Eleven

Eleven years ago today I walked slowly down down the center aisle of a little church with my arm wrapped tightly around the arm of my Dad.  My heart fluttered with anticipation as I looked in the eyes of the man who would become my husband.  Surrounded on either side by our closest friends and family we repeated vows and exchanged a kiss that would begin our life together.

Looking back I realize how little I understood about marriage.  I realize that I walked into it blindly and without understanding what it really means to do life together.  Truth is, I believe it's impossible to really get it until you're actually in it. 

Chad, if I told you every day it wouldn't be enough.  I am so thankful for you. 

I know that what we have is something special.  Something unique.  I know that what we have. . . what I have in you. . .  is a gift from God.  I truly feel like the luckiest girl alive to call you my husband. 

Chad, you make me laugh.  You make me smile and after eleven years--you still make my heart flutter.  When I think about the starry eyed girl that said "I will" eleven years ago, I smile, knowing that she had no idea the true gift she was about to receive.  That girl didn't understand that the man who was standing next to her was truly one of a kind.

Chad, you are a wonderful Dad to our kids.  You are an amazing friend to your friends.  You are a great son to your parents.  You are an excellent brother to your brother.  But Chad?  You are an exceptional husband. 

Today, I celebrate you.  I celebrate us.  I thank you for being there for me every step of our journey.  For being my biggest encourager and closest friend.  I thank you for being a safe place for me in every sense of the word.  I thank you for letting me be me. . . for helping me to really be me. 

Chad thank you for giving me one of life's greatest gifts. . . a beautiful marriage. 

“You're the strangest person I ever met, she said & I said you too & we decided we'd know each other a long time.”

Brain Andreas

Running Chatter: Things That Make Me Happy

It has been a good week.  A fast week and a good one.  When an extra day is tacked on to the weekend I find myself in a bit of a confused fog during most of the week.  Tuesday is Monday, Wednesday is Tuesday, and Thursday is Wednesday.  But Friday?  Friday is always Friday because really, who messes up Friday?

Not me.

Since it's (already) Friday and Friday makes me happy and I'm still coming out of the hazy confusion of a short week I thought I'd keep it simple. . .

Running Chatter. . . Version:  Things that make me happy . . . 

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10.  Running

Track is in full swing for Charlie and Chanelle. 

This is Chanelle's first year and Charlie's third.  What can I say?  I love watching them.  It's quite low key with an emphasis on fun (at least for us).  I enjoy watching smiles stretch across their faces and tongues hanging out of mouths as they get lost in concentration.

 



Seriously, is there anything more adorable than watching four year old girls racing side by side and veering into each others lanes with smiles of pride stretching across their faces? 

Or watching six year old boys give their most serious faces while racing toward a finish line made up of the open arms of proud parents?

I don't think so. 

Yep, track is is full swing and we are loving it.

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9.  Roses

Our roses are in full bloom.  Bright, beautiful blooms cover the side of our house. 

They make me happy.  Very happy.

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8.  Herbs

Basil, dill, rosemary, parsley, oh my!  Our herbs are ready for harvesting.  What a treat it is to walk out to the deck and take scissors to fresh herbs. 

So simple, yet such a treat. 

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7.  Yellow Shoes

I thought red shoes made me happy.  Ummm, yellow shoes put red shoes to shame.  Seriously, have you seen the movie Happy Feet?  That was me all day today.  I couldn't stop them. . . my feet just danced. 

Dancing feet make me happy.

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6.  365 Project

Yep, I'm still at it.

Eight months down. . . Four to go! 

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5.  Double Take

Meadow had a friend over this week.  It seems that the Mom's have the same taste in clothing. . . and the girls aren't real happy about that.

That's okay. . . it makes me happy.
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4.  Another First

Meadow seems to be on the fast track of "firsts". This week she found herself face to face with a treat that every person of the female variety loves. . .

Chocolate.

Miss Nancy was kind of enough to offer relief from the heat to all three of the kids and we are quite sure she digs chocolate. . .

