The Return Trip

On the way home from Louisiana, we made a stop in Huntsville, AL to visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.  Here is the photo evidence that we loved it.

Louisiana, Part 2

While the boys were visiting with grandparents, Greg and I took a trip down memory lane to New Orleans.  The beignets and coffee with chicory hadn't changed a bit.

The St. Louis Cathedral was still gloriously beautiful against the backdrop of a bright blue sky.

We revisited a very romantic restaurant where we had eaten one Valentine's Day when we were dating. On the way out of town, we visited the seminary where I was a student.  It was beautiful and much the way I remembered it.

After more than ten years of being away from this city where I had such a life-changing experience, it felt like coming home again.  Although I see the city through different eyes now, I will always appreciate it for the way it transformed my view of service to others in the name of Christ.

Louisiana Trip, Part 1

 This summer, we traveled south to visit Gram and Gramp.  We always stop at the Mississippi River to take a picture before crossing into Louisiana.

Gramp had a terrific garden, and he had the boys help him each morning.

The tree swing was a lot of fun.

Rinsing off fresh banana peppers in the backyard was one of their favorite parts of being garden helpers.

It was a really special visit, and we're so glad we were able to take the trip.

First Camp-Out of the Season

We packed up our camping gear and headed for the mountains last weekend.  I am so glad we did.  It felt good to slow down together.  

Highlights of the camp-out, in my mind, were:
1) The boys getting to paddle by themselves for the first time
2) Greg's burgers on the charcoal grill
3) Campfire and s'mores
4) Snuggling down in the tent that we've almost outgrown
5) Morning campfire and eggs, sausage and pop-tarts
6) Paddling in the morning
7) Hanging out on the rocks in the morning sunshine

It was a great trip - one to remember.

Mark getting a feel for the kayak while it was still in the garage
 

Our fearless leader
 

Keepers of the fire
 

On the water
 

Waiting on the rocks with Mark
 

Nathan paddling up to say hello
 

Mark rinsing his feet off post-paddle
 

Visiting Ridgecrest after the camp-out
 

Wading in the Montreat creek
 

 

Baseball Ready

This spring found us full-swing in t-ball and baseball mode.  Weeknight practices were new for me. It was a little tricky at first, but we settled into a nice ritual of the library and picnic suppers before practice that made it fun for all of us.  

I think the boys enjoyed the experience.   Almost every day, they come downstairs with their gloves on and want to practice catching. Outside, we keep saying, so out they go.  There is a makeshift baseball diamond in our backyard now, and we have made two trips to retrieve balls from neighbors' yards.

Baseball is a good game.  And we have a lot of good pictures.  Here are a few to share.

 

Tulsa Time

Back in March, Melanie and I flew out to spend a weekend with Kate.  It was a good time together...pretty weather, great food, and nice, long chats.  The flight in itself was a retreat for me...uninterrupted reading time!  We left really early, which suited me fine.  I think Nathan even got up early enough to kiss me goodbye!
 

 
Kate with one of the kitties

Pre-dinner photo
 

Awaiting Mexican dinner...yum, yum!
 

Kate's kitchen
 

Shopping in an artsy part of Tulsa...we splurged and bought some sugar scrubs.
 

A memorable Italian dinner with lots of laughs
 

Cool fountains after dinner
 

The best chefs in Tulsa!

Back to Blogging

Last night, it hit me.  I have allowed blogging to sit on the back burner in the name of productivity.  For the past year or so, blogging has seemed like an "extra" to be enjoyed only after all the other things on the list are complete.  

The only trouble is, the list is never all checked off.  Thus, this little window for creatively capturing the moments of our family's life has been temporarily shut.  

Not any more.  

I choose to document our story on a regular basis again, because I want to remember these days.  Even if the laundry sits a little longer, and the dishes need to be loaded...I am going to write.  

We are in the throes of life with two little boys.  They are no longer babies or toddlers or preschoolers.  They are seven years old and five years old.  They take their own showers.  They ride their own bikes.  They swing their own bats. They wire their own electronics.  They want to bandage their own scrapes, and get mad when they can't quite reach their elbows.  They even prepare their own toast and cereal.  Starting tomorrow, they will paddle their own kayak.  
 
And I wonder, what in the world do they need me for, now that they can do so much all by themselves?

When one is in such a responsible hurry to get to school on time that he forgets his lunch, he needs me to go back home for the lunchbox, and bring it to him.  After all, he NEVER gets hot lunch, and this late in the school year, that kind of change would be a big deal for someone who loves routine.  And he needs me to say I'm sorry for being grumpy about it, and to tell him it's okay - we all forget things sometimes.

He needs me to draw the hopscotch squares in the driveway and teach him how to play the way I used to so many years ago.  He needs me to eat lunch on the porch for fun, and see who has the most juice left in the plastic popsicle bag after we're done slurping them.  He needs me to show him how to form the letter "b."  After all, I've had 31 years of practice, and he's a beginner. 

He needs me to sit on the deck and watch him swing. And pretend to go camping and follow him around the yard while he still pushes the yellow truck along the beaten path.  He needs me to climb up in the playhouse and sit in the safest corner so I don't have to worry about falling out - he'll take the dangerous spot and protect me.  

He needs me to shoot hoops and toss baseballs and plan kayak races. He needs me to see the hits and t-ball plays he makes. And he would love for me to teach him exactly how to blow a bubble with gum.

He needs me to listen as he performs his lines in the upcoming first grade musical, because he is the narrator and he has them all perfectly memorized.  And he needs me to show him how to look up the stories we read in the storybook Bible in his real Bible to know exactly what it says.

So, although they are no longer small enough to fit in my arms or on my hip, they still definitely fit in my heart.   And they are quite nice to cuddle with after their showers, all fresh and clean in their Spiderman and Superman pajamas.