being there

She is nearly two, which means sometimes life is just too much for words.  And when she can't find her words, a tantrum ensues.
Like today, when, for no apparent reason, she threw her little body onto the floor, kicking and flailing and sobbing.  My coaxing and prodding and pleas for her to tell me what was wrong yielded nothing.  So, I scooped her up and laid down, putting her on my chest.
With her head under my chin and her feet nearly reaching my knees, she calmed down and we lied there together, breathing in syncopation.
IN in
OUT out
IN in
OUT out
Her little chest moved up and down against mine, her breath brushing lightly on my arm. Her curls tickled my face; little toes wiggled on my legs.  For a few minutes it was just me and her, in a moment that no calendar or to-do list can create. She was mine. And I, in that place, with nothing else begging my attention, was what could calm her troubles.
It is good to be the mom.

my girl, on the merry-go-round

Our Summer in Pictures: June 2012

Here's what's been goin' down...

sweet, cool treats

entrepreneurial endeavors

make-your-own amusement park rides

...and then ride, sans pants.

cub scout day camp

lots of monopoly

neighborhood go-cart riding

gardening

cousins!

pool time

crazies

best cousins

fearless giraffe feeding

yes, her hand IS entirely in that giraffe's mouth!

birds

grandma-great walked through the ENTIRE zoo!

tie-dye t-shirts

up close encounters of the Grizzly kind

wheeeee!

discovering our city

mom and dad's 13th anniversary, with Kate as model

Tragedy in our city. We are fine and grateful that so many people and places were spared, but our hearts ache for the 350 families who lost their homes.

Overheard...

...from a visiting 5-year-pod neighbor, when he saw a Sonic cup on the counter and decided to try out his newly acquired sounding-out skills. "Happy h-h-h.... happy h-or. Happy Whore!" Or something.

blooming

Around these here parts, I'm traditionally the planner, the calendar-keeper, the long-term thinker.

Except when I'm not.

Chad and I seem to be a good balance that way.  I think long term about stuff like family vacations, schools for the kids, record-keeping and decorating the house.  He thinks long term about stuff like money and career and...landscaping.  He has become the 'master' of the plants, spending all his free time learning about shrubs and perennials, measuring spots in our yard for the future size of the trees, learning which trees will hold up well in our windy, sandy terrain.  Several times I've wanted to just "buy the trees, already" (Like my friend, Jenny, said, "Who needs a landscape plan? Does it say 'whatever is on sale at Lowe's' on it, because that is what's going in!").

But, as spring has sprung, Chad and I have both had such fun watching the baby plants we have selected and planted and watered (and crossed our fingers that they would live) take root and grow and BLOOM!  Everything in our yard is still very infantile.  Both of us trot around the yard during the day, adding a little water here, wondering if we should move something where it will get more sun, adjusting sprinklers (well, actually, that is just Chad, but he does it A LOT. And his lawn is lovely, thankyouverymuch).  It is amazing how excited we get over a new bud on the rose bush or a little blossom on the strawberry plant.  Kind of like how we get excited over the little things in our kids' lives, too, I guess.  What a wonderful time of year to watch the world GROW!

Speaking of our REAL babies...here's how they have been blooming:

Lea is blossoming into a two-year-old a bit early, frequently using her new favorite phrases, "Go away" and "I don't like it."  Hmmm.  Fortunately, she is also a little bit of sunshine as she makes us laugh EVERYday with her world observations (Yook, Mom!), endearing requests ("Yet's rock"---as in, rock in the rocking chair and snuggle), and her self confidence ("I did it!  High five!").  Oh, how we adore this little one!

Having a blast on her first zoo trip (since she wasn't an infant)

Davis is (finally) growing into a big boy and figuring out potty training.  It has been a loooong road with this one (and we still have a long way to go), but he is making progress, which is cause for much celebration from the Mommy.

This is as good as it gets when asking him to look at the camera.

Kate has turned gardener, too.  She helped plant the vegetable garden, planted dozens of GIGANTIC sunflower seeds, and is the watering guru.  We will see (hope with us, will you) if anything comes up.

Kate even made her own plant markers to remember what is planted where!

Dallin is emerging as a social butterfly this summer.  His usual homebody ways have blossomed as he has discovered the freedom his bike (and several near-by friends) affords.  He is usually outside, all day, having many adventures.  He is also the most likely to finish all his chores by breakfast, speedy guy, which is wonderful for me (and awful for Kate, who always gets reminded that "Dallin already finished...hurry up")

Dal at his 3rd grade recorder concert (with the bonus of having cousins in town to come!)

It has been a good first week of summer break!

She makes me laugh

My girl is getting to the age where it is actually fun to take her on errands.  She is helpful and chatty and says things that make me laugh.  Like yesterday, when we ran to the grocery store.  I reminded her, as we walked in, that she shouldn't ask for a million things or she won't get to come to the store anymore.  After a few minutes, though, she forgot.
"Can we get blueberry bagels?"
"Can I get a doughnut?"
"Don't we need this???"

Once again, I reminded her of the asking policy, and rounded another corner.  Then,

"Mom, would you pay two dollars and seventy-nine cents?"
"For what?"
"Just, would you pay that much? Do you have that much?"
"It depends on what it is for."
"Chocolate covered pretzels."
"Kate! I just told you to stop asking for things?"
"I wasn't asking for them.  I just wondered if you had that much money. Money has nothing to do with food!"

Kate showing off her "Dog" picture that was selected to be part of the district art competition.

my excuse

As I was making dinner, this little monkey called me from downstairs.  She needed help with her hat.

When I discovered that fried pizza was on her menu, can you blame me for staying to dinner?

And, tea, too!

 "Why yes, I think I will, thank you!"

And, that is why my 'real' dinner was burned.

Doing the sign for 'cook.' This is one smart cookie!

found

Today I was cleaning out the camera roll on my iPad.  I found over 550 pictures. That I did not take. 

There were approximately:
200 pictures of the back side of my iPad case
75 shots that were completely black
50 or so pictures with the camera pointed up Lea's nose
100 of various ceiling shots around my house
25 of Davis cheesing it for the camera
and
about 100 or so of these:

Let's just say, the iPad is never bored.