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3.  A Gift

Today the Fed Ex man came to the door.  I was surprised because I knew we had not ordered anything.  When I saw the package was from my aunt and addressed to me, I didn't waste any time tearing into it.  This is what I found. . .

Along with a note that read. . .

Summer, Your mom gave me this necklace a long time ago when I was running six miles a day.  The chain had broken and the pendant has been in my jewelry box ever since.  I always loved the necklace so I got a new chain and began to wear it again.  Every time I look at it though I think of you--our little runner!  This belongs with you! 

I can not even attach words to what this little surprise meant to me today.  My first thought was, her hands were on this. . . mom held this pendant. 
Thank you, Aunt Carol.  From the bottom of my heart. . . thank you.  This gift made me smile today and it always will.

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2.  Charlie

This afternoon Charlie was walking through the kitchen, getting ready to head out the door.  As he approached the door I stopped him and asked him to come to where I was standing.  There was something that I wanted him to see. . . something that I suspected might make him smile.  As he approached me, I lifted him up so he could get a good look at the thing I wanted to show him.  That's when it happened.

Right there in the middle of the kitchen, Charlie let out one of the heartiest, happiest, joyous belly laughs I think I've ever heard.  Ever.  The dimples on his face were beyond prominent and his deep laughter echoed throughout the house.  Seriously, I thought Miss Nancy was going to come over to see what the commotion was about. 

I carried that beautiful sound with me throughout the rest of the day.  Even now as I write this I still hear the faint sound of his joyful laughter ringing in my ears.  There is nothing like that.

His dimples. . . The belly laugh. . . Charlie makes me happy.

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1.  Laughter

Care to know what Charlie what made Charlie laugh so hard?

Do you really want to know?

Okay. . . here it is. . .

Meadow will likely kill me for this one day but seriously. . . is it not adorable?!

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There you have it.  Running Chatter. . . Version:  Things That Make Me Happy
Wishing each of you a weekend full of the awareness of Happy Things.

Chatter, Out.

Kindergarten, Check.

It was just last fall when I dropped him off for that first day.  When I watched him turn away from me and embark on an experience that was completely separate from me.  I remember the anxiety, fear, and the massive lump in my throat like it was yesterday.  I was overcome with uncertainty.

What I didn't know then that I know now is that Kindergarten was just what he needed.  That school was a perfect fit for him.  That sometimes, even though it hurts. . . letting go is just right. 

Charlie has grown this year.  He's become more. . . Charlie. 

I like who Charlie is.

Kindergarten. . . Check.  First Grade?  Bring it on.

Charlie,  I am so proud of you.

"There has never been a day when I have not been proud of you, I said to my son, though some days I'm louder about other stuff so it's easy to miss that."  -Story People

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*I reserve the right to have an emotional break down when First Grade drop off is an actuality.  In fact, I reserve that for each of my children and for each life transition.  What can I say, I know they are capable. . . but I am still me.

Extra Day

"It feels like it must be the middle of summer", I just said to Chad.  I quickly scan my brain, what is the date? I laugh at myself when I realize it's still May.  How is that possible?

I will admit, I'm as bad as school children (or teachers) when it comes to three day weekends.  I count the  hours, minutes, and seconds until we get to grab onto that extra day of togetherness.  I went into the weekend with a list of things that I wanted to get done.  Extra day equals extra productivity, right?  Turns out. . . not so much. 

There is something almost magical about that extra day.  We seem to settle in a little bit more.  Rushing from here to there is put aside while we slow down and cozy into the moments that are right before us.  I bid my farewell to the weekend feeling full and knowing that we squeezed every last bit of enjoyment out of each of our three days.

There were no big trips or extravagant parties for us.  Our calender was pleasantly clear and we soaked up every second of it.  Instead of going and doing we stuck close to home and rediscovered what what I've always loved about our home. . . our backyard. 

One of the perks of being married to an exceptional landscaper is being surrounded by beautiful space.  This weekend we barely removed ourselves from our lush green space that is peppered by beautiful blooms in every direction.  The kids spent nearly the entire weekend in bathing suits while they braved the freezing hose water in order to escape the 90 degree temperatures. 

