What Else Would We Be Doing in August...

...besides having a double birthday party for two people whose actual birthdays are in May and December?

It was pretty awesome to have a pool party, sprinklers on the tramp, and water balloon fights.

In the past, it's snowed for our camp-outs, the yellow brick road has blown away, and I beat myself up for throwing parties 7 weeks late.

Lilly is definitely closer to eight than 7. But whatever.


God blessed us with an amazingly sunny day:) I felt the love.

I'm sure you're curious about the colors.
Red, yellow, and aqua. It was perfect.

The birthday boy was perfect, too.

And so was the girl.

But these people are nuts.

More details tomorrow :)

Swallow Your Coffee Before Reading

So yesterday, I was vacuuming Jackson's room while the kids were at school, and stumbled across a little orange note scattered on the floor between a nerf gun and smelly t-shirt.

Before I share it, you need to know...

Lilly does NOT need personal space.

Or public space.

She likes to be touching, holding hands, snuggled up, scratching your arm, playing with your hair, close as a breath, in your space {which she actually thinks is hers.}

ALL THE TIME.

{I think they're 3 and 4 in this photo.}

She rode her scooter home from school today one-handed to free up the other one for some hand-holding with mom.

Lilly also loves her brother to pieces. Of course, that doesn't mean she treats him well all the time.

{As a total aside, just moments ago before bed, she was in a tearful fit..."It's like my brain turns off sometimes and then I say something horrible to Jackson and then it turns back on when it's all over. Why do I hurt Jackson with my words when I love him more than anyone in the world? I don't MEAN to, my brain just goes OFF."}

Oh sweet girl.

If Jackson should ever try something audacious, like stealing a moment to read, breathe, or think alone, Lilly can be immediately found in his presence.

{Disney World}

Begging him to play, trying to make him laugh, and using whatever persuasive wear-down tactics she can, Lilly will not let it rest until he angrily gives in.

The frustration in his voice explains that he's weighed the outcomes of joining her ploy and that playing whatever she wants is less painful than fending off her persistent interruptions.

Back to vacuuming his bedroom...I reached down to throw out an orange piece of paper, glanced at the handwriting, then vaguely recalled shouting up the stairs earlier that morning that Lilly should have "NO physical contact with Jackson whatsoever while he is innocently trying to read a book."


Lilly will annoy--through words, touching, or pen.

And Jackson's response perfectly captured his personality.

And then I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe.

I Only Hold Records for Idiocy

Friday was our third theme day of school colors/corny sayings. {As if having the Golden Retriever for your mascot isn't corny enough.}

But golden retrievers are faithful, loyal, friendly, enthusiastic, and fantastic readers--all perfect attributes for students.

I think we had to get RED-y to Learn!

Or something like that.

L & A rocked their Fourth of July wear--which is what you do when you go to school this early in August.

This included the before-school phone call to confirm outfit choice. Actually, it was a text. When did 2nd grade become jr. high?

Since we're not ready to surrender to summer, we celebrated the first 3 days of school with a sleepover.

They jumped on the tramp for hours, devoured grilled pizza, and even opted for a homemade ice cream sundae bar over a run for frozen yogurt.

And in one swift move, two nights of 8:30 bedtimes were crushed and exhaustion set in again.The girls cuddled up in bed and watched "Because of Winn-Dixie" {we carried the dog theme to extreme}.

Jackson & Zach watched "National Treasure," declaring it the coolest movie of their lives. Until next week.

Part of Saturday's unbelievable excitement included a drive-by of houses to check out the shutter situation.

Brad is determined to make the shutters, and I'm thinking that's not a great idea right now. He just finished up a summer-long flooring project, then cleared 37 power tools out of the garage so he can park in there for the first time in 2011.

And I actually had crown moulding next on the docket...NOT shutters. But we'll see.

So after those three days of black, gold, and red, today the kids could let loose with their own school wardrobe choices. Lilly grabbed exactly what she wore yesterday out of the hamper, which suddenly made me long for a dog shirt.

The kids were out the door at 9:05, leaving my day potentially filled with productivity and accomplishment.

That lasted until about 9:30 a.m.

Yes. Those are my keys. In the my car. With the doors locked. {AGAIN!!!!!} Attached to my water bottle, which will prove to be the worst part of the deal.

Arriving at the gym at 9:20, I slammed the door at 9:20:02 and realized my grave error.

Luckily, I was meeting an awesome friend, and she offered to give me a ride home so I could grab the other set of keys.

{Ironically, she is the same friend I saw two weeks ago while I was out running. I had gotten wrapped up in some music and found myself 7 miles into a run and not exactly near home. At a stoplight, I saw her car and I jumped in the front seat before she could refuse my sweaty self.}

In light of the previous rescue, I didn't want to make her drive me back to the gym. I needed to run anyway, so even though it was 95 degrees out, it sounded like a good idea to run 5 miles back to the gym incredibly thirsty, clutching a key, and starving.

