Remember

The main purpose of this blog is to record what is going on in my life, the lives of my children and our family as a whole.  Some days I just have to write down some things my kids did or said because I want to remember!

Yesterday Riley kept talking about how our house was going to hatch.  He had it all figured out and mentioned it several times.  I really am not sure what he was referring to, maybe the cracks that are here and there?  It was pretty funny though.

We will be moving to a different city in the not to distant future.  We recently found a new home to live in and are excited to be making a move.  I have been trying to keep the kids involved in this process so nothing is sprung on them.  Sophia of course understands.  Since we decided on a new home and had some pictures I finally decided to tell Riley we'd be moving to a new house.  He's pretty excited and in his own, almost 3 y.o. way, understands.

So... yesterday Sophia asked me what Jamie would be bringing me for our anniversary.  I answered that he'd probably bring nothing since we don't exchange gifts for this holiday.  We usually just spend the money to do something fun together.  Riley pipes in with, "Dad get Mom a new house!"

Well, wouldn't you know, shortly after her bedtime Jamie arrives home with roses for me.  She runs out to say hi to her Daddy and exclaims over the roses.  Then, making sure Jamie didn't overhear she catches my eye and in the sweetest voice whispers, "I told you he'd bring you something!"

This morning Sophia found some pretty rose petals that Jamie had adorned our bed with last night.  She was very curious as to what these were for.  I told her Daddy wanted to decorate our bed with them.  She answers, "And then you threw them at each other?"  Ha!

And Haddie girl.  She LOVES to use our little vacuum cleaner.  I was letting her use that this morning while I swept with our big vacuum and broom.  When it was time to put everything away she threw a colossal fit.  She was literally hanging on the vacuum as I tried to put it in the closet, screaming!  Oi.

Now, Hadassah is not a horrid little girl, nor does she have a little curl, and yet, the overall feeling of this poem rings true somehow...

:)

There was a little girl
BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

There was a little girl,

            Who had a little curl,

Right in the middle of her forehead.

            When she was good,

            She was very good indeed,

But when she was bad she was horrid.

Effortless

Today Jamie and I celebrate eight years of marriage!  Jamie wrote to me today, speaking of how our relationship started, saying

"It was begun out of an effortless burst of preordained spontaneity."

He is so right.

We met in the Fall of 1997 at the young age of 15, both sophomores in high school.  Over six years later, in January of 2003, what was always just a "church" friendship, changed into something much much more!  No one saw it coming, least of all the two of us!  Jamie became my best friend and eight years later, still is.

I love Jamie and am so thankful for him.  He isn't a perfect man, but I am, to this day, continually amazed at how perfect he is, for me.

And for all those that were at our wedding, yes, we still remember that kiss.  The difference between Jamie and me?  While speaking of that memory embarrasses me to no end, it makes Jamie feel proud!  Ack!  

So, for all you out there with a spouse, here's to a day of embarrassingly long kisses.    :)

Funnies

Riley got his hair cut (by Jamie) about a week before Soph and I did.  Upon seeing our hair cuts on that Saturday, he said, "Mom, I like your hair-cut!"  "Do you like my hair-cut?"

He has repeated this every day, at the most random times, and it is so cute!

Last Sunday, both Soph and I had dresses on.  Riley says, "Mom, I like your hair-cut.  I like your dress!  You are a princess."

He also said about the same to Soph.  So sweet.

So... last Sunday evening, we were in the car and I was telling Jamie how Riley had called me and Soph princesses.  I ask Riley, "Hey, is Mommy a princess?"  His response?

"No, you not a princess, you my Mom!"

Ha!  :)

Then... a few days ago I again asked Riley if I was a princess.  This time he said, "Yep!" Then proceeded to do a deep bow towards me while saying, "Your Highness!"

I love my boy.

The other day while making dinner Riley was sitting at the table playing.  He had various objects that he was pretending were Buzz and Woody and others.  I hear him say in his 'Buzz voice,'
"I will be your hero!"

