Mama's Day 2016

I am so lucky that these two precious faces 

call me Mom/Mama/Mommy.

To celebrate Mother's Day this year, 

we packed some boxes for our move, folded some laundry,

and then did some of my favorite things :: 

had a picnic with the Taylors, 

took pictures and went on explorations in the woods, 

ate TCBY for dinner, and I even got to take an amazing nap in the hammock.

So thankful for hand holding, hugging, 

fresh picked flowers, and sloppy kisses from sweaty little faces...

and a husband who spoils me year round.

Boys... You've Got Mail

Ashley and I heard/read about this idea somewhere and I had to share.  Setup an email account for your child (when you find out your pregnant, when they are born, when they are 5, 10, whatever)... just setup an email account and don't tell them.  Then proceed to send emails to them throughout the years with thoughts, memories, pictures and anything you want to share with them.  The idea is to not tell them about it until they graduate High School (or some other date when they are older).  They will have years and years worth of memories to go back through and read.

We setup accounts for both boys months ago when we first heard about this and it has been fun emailing them both (or individually) from time to time.  If you know and love our boys and want to share something then feel free... we created gmail accounts with their full names (ie. firstlast@gmail.com).

Now we'll just have to try and remember the password years from now. :)

True Grit :: Carver's Gap Adventures

Luckily the boys have inherited Andrew's sense of adventure.

And I am always in for an outdoor challenge as long as it does not push 

my 'cautious-I have to be in control' limits too much.

Our limits were pushed on our hike from Carver's Gap to Grassy Ridge Bald

in terms of elevation, length, and weather conditions, 

but we learned the true grit of our family 

- and I am proud to say that we are all pretty tough.

We knew that we were embarking on a little over 3 mile round trip picturesque hike

 that would include rolling hills to climb and descend, 

rocks to clamber over, zig-zag curves to zig and zag,

and Andrew even, fairly, warned us about unpredictable weather.

I thought I had us covered.  

Some long-sleeve shirts, sunscreen, and homemade bug spray.

We had snacks and water galore thanks to our pack mules, Andrew and Alekzander.

And a standing bribe for Alekzander :: 

If you can do this without whining, you can get your first Lego set.

It was relatively smooth sailing to our destination.  

My muscles burned and I was out of breath at the beginning -

though it surely had nothing to do with carrying a 28-pound 23-month old on my back!

Alekzander was a rockstar leading the way most of the time with his full hydration pack.

Clouds moved in and we encountered a few pop-up showers along the way,

but they made us giggle, 

especially as we saw people coming down the mountain in a hurry 

or fighting with bright yellow plastic rain ponchos.

As soon as the rain started, it would stop, so we never got too wet.

Winds swirled, but we were still game for an adventure.

When we reached Grassy Ridge Bald, quicker than we anticipated,

we celebrated a little before turning around to head back.  

As soon as we did, huge, heavy, cold, stinging raindrops started falling.

It was pouring, and there was nothing to do but forge ahead and laugh hysterically.

Anderson and I ran ahead and sang "It's Raining, It's Pouring" and "Happy Birthday" 

at the top of our lungs so that we could hear over the rain.

Andrew and Alekzander embraced the rain and traveled over slippery rocks 

and splashed in growing puddles.

When the rain finally stopped, 

we were soaked, cold, and exhausted,

but we were surrounded magically by clouds rolling by.

Anderson eventually zonked out on my back,

and Alekzander's personal mission was to stomp, jump, or splash

in every mud puddle on our descent.  

It was hilarious and exhilarating.

We made it:

with smiles on our faces, soaked to the bone, and mud caked on our shoes and calves.

We were made for adventure!

Tie-Dye and Sunshine

Warmer weather meant spontaneous water play with Ms. Maya.

Water play quickly turned into soaked clothes that had to be changed.

With three girls in the house, baby boy clothing is hard to come by.

When I picked up Anderson and Alekzander after work, 

Anderson was wearing an oversized, tie-dyed school t-shirt and a diaper,

and I do not think I had seen him much cuter.

He rocked the t-shirt while we played outside,

soaking up the sunshine on the first day of April.

Mommy and Anderson selfie

{with Alekzander captured in the background}

Tractor driving...

Pretzel eating...

Sunshine swinging...

Tie-Dye wearing

April Fool.

Dog Gone

When I was little, I left my favorite, prized stuffed animal, Pooh Bear, at my Grandpap's house in Pennsylvania.  This was long before the days of car phones, cell phones, or guaranteed next day delivery services.  Knowing the turmoil that would ensue from discovering the loss of my favorite toy, my Grandpap got in his car and drove at speeds over 90 MPH down the Pennsylvania Turnpike to catch up with our family's red 1972 Ford 500, flag us down, and return my beloved friend. I can imagine his proud, sheepish grin of being the hero who saved the day.