My logic: wrong.

We had just finished barbell and I did it waterbottleless, so my mouth was already like dry-sponge. I was hungry, but didn't want to eat because eating before a run doesn't really go well for me.

5 mile run + exhausted muscles + heat + dehydration + sketchy stomach = "discomfort"

My arms dangled from my shoulder sockets like limp spaghetti and even my triceps were throbbing. {I know the tricep isn't one of the larger muscle groups involved in running, but that just shows my level of bodily distress.}

However, the REAL bodily distress came about halfway through when I started praying my entire digestive tract would be raptured.

I'll spare you any further details.

By the time I finally got home {at 1 p.m.}, my visions of productivity had been replaced with hunger hallucinations. I may have eaten cardboard at that point, but I do know it was delicious.

My thought process was a little blurry at this point, but I remembered I had a free Starbucks drink that expired today, so suddenly caffeinating myself seemed urgent.

Something about an iced coffee was surprisingly refreshing, but somehow my senses were still a little dull. Who knows where the time went, but I found myself racing against time and traffic to get home before school got out.

And Little Miss Sunshine got there at the exact same time.

And then I couldn't stop eating for the next 5 hours. And I'm STILL hungry.

Thursday

For all my tough talk about not shedding a tear, today was a little more emotional.

Even though time faithfully treks on each day, the beginning and ending of school years seem to punctuate life stages like nothing else.

School is just so defining...I still remember every elementary teacher in every grade. {High school is a little more foggy.}

In general, life rhythmically moves from one week to the next without significance, but today I could tangibly feel the pages turning. And while I'm excited for the next chapter, I really liked this chapter.

It is like the most wonderful story that you can't help but dread the end.

{I'm hopeful that explains why I cried THREE separate times in the latest Harry Potter movie.}

We had the most wonderful summer and I wasn't ready to wrap it up. Taking trips, staying up late, and having no scheduling conflicts except deciding which pool to visit were an amazing gift.

That said, I never want it to appear like we have this perfect little family that speaks calmly, lovingly, and rarely fights. Who eats healthy meals and all sit down around the table for dinner. Who tell enchanting bedtime stories and bathe daily and give generously and leave random surprises for each other.

Actually, we ARE some of those things, some of the time.

But we also have short tempers, issues with attitudes, eye-rolling, and razor-sharp tongues. Sometimes we do the bare minimum {poorly, at that}, and selfishness divides us. We drink too much soda, regret money spent, and have a basement that isn't fit for swamp vermin.

So I remember that it is a choice, {not denial} to see the small beauty in the midst of messes. I choose to cling to the hopefulness of trying but failing, instead of the repeated frustration that my effort was not enough. Again.

I LOVE having the kids at home for the summer.

And I LOVE when they go back to school.

I honestly don't prefer one over the other--they each have unique joys and challenges. But my contentment can't balance on whether or not the day suits my tastes. Contentment it is simply finding happiness matter what unfolds each day.

Isn't that what joy is? Contentment in anything...not waiting for the new/improved/better/finished this or that.

So anyway...

I'm working on that whole contentment thing...starting with being content that it will take a lifetime of growth.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...


The wind tunnel of Parker has gifted us with some new to bi-fold shutters.

I think it's pretty common for shutters to break/bend in two while we're out to dinner.

But of course, it cracked me up that I couldn't get a picture of the damage without the rainbow in the background. Sometimes the Lord has to make the silver lining really obvious.

With Apologies to AC/DC

Look who I sent off to 4th and 2nd grade today...


{gasp of disbelief}

And for all of you AC/DC fans...YES, our theme was "Back in Black."

In the past we've had the privilege of wearing awesome t-shirts with the MIGHTY Golden Retriever mascot on the front.

{2009}

But due to some budget cuts, we got to wear our own non-canine black clothing.

{Whew}

J had some major nervousness last night, so we talked and cried through it. He couldn't articulate exactly what was bothering him {I knew it wasn't fear over long division and the four types of topic sentences...even though that's what he said.}

"Mom, that's why I said I'm OVERWHELMED. It's so much of everything and words can't describe it."

I couldn't really argue with that.

This morning, after some syrupy french toast, cheesy eggs, and strawberries on the red plate, he was feeling more confident.

Since we'd been gone all summer, J hadn't seen many friends. As they swarmed him and called out his name, his familiar, comfortable smile returned.

He bear-hugged all of his peeps, even though I could tell most of the boys would rather bump knucks. He is a lover. And I love that about him.

Lilly was calmer...mostly to play spoiler to Jackson's nerves. But that's ok...less drama for me:)

The first thing every friend noticed was her braces. And she handled it great.

