You’re wondering where I’m going with this one, aren’t you?  Dancing with the Stars, important?  It is. . . to me, anyway. You see, my Mom and I used to watch Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) together.  Well, not together, really.  We lived two hours apart from each other,  but I knew she was watching […]

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  • Kim Ellis - April 25, 2013 - 12:53 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! What sweet sweet pictures to have and to cherish… Nice to be free to Dance!!! =D ReplyCancel

  • Matt Flinner - April 25, 2013 - 1:34 pm

    Stealing that quote!ReplyCancel

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(Even if you never press play to the music on the blog–you must read this post with Stevie Wonder’s, Isn’t She Lovely in your head.  Deal?) It has been almost 18 months since our tiniest bundle of joy rocked our world with her arrival.  Life has done anything but slow down since that chilly November […]

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  • Katie - April 24, 2013 - 1:05 pm

    That last shot is priceless, Summer!

    And not to be nosy or bossy (gosh, I hate it when people suggested things to me when it came to raising my kids when they were little! Please, don't take this the wrong way!!), but have you thought maybe Meadow is trying to tell you that she's ready to be potty trained when she takes her diaper off? Both my kids would tug at theirs with everything they had when they were ready, and actually Joey started his training at an earlier age than Meghan did—I think since he was the baby, he wanted to be like the rest of us. I don't know, but maybe that's her way of saying, "I wanna be like you guys!" Anyway, just a thought. ; )ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 24, 2013 - 1:09 pm

      Haha! Don't worry–I didn't take it the wrong way. Yes, we did think that she might be telling us she is ready to be potty trained. Truthfully, we're not ready–that's a lot of work! We need just a little more time. 🙂

      I know, we're crazy! ReplyCancel

  • Wrestling Kitties - May 24, 2013 - 3:38 pm

    I just saw this post, through your new post today and had to comment….even if late!

    Oh my, she is just too cute!! That smile. That face. Love it!

    She reminds me SO much of Henry. The whole, pleasant most of the time but when mad look out! The diaper thing, yep we have that too. We actually had to start putting him in a onesie under his jams at night because if not we would come in to his room in the morning and find a naked child!! And Henry wonders too. We have all these outside toys, but give him a stick and let him explore and he is the happiest.

    She is such a sweetheart, love all these pictures of her!

    (18 months….where does this time go?!)ReplyCancel

Six years ago I walked across a stage, received my diploma, and walked down the stage with a graduate degree in hand.  Professional Counselor was my new title and I felt comfort knowing my future was figured out. For the next six years, in between birthing and mothering little ones, I logged the important 3,000 […]

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  • Anonymous - April 19, 2013 - 1:40 pm

    i love it. i love that you have 2 spaces now… i mean one would have been fine, but i get it. just so long as you don't stop running chatter!!
    😉 love you. so proud of you, always.
    one of your cheerleaders,
    Miss ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 19, 2013 - 1:49 pm

      You know I love you, Miss. Thank you for (always) being one of my cheerleaders.

      And as far as I'm concerned–Running Chatter is here to stay.

      ReplyCancel

  • mattflinner - April 19, 2013 - 1:45 pm

    Excellent! Very courageous for you to "quit" your job to follow your passion. Blessings.ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 19, 2013 - 1:49 pm

      Thank you, Matt! I appreciate that so much.ReplyCancel

  • Kyra - April 19, 2013 - 2:44 pm

    You are my hero….seriously!ReplyCancel

What goes up and down but never moves? That was the riddle I carefully printed on a small piece of paper and taped on top of the Tupperware that contained Charlie’s sandwich.  Below the riddle I had drawn an arrow directing him to turn the paper over. Stairs, the paper read. I placed the sandwich […]

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  • Sassytimes - April 18, 2013 - 12:57 pm

