off to first grade

Well, it's here.  Today we sent our first kiddo off to school all day. 

How thankful I am for a half day Kindergarten last year that eased us in to this all day long gig.

She's been excited but nervous.  Lots of questions, and needing to talk through things over and over.  Very unlike her.  She was worried about lunch, and getting tired, and who'd she play with at recess.

What comfort in knowing that the Lord goes before her, and is by her side when we cannot be.

 

We kicked off last night with our 2nd annual back to school dinner celebration.

 

 We love this idea I found online last year, and I think it's one that will stick and be a tradition for as long as the kids enjoy it.  It is so fun making them feel so special on this night and taking delight in their promotion to a new grade.  She got to pick what I made for dinner, and we picked up an ice cream cake as a treat. 

 

 

She woke before her alarm, at 6am.  Partly thanks to the little baby next door who decided to bang on his door and think he wanted to be up for the day.  Luckily I got him back to sleep while Taylor and I got ourselves ready for the day.

 

I drove her out this first day, she'll ride the bus tomorrow. 

As we walked in, I snapped a few pictures with my phone.  I had no clue what I was really getting in my shot, trying to be discreet about it, I just snapped twice and didn't look at them till I got home.

It's moments like this captured forever that are the most precious gifts.

 

Her first real desk.

And then just like that, it was time to wave goodbye and walk out. It was a different feeling than Kindergarten, not as emotional, but yet still hard.  Maybe that's just how every year is...letting go a little bit more each time.

 

 

 

The boys and I picked her up and she was all smiles.  She loved the crispy chicken salad for lunch, she decided she did want milk for snack (after she told me she only wanted one milk at lunch, and then she'd do water at snack), she saw her Kindergarten teacher a whole three times, she learned to jump rope for a loooong time by just doing little jumps, not big ones, and she can't wait till her job is the "messenger" who gets to take messages to other teachers.

 

Bring on tomorrow.

 

For a look back, you can check out her Preschool and Kindergarten favorites.
I got the back to school printable signs here.



Sydney's Celebration Cruise

So how about now that we've been home for almost a month, I finally show you some cruise pictures?? 

In case you don't know the story behind our cruise (and really, in case you're wondering why on earth we took our kids to Disney World and then 2 weeks later flew back to Florida to go on a cruise), let me explain.

In September of 2010 our 7 year old (at the time) was diagnosed with Leukemia after her music teacher called home to express his concern with how tired and not herself she was seeming.  A routine doctor's appointment ended with the reality of cancer. It was a hard 2 years of chemo, losing her hair twice and more pins and needles and blood transfusions and feeling yucky that any 2nd and 3rd grader should ever have to experience.  Her parents said when it was all over we would all take a celebration trip together.  (It just so happened that Premier announced their trip for 2 weeks before our July 4th week cruise).  We prayed and prayed about whether we could do both trips.  Whether we SHOULD do both trips.  But in the end, the Lord provided and made it clear to us that these "once in a lifetime" trips with our kiddos were a GO!  It is just so amazing to know that not only does God take care of all the necessities in our lives, but so many times he takes care of even the little pleasures in life that he knows we desire. 

We left Gavin behind again.  And I was way more nervous this time, knowing that we were out of the country and not so easily accessed by phone.  But he did awesome again at home with his Mema.  He was spoiled and loved on and didn't even notice we were gone for 8 days.

We traveled with Dave's aunt & uncle, whom the kids adore.  It was nice for the kids to have someone besides mommy and daddy to sit by on the plane!  And we loved their company.

 

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale a day early and headed to the beach. 

 

This little guy has come a long ways since the beach in Destin.  He loved the waves, loved the ocean, and the yucky salt water didn't slow him down one bit.

 

 

Our entire group of 29 boarded the ship wearing orange, the color of Leukemia awareness.  22 of us were family of Syd, and 7 were friends.  This picture of all almost all the cousins together is precious.  Being with cousins is always the best of times.  But coming together like this, to celebrate the life of one of them, makes it all that much more special. It's a strong reminder of God's great goodness, mercy and healing.

 

 

We shuttled to the port in Miami, and the kids were throwing out guesses as to how big the boat was going to be.  Most of them really had NO clue and were in for a way bigger surprise than they were thinking.

 

Sitting through a safety meeting was pretty torturous on little kiddos who just boarded the ship an hour before and wanted to explore!  And who were already exhausted.

 

We found a very WINDY spot in the front of the boat to watch our departure.

 

We bought our unlimited pop cups, checked out our cozy little room and headed to the party!

 

Sydney's parents rented a lounge on the boat for a private party.  Dancing, drinks, ice cream sundae bar, chocolate covered strawberries and gifts!  Definitely an awesome way to kick off the cruise.

 

 

We have one child who could dance all night long and another who wouldn't be caught dead on the dance floor, even to dance with his mommy.  And yes, that is MY husband with the lawnmower moves.

 

 

But the party didn't come without tears.

 

Sydney read a letter and gave us all a copy of a book that she wrote and had printed as she journaled her way through cancer.  And then Stacy and Jason had a time of thanking everyone who walked beside them the last 2 year, and ended with a video looking back at pictures of Sydney's journey.

 

It was such a precious time celebrating our sweet niece and coming together as a family to look back with gratitude, at the storm that the Lord brought Sydney and her family through.

 

We are so so thankful for a healthy, strong, and beautiful 9 year old niece! 

a summer reflection

Ahhhhh, this picture just says peace.  It was taken in May.  And I feel like it's been that long since we've had a peaceful moment like this.

