After spending a few fabulous days with Grandma and Grandpa, we bid them farewell as they head for Maine to celebrate the Fourth with family on the coast! Calder definitely enjoyed chillin’ on the bike and lookin’ cool, but he wasn’t quite as sure what to think about those helmet-wearin’, riding-coat clad grandparents of his! At least he blew them a kiss on their way out the drive!
Vroom, Vroom
While my last “official” day of school was technically Tuesday, I still went in for meetings on Wednesday, had a full day of appointments, visiting and praise band practice yesterday, so today feels like my first real day of summer vacation.
I’m quickly adjusting to the lack of lazy, leisurely mornings (ahem, someone likes to rise and shine at 6am still!), but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Following bottle and breakfast, Dad left for an appointment so I spent the bulk of my morning playing and observing the ever-changing personality of little man.
Knowing that we’ll soon be in the single-digit countdown (I’m 30 weeks along today!) until the arrival of our next baby, I feel like I want to soak up all the special moments possible! I love seeing him climb, crawl, walk and waddle all around our house. Not to mention hearing him babble, match voice inflections, and test things out. For instance, today he spent about 15 minutes deconstructing the Sesame Street car wash toy he got for Christmas. Then, he inspected each piece to see if it would fit in a different place. He eventually pinched one piece under his chin and tried to stand up – just to see if he could.
I hope to post more frequently with a little more “free” time for a while. I have some pretty hefty goals set for myself (and the family) for the summer months so we’ll see if it all comes together. For now, check out a few of my favorite pictures I took recently.
Visiting Grandma and Grandpa
Climbing Calder
Kicking Back
I feel officially “inducted” now as a PMS teacher, having chaperoned my first Mackinac Island Eighth Grade Trip. It was quite an adventure, and I’m sure that the remaining three days of the school year will be especially interesting!
I hope to post a few photos after I’ve recuperated from high-tailing it around the island and staying up w-a-y past my typical bedtime. Calder did well on the bus ride to and from St. Ignace and he enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa.
The greatest gift I could ever receive is knowing that you treat others respectfully. You use kind words and tone when talking with friends, and your conversations with your elders are dignified and appropriate. You don’t laugh at others being put down or join in when picking on someone is the “cool” thing to do.
I can’t begin to imagine how much the world will change before you yourselves arrive here in the wonderful world of middle school. But I can pray. I can hope. I can teach. And though teaching is my profession, I’m slowly learning the biggest lesson of all, which is that the teaching I do within our home is so much more important than what I do from September through June in a brick-walled building.
Mornings like these, where disrespect and ignorance reign are frustrating, to say the least. Yet, they also strengthen my resolve to raise you both on the Truth that we have in Him and to trust that providing a strong foundation will result in the solid construction of your futures.
Arriving home after a long, yet productive day at work, I dropped my bags in the kitchen and returned outside to see my guys. Eyes shining, a mischevious grin stretched across Calder’s face – it’s so nice having him back after a week of him being quiet and lethargic getting over the flu. A quick glance around the flower beds reveals several weeds that need pulling, newly sprouted lilies, and unknown greenery that we hope results in blossoms sometime soon. Then, my eyes land on a baby robin that we watch for a few minutes before finishing our trip to the mailbox.
Later, standing at the sink finishing dinner dishes, I think back to our first apartment and how I hated staring at the awful textured wall which was made even uglier (if that was possible) by the unflattering glow of the flourescent light that buzzed above the sink. A flutter in my vision brings me back and I see the little robin perched on the railing of our deck. Squeals of excitement erupt from the dining room where Calder stands watching Dad and doggie playing in the yard. I glance over my shoulder, smiling at how he finds pure pleasure in the simple, everyday things.
Turning back, I see the mother land on the railing, a dirt-covered worm dangling from her beak. No way? Really, she’s going to feed her baby? I think to myself. Sure enough, she hops over and her sweet baby gobbles his dinner. How amazing. How simple and true and wonderful. Mamas feeding their little ones seems to be the theme of the evening as I prepare to head into the other room to give C. his dinner.
I feel priviliged to have witnessed this moment and begin losing myself in thought. That is, until I look again to see the little bird poop on my deck and hear a clatter from the dining room, where I find Calder proudly holding his dinner plate, while his dinner is now scattered about the floor. I fight the urge to get upset and instead, thank God for the many blessings in my crazy life!
Cornwell Crew 