Then, in a higher-pitched, girly voice, I hear him say, "You saved me!  You are my hero!"

I don't ever want to forget these sweet things he says and does.  He is ALL boy and crazy and rough and sometimes even a bit of a bully (mainly to his sisters...) but he is also SO sweet and gentle and sensitive and endearing and funny!  I can't wait to see the man he turns in to.

Happy Birthday to my Dad!

 It is hard to believe that not too long ago there were only these two.

Molly Dog and Sophia (3)

2008

 Then there were three!  Well, four if we're still counting Molly ;)

This was on Dad's birthday exactly two years ago.

Sophia has her Big Sister/Cousin look, and Riley is looking at Cora like, "Hey girl, what's all the fuss about?  Smile!  Be happy!"

:)

Sophia (4), Riley (10 1/2 mos.), Cora (3 1/2 mos.)

2009

Last year... hmmm... are four too many for Grampy??  Hope not, because this year there are five!

Sophia (5), Hadassah (3 1/2 mos.), Riley (almost 2), Cora (15 mos.)

2010

***

As we celebrate my Dad for another year I can't help but think about the man that he is; the father and grandfather that he has become.  We are all so blessed to have Dad in our lives!

4th of July

Dad & Me

2008

My handsome Dad and beautiful Mom, with Cora.

July 2009

Dad, with Me and Jeni.  Never too serious for a good laugh around here!

July 2010

***

If you know my Dad you know a lot of things about him, like:

- he is honest to the core.

- he is a hard worker.

- he is not one to seek praise.

- he sees things that need done and just does them, no need to be asked.

- he most often shows his love through acts of service.

- he is a faithful husband and his best friend is my Mom.

- he is a loyal and supportive Father.

- he is a smitten Grandfather.

- he loves the Lord and seeks to serve Him.

Here are some things you might not know about my Dad...

- he was a missionary pilot.  I always feel most safe in a plane if my Dad is with me.  I figure he'd have a decent chance of saving the aircraft if we got in trouble.  :)  

- during our time in Africa I was home schooled my 1st grade year.  Any time Dad had a flight that was light on passengers he would let me come along.  If, on the return flight home it was just the two of us, he would do fun tricks in the plane to make me lose my stomach!  I loved it!

- my Dad is an only child and grew up most of his life without a father present in his life.  His Mom worked hard and raised him well!  You would never know though that Dad didn't really have a dad himself.  He is such a natural and excellent Father and Grandfather that you'd think he grew up with the best example ever.  

- My Dad likes to wear blue, and maroon.  Well, you might have known that.  :)  

- As long as I've known him, my Dad has never worn facial hair.  Funny that I married a guy with a face full of hair!  

- my Dad is never too shy to say "I love you," or to give a hug.

***

Happy Birthday Dad!  I love you and so do Jamie and the kids.  We are so proud to have you as our Dad/Grampy and pray that this birthday is especially blessed!

Lovely Locks

Sophia and I have been growing our hair out for a long time so that we could donate to Locks of Love.  Today was the day!

Sophia, before:

    

Sophia, after the initial chop:

Sophia, after:

Me, before:

Me, after the initial chop:

Me, after:

We both love our short cuts and feel great about donating to Locks of Love!

It was great fun to share this experience with Sophia.  She was so excited and eager to do this.  I am proud of her!

Big Sister Strikes Again!

 This afternoon this sweet, innocent boy was, as Sophia would say, "sawing logs."  He had fallen asleep on the couch.  Little did he know what his big sister would do...

 Last night Sophia lost a tooth and received some nail polish and lipgloss as her little gift.  

While Riley was sleeping this afternoon, Sophia, and two of her friends, were putting on lipgloss and nail polish.  Soph starts laughing and shows me that she'd put lipgloss all over Riley's lips.  She was pretty proud of her little gag and of course I took some pictures.  :)

I was instantly transported back in time when Riley was but 3 months old and Sophia had just turned 4...

:)