Back to school - 2014 addition.

This week the kids started MDO and PreSchool a few days a week at the same program Ava did last year. I will work during some of the time they are at school but one day a week I will have that time to myself to run errands and get other things. I am excited for some ways I think that will be good for all of us. 

We debated about sending Ava on to our district's Pre-K program this year. 5 days a week was seeming to much for us just yet, so after some prayer and research I decided to keep her in her preschool program. So this year will stick with the 3 day a week set up and we are being a little more proactive in the week to sprinkle in the some learning basics she will need for starting in K. I am finding myself reading all sorts of different education models and programs to figure out our plans going forward but glad we have some more time to figure it out and the blessing of options to consider. 

Rhett did better than expected for drop off the first day. They said he had a great day, napped well and was happily playing when I returned. He did his signature "surprise" face that Ryan and I love and ran into my arms at pick up time. 

Ava has told me several times this week. "Mom I am just so happy now that my school is back". Her two best buddies returned to this same program which was such a blessing to her and her beloved teacher of course another joyous thing for her to reconnect with. When went to meet and greet day I couldn't believe how little the 3 year old's seemed next to her but just the year before she was one of the smallest and youngest in her class. She has such a confidence in that space that was fun to see.

It was one of those days...

Today I was the one that woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Really before I got out of bed I woke up with two kids that had made their way in various ways to our bed in the early morning hours with my arm having that slight ache in it from a sleeping boy draped half across me with his head buried into my shoulder. Once in a while I enjoy this snugly sleepy time but honestly, he gets all sweaty pressing himself up against my side and most of the time I just want a little bit more sleep before having to give up on it and get started on the day.

I wanted it to be a happy morning to take Ava to her first day back at Preschool that she has eagerly been awaiting and to enjoy that time with Rhett just him and I. I had also hoped to get just a few things accomplished on my to do list so I would more available when Ava got home later in the day.

I said yes to her watching PBS in the morning which I usually say no to so we can connect at breakfast together at the table and that was my first mis-step. It was self serving for me, I was already feeling moody and not ready to fully engage. The morning proceeded with some drama with Ava getting ready, she pulled out of it pretty well and drop off was fine. Rhett went on to have an unusually clingy and fussy day thereafter. I wonder if he's teething more or if he's playing off my funk but it was just one of those days where I found myself easily frustrated, feeling wearied by their neediness and being short and pointed in my words with them.

Being a therapist by trade is a double edge sword, I delve into self reflection and find myself conflicted on embracing my feelings of funk and letting it be for now or being proactive try to move to a better pace more quickly. All of this with an undercurrent of knowing how blessed our lives are compared to some of the atrocities going on in the world at this very moment that mom's are living through and the others I know or am connected too that a forging much tougher journeys in this season of their lives.

I noticed going to different screens during the day whether it was TV or phone to try to distract myself and this of course isn't that helpful, I spent some brief time in prayer but I could feel I was avoiding even that engagement, I also tried to increase some connection time with Ava in the afternoon.While we manged through the rest of the day, I just never did shake the heaviness, it was a button down the hatches day - cancelled evening plans, just snacked around for dinner, hubby came to the rescue around 6 and we limped across the bed time finish line.

It's funny how just last week I took them to the zoo just a three of us, it was uncrowded with school agers being back in school and it being too early in the year for field trips over running the place. And I consciously thought this is one of my favorite days and what a blessing it was to be mostly home with them during this season of parenting, we had enjoyed so much taking our time to explore and everyone was in a good mood. Thus the journey of motherhood - It's often a swirling mixture of what is good and what is hard. Some wisdom I read recently was about happiness not being all or nothing - in any given day of this parenting journey there are pockets of the sweetest of joys and there also there's the hard work and less pretty aspects of a 24-7 job.

When I was taking Ava's first day of school pictures this morning, she asked me to take a picture of me and her. Is this honestly a great depiction of  the day we had? No. But does it honestly capture that moment we had? YES. While this was a little piece of gold in our day, it is the piece I want to hold on to.  My guess if I didn't just write out all these details, this day would fade away, I don't know what I would remember years from now. But I know this gift of parenting these two is a journey unlike any other and some how these harder parts are just as much a part of that fabric. So I am thankful for a day to start over tomorrow, to choose peace and joy with more intention and renewal that a new day can bring. Going to bed thankful and meditating on His mercies are new every morning.

Summer field trip

One thing on our summer bucket list was to do a day trip to 

Seminole to visit the Children's Museum there. 

A and I packed up the kids, turned up the Frozen soundtrack and headed there on a Friday, 

it was really well done and we are planning a revisit this fall to explore some more the outside fun: 

It was fun the boys were able to enjoy a lot of the play areas too.

building with magnets.

Our girly girl loved the mechanic area.

Rhett driving a Model T

Summer bucket list almost complete as these summer days draw to a close!

Rhett 15 Months old & These Days with Ava

He turned 15 Months old this week.

He started walking this month! 

Says ma, mom and mama often.

Nods for yes and no. 

Loves to wave and say Hi and Bye to people, even complete strangers we pass by.

He starts repeating "woo, woo" every time he hears a dog bark. (which in this house can be often)

Has 8 teeth. 

Lowered his crib to the last notch.

Still on two naps but might be getting ready to drop the morning one.

Sleeping all night most nights.

Loves to cuddle and will pat our backs when we are holding him.

Favorite foods are still avocado, mac and cheese and milk.

Likes to take a crayon or marker and hold in his hand to scribble on paper. 