Even though it's her least favorite thing about herself right now.

After I dropped them off...two wonderful things happened.

Firstly, I didn't cry this year. Not a tear. Not that it wasn't a happy/sad thing. It was.

My heart still hurt in a strange way. But strength doesn't come without strain, and the strain {yes, theirs and mine} is necessary.

Last year my tears flooded the neighborhood. FOR DAYS. By having both kids in school all day, I realized I was grieving a season of life that included kids who spent most of their time at home with me.

The shooting pain that knotted my heart only lasted a few weeks, and I was actually thankful to have the capacity to deeply feel the transition from a house of preschoolers to a home of school-aged kids.

It was a merciful reminder that I promised them to the Lord from the time they were born, and any feelings of control I have are just an illusion. In my heart of hearts, I really don't want them for me anyways. Because they are His first.

They're the best gifts I've ever been given, and I can't express thanks in any bigger way than to hold them with an open palm.

{Why is my throat is feeling tight?}

Secondly:

I TOTALLY forgot {until my dad called from the airport}, that he was coming to town today!

It was the best surprise, even though it was fully due to my faulty memory, not an actual *surprise.*

So when the kids burst out of school to see Papa standing there...awesomeness:)

And when we ate our way through the Grand Lux, culminating with a Deep Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake...I was reminded that if happiness had a flavor, it would be chocolate.

Now those babies that are so big and so small all at once are asleep.

*smile*

Car Tawk

So here's what my mint-condish rearview mirror looks like:


Not that bad considering the side of our garage regularly jumps out and attacks it as I pull in and out. The only downside is that you can't really see out of it unless it's a perfectly clear day and no one is behind you.

The defrost mechanism stopped working awhile back and the replacement cost is a year's wages.

So, no.

And here's what it looks like after you close the door:

I WOULD use duct tape to keep it on, but those dangling wires are doing a great job.

These are even those breakaway mirrors but I don't think Chevy anticipated the extensive amount of breaking away these bad boys were going to have to do.

And lastly, here's a little gem from the Colorado Emissions Testing place:

The kids and I just couldn't stop giggling.

And this is Just Day 1

In what turned out to be a genius move, I confirmed that I DO, in fact, want my kids to go back to school this week.

Sometimes, right before school begins obscenely early in August, I have thoughts of a longer summer, more late nights, ice cream runs {although my shorts are protesting}, and lazy days.

Then today, millions of children came over, played wildly, needed 75 band-aids, bled all over the house, caused me to tweezer splinters out of a few pairs of dirty feet, fought, name-called, cried, and became irate when after SEVEN HOURS of non-stop play, I broke up the party.

So, back to school on August 3rd?

YES.

But I'm going to live in my fantasy vacation world a little longer...so we're finally to one of my favorite parts of our trip: the beach!

I hope that a murky lake with an artificially sandy shore qualifies as a beach, because that's where awesomeness happens.

The past several years, we've gone to camp in Michigan with Brad's family...all the uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents and those in various stages of dating come to have a wonderful weekend together.

It's so much fun to watch all of the kids play together, build sandcastles, water ski, play mini golf, kayak, zipline, and giggle.

The adults talk, talk, talk, lifeguard when necessary, and try to read books.

It's a place where a swim suits are the only attire required and showers don't even get you clean.

But that's ok, because it's fun:)

Didn't get nearly as many pictures as I wanted, but the sand/water elements make having the phone/camera at hand VERY risky. VERY.

Lilly is always one to be part of the castle-making effort. I love her navy and white swimsuit. Such a classic.
Navy and white always feels Kennedy-ish...like we're vacationing on the Cape in our compound.

I mean, doesn't this just SCREAM elegance and fashion?


Right.

Lilly and Allie are looking a little beach-ified, but sweet. Allie is our newest cousin and STINKING CUTE. There really aren't words. She is like a little peanut you can put in your pocket, but tough as nails.

Well played, Allie.
Oh, I forgot to mention the water gun fights.


And digging for buried treasure.

And paddleboats.

And sandcastles.
And COUSINS! Did you see them all? They rock. There is an amazing bond and so much love even though they don't see each other nearly enough.

Of course, the fave activity is anything related to the boat.

Lilly is pretty much the Evel Knievel of tubing.

She is too strong and too little to throw off the tube without causing serious harm.

Sadly, I didn't get some of her best tubing moments on camera. She and Jake took more of a sea cruise around the like that involved him clinging to the tube for dear life while protesting the "speed" of the boat, and Lilly standing up behind him experimenting with various gymnastics poses.

I was too busy laughing so hard I cried to get pictures.

We had no problem, however, throwing Brad and Jackson.

{Too bad the iphone doesn't have a telephoto lens. Maybe the 5.}

Dude, all that fun is tiring.


Yes, indeed.