Grandma kisses

This little girl has a soft spot for one person in particular.


My mom.

Raquel will grab her face with both hands, pull her to her own face and kiss her. She does this every time Grandma holds her.... and *only* with Grandma.

Date night with the Grandparents

For the past few years, my parents have made The Nutcracker Ballet a part of their Christmas gift to the grandkids (the girls anyway).

The first year was when Charis was 5 years old. My parents said she didn't look away from the stage. She sat, mesmerized, in open-mouthed awe, watching the dancers. to the extent that the strangers sitting beside her were watching her sweet reaction instead of the stage.

That year, ballet and theatre became a part of her dream. She wants to take ballet and one day preform in that show. on that stage. for me.

Charis (7) before leaving for showing of The Nutcracker, 2009.

For weeks afterwards, she would listen to the soundtrack and tell you exactly what had happened during that part of the story. She LOVED reliving the moment and obviously had every detail branded into her memory.

That was the year playing the Nutcracker CD became a nightly ritual.

The next year, much to Selah's delight, they both joined Grandma and Granddaddy...along with cousins Courtney and Sydney.

Selah (5)...right before The Nutcracker, 2009

It's now a tradition that is anticipated almost as much as putting up the tree. Maybe more?

I mean, what's not to love? Getting dressed up. Going to a ballet without Mommy and Daddy. Getting dressed up. Going out to dinner without Mommy and Daddy. Getting dressed up. AND getting to see professional ballet dancers dance in a way that you only pretend to be able to accomplish in the middle of the living room floor.

Really. It's every little girl's perfect night out. My mom is a genius.

Well, THIS YEAR...

Raegan (2) got to go.

And man, were the girls ALL thrilled. It was sweet to hear them be excited to include her in their "big girl" ritual.



Can you tell they're a little bit excited?

I mean, pictures like this are rare!! These are Nutcracker smiles. smiles that know they look good. smiles that know they're getting ready to be a part of something Big. smiles that say they feel special.

And though they're yet to return from dinner, I KNOW they'll have lots to tell us when they return. :)

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking the time to make these memories with them. They L.O.V.E it. and you.

Thanksgiving at a quick glance

Why are these girls so excited, you ask?

Because they were hanging out with my husband's side of our family. All 25 people of it...

Yes, that's me...the one with the bloated face and ponytail on the far right. Apparently I wasn't thinking clearly when I put that combo together.

Though some are a little crazy, we still love them and call them our own.

I happen to really love the one that looks like she may need professional help. :)

Can't you just see the joy on Jet's face as he's surrounded by his brothers and dad? Love this picture.



As well as this picture...



Two of the brothers were trying to wax all serious. Jet and Jonas obviously couldn't wipe the smile of their faces. I'm thinking they were having too much fun. :)

Speaking of "too much fun"...did I mention that 13 of The Clan are 8 years and under?

Exactly what I'm thinking too. Earplugs, anyone? 

It was a crazy time of hardcore playing...

I love how Chris (8) is showing Trent (5) his big muscles. And notice how Charis (7) and Selah (5) are going to battle against the "Mean Indian" Jacob (6) in the background.

Here's the motley crew of Mean Indians...


...hence the gruesome faces on two of the Indian Warriors.

Three boxes were constructed together to make their fort. (A brilliant idea by Aunt Joanna. Who knew you could go to stores and request appliance boxes? For free!)

When I saw this little Wagon-Ride-of-Terror that their little creative selves came up with, I had to talk myself through being a Mom NOT compelled by fear.

When I was little, my sister ended up with a bunch of stitches when we did something like that, and I still remember her screaming as I sat outside the ER room where they were sewing up her forehead. So yeah. I had to push that horrid memory from my brain as I watched. ;)


But man, if they didn't have a blast doing it!

Unfortunately, in the midst of this "crazy atmosphere", Alana (who didn't get either of her two naps) was only into being held.


So Jet and I took turns. :)


Raegan (2), who also missed her napped and wasn't acting herself, preferred to be away from the rowdy Indian game the older kids had going on. So she loved when Jacob showed her this little hidden fort where she could be in peace. :)


But she was ALL ABOUT being with the girl cousins.

Aren't they adorable? I have to smile when I envision what this group of girls will look/be like in 10 years.

And yeah, these three hit. it. off.

Lexi (6), Charis (7), and Selah (5)

When Lexi left that night to drive back to Texas, Charis told me how sad she was because Lexi was gone. but now she felt like she really knew her. Sweet.

I have a feeling these cousins (especially these girls) will share a lifetime of friendship together. How could they not? They are knitted by blood, drawn together by love.

Internet lovin'

I know, I know. I totally look like I'm doing something wrong, being all mischievous and ...stuff.