Loves to be outside or in water.

Enjoys playing with a ball.

These Days Ava you are loving doing art projects. 

You have an art bin that you love to get down to paint, cut and glue creations. You love to make creations to give to people. 

We pass your preschool often as it's near our house and you get pretty upset at times asking me "why must school have a summer break!" and are so eager to return in the fall. One day recently you asked if your buddy Izzy could go to your school and I told you she will probably go to school on her side of town. Then you contemplated the idea of going to school where she does but you decided you weren't use to those teachers and would miss your school too much.

 It has been interesting watching you navigate social settings and relationships - as the apple doesn't fall far from my tree in that department.  I find you are very thoughtful in your interactions, prefer familiar settings, close relationships within smaller circles and at times need to recharge in low energy settings. 

We went to a church gathering this week at someone house. You made friends with one of the adult ladies there and you came to me excitedly to tell me that I will be so proud that you "got use to her". That's your introvert lingo for making friends. Yesterday we were at a restaurant meeting a friend of mine for lunch. You were going to go play in the play area and asked if any of your friends would be there. I told you no so you proceeded to tell me a well thought out plan you had for maybe finding another little girl that was playing alone that maybe you could "get use to" and maybe you could play with other little girls but told me now more than 3 I think. 

My prayer is you will embrace who God made you to be, you already make a very loyal and loving friend to others as you love so deeply and with such kindness. I pray many will be blessed by knowing and receiving the love you have to give. 

Fourth with the Family

We went to Houston for the 4th this year for our Annual Bell Bash. I loved the lack of plans as mainly we just enjoyed a slower pace with one another leaving plenty of time and space for lazy swims, watching babies play and lingering over meal time conversations. I find too often holidays become frantic with more doing and less being. I loved this holiday felt like we accomplished just the opposite and that in itself ironically takes some intentional planning. 

Man time on the drive way? 

We got to soak up time with our newest spring additions to the family Emilia and Hudson born just about a month apart.

It's hard to say what Rhett loved more the pool or the fireworks. 

lots of cousin time

Meeting Hudson.
Her other favorite thing to do besides pool time was baby lovin time. 

"pop-pop-pop"

His firework face.
 He loved the boom of the fireworks- sister does not.
They are both so alike and so different too. I
 love  this time of discovering who is, who is going to be - even in the smallest of ways.

Saturday Snoozing

Water balloon fight preparations

Warming up for the big game

lots of swim practice time

songs with meme

Some of my favorite worship times are family worship,
Sunday we enjoyed family worship before we hit the road. 

It was nice to have a Sunday morning to not have to wrangle my children during the service.
It was a beautiful way to end a great time together. 

Rhett's Room (13 & 14 month update)

Besides keeping out of town family and friends up to date on our happenings, 

this blog serves mostly as a memory book for this family. I been making it's pages into physical print books so we can keep a record of this season of family life. 

I did a little photo shoot of Rhett in his room the other week in an effort to remember his sweet nursery and capture so many familiar sites that I get to see daily of him right now that I wanted to tuck away for safe keeping:

"Reading" books.
Hair getting lighter in the summer sun.
His baby is fading and glimpses of a little boy are emerging. 

Grandma helped me make the banner.
The sign above the dresser says "snakes, snails and puppy dog tails".
The ceramic soccer ball and glove were from Ryan's room growing up.
His basket of books by his rocking chair has a collection of books I read to Ava too.
I love a good basket of books, I think I have one in every kid space we have in the house. 

I crafted the two canvases.
The dog one is Rory's profile. I just can't help but think of puppy dogs when I think of little boys-
so lots of dogs to go with his yellow and grey. The little owl was very first thing I bought for his room soon after finding out we were having a boy.
 I associate that owl with the growing excitement of thinking about being a mom of a little boy and the growing anticipation of meeting him, pretty sure I will be keeping it long after he's done playing with it. 

That little four tooth grin that will be changing to a six tooth grin any day now. 

Hes been loving his rocking horse that his Uncle Matt made him.
The furniture was his sister's, the rocking chair also a family hand-me-down.
I love that the vast majority of his room was gifted or hand-me-down - It all carries special meanings and memories to go along side the new ones.  

Milestone update for month 13 & 14

He is cruising, crawling, climbing but not walking just yet. 

He says "ha" and "Ba" while waving for Hi and Bye. 

He also says "uh-o" regularly when something falls or he drops it. 

He loves to play in the shower or bath and may would stay in there all day if we let him. 

He started pointing and grunting to try to show us what he wants. 

He may turn into an Avocado he eats them so much.

He stopped nursing a few weeks ago and now sleeps all night most nights. 

He and Ava play more together with reciprocal play instead of just parallel play. 

Favorite game so far that they both seem to love is to take turns putting each other in the play oven and waving bye-bye.  

Summer time!

It's the most wonderful time of year! Summer has always been my favorite. 

It use to be because of camps, slumber parties, pool time, sleeping to my hearts content... 

These days summer has a different rhythm to it than summer's past but the magic of sunshine and a slower pace still draw's me in and fills me up in a way no other time of year does. 

Ava and I have been enjoying what we call flower walks in the evenings in the field next to our house.

There are so many different kinds of wildflowers around our neighborhood, we checked out a book at the library on Oklahoma wildflowers and are learning which ones are which. 

This summer means Rhett is climbing in and out and on everything.

Some sibling love. 

 He is perfecting his don't boss me look for her this summer.

Summer means lots of back yard time! 

Summer also means visits from people we love! 

Happy Summer to you and yours!