Dells 2017- the beginning

I might say our summer started last Thursday when our friend Nick moved in-  the first of three guys living in our house this summer.  The beginning of community living.

Or I might say it started Friday when the kids had their last days of school celebrations a month early and we had a lovely outdoor dinner.  We also had a revolving open door of friends stop by-  a graduating senior, staff friend who is moving on, friend from church...

Saturday was definitely a pregame day-  breakfast with friends, Olivia's recital in the middle of family coming to visit.  New staff friends stopping to say hi and bye.  Packing and cleaning galore.

But we officially hit the road yesterday, Sunday.  I think I may have had a minor panic attack as we left.  The enormity and craziness of what we are doing hit me as I looked around our clean and "empty" house just before we headed out the door.

After some deep breathes we prayed and headed out!  Only to have the most awful loud noise hurt our ears.  A few months ago God provided us our very own rooftop carrier from the dump!  And Saturday Nate got it up on our roof with the help of our brothers Matt and Andy.  However, the strap under it was vibrating, LOUDLY, if we went over 30 mph.  SO we stopped at Walmart on our way out for a fix and hit the road around 830.

The kids did really well.  They watched movies. Nate really wanted to see Niagra Falls.  This whole trip has reminded me of my past-  my long ago past.  When I was 15 my parents packed up our house in DE and spent the summer on the road. Part of that summer I was an LIT at camp sandy cove and spent a week rock climbing in Canada.  On our way we stopped at Niagra Falls.  So despite the rain, we went!  I had never been to the American side and it's pretty amazing.  There was so much mist you couldn't really see the fall but you feel like you are walking right into the top of this strong and powerful fall.  Water is so powerful.

We went a bit further to spend the night in Erie PA.  The kids went swimming and we all went to bed.

Today we drove through the Midwest-  Ohio, Indiana, and are spending the night outside of Chicago.  I was reminded that I've only been to Ohio twice-  once recruiting for camp at Cedarville and once for a mini reunion of friends from my very first summer training program at Hampton Beach in 2001.  I've been thinking a lot about this summer-  how the staff must have felt bringing kids to pour into us as students.  Knowing how much that summer meant to me on so many levels.  I am hopeful this summer will be the same for me Personally-  to grow in who I am and develop as a wife, mom and mentor.  And for the students who are attending the program.  For them to grow in practical and personal ways for a lifetime.  

Tonight the kids are asleep around us outside Chicago and we have about a 3 hour drive to the Dells.  Pray for all of us but especially Sam.  I think he is having the hardest time with the unknown of all this.  And for us as we try to help him.

And lastly-  a sweet story about Isaac.  In the middle of the afternoon Sam and Olivia and even Daniel started melting down and we hit some traffic so it was the perfect storm of loud and cranky in our car.  Through the noise Isaac says "I see a whale in the clouds Mom!" And when I looked at him he beamed a smile with his sweet dimples.

Isaac reading us a poem he wrote at his preschool goodbye with our favorite teacher Linda.

Later that day included a great leftover dinner on our back deck, just our fam, in perfect weather.

 After Olivia's dance recital.

 Most of our extended family (those busy younger sisters couldn't make it:() came over for the recital and pizza afterwards, giving our yard and deck a full workout and helping us finish all those last minute preparations so we got a really good start the next day.

 The kids were REALLY excited about backpacks I had packed full of surprises for them.

 Niagra Falls!

 Sure kids, you can have ice cream for lunch...

Olivia's Ballet Recital 2017 and Pizza Party

This year was Olivia's second ballet recital for pre-training 2 and she did great!

We aren't allowed to take pics of the actual dancing part, but here are some of the dancer after.  

And because we are leaving tomorrow for the rest of the summer, I invited all of our family to come and join us for the rectal and pizza after.  The men (minus Nate) stayed home with the little boys while all the Ladies (and our chauffeur Nate) went to the recital.  

End of School Days 2017

If you get our ministry newsletter or have seen us in real life you know that tomorrow morning we begin an adventure.  We are driving to the Wisconsin Dells for a Summer Training Program with the Navigators.  More on that in a later post.  I read that going on one for staff is like a mini-move, just for the summer and that is definitely what the preparation has felt like.  Olivia and Isaac finished school a month early and both had great celebrations with all their friends.  Olivia's class happened to go a field trip to the Zoo Thursday- hence the picture of the zebra.  She has been blessed with so many good friends at school, she had a week of playdates!  And came home Friday with a full bag of treasures from her teacher and friends.  

Friday Morning Isaac's class celebrated his preschool graduation with us a month early.  We have known Linda since Olivia started in her classroom just before Sam was born.  Please pray with us Sam and then Daniel would have the chance to continue the tradition (or we would adjust to a new situation for them.)  Isaac's many friends gave him big great hugs goodbye and the teachers told us they had discussed many emotions about his leaving early- from anger to sadness.  Hopefully we can send some emails with updates about our trip along the way.

 Then last night we had an impromptu family grilled dinner on our deck.  It was way past their bedtime, but it was perfectly lovely.  Our family of 6 gathered around what we had in the fridge and just enjoyed.  I am sad that this isn't exactly what our summer holds, but hopeful even better things in WI are ahead for us!

Mother's Day 2017

I woke up to breakfast in bed, a beautiful tray of yumminess and handmade gifts from my kids.  There were lots of not as pretty moments along the way, but breakfast and these photos were what I'd like to remember from this year.

The definition of "Too Much"

All things collided this weekend and we definitely did "too much."  Perhaps we should read the book boundaries and put it into practice...  However, what to say no to?  Work? Family? Kids?  Between 6 of us, there are a lot of commitments.  And we are grateful for a family we love and are close enough to see semi-regularly.  Ready to be exhausted?  Here ya go!

