blessed beyond measure

There's just something about this season that takes the OCD right out of a person. You find yourself doing things you'd just never do any other time of year. Or maybe not doing things you'd most definitely do at other times. Here's some of what sets summer apart for us: Schedule Er, what schedule? No school, no Awana, maybe a couple of basketball games here and there. Wake up whenever you wake up. Just please not with the sun. Please. What time is dinner? I don't know. Five? Nine? Sometime. Whenever we get to it. And, just so you know, we might just eat fruit. And crackers. And popsicles. Seriously, it's too hot to cook. Bedtime officially occurs at whatever time in the evening that Mama declares she's had enough of the day. Could be 10:00. Could be 4:30. Just kidding. Well, kind of. No, there is no level of excitement quite like that of two boys who have the privelege of descending to the man cave with their daddy for the night. ...

Here is our kitchen at night. Did you see it? Bottom left. Look again. That would be Trey. And his new bed. In the kitchen floor. I know it's a phase. Because if it's not, we're just doomed. So it's a phase. A phase that has planted irrational and unconquerable fears into my eldest's mind. He cannot be alone. Can. NOT . Not just alone, though. Another trusted human being must be in eye or earshot. Day or night. But the worst is at night. We have tried everything to get this stubborn and amazing kid to go to bed like a normal person. Really, everything. Logic, bribes, gentle prodding, yelling, privilege-stripping, the parental prison of having to lay in his bed with him until he goes to sleep. Ugh. And to maintain sanity, this is what we landed upon. Bedtime comes, he falls asleep in the kitchen floor. Lights blaring and Mama scurrying around and over top of him to get end-of-day chores done. And he falls asleep happily. Most of the time. As long...

Well, Aden did actually have a birthday party. Not that you could tell from this blog. But he did. A quick little after-church beat-the-rain picnic at Nene's playground. All in celebration of the sweetest and most energetic three-year-old on the planet. Chowing down. He ate his lunch and most of mine. Opening gifts. Aden + monster truck = pure joy. A pause in the gift-opening to spot an airplane with Poppop. Trey appointed himself card-reader. Just look at my buffness. Nana and Granddad score major points with a toy train. Then Giga scores her own major points with a strawberry cake. Yum! Oh yeah, Poppop knows how to scoop an Aden-size bite. Time to play! Hope you had a great birthday, Aden!

It's a week late, but hey. Better late than never. Trey graduated from Kindergarten last Tuesday. And despite our well-grounded fears of him not participating in the ceremony since (gasp!) there would be lots of other people around, he did so great. We couldn't be more proud of our boy for all he has accomplished this year. He worked hard and learned so many things. He emerged from his shell and discovered how to thrive outside our tightly-knit little family circle. He grew up right before our eyes. And we praise the Lord for him. I pause here to apologize for the blurry images. You'd think I've never used a camera before. I blame the intermittent tears and the fact that I have absolutely no clue how to take good pictures indoors. Pomp and circumstance (and the start of misty eyes) All three classes together (Trey is fifth from the right) Receiving his diploma Proud, proud, proud Singing along with his friends (hooray!!!) Together with BFF, Spe...

He's three. Three years ago today the world was taken by storm. And none of us, I mean none of us , has ever been the same. Oh, my Aden Levi. Daredevil, making my heart skip beats with every bicycle ride, every flying leap off the beds. And beaming like a firefly with every victory. Social butterfly, never met a stranger and asking what's wrong with anyone who doesn't return your hello. The world could learn a lot. Nonstop, waking each morning with gusto wondering what you will discover, eager to face such a fascinating life. Not just facing life head-on, but with a full-force billy goat head-butt that lasts all stinkin day . Strong, able to move furniture with ease, never fussing over boo-boos, and taking daily head injuries like a man. Taking your shirt off and flexing for your Mama. Stud muffin. Compassionate, concerned over the hurts of others, not the least of whom is your own brother. Sticking up for him and sticking by him when h...

Since both Brandon and I work in the field of education, our measurements of time are tied to school calendars. And so the time has once again come for the year to, as they say, wind down. Which gives one the impression that life becomes a bit slower. Um, no. This will be about seventeen posts in one, because hey, that's our pace these days. Awana (our church kids' program) has ended for the year. Things were a bit different than in the past because, instead of just Trey being involved in Awana, Aden was able to participate in a class and I served as assistant commander. It was a remarkable time, to be part of something so amazing, something designed to get kids digging deep into God's Word and learning how it fits into their lives. Can't say enough good things. Aden was a Puggle, and spent the year memorizing "verses" (really concepts) and focusing on how to obey his teachers and trying to learn the golden rule among his classmates. He did great, wa...