Flash forward 30 years...

A sunshine-filled 4-mile walk with Aunt Tessa Bug; a stroller loaded with snacks, water, toys, and the occasional big brother taking a break from 'scooter-ing;' a date filled with content boys and sisterly conversations. Anderson either zoned out or pigged out in his comfy seat, but there were a few times when a book or a cup was ejected from the stroller; luckily we heard or saw it happen and scooped it up mid-stride. After about an hour and a half, we made it back to the car after walking, stick collecting, and lessons about blind spots, and got home and got busy making dinner.  Randomly Anderson mentioned "Dog Go," but I didn't think much about it until we got back in the car a few hours later and I could not find his dog.  I knew it must have been lost somewhere along the walk and started to panic; it was already dark, and even running, I knew I couldn't/shouldn't cover the distance by myself. Andrew armed me with a cell phone and flashlight and planned to meet me a 1/4 mile down the greenway with the car.  We extended our meet-up point by another 1/4 mile and there, illuminated by our headlights, was "Dog Go" - sitting patiently and properly on a bench, waiting to be found.  The dog was not gone! 

An anonymous 'hero' had found him and propped him up - making our rescue mission successful!  Within five minutes of reuniting Anderson with his pup, Anderson was snoozing peacefully in his car sear with his treasured friend.  So thankful for a happy ending, fresh air adventures ... and guardian angels of beloved stuffed animals!

Miss This

You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
-Trace Adkins "You're Gonna Miss This"

Emerging from a rough season of sickness after sickness, 

emotional exhaustion, physical brokenness, 

I do know I will miss this.  

Maybe not the sickness, exhaustion, and brokenness, 

but the little moments in between.

While I do not love that a white box of baby wipes is the centerpiece on our kitchen table
among paperwork, computers, and crumbs, I am happy that we have a table to sit around as a family. I will miss it when life gets too crazy or sports, friends, and work interfere with family dinners.

While the piles of books on the floor day after day drive me crazy, I love that I have two little ones who have access to a well-stocked children's library and will likely love learning.  I will miss it when my boys think they are too big to present me with a book and plop down in my lap to listen to their favorite story for the tenth time in one day.

While urgent care visits and blood marring the face of my first born are admittedly one of my least favorite things, I am glad to have great care providers - and a calm husband and a brave boy.  I will miss the days when a hug from Mommy and a stuffed-Rex snuggle cannot fix the hurt that the world will bring.

When dishes get stacked up and laundry baskets overflow, I find peace in playing on the floor, holding a grumpy toddler, and listening to my five year old sing the same song {incorrectly, but adorably} twenty times in a row.  These are the moments I will miss.

The happy.

The sad.

And all the crazy in between.

I'm gonna miss this.

Merry Christmas Cards

Party Prep

Posing in front of the movie posters that Daddy drew

for Alekzander's Planes: Fire & Rescue viewing party.

The party plan :: 

Invite 13 TK classmates for an after-dinner, drop-off, movie-viewing, 

pajama-wearing, lovey-toting birthday party on a Friday night.

Simple refreshments.  Zero decorations.  Toys/distractions hidden.

Easy and fun.

We followed through with the Planes theme with a few special, early birthday presents

{Planes: Fire & Rescue movie, Planes sleeping bag, Planes: Fire & Rescue pajamas}

and had to test out the goods and the projector before Alekzander's friends arrived.

Brother had to be in on the pre-party action too.

Life Changing

Sometimes - all the time - it is so good to get outside of yourself ... outside of your comfort zone... outside of your head... away from your worries... by serving others.  

For the past few years, I have been so proud to be part of Rohr Rockstars - serving on the board, but also being a cheerleader for new programming and new ideas;  I am along for the ride, and the ride is fast, exciting, and life changing.  

With a new programming model in place, Rohr Rockstars partnered with Grier's Gallery to create the Artists in Residence {AiR}program; a monthly art education program that gets at the heart of what is important in life ::  finding a passion and sharing it with the world.  The first AiR artists had their work showcased at an art gallery in Uptown Charlotte - and a rocking reception/gallery opening.  To be sure that we could be part of this amazing event, we initiated a family date night.  Our time together - and the inaugural Grier's Gallery installation celebration - was a great success.  My heart is  so full!

 We'll pretend that Anderson was as amazed as I was!

Balloon Fest