Friday - Sunday:  Our regional staff retreat at Camp Wonderland in Sharon MA: a time for us to gather with staff from around the region to connect and be developed.  The teaching we heard was great.  Nate got to help lead us in Worship on Sunday morning.  And we saw friends from around the region.

Saturday afternoon we ducked out before lunch to head to RI to celebrate Nate's cousin Andrew and his marriage to Brittany.  We saw most of Nate's immediate family and some of his extended family and cousins.  They set up an amazing kids table which all the little cousins really enjoyed.

 Sunday we left the retreat and headed back to Amherst for Olivia to perform in the Happy Valley Children's Chorus Concert.  She did an amazing job including a duet with her friend Claire.

 After the concert Olivia, Daniel and I shopped for our End of Year Navs BBQ- Olivia had my phone and snagged this shot.  Me in my "natural habitat" of Stop and Shop.  Kind of fun to have a photo where I go so often.

 And then the End of Year Navs BBQ at Mill River!  Unfortunately the weather did not fully cooperate and it was rather chilly.  BUT we still had a great time.  Two of the seniors parents came and surprised their kids and brought cake to celebrate!  We are so thankful for this bunch.

Johanna and Kristin, two graduating women Ive had the pleasure of meeting with!

Lastly, I must confess I kept dreaming about last weekend when we went to NYC to celebrate Nanny's 80th Birthday- WITHOUT our children (especially when the kids wouldn't sleep at the retreat!)  

"Mom don't drop your phone in the toilet this time."

Ok Sam, I won't.  Thanks for the tip.  And we had a great rainy afternoon trip to the Jones Library.

3.28.17 or the day I rocked being a mom (kind of)

Today was one of those days I want to document and say "well done!" to myself.  (And also I wish I was a better writer but here it goes anyways).

Started as the day usually does, from my bed I hear Sam yelling "Isaac!  Isaac!!!!"  in an attempt to see if he is awake (or to wake him up I am not sure).  We eventually headed downstairs, got the baby up, had breakfast, packed lunches, got all 6 of us dressed and Nate on the road with Isaac while Sam, Daniel and I waited with Olivia for her bus.

On Tuesdays Angela from "Baby and Me" comes to visit with a book for Daniel.  Sam played outside in the snow and rain almost until she arrived.  Daniel was short-lived- he was ready for a nap at 9 as he announced with his new loud screams (not a fan!).  So Dan slept, Angela read to Sam and said goodbye, and on went Daniel Tiger.  I put in a load of laundry and got ready to head out for the rest of our morning.

At 10 I woke up Dan and we headed to Crocker Farm Preschool for Sam's speech time, then to the polls to vote for our town election, then to Stop and Shop in preparation for Nate's birthday (where we saw our friends Sally and Bethany) and back to Crocker to pick up Isaac.

Except for the voting, thats all pretty typical of our Tuesdays.  Here is where it gets interesting...  for the first time in a long time, neither Sam or Dan were asleep in the car.  So we all got out to pick up Isaac and actually stayed to play on the playground!

When we got home, I declared rest time!  And Sam and Dan slept.  Isaac played for a while and then joined me.  I kept the laundry going, worked out, cleaned the upstairs bathroom with Isaac's help, folded a load of laundry and PUT IT AWAY, cooked dinner and got ready to go out again.

At 3:45 Olivia got off the bus and we all headed downtown to drop her off at her chorus practice.  The boys and I walked in the rain to the library.  We had a great time there...  including a visit to the potty that was almost catastrophic as I later explained to Olivia.  The boys (who peed together with their "swords" crossing) were just finishing when I needed to go and not wanting my phone to drop into the toilet from my back pocket or into the sink if I left it on the ledge there, I carefully put it up on top of the toilet paper dispenser...  only to have Isaac accidentally knock it off into the peed in potty!  without flinching, I grabbed it!!!  (and didn't yell too much) and dried it off and it still works!!!!  THANK YOU OTTERBOX!

We gathered our books, DVDs and hastily walked back to pick up Olivia- getting throughly wet in the rain, but otherwise without complications.

We had a nice dinner at home with Isaac offering to pray and sharing our favorite parts of the day.  Taco Tuesday is almost always a hit around here.

Then  I went to change Daniel's diaper and put his pajamas on.  Lets just say a blow out diaper does NOT give it justice.  Into the bath he went and then to bed. (Can I say how thankful I am that he is a REALLY good sleeper!)

Cleaned off the table, dishes,  changed the laundry, kids in PJS, read to, sung to, prayed with and tucked in and now the night is mine...

In a moment I'll get a glass of wine and catch up on my recent favorite TV show....  but for now, I wanted to write this.  But I guess now that I am done, it doesn't seem so extradorinaiy.  Ive just started a book called "what mothers do when it really seems like nothing" which would be fast to point out that all these "things" I did included unexplainable forethought and planning (and a bit of luck - like no meltdowns between the church and library since I packed light and left my wallet and bag of tricks (i.e. diaper bag) in the car).  And yet, I felt like super mom today.  I did all of that.  On my own.  Without yelling too much at my kids.  I even enjoyed some of it.   I guess I am just trying to feel thankful for the season I am in and this is one way to do that and document it.

Daniel on his One Year Birthday

Olivia and Daniel at Liz's Surprise 30th Birthday Bash

At the end of our walk in the rain to the library and back- JOY!

PS Blogger let me upload photos really easily today!!!  Maybe I will get back to blogging more- yea!