 

 

Taylor was so excited to bring her bible home for the summer and was determined to make it through the Gospels like her principal challenged them to do.  I'll just be completely honest with you...there hasn't been much Gospel reading this summer. 

 

 

 But it was nice to go back and look at these pictures.  I remember going out to snap pictures of her, and the boys playing. They were all doing their own thing.  Everyone was content. It was a near perfect scene.  Summer had just begun and we were so ready for a nice relaxing schedule. We were ready to sleep in and play and stay up late and be outside all day. 

 

 

And then Summer happened.

 

But if I stare at these pictures long enough the peace and unity and happy and content hearts will all come back right?

 

I remember when a certain baby was happy to run and play outside with his big brother and sister, and everyone got along so good.

 

I remember when I could sit and eat breakfast and load the dishwasher and put a load of laundry in, and everyone did okay while I was occupied.

 

 

May was only 2 months ago, but it seems like forever ago when I think about how different things are around here.  Isn't it funny how with little ones (probably big ones too), you can move from stage to stage so quickly.  Just when things are going good and you feel like you are moving in the right direction, life throws me into a 180 degree turn and we head in the opposite direction.

 

Man, I sound like we've had an awful summer.  HELLO!??!  Disney World, a Caribbean Cruise - not awful one bit!  AMAZINGLY AWESOME!

What I am saying is that where we stand today, is a totally different place we were at 2 months ago. And while I wouldn't give up ANY of the memories we made this summer, I do wish it was much easier than it is to bounce back to normal routines and behaviors.

 

There's no way it could be contributed to the fact that we came home from one vacation and left 2 weeks later for another, right?

Or the fact that Gavin was away from his family for half of the month, and then 5 more days on top of that, away from Mommy.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that we are all exhausted and recovering.  Or maybe that's just me.

 

The baby I had back in May didn't climb out of his crib and bang on his bedroom door as hard as he can while screaming at the top of his lungs for me.

The big kids I had back in May started their summer off so well with chores every morning, daily reading and bible time.

The mommy back in May was THRILLED to have her kids home for the summer.

 

The baby I had back in May didn't yell at me all day long and insist I hold him, carry him, hold his hand, and not leave the room to eat, go to the bathroom or retrieve anything.

The big kids I had back in May weren't bored yet.

The mommy back in May didn't lose her patience and yell so much.

 

The baby I had back in May didn't wake up at 6:30am and was still taking naps twice a day.

The big kids I had back in May weren't so mouthy and argumentative, and obeyed much quicker.

The mommy back in May wasn't dreaming of an entire weekend ALONE, in a hotel room.

 

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that one of our favorite songs around here is this one right now.

 The kids play it on my phone, on the iPad, we hear it on Pandora, in the car, one of them is always listening to it on their mp3 players, and multiple times a day someone in the family is singing it aloud to themselves.

 

Lord, I come, I confess,

bowing here, I find my rest.

 

Rest.  I feel like I'm soooo stuck on how tired I am, how drained I am, me, me, me, that it's easy to forget that I need to find my rest in Him.

 

Without you, I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

 

I'm definitely falling apart.  I am worn out, my patience has run dry.

I'm short with my kids and my husband. 

My time with the Lord has been lacking ever since we left for the first vacation.

Why do I forget so quickly that I can't do this alone. He will give me grace all along the way, and He will change me when I think I'm unchangeable...if I just stay near.

 

Lord I need you, Oh, I need you

Every hour I need you

My one defense

My righteousness

Oh God, how I need you.

 

Every hour. Sometimes every minute. He is there, but too often I try to control my own day.

Ha, who am I kidding.  I mean, I try, but usually it spins out of control instead. 

And then I find myself fighting a losing battle with my own hands.  When I should be calling on Him as my only defense.

 

Where sin runs deep, your grace is more

Where grace is found, is where you are

Where you are, Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me.

 

I can beat myself up about my failures, my mistakes, my attitude or I can choose to run to Him and live in his grace.  Every day is new.  Every day I get a chance to start over. Because He's always waiting for me.

 

Our summer isn't any different than other busy seasons of life. It's not any different than other families with vacations and kids out of school, and new routines, or the lack thereof.

But it's been a reminder to me that sometimes life and kids and homes and work are just too much for me to take care of alone.

I need Him. And I get to proud and too confident, and too busy, that I forget that sometimes.

I get so consumed with how frustrated I am that my one year old is taking me back into that oh-so-exhausting-stage that I remember being drained by with the other kiddos as well.

I get selfish with my time and my own agenda.  I forget to ask for help and I forget to ask for the One who created me to change me when I need changed.

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"

Matthew 11:28

 

I'm thankful He is always a loving and faithful and patient teacher.

 

 

Whew, now that I got all of that out, hopefully I'll get around to sharing our cruise pictures soon!

 

T-ball

Yay for another sport that the kids can be on the same team and Daddy can coach!

And it was even more fun having all the neighborhood kids on the same team too (and lots of friends from school).



 

 It's not T-ball if you don't see players writing in the dirt or taking a seat to rest when they're in the outfield.

 

 

Mason was super fun to watch.  Especially when he ran the bases.  He never ran the straight line to the base.  He took the widest, longest curved path possible, almost looking like he was headed for the dugout.  But he always knew where he was going.

 

  

Don't let this little cheerleader fool you.  He sat and watched and cheered for a few minutes for only ONE game.  The rest of the games he didn't understand why he couldn't be out on the field or in the dug out with everyone else.  Let's just say it was pretty hard for me to sit and actually get to watch much of the games.

 

 

And the best part is that we are done before the extreme heat of the summer.