I think I was getting ready to say something? or maybe was cleaning my teeth with my tongue? or perhaps this is just the way I always look but had have no clue because I'm never on the other end of the camera lens? Scary. :/

Either way, Jet captured "the look" on film. Such talent has he.

But the point is to show that the girls were completely en-thu-ralled with what they were watching via the Internet.


You'd think to look at them that they were incapable of movement.

Though I'm pretty sure I saw someone blink. Once.

We watched it at least three times.

And not because I was wanting to. They just kept asking for "one more time" over and over.

Apparently, they were *really* into it. (poor Charis and her red chapped nose)

And yes, they did smile. They even laughed. Hard. I just didn't get that on film for some reason?

Even Lani, who loves to ham it up when there's a picture to be had,

(We occasionally wash her face. but only occasionally.)

Eventually, she was swayed by the laughter and commotion from the girls as they watched. Though I'm thinking her interest wasn't peaked until Viewing #3.

She's looking at The Sisters, laughing with them. finally toddling over to see for herself.


So what were they watching, you ask? Their cousin, Lexi (and Uncle Jonas) creating some cooking concoction.  (They haven't seen Lexi for YEARS. In fact, Raegan and Lani have never met her...and I'm doubting Selah actually remembers being with her. So they're in full-on Gear-Up Mode, prepping to see her in a matter of weeks for Thanksgiving)

We love you, Lexi. All of the girls are READY to play...and cook! ;)

An adult's moment of Crazy= A child's Lifelong memory

"Will you carry these bowls outside for me?"



My daughters are at the stage where they want to help. They ask for chores. They crave opportunity to prove themselves capable.

So yes, they were definitely up for the challenge. and were really excited about it.

We were at my parents house, getting ready to eat lunch on the patio, taking advantage of the amazing fall weather. And Mom, wanting to include my oldest girls, had asked them to be the Official Table Setters.

*insert trumpets blowing in the heavens and little girls eyes lighting up*

They had been given a Big Girl Chore. Oh the glory.

But then. A couple minutes later as I walked by the patio door, I saw Selah standing there watching the door, her big hazel eyes filled with unspilled tears. Being on the verge of sobs, she silently held up the broken pieces of the heavy ceramic bowl. Waiting for my reaction.

I may have sighed. I think I said, "Oh Selah." But holding Alana, I couldn't comfort her like I wanted. But no matter...Mom got to her first, wrapping her arms around her, as Selah cried.

"It's no big deal. They're just plates. Okay? Things break all the time...they can be replaced. But if you had been hurt, that would make me sad..."

But my sweet, tender-hearted Selah wasn't buying it. She clung to Grandma, but still cried, so distraught over having shattered a dish. A dish that she had been entrusted to carry. but broke instead.

I stood there watching the precious interaction between my mom and daughter, so very thankful that Mom was choosing to honor Selah and not her nice pottery.

And then my sweet, crazy Mom spoke again, shocking the heck out of me...

In her attempts to really drive home the point to Selah's broken heart, she said, "Selah, it's only a dish. Do you want me to break one so you can see it's not a big deal?"

Selah immediately nodded her reply. :)

Mom just smiled and sort of laughed. walked to the table. picked up a bowl. and threw it hard against the concrete patio before I could even form two coherent thoughts in my head.

"See? It's not a big deal." Shattered pieces lay scattered...

I kept some of the broken pieces. as a reminder to me...and to Selah...that she is cherished more than a piece of pottery. that she is loved more than material wealth. and that our hope in this life is to keep her heart from being broken.

Even if we have to break a few prized possessions to prove it. Just like Grandma did today.

A picture is worth...

I love their expressions here.

Selah's getting some kind of comfortable in the back, like she's prepping herself for the teen years. Charis is trying her hardest to figure out how to make the beasty move. And Raegan's looking all shocked and appalled that they're even sitting atop The Machine of Death (ie. Granddaddy's motorcycle).

Oh, the personality a snapshot can capture.

The Girls and the Boys

We have the girls. Jet's sister has the boys.

Take note of the dog licking baby John's mouth (above). I love the outtakes of kids' pictures.


These kids love being together. It's like built-in brothers and sisters. Close relationships that discuss the more personal issues in life.

The scene: The kids are all sitting in the floor. A puppy ran around frantically trying to dodge the pudgy little hands grabbing for it.

Charis: I know how to tell the difference between boy and girl dog. Do you, Mommy?

Me: (deciding now wasn't the time to go into details) "Uh-huh. How do you know?"

Charis: "Chris (8 year old cousin) told me.

Me: "Huh. That's good." (thoughts inwardly spinning over the car conversation yet to come)


TWENTY MINUTES LATER as we prepare to leave...


Charis: "See that brown spot on the ear, Mommy? That's how you can tell if it's a boy. Did you know that?!"

