Fun things about the weekend...

Here we are...another weekend gone, yet another month we're about to say bye too.  Days, weeks, months - going by, speed of a blink...

This was an unintended "long" weekend for me.  It started last Wednesday w.Ella Bella being a lil' not herself & making the decision to keep her home on Thursday.  Thursday turned to Friday & there we were, she & I, still home together.  Selfishly soaked up every bit of that time w.her.  Bittersweet-ly reminded of all the sick time I've banked since she's been born.  Got to spend a whole lot of time home w.John his 1st year - that booger was sick all the time.  Ella not so much, & I can't say how torn that makes me feel that I've not had that time w.her.  Beyond thankful for her health, the sleep we've all been afforded b/c of it but selfishly saddened that she's not needed to be home and under my care as much as John did at her age.

Knowing where I was this time last year - excitedly awaiting her arrival, on the cusp of getting 3 mos at home to enjoy & get to know my new lil' darling, that's also heavy on my heart right now.  Seeing my lil' doodle on the cusp on toddling around, knowing a 1st birthday is just around the corner and being amazed by her beaming lil' personality more with each day - yeah, kinda heart be still. 

So, that said - the beginnings of this "fun things" starts w.our sick days...me soaking up Miss Ella Bella as much as possible...

Enjoyin' my girls

A lil' porch time to myself

Allowing for some much needed catharsis reading back through our journeys in '09...humbled by God's continued blessings over our family

Takin' some time to enjoy the warmth & beauty of the day...deep breaths included

Finally updating some albums (sigh)

Doodle being a ham :) makin' her mama laugh

Soakin' up that other sunshine in my life ~ remembering how he "fit" neatly in my lap from my earlier in the day remembering (sigh)

Admiring my boys...proud, that's an understatement

Snackin' like a Big Girl ~ only flipped the bowl 3 times :)

Welcoming the besties from Concord ~ the lil'est enjoyin' some under the table jungle gym time w.John & Ella

Hayden, the Teradactyl :)

Mamas & Sons (sigh)

Deddy & his lil' darlin' ~ fallin' a lil' deeper each day




 Pre-bath shenanigans

Hayden & Ella

Awesome Deddies ~ Seth & Chris

New games for John

Adult game of Madlib whilest babies napped & the "hurrikin" whipped around outside

A "Wizard of Oz" one in honor of Apes ~ the only blurp I will share here on the family site from it...

A ungodly freezing thong, that had belonged to some Munchkin, was perched on his head, and the rest of the figure was a thick suit, chafed and salty, which had also been wiped with straw. While Dorothy was looking swimmingly into the lonely, aggressive face of the Scarecrow, she was huge to see one of the eyes slowly came at her. "damn " said the Scarecrow, in a rather clumpy voice.

a few too many "Sunday School Cocktails" made all our Madlibbing hurt our stomachs w.laughter :)

Wakin' up to beautiful blue skies & sunshine, post Irene

The boys enjoyin' a lil' Sunday golfin'

Holes in one for John :)

 

and a lil' sandtrappin' :)

 

Even though the "hurrikin" left us w/o power (and any semblance of good sleep) a lot of the night on Friday and first thing Saturday morning, we were so thankful that was the extent of Irene's inconveniences for us.  In old school Labor Day style, the Fishers and the Clarks managed to make a rainy, keep us indoors kinda day, into a laugh-filled good time.  Thankful these babies haven't stole all of our swagger, it's just been limited to nap time :)

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend & is looking forward to a long weekend as much as we are!

What's good Wednesday

Because another creative "project" is sapping all my juices right now, Fun Things is being replaced this week by a What's Good Wednesday post...

What's good...laying in bed this morning, 2 babies between us, smiling & laughing at each other there in the dark.  

