28 August 2008

my birthday

I just turned 32. Hard to believe, but nothing to worry about. I have already decided that aging is inevitable and I will embrace it with the most grace and energy that I possibly can. Someone called me a spring chicken today. Okay...so anyway, we spent my birthday down at the beach last week. Relaxing is not the word we use to describe our getaways and that's okay. We like to use the word enjoyable. Because they really are. We enjoy being with the kids, being with each other, without interruptions. It's just our little family.

Gigi and Papa treated us to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach for an evening full of art, music and the sheer joy of sharing it with Madeline. When we finally got settled in the outside theatre and the first few statues were shown, Madeline leaned over to me and asked Mom, when is it going to get good? It was a 2-hour presentation of various paintings, statues and other historical art. Very fun and interesting to watch. She was captivated once the presentations were full of color and some included music and dance.

The next morning, after eating delicious eggs benedict and opening my beautiful presents, we took the kids to a park on the beach, played in the water, napped and then went back to the beach in the late afternoon. This has been one of my most memorable days so far. I can vividly see myself sitting in the wet sand next to Grant, Evan and Madeline as the water swam around us and then returned back to the ocean. Grant was burying and then finding his own treasures: clams, mussels and seashells. Madeline was lying in the sand waiting for the water to wash over her, while Evan discovered another food group: sand! He ate so much that we found it in his diaper the next morning...gross doesn't even begin to describe that experience. But we sat there for a good two hours, just playing, laughing, discovering, and enjoying each other.

Thank you, sweet family, for celebrating me. I know you love me, and yet, it's nice to be queen for a day.

your first sleepover


Makayla slept over last night and spent the whole day with our crazy family.

Makayla's joy...Miss Christian, thank you for letting me sleep here!
Madeline's joy...I want you to be my sister, Makayla!

Giggles
loud whispers
smiles
hugs
cries
apologies
forgiveness
princess panties
cookies
swimming
dress up
princess shoes
dollies
princess books
princess nightgowns
sweet laughter
nighty-night
Best friends.

27 August 2008

Grant and I woke both up early this morning. He's really becoming a great conversationalist.

Grant: Mommy, I say Ahhh, Man!
Me: You do? Why do you say that?
Grant: I hungry!

16 August 2008


Even Ariel has a place to sleep at our house...Madeline made sure she was nice and warm during the summer heat wave.

My little Madeline: a mother at heart.

14 August 2008

hard lesson


My sweet son, Grant! My heart breaks every time I must send you to this place, but my hope is that you will rethink your actions and choose better.

I'm happy to tell you that you absolutely hate standing in the corner, although you still thoroughly enjoy wailing on your brother. Your eyes follow him like a hawk, especially now that he's crawling you are feeling very threatened by his recent mobility. You never take your eyes off of him and sometimes you strike, even before giving him a chance to touch you or your dinosaurs. You have very good instincts, I just pray that you take your attack methods and use them on someone who's actually after you. I must say that Evan does enjoy grabbing your feet, hair or other close limbs, which seems to send you through the roof! NO, BABY! you shout. We remind you (several times an hour) to say, No thank you, baby, to at least reframe your disgust toward your baby brother. And we have also begun "correcting" Evan when he invades your space by making sure you can hear us say Evan, that's big brother's toy. Let's give him some space. I've heard that siblings fight, only to become best friends. This is the hope I will cling to for all of you!

your new sunglasses


which you found in our house and asked who they belonged to...you! Since I don't have a clue who left them here and they've been sitting on our counter unclaimed for months.

12 August 2008

scrap happy

Today is my day, a day devoted to whatever I want to do.

Nathan is helping me get caught up on my scrapbooking, since I haven't even started Grant's yet. He loaded the kids up in the car headed for the beach, kissed me goodbye and said Enjoy your day.


Excited? Not me! (heh-heh)

08 August 2008

photo shoot

After making a big fuss about Grant's new big boy bed, Madeline asked Are you going to take pictures of me now?

Yes...because we haven't yet captured your cuteness in your new sleeping beauty nightgown ready to read your latest Disney princess magazine before bed.





mama, wook...big boy bed!!!

The words that stopped me in my tracks tonight. Grant took me by the hand to follow him into his room. My baby is growing up.

Nathan converted his crib into a toddler bed while we were out playing this afternoon. He could hardly contain himself, jumping up and down on the mattress and then gathered his animal friends to share in the excitement with him.

I remember when we first put him in his crib, when he was just a day old. He was so tiny, yet we could hear him snoring so we always knew he was breathing!

We were so proud of him tonight. He cried when he realized he actually had to lie down and sleep, but let me snuggle close to him to ease his anxiety. Madeline told me Give him luvies so he'll feel better.






















The hardest part of moving to a bigger bed must be in the fact that you have the freedom to get up, but knowing mom and dad haven't allowed you that freedom necessarily. He respected the boundary quite well. We wanted to give him the chance to make his own choice without installing a small gate in his doorway, assuming he was going to disobey. I'm glad we gave him the choice. And I'm proud of his ability to respect our limits.

05 August 2008

crawling already

Yup...my big baby boy is crawling. What he doesn't realize is how this is going to change my life. No longer able to just sit him down in one place with a bunch of toys to play with, I'm going to have to keep one eye on him while running around the house with the other two.

He has no idea how much fun his life is going to be from now on! :)

03 August 2008

sunday in the park





We went to Clover Park in Santa Monica today with Uncle Robert. It was a gazillion degrees outside (even for breezy Santa Monica), but fun to take the kids to a park I enjoyed as a youngster. The park sits next to Santa Monica Airport, which thrilled Grant more than he could express.Mama - helicopter! Airpwaine! White Airpwaine!

first communion


We went to church with Nana and Poppy this morning. Madeline asked if she could stay with me in the adult service. Sure...just remember that this is not a talking time but a quiet, listening time.

Okay, Mom.

I didn't realize that it was going to be a time for communion. Madeline asked me what was going on. I explained that only people who have Jesus in their heart and are willing to ask forgiveness for their sins are able to take communion. Does Jesus live in your heart? I asked her and watched her little head nod up and down.

Do you have any sins you want to ask Jesus to forgive? I pursued.

She quickly shook her head no. Okay, well if you think of any, just let me know. I started to bow my head to pray. I feel a tap on my arm.

I need to ask Jesus to forgive me for my bad choices, she said, cupping her hand around her mouth in order to whisper quietly into my ear.

So we prayed together, asking Jesus to forgive both of us for the sins we have committed and to help us to be like Him.

We received the elements of communion, and as we finished drinking the juice, she looked up at me and asked, Is this blood?

I'm so glad she whispered. I smiled at her and reassured her it was only juice.

What a privilege to share in this holy tradition with my firstborn child.
What a privilege to lead her to our loving Savior for forgiveness and hope.

02 August 2008

venice beach






We went to Venice Beach with Nana today.

Warm sunshine.
Sand crabs.
Grant & Nana exploring together.
Yummy apple.
Sail boats everywhere.
New beach friend for Madeline.
Drawing pictures in the sand.
Evan's pirate pose.
Sweet memories.