    Interesting thought. Hmmm…I remember being a teen (probably a really hard one to live with. Ha.) and shutting my door, wanting that alone time. But, looking back…would I have minded if my parents would have come in, sat down and asked me what was on my mind? Listened? Nope. Not at all. That's probably what I needed the most. An understanding ear. I think it's hard to be a parent to a teen. They are growing up, experimenting. It's hard to view them as mini-adults and not 'babies' any more. Just because they are thinking of things, questioning things, doesn't necessarily mean they are 'doing' things. Just means they need an open ear to get their feelings and thoughts out. I'll have to bookmark this and remember it myself when my kids (especially my girls. Oy!) are older. ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 19, 2013 - 12:15 pm

      I agree with you, S. I think a listening ear will be so important. I was saying to Chad the other day how intentional we will have to be to stay connected with their (likely) tendency to pull away. I can't say that I'm looking forward to those closed doors, however, I do understand them. 🙂 ReplyCancel

  • Katie - April 18, 2013 - 6:18 pm

    Raising teen agers, in my opinion, really isn't that hard. Instead it's been an amazing, wonderful journey seeing them form their own opinions on Life and religion. When our daughter was a sophomore in high school, she and I were having a conversation about church and religion and spiritualism. It was fascinating to hear her ideas and views on the topics, just fascinating. We're not a church going family, never really have been (I think I'm rebelling against my strict church upbringing I endured as a child), but I made sure the kids could always come to us with any questions or wonderings they might have (I had a wonderful discussion about God and Satan and Good and Evil with the kids one night at dinner when Joey was 3 and Meg was 9. I finally got up for pencil and paper and began writing everything down so I wouldn't forget).

    Anyway back to that night when she was 15, Meghan asked what I would think if she became Jewish or Muslim because both those religions really intrigued and interested her. I kinda stopped for a minute, but then w/o hesitation replied that by all means, if she wanted to join either of those groups, then she'd have our full support and understanding.

    I think the key to raising teen agers is to give them space, but also let them know that you are there for them. Also, to treat them as equals in life, not necessarily burden them with adult matters, but ask their opinions on current affairs, their favorite classes and teachers, their favorite books and music, what they think about church, religion, ask about their friends, hang out with them in their rooms at nights. But most of all, laugh. Let them know joy and love and security, and you'll get through those "angst ridden teen age years" smiling.

    And btw, I haven't had a proper, genuine Kid Kiss from Joey since he was 2. ; )ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 19, 2013 - 12:17 pm

      Katie, I love your perspective. I love your stories. And I have SO enjoyed hearing about your experiences. Thank you for sharing this. What a gift you have given to Meghan and Joey in being a safe place for them to process, grow, and develop. It sounds like you have stuck a pretty great balance between letting go and holding on.

      Oh, and age 2?? Ugh.

      Boys. ReplyCancel

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. . . I struggle to blog.  It seems irrelevant.  It seems unimportant.  Useless.  My sister called me at 3:14 p.m. and told me what had happened.  I didn’t turn on the news. . . a decision we have made to protect little eyes.  Instead we left the house.  Together the five of us laid […]

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  • Katie - April 16, 2013 - 12:17 pm

    My thoughts exactly, Summer.ReplyCancel

  • Kim Ellis - April 16, 2013 - 1:14 pm

    That is so true! As I walk through the store or in a playground .. When I see children I feel it is my responsibility to show kindness and compassion to them not just the babies and the toddlers but the children and teens that I run into … it may be one kind word or one gesture of compassion that turns a child… changes a mean thought pattern.. if we respond to their anger with anger or their frustration with frustration we only feed the problem. If we see a child in danger we act on it.. so why not love on them too? ReplyCancel

    • Summer - April 17, 2013 - 1:13 am

      It's people like you, Kim. . . you are making such a difference.

      I'm so glad I know you. ReplyCancel

  • Ky | TwoPretzels - April 16, 2013 - 8:39 pm

    Oh friend. You're a breath of fresh air.
    I heart you.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - April 16, 2013 - 10:58 pm

    Thank you for your words. I needed them today. thank you.ReplyCancel

  • Iris Took - April 17, 2013 - 11:56 pm

    Summer, you have a way of words. Here's to the good ones…ReplyCancel

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