Wednesday-Sunday

Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Aunt Nina flew home from Texas and spent 5 days at home - 

Wednesday through Sunday.

...and, thankfully, those 5 days home would put an end to missing her for awhile.  Because, really, you don't always realize how much you miss someone until you're reunited. It's like your heart has a sigh of relief and it's filled with contentment. 

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On Wednesday, the kids and I met up with grandma and grandpa to surprise Aunt Nina by picking her up at the airport.  With a bouquet of balloons in hand and excitement in the air, we welcomed Aunt Nina home!

Makayla and Mason couldn't be happier!

After picking Aunt Nina up at the airport and having dinner with her, we decorated Easter Eggs...decorated them with shaving cream.  A super fun and super messy time...and resulted in beautiful eggs!

Thursday evening was spent at church observing Maundy Thursday.  Focusing on 2 important events - The Lord's Supper (communion) and the command to love and serve one another (foot washing) - it's always a very emotional service that truly honors what took place during the Last Supper.

After leaving church, we met up and attempted Game Night.  We played a few rounds of my favorite game - Telestrations.

Friday was spent in St. Louis.

We spent the day at the zoo and spent the night at Ballpark Village.

(*flashback from one year ago*
not much has changed...i'm wearing the exact same outfit minus the sweatshirt...ooooh, my!!)

Makayla said her favorite thing at the zoo was seeing the view and watching the zebras.

Seeing the view? She makes me laugh...I don't know where she comes up with some of these things.

Mason said his favorite thing at the zoo was the hippos.  He says - The hippos went up the water and down. They're shiny.

We spent our time at Ballpark Village basking in the sun, dancing, drinking cool beverages, watching the Cardinal's on the big screen, and dining out on the patio in front of a fireplace.
It was a very pleasant evening!

 Saturday, we started our day out with an Easter Egg Hunt, headed to a birthday party for a friend at the bowling alley, and then finished our evening at Great Grandma Allen's house for an Easter Dinner.

Our Easter Dinner at Great Grandma Allen's consisted of time spent with family that we don't get to see near enough, doula/midwife/vasectomy table talk that ended in the gutter, lots of laughter, and applause - applause for something BIG - Aunt Anne pulling Makayla's FIRST tooth!

For the past 2 weeks, I have had to look at Makayla wiggling this tooth.  I would get all hot, sweaty, itchy, and nauseated at the sight of it.
I would pray every night that she would lose this darn tooth (particularly at school where I didn't have to witness it) and we could move on in life...to the next loose tooth.

Well, sure enough, Aunt Anne pulled Makayla's tooth and Makayla felt like a whole new woman.

At the moment the tooth was pulled, Makayla sort of stood in shock with her mouth hanging open.  We all clapped and cheered for her...and as much as I was dreading the moment, I am so thankful that I got to witness the moment.  I almost had a tear drop.
When the shock wore off, Makayla got hot and shy, asked me to take her sweater off (because she was so hot), and buried her face in my shoulder because she said she was embarrassed.

Not long after, she was showing her gap off walking around like she was on the Red Carpet.  Her tongue has been twisting in and out of that hole since, and I think we've all seen the space from the missing tooth about a billion times now.

Saturday night into Sunday morning, the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy visited our house!
The kids were super excited on Sunday morning to see the baskets that the Easter Bunny left and Makayla had a little bit more excitement as she discovered 4 quarters that the Tooth Fairy left her!

Sunday was spent celebrating Easter and saying farewell to Aunt Nina.

Church, lunch with Aunt Nina before she headed off back to Texas, and dinner/egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Curry's.

When I asked Makayla was Easter means to her, this was her response: 

Jesus rose on Easter on the cross.  The bad guys killed him and he rose on Easter.  They put him inside of a tunnel and they put a big stone on the big hole.   The angels came down and got him and took him to heaven. 

Now...when I asked Mason what Easter meant to him, this was his response:
Easter Bunny.

When I asked him what Easter and Jesus mean to him, he answered:

Scary stuff.

Happy Easter!!

...counting my blessings...

Just Write

I recently came across this letter I had written to Makayla and Mason:

"Peace.  It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.  It means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart."

makayla and mason ~

life is filled with hardship, struggles, sadness, heartbreak, and pain.

it is also filled with beauty, happiness, magic, miracles, and joy.

 your biggest worries right now in your little lives are trying to put a pair of tights on and struggling with the pain of molars coming through your baby gums.

i hope that as you get older and you begin to experience anything other than the good of this life that you will always be able to find peace within your heart.

how you get there, or whatever it is that helps you get there, is up to you.

 i want you to always be able to remember a feeling of love, appreciate and be thankful for all that you have, and focus on that.

life is good.

very good.

but it's up to you to be able to see and feel that.

mommy, daddy, and everybody else that loves you, are here every second of every day to mold you, guide you, and teach you how to love

...and hopefully one day you'll be able to learn on your own how to find peace amongst the chaos - to be calm in your heart.

love, mommy

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One reason for this blog is to help me focus on the GOOD.

When things get bad or people get mean, I write.
I write about the good.