This is me sighing a huge sigh of relief, as Aunt Joanna and I look at each other and smile over their heads.

Love it.

Saturday. At a glance.

This is the time of year when I scour my house, box in hand, throwing in any and all unnecessary items. things that haven't been used in over a year. possessions that, for whatever reason, are no longer needed, wanted, or enjoyed.

Every year I have at least one large yard sale. But this year, two days before the scheduled event, Jet and I decided to donate all of our yardsale stuff to Justin (my almost 17 yr. old nephew) and his fund-raising yardsale. (his missions trip to England)

Ah, sweet relief!

I can't even describe the immediate impact that small decision had on my well being. Because even though I was willing to press through and do the yardsale (making money for a new front door), it was fairly stressful...

especially with four small children underfoot: one of whom is preparing for her end-of-the-year testing and needs lots and lots of one-on-one time reviewing math concepts. one of whom is teething hardcore and only wants to be held. and another who is going through a growth spurt and only wants to nurse.

A new front door has nothing on my remaining sane. ;)

Saturday late-morning, we all hopped in the car to go to my parents house, where Justin was having his yardsale.

Even Toby, our dog, went along.

Before having children, Toby would hop in the car and go with us. Once the babies started coming, he became a very sad little puppy. remaining at home, tied up in the backyard, watching us with sad sad eyes every time we drove away.

Needless to say when we invited him to jump in the back, he was one hyper-happy dog! especially when he got to go "swimming" in the creek behind my parent's place.

Raegan, on the other hand, proved quite content just hanging outside...

with Justin.

This picture was late afternoon, when the yardsale crowds had thinned out. He decided to start weeding one of the back flowerbeds

Raegan was ALL TOO happy to "help"

Can't you just see the sheer adoration she has for him?

And he was a complete sweetheart with her. letting her throw dirt at him and pretending to throw some back. I'll give you one guess who initiated that game. *grin*

You could hear her laughing loudly from the front yard. It was all I could do to not stand behind the tree and just watch the two of them interact.

By the time we got home, she was completely caked in dirt. and dead to the world.

Jet just layed her in the family room floor, where she stayed sleeping

...until she heard a loud commotion in the kitchen: Her sisters shouts of joy over what we were preparing for dinner.

Charis (6 and a half)...so very ready to dig in and eat!

If I remember correctly, I had to ask Selah to stop screaming, she was that excited!

Why were my some-what picky eaters so thrilled? Because this was on the menu. As THE Main Entree.

When I was little, my parents started a delicious little tradition. Banana Splits for dinner during the summer. Woohoo!!

If memory serves me correctly, it only happened half a dozen times in all my growing up years, but it made a *big impact* on me. So every year (at least once during the summer) Jet and I surprise the girls with a Banana Split Night.

Yes, I realize it's not even summer yet. But what can I say? I love me some icecream!

And they LOVE it! (yes, that is a dryer rack filled with cloth diapers in the background of our deck...but they're clean diapers, promise!)

And even though Raegan looks like she's being tortured...???... she enjoyed every minute of it. saying "Mmm. I like it! It's good!" after every. single. bite.

Raegan turns 2

One tradition that we have as a family is Birthday Doughnuts.

Being that we don't see doughnuts in this house outside of someone's birthday, it's a Buh-ig deal to the girls.

This year, Raegan's birthday fell in the middle of my mom's Spring Break (she works for a college). So we went to her house for a mid-morning "breakfast" of chocolate-covered doughnuts.

And really? What's better than a day at Grandma's house, singing Happy Brithday, AND chocolate?!

Nothing!

See that look in her eyes? It's the content and satisfied, my-life-is-in-perfect-order-now look. The one that says "Oh. You still here, Mom? Huh, I didn't notice."

That night we did it all over again.

Yes, those are two doughnuts with candles stuck in them. What can I say, I'm an over-achiever when it comes to my daughter's birthdays.

We didn't even do presents this go round. Shhh! Don't tell. Seriously, she has no clue. In her little mind, she had an a-ma-zing birthday.

Especially when we went to a friend's house for dinner the next evening. My job was to bring the dessert... being the exceptionally wise mother, I brought Birthday Cake.

More singing and blowing out of candles?! Does it get any better than this?!!

In the eyes of a two year old? I think not.

Though next year, I'm thinking Lazy Mom has to get her booty in gear. A 2 year-old may not realize she was totally jipped, but a 3-year old will.

Especially since this summer is Selah's 5th birthday. The birthday year where we go "all out". Raegan will totallly expect something next birthday...after seeing Selah's Grand Hoop-la.

Thankfully, both sets of grandparents left phone messages for her...she got them after our dinner party at a friend's house.

Grandma & Granddaddy, Grandmama & Grandpa...This is how excited she was to listen! :)

We still have those messages on our answering machine. She listens to them non-stop.