a whole week of temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s. Fantastic.

Elise and Zion are playing together more and more. Elise made this bed for them, then Zion climbed on in so they could sleep in the backyard hammock.


This picture is from our hike at Radnor Lake. Jeffrey has deemed Elise too heavy for the backpack carrier. As a result, Jeffrey now carries Zion, Elise hikes like a big girl, and I don't have to carry anyone. Hurray! Our hike was more of a stroll at preschooler speed. But Elise and I had fun searching for moss and imagining what kind of animals lived in the tree holes.



This is another of Elise's creations. It is a bunk bed set up for Lambie and Zion. I love that Zion plays along with her ideas. It reminds me of all the fun that I, the younger sibling, had due to my older sister's imagination and my willingness.

Elise's Joke

Elise: "Mommy, why is piece-of-bread called peice-a?

Me: "I don't know."

Elise: "Is it 'cause it's name is pizza?"

30

I turned 30 last week. It was a truly wonderful day. My mom, dad, and both of my sisters flew in for the weekend before my birthday. I am happy to share my birthday week with the Superbowl, and so we had extra reason to celebrate together.

All too soon I had to say good bye to my family, but my mom stayed through the week. It was such a treat having her around to help watch the kids. I got to grocery shop all by myself, and other such luxuries =) I had been feeling pretty burned out, so it was a much needed week of rest.

My birthday celebration began the night before my birthday when my Mom offered to let me sleep in as late as I wanted. The celebration on my birthday began at 7:45 when Elise and Zion burst into my room. Oh well. So much for sleep. But Elise's enthusiasm for my big day made up for the early awakening. As she opened my door, she exclaimed, "It's your birthday Mommy! You have a present and card I made with Daddy. It is on the table. You can open it after breakfast. The sun is awake and it is a new day!"

Breakfast smells coaxed me out of bed. Then my kids began my birthday show. If you stop by my house, you will likely happen upon one of Elise's "shows". There is the, "climbing up the slide and dropping the car down show," or the "wearing slippers show", or the ever popular "train show". Today I had my very own birthday show. Here is just a short clip.




Somehow the pain of crossing into my 30s was eased as I ate breakfast made for me by my mom and watched my kids celebrate me. Maybe being 30 isn't so bad. I have kids of my own, and yet I'm still loved and mentored by my parents, and grandparents too.

Next up on the birthday schedule was an afternoon all to myself. My mom watched the kids and I got some good books from the library, ate lunch, then went shopping. The day ended with a romantic evening out with my husband.

It was a great birthday.