To keep calm in my heart when there's chaos, 

I turn to this blog.
I write.

As I was reminded in church this morning, everybody has a bad list and everybody has a good list.

How you react to a situation, the negativity or positivity you bring to a moment, determines where your life goes next...
and I refuse to let the negative control who I am or how I live.

I choose to to write about the good and to photograph the beautiful.

By doing so, the bad kinda disappears...
the bad doesn't seem so bad.

I began this blog over three years ago and have written 300+ entries.
Since I started writing about what I love and what brings me JOY, I have begun to see life more beautifully and I find myself appreciating so much more.

Don't get me wrong - 
the people and the situations that I can write on my "bad list" are still there, but the weight of the bad isn't as heavy when I am able to focus and record all of the things on my "good list".

...so back to my letter to Makayla and Mason (and now Mia), my hope for them is that they will always have peace in their hearts and to rejoice in those moments when they feel like they can't.

My advice to them will be to write.

Write down what makes you happy.
Write down all of the goodness that sparkles in your life.

Write down those moments that make you close your eyes, take in a deep breath, and smile.

Write down your blessings.
Write down what you love.
Write down who you love and why.

Just write.

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."

- William Wordsworth

...and that's what I do.

I write about things that matter to me.

I am honest and raw and vulnerable and passionate.

I write about what keeps my heart beating.

MARCHing Through With Pictures

March?
Where did you go?!

Well, let's see...

Super Hero night at the Riverman hockey game!

A little fun play at Ergadoozy!

Celebrating Grandpa's 56th birthday with chocolate covered strawberries!

Bowling...!

Visits to the parks!

Spending Saturdays in the gym practicing volleyball.

Spa night with the girls.

Click on **Arbonne** for more information.

Getting treats delivered to your door.

It's the little things...

Click on **BirchBox** for more information.

Game night!

Click on **Telestrations** for more information.

"May the dreams you hold dearest come true and the kindness you spread keep returning to you."

Wearing green for St. Patrick's Day!

Watching the Lincoln Railers basketball team win the Super Sectionals - Elite 8.

A wedding with Mr. Q and Miss U.

A complete ceremony and reception in Makayla's Pre-K class to help the kids remember that Q and U stick together like glue!

Meetings and gatherings to plan a benefit for this beauty, Lyndie!

Watching the Railers win the Final Four!

Watching the Railers win 2nd in State!

The Railer's homecoming!
A parade of proud players and fans - hundreds and hundreds of cars lining the street and parading with honking horns through town.
I still get chills when I replay it in my mind.

A Pet Death.

I know it was just a fish, but it was one of Makayla's special fish and it was a big deal to her!

Makayla was so heart broken, she felt the need to leave a note for the other fish...

Two weeks worth of swimming lessons!

Love for Lyndie Benefit!

...and, boy, do I have more to share on that!

Volleyball Tournaments...

Makayla can serve the ball like nobody's business!

Life School Musical!
Lincoln Christian Church Kid's choir presenting their Spring musical.

March has come and gone.
Whew!
It was a very busy month for our family and I'm thankful for everything that came along with March, but...
I'm ready to move on to April!!

A Kid Question

Here's a conversation that took place the other morning while Makayla and I were getting ready in bathroom.

Makayla: (leaning up against the wall with a little bit of fear and shock in her eyes)

 Did you used to be black when you were a little girl?!

Mommy:  No!  Why?!

Makayla:  (pointing...still with the fear and shock in her eyes) 

You have dark skin around your nipples!

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My kids...there is never a dull moment with them!

20 Facts, Mia

I did '20 question interviews' with Mason and Makayla and because it's Mia's turn and she can't play along by answering questions, I'm just going to share 20 fun facts about Mia -

my 16 month old baby girl.

My daughter who brings me the extra joy that I never thought possible.

My daughter who has taught me to embrace (and love) the chaos that our family carries.

My daughter who has proven to me that I'm exactly where I need to be and should be in life.

My daughter who.has.my.heart...

She has the cutest head of curls and there's nothing I love more than to watch her beautiful bouncing curls as she toddles around the house.

She loves her paci and if I ever take it out of her mouth when she doesn't want me to, she stares at me with such intensity that she comes close to burning a hole through my skin.

She doesn't say many words (thanks to that paci, i'm sure...or thanks to her brother and sister who do all the talking for her...or thanks to me who knows what she wants when she wants it and just goes through the actions), but her favorite words are kitty and apple.

She loves to kiss.  She loves to pucker up those precious lips, make a fishy face, and kiss away.

She loves to high-five.

The girl could live off of cottage cheese and blueberries.  Those are her favorite foods.  She's not a very good eater, but the bigger the bite she's given, the more likely she is to eat it.  She doesn't seem to be very satisfied with little "safe" bites.

Mia is a very lucky girl to have an older brother and an older sister to take care of her, to watch over her, and to entertain her!

She enjoys setting the table.  Setting the table with 20+ pieces of silverware is her favorite "chore".

She enjoys playing basketball with her brother.  She's pretty accurate in making a basket every time she shoots.

She loves baby dolls.  She's quite the mommy - holding her baby, patting her baby, and kissing