What's good...stayin' afloat amidst the return of students to campus (equate with someone knocking over an ant hill)...grateful to the best boss in the world for letting me bail out on working check-in weekend (as if I weren't already indebted enough)

What's good...a 2-fer for the Fisher family at church.  John sitting in big church w.Mama & Deddy for the 1st time - me looking past Seth to marvel at his still/attentiveness.  Seth sending John to the front for the Children's moment all by himself (me nervously telling Seth to go with him - thinking to myself, why did I pick today to not sit in the front).  John sheepishly glancing back at us as he made his way up - seeing that blonde head pop above the front pew once he finally arrived, checking to make sure we could still see him (he did say a "Daddy" during the prayer - but that's completely forgivable).  Seth returning to worship after dropping John at Children's Church - saying he did fine.  Being just the proudest Mama (heart be still)

What's good...Ella and all her "B-I-B-I-B-I" - it's how her 10 month old self sings the B-I-B-L-E song.  It's usually heart be still for us, but by the time she gets it all out repeatedly...um, let's just say she's a fervent and adamant performer (bless her heart - bless our ears).  Add John chiming in to help her along - no wonder Salem's not been around the dinner table much this week :)

What's good...Saturday afternoon pool parties.  John & Ella both had a big time at Tanner's P's 3rd bday at THE Garner Country Club (an oxymoron if there ever was one).  It was great though w.lots of our kinda people.  And when you have several coolers - one labeled "Adults" and a bag of koozies beside...well, I needn't elaborate on the awesomeness of that (it truly is the little things).

What's good...Ella being moved to the big girl class - last one before the big jump DOWNSTAIRS.  Director Jenny asked me last week if I was ok w.her moving her up on Monday - I didn't hesitate to say yes.  John got barely any time w. Ms Margaret, so I was excited that Ella might get some of the time he didn't.  However, talking about it over the weekend, we did come up w.a few reservations on Ella's readiness for this move.  Our uneasiness was quickly put to rest w. Ms Margaret's oh-so-sweet-note awaiting Seth on the drop off Monday morning...

"Just want to let you know that it is a joy for me to have Ella coming into my class on Monday.  I already know that she is a beautiful and sweet little girl.  I promise you I will look out for her and take the best care of her that I can.  If you ever need to call to check on her at any time please do so.  I look forward to loving your precious little girl."

Yep, re-reading that - eye sweat for sure :)  Blessed is understating how we feel about the care our children get at Sonshine.  

What's good...that we're 2 days from the official start of the weekend ~ WACDD.  The back porch has been spiffed up a lil' to take serious advantage of this break in heat.  Some signs of Fall have started to creep into the house - I am ready to say bon voyage to summer.  A new backporch soundtrack, mostly courtesy of Crackerfarm & The Brothers (Avett, in case it needs to be said) has been added to the collection & shall remain on heavy rotation.  A bottle of wine later on Friday evening (beer for Seth, bottle for me) ~ a collective breath was taken there on the porch with The Avetts, the crickets and the comfort of being together.  Looking forward to many more moments on the porch in the coming days now that summer is slowly relenting that hostage-like grip on all the outside joys we've been missing.

What's good...having made 2 trips around Lake Johnson in the last 2 days.  Though I have a blister & some sore calves (I swear they made those hills steeper), there was much nostalgic joy to be felt making the rounds and walking across that bridge.  Looking out at that water, laughing a little to myself - glad Seth took my advice & found a girl who was more "his type" :)  Looking up to where our lil' apt. was - where we could look through the trees to the water, thinking back to how much smaller our world was then.  Thankful for those happy memories...more thankful to be waking up to all the life unfolding over the years since.

What's good...getting surprise cards yesterday w.sentiments of porchin', listenin' to music & basking in each other's company.  Said cards including CDs - just pure awesomeness.  Apes, you make my heart smile ~ miss you friend (sigh).  

Hope everyone's having a good week - if not, you've got a couple of days to turn it around...

Happy hump day :)

Just soakin'...

Since we spent the weekend being sponges...soakin' up each other, the rain (an excuse to stay inside), family excursions (2 in 1 day - unheard of), spending time in the Lord's house - mostly just being...there's very little in the way of pictures to show.  Sometimes being the sponge beats the socks off trying to be the historian (this = one of those times).

What I can say, share, would love to shout for you the way John does is...

My God is so big,
So strong and so mighty,
There's nothing my God cannot do.

This is what John was singing to us at the table this weekend.  He finished real big after the "cannot do" by pointing to us and shouting "FOR YOU!"  If that ain't enough to "take me to church" right there at the kitchen table, I don't know what is.  Having your 3 year old proclaiming such a big faith about such a big & loving God - cat's meow if there ever was one!  And, of course it made my eyes "sweat" - humbled and amazed every day :)

Giving thanks that my God is so BIG...continuing to soak up the miracles and blessings in the every day.  Mostly just opening my eyes and my heart to "seeing" them.

 Have a blessed week!

Fun things about the weekend...extraordinarily ordinary :)

Happy Monday...

There was so much good about this weekend, I hardly know where to begin. Other than a rare date night for Seth and I, so much of the good was as ordinary as it gets. And since the seemingly mundane and ordinary is our favorite - we soaked it up.

Here's a small glimpse of some pictured fun things...

A happy WACDD ~ Calendars have arrived!
2 ton gorilla officially off my back :)



Bon Iver tix ~ awesome show
free ticket perks lessen the blow of $10 beers



Date night w.my darlin'



Great dinner at Sushi Blues (ol' stompin' grounds) ~ Wolfpack roll ~ memories of Amanda
memories always followed w.smiles and thanking God to have known someone who lived life to the fullest and never settled for less



Awesome friends (and Mama/Daddy-to-be), Kimberly & Matt keeping the babies so we could have a night out
hard to get out the door when you know you'd have just as much fun staying & hanging out



Aunt Kimberly never disappointing ~ bringin' awesome gifts...John's 1st wallet...equipped w.$, gift card & pictures
file under - people who bless our lives more than we can say





Waking up Sat. morning to our lil' weekend babies ~ 'jamas stayed on ALL day :)



Our sweetest baby spending the better part of weekend under the weather (not fun) ~ enjoyin the cuddlebug-ness of a puny baby (selfishly wonderful)


Breakin' in the new crockpot w.a lil' dueling crockpot action:

Pot #1: Fresh potato soup



Pot #2: Taco Soup (always the clear winner)



Finally indulging in some longed for darker hair :)
try and look past the general flatness & lack of make up, ha



Our lil' puny baby finally getting hitch in her giddy up Sunday afternoon - it was raining outside, but as Seth put it, "the sun's sure shining in here!"
(deep sighs of relief from "mildly" worried mama & deddy)



Bringin' out the new crockpot again on Sunday ~ a lil' jambalaya



Updatin' the family board

Best life...it sure is. Took a moment to sit in the living room yesterday when John & Ella were down for their afternoon naps. No lights, no TV, no music, no appliances (particularly that washer/dryer) running in the background. Just stillness & quiet...

Looking around the room, sinking back into the couch, feeling full-hearted, I basked in that quiet moment to count my blessings. When Seth joined me a short time later - we sat there together, being thankful. The stillness of a quiet house, the peace of babies sleeping footsteps away, having all that you ever hoped for or desired...heart be still

Another thought I had - a bittersweet one at that...when I look back on this time in our lives years & years from now - when John & Ella are grown, I just know in my heart that I'm going to think, "those were the best days of our lives..." Not that more good times & blessings don't await, but right now, in this moment, while our babies are small - their greatest woes are just "boos boos" (relatively speaking)...there's not much that a tickle, embrace or a Toy Story band-aid won't fix. Simply stated, this is the best.

And despite the square footage of our home, when we're all awake, we're rarely out of arm's reach of each other. Sometimes it feels chaotic, sometimes it overwhelms - most times it just delights. If I could find life's pause button, if I could bottle this joy, if there were some way to increase the depths of savoring each blessed moment - can you tell my cup is overflowing right now...

I guess it was meant to be that blogger was acting up this morning & I couldn't get this posted before lunch - got a chance to see Kimberly's latest blog "Waterworks" :) Loved reading the recap of her time w.John & Ella and continuing to be so tickled for her & Matt. Knowing 2 people who love the Lord, love each other and want so much to share that love by growing a family - delights me to no end. Knowing the joy that awaits them early next year - just continuing to be excited & praying for much love, health & happiness for them. Thank yall again for allowing us a lil' Seth & Traci time. We look forward to repaying the favor!

Finally decided on what to put in my frame I fixed a couple weekends ago (the flowered one w.Nana). Gonna put the Philippians verse - designed this for it:

Following from all the above - going to continue to "think about these things" :)
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Have a great week!