At Bat

Well many things have happened since we last spoke, dear Readers. You’ll be seeing more entries popping up again. Summer is winding down to the last little lull of revamping before the school year begins. Things are returning to schedule and routine, which is lovely for this planner of a Mommy.

Since we last spoke:

Matt and I took the girls on a 3 day trip away and a 1 day “just us” return.
The boys had a MARVELOUS time at respite (staying at another foster home – sort of like babysitting) while we were away and were spoiled as well.
It sort of fell into our laps to have the possibility of enrolling Big Guy in Christian private school (with Mom giving the okay) and we’ve been riding the county and scraping together everything needed for enrolment since pre-registration. [Sidenote: Dude, enrolling a kid in school is intense PLUS the whole “you can’t sign for anything” side of foster care!]
We’ve all managed to catch a high-fever bug and pass it amongst ourselves, with the exclusion of Matt and myself.
Had an awesome playdate with an old high school friend and her two sweet boys.
Attended another good ol’ foster care license upkeep trainings. WOOT! (NOT!)
Had a girls morning out to Ikea with my lovelies, a friend and her little girl.
Played way too much of this online facebook game…. I’d tell you the name, but then you’d play too.
Took the masses out to a few traveling playgrounds in the area for fun-packed outdoor play that produced strong napping tendencies.
And signed MY oldest up for ballet – tear. I’m working through letting go, people… but I still have until she moves out for college.
Oh and my dear Rachael also started Piano Lessons with our dear organ/piano player, Ms. Betty. So that’s been quite fun to sit down for 30 minutes a day and help her practice as well as watch her build in confidence in her mastery of beginning music skills.

So that’s us lately… hence the reason for the silence in blogville.

But I’m getting it back together, people. =)

August 10, 2013 2

Today’s Running Shoes

Turn them out… out of doors!

The Batmobile.

And he’s off!

Creativity at it’s finest!

Their middles names could all be Joy, really.

Our patient and gentle teacher – love him so.

You can do it, girlie!

Look at her accomplishment!

Some day soon this will all come easily for her and the learning will be a memory soon forgotten.

But today the watching of her own feet means she’s still little… and she still needs our running-alongside encouragement.

She’ll take off on her own soon enough… too soon some days.

So we’ll delight in today’s running shoes.

Let’s go, Rachael.

We’re right here with you.

– They are a treasure.

July 11, 2013 2

The Next Seat Up

Well it happened. I switched her pumpkin seat out for the convertible carseat. And as I was preparing to wrestle that seat into safety, a little lump welled up in my throat.

She’s getting so big.

It may seem a little whimpy, but it is real.

She’s getting so big.

Abi’s third birthday has come and gone. (I promise I’ll get that birthday post up before her next birthday… er maybe before she moves out.) And while Hannah is “Mommy’s baby” … so is Abi.

There’s this little part of me that holds the bittersweet memory… sweet little blondie in my arms. Oh she had her flaws – she would be in no one else’s arms…. EVER. But it was just my Abi Grace. Those piercing blues.

And look at her now.

I see Abi in Hannah’s eyes.

And I see a Rachael I struggle to remember in the wake of her four year old personality. She really was tiny once, right? It’s hard to remember what the normal felt like.

So maybe that’s why Hannah moving to the convertible seat comes with a little sting.

I know how quickly she’ll soon be forward facing.

And then in a booster.

She is my Joy.

And I have learned that Joy comes with some bitter moments at times too.

Just like retiring the little patten-leather church shoes. Size ones come with a slight laugh. They’re so not going to happen anymore.

That little squishy stage has slowly rippled away. 10 and a half pounds at birth has melted into a long, skinny busybody.

Thank You, Lord, for Hannah’s Mommy-clinging times. Thank You, Lord, for those quiet nursing moments when she lets me just stroke her strawberry locks. Thank You, Lord, for that smile only Mommy and Daddy can get out of those beautiful browns and open-mouthed squeals. Thank You, Lord, that she still comes to find me on those knees, sharing her delighted exploration finds.

Thank You, thank You, Lord…

it helps this Mommy let go

…and install the next seat up.

– I love you, my babies. From four on down to the floor. [And my extras ; ) ].

June 28, 2013 0

Ice Paint

Rachael had a friend, Danielle, over for a play date. The night before we had prepped some ice paint (food colored water and popsicle sticks poked through aluminum foil for stability in the ice-cube trays).