when the sun sets late

As summer approaches and it begins to stay lighter, later, we are left with 3 hours of daylight after bedtime. What to do with all those hours? Sometimes we stay up and spend that time enjoying the great outdoors. Other days I need bedtime to get here as fast as it can. It is then that we read, everyone in their respective beds. 

This is the stack of books Emma came home from the library with.

We either need better blinds to block out that sunlight or bigger muscles to carry those 

ever increasing stacks of books if we are to get through these summer months!

Did I ever tell you how much I love my ginger-snap? Her personality matches her hair in all the best ways. 

She is one of the most unique people I have ever met. She teaches me daily not to take life so seriously. 

She does her own thing and doesn't care or even notice that she may be the only one dancing to the music in her head!

This is Nya re-telling me a story about balloons, just as the Librarian did today during story time.

It is a personal favorite of mine when she pretends to be all grown up and speaks to me as if I am the

 child and everything I do is the most fantastic achievement. 

I quite welcome hearing things like, "Yes, that's right!", "Good job!", and, "You did it!" 

If my 3 year old thinks I can do it, who am I to argue? 

April Showers

We have many birthdays in this family in the month of April, 2 of them belonging to Emma (April 14th) and Darren (April 22nd).

Emma is 9 years old - FINALLY! She has been counting down to this day for longer than I can remember. Why has this one been extra special? Because it means the end to the booster seat. I guess this is big business when you are small.
Everyday I am grateful for Emma. In many ways I regret having named her that. Not because I don't love the name, but simply because of its popularity. I feel as though I've failed her in some way - silly, I'm sure, but the way I feel nonetheless.
But as I have watched her grow I have come to realize that she doesn't need a unique name to make her so. She is, through and through, one of a kind! Thank you Emma, for blessing my life with your ginger hair, your silly sense of humor, and your sweet, sweet heart.

Darren is 37 this year, and somehow that makes me feel old. But young or old, I can't imagine anyone I'd rather be with, from now through to wrinkled and white-haired. 

Thank you for spending your life with me, and sharing all that you have. 

Happy birthday!

I love you both.

the beginnings of something{s} wonderful

I feel like I have been away from my blog forever. In actual fact it has only been a few days. Some days I feel as though I have 1o things I would like to write about - some days there is nothing in me to say. And there are other times when life is too busy to blog. This week has been one of those - a thousand little things all needing to be done, some fun, some duty. We are getting really for 2 things wonderful this weekend. In the beginning I thought it was crazy for me to plan both at the same time, but as I begin to prepare and decorate I see how nicely one will flow into the other. I will be killing 2 birds with 1 stone (for lack of a nicer idiom). I wish I could share more, but for now things need to be kept quiet (surprises, you know!)

p.s. I love you

Since moving away last summer, my parents, mostly my mom I'm sure, hasn't missed an occasion to send cards to my children. They LOVE this. I LOVE this. She never forgets. Every holiday they are there, waiting for us in the mail box. The excitement that these small pieces of paper bring - I hope you know, mom, just how much they mean to us all.

A return letter to Grandma and Grandpa from my little Ginger Snap.

To Mom and Dad from me:  My heart felt heavy and sad, and my eyes filled with tears as my little brown eyed boy looked up at me today and said, "I miss Grandma and Grandpa". That is it - all he had to say, as if my heart had silently spoken those words to him, as if he knew what I was thinking at that very moment.

We hug and I tell him, "Me too, Tate. Me too." 

out of the peewees and into the big leagues

40 bags in 40 days is beginning tomorrow. You can read about it here and here. And since I love all things organizational I find this absolutely fascinating. I have never participated - I didn't think there was any way that I could ever fill 40 bags. Not because I am terribly tidy, simply because I don't handle clutter very well, and I already purge on a regular basis. But with the girls closet in desperate need of a thorough cleaning out, I thought I would test my theory. So on Saturday while Darren was playing with the kids, I went to work.

5 hours later, I got 3 dressers of clothes down to 2, and 7 bags worth of stuff out of that room! I think I just might participate in 40 bags in 40 days this year!

I also realized that I had not purchased pajamas for my baby since she was 18 months old. She is now 3 1/2. We noticed, of course, that all her jammies had turned into capris, but it didn't keep her awake at night, so it didn't seem to matter.

After I was done that room, I needed to get out of the house, so the girls and I hopped in the van, while the boys (big and small) stayed home and played Lego. It is way too much fun for the 4 of us to shop together. Sometimes we buy, sometimes we don't. This time we were on the hunt for pajamas for Nya. Along the way I realized that I have no children left in the baby department of Superstore, nor will I ever again. Turns out my baby is not such a baby.

~before~

~after~ 

Much better! She was pretty pleased. She spent the entire day today changing from one pair of new pajamas to another.

For this girl who ripped her favorite dress while wearing it and riding her bike, we found this:

And for this girl, who not only left the baby department a decade ago, but is now beginning to fit  women's clothing, we found this:

It is such a fun and fascinating thing to see ones daughter growing up and become aware of what she likes and what she doesn't. I realize that this can happen at a much younger age for some girls, but Noelle has never been terribly concerned about what she wears. She is one of those super easy, whatever is in the drawer, kind of people I have always admired. The kind that look cute in sweats or a skirt. Noelle now has a very strong opinion of what she likes and what she doesn't. Nothing too bright, too flashy, or immodest. She likes to be comfortable and co-ordinated. But I also see her stepping out of her box every once in a while and trying some sort of new and fun combination. It is truly so much fun to observe.

And for me - I found this top. It is perfectly simple and beautifully feminine.  

 I am now pretty sure I will be able to get close to 40 bags. Seems counter-productive, bringing in the new while trying to get rid of the old. But when I consider that 7 bags of things we can no longer use went out and only 1 bag of things we can use came back in, it seems a good trade off. Every time I walk into the girls room, even though it appears no different until you start to open doors and drawers, it feels so good. And when you break your house up into 40 small sections it is not so overwhelming.  

 I made my list - now if I can stick with it for 40 days, my house will be one of order.

It could certainly use some of that right about now! 

Emma's baptism - May 29th, 2011

Emma has been asking when she could get baptized for 2 years! The date never changed, "when you turn 8", was always the answer. But in her mind it could not have come fast enough. Needless to say, this was 1 very excited little girl! Congratulations Emma. May this day always be a blessing in your life. Thank you to all our wonderful family and friends who helped make this day so special, and to Debra for taking such beautiful pictures. To Emma - Thank you for being the amazing person you are and sharing yourself and your spirit with us. You are my sunshine. We love you.

Dear Emma,

8 years ago your family and loved ones {but most especially mom and dad} celebrated. You came into this world - small and pink and perfect. We did not serve cupcakes or play party games, but our hearts were filled with gratitude and thanksgiving as we beheld in awe the most marvelous of reasons to have joy. The following years have been filled with the laughter that you cause, the energy that you share, and the spirit that you spread with an open heart wherever you go. You love without reason, you share all you have, you live with purpose and inspiration. 

- 8 years later we celebrate again -

Planning your birthday party this year was just as much fun as it always is. We started the celebrations on your actual birthday with cupcakes and swimming. We then spent the next 2 days getting ready for your party. We made cake pops and candies. We painted Posies - 1 to look like each of your guests, to put in the goody bags. We hung butterflies from the ceiling, we painted and crafted and egg-hunted. We laughed a lot and had so much fun. We celebrated you. How grateful I am to have an excuse as wonderful as you to celebrate in pink all over again. 

Happy 8th birthday Emma - may you receive as much joy as you so freely give others.