Smiles and laughter were as abundant as darkening tan lines and I couldn't imagine a better way to spend the weekend.  Despite the extremely hot temperatures, Charlie and Chanelle were adamant that going inside for anything was unnecessary.  Who am I to argue? 

Chad and Charlie worked hard to roast dinner by the fire and we covered the grass with a blanket and prepared for a picnic dinner.  There was something so relaxing about all of this.  I don't know if it is because Meadow is, slowly but surely, beginning to calm down and be more content or simply because we had no agenda.  Either way, the only way I can describe it is a perfect evening.

We introduced Meadow to the sippy cup this weekend.

Meadow had another big introduction this weekend. . .

Bubbles. . . She had that half squeal half scream kind of laugh whenever we blew them toward her.  I think I'm going to have to stock up.  Bubbles weren't her only "first" this weekend.  We found out our littlest is quite fond of watermelon. . .

I look at her and am struck by how quickly this is all going.  My baby is now eating watermelon?  What's next?! 

Charlie and Chanelle had an idea.  Since we have a fire how about we get some marshmallows?

Yes, that is my six and four year with matches. . . What can I say, I was keeping my eye on Meadow.

The fire burned as slowly as the setting sun in the distance.  I watched as my little ones excitedly burned, roasted, and toasted their giant marshmallows. 

What began as a slow and deliberate process quickly transitioned into a game of who will be the stickiest at the end of the night. 

Even Meadow got into the game. . . in fact. . . she won.

That's it. . . us and our backyard and a whole lot of happiness.

It really doesn't take much.  I leave this weekend with none of the tasks I'd hoped to complete, completed.  Surprisingly, I'm quite okay.  I take from this weekend so much more. 

I take away memories.

Thank you, Extra Day. . .

Happy Tuesday!!

Girl Time

It has been a girl kind of week in our house.  While Charlie was off doing his big-boy-Kindergarten- graduate-thing, the girls (the girls. . . I don't think I'll ever tire of saying that.) and I enjoyed some extra time together, sans testosterone. 

Chanelle and I closed out the final moments of our "extra" girl time at the Dairy Queen. 

We sat together on a bench as the sun inched lower and lower and watched ball players, couples, and families walk in and out of the treat filled store.  I listened to her as she talked about everything from Charlie to the Cleveland Indians (really) and suddenly she stopped and looked at me and asked, Mama?  Are you going to write about this? 

I have no idea where she came up with this.  The blog is not something I talk about with my kids--certainly, they wouldn't get it, right?  But in that moment I realized just how observant they are.  I realized that Chanelle knows far more than I ever give her credit for.  I looked at her in that moment and was struck by the depth that lies just below the surface.

You should write about this as soon as we get home, she told me. Without knowing it she was communicating to me. . . let's not forget this.  Let's remember. 

Sounds like a good plan to me. 

Chanelle and Charlie are often joined at the hip.  Or, more accurately, Chanelle paces herself about half a stride behind Charlie. . . and he is most often happy to oblige.  Having her all to myself this week was such a treat.  In these moments I see the reality of the young lady she is becoming.

I find myself torn between wanting her to stay little forever and dreaming of girl shopping trips and late night talks about the things that are happening in her life. 

Even after six months it is still surreal that I now have two daughters.  It seems like just the other day my sister and I were crimping each others hair and playing school in our bedrooms.  There are days when I pause and shake my head in an attempt to bring me back to reality. . . I'm really the Mom.

I like to look at them from afar and allow myself to dream.  Who will they be?  How will they be?  What will be their passions? 

Will Meadow follow Chanelle around in their early years much like my sister did with me?  Will Meadow mimic the steps of her big sister or will she find a path all her own?  When I think about it I get excited.

It's like watching the most fascinating movie ever or reading and soaking in an excellent book that continually offers new and exciting plots.  Once again I'm reminded of the gift it is to watch their lives unfold. 

What a gift I've been given in my girls.  A gift that is bigger than any word could describe.

Even more so what a gift they've been given in each other. . .

. . . and they don't even realize it yet.

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It's a holiday weekend and we are stoked for some extra time with all the members of our family!

Have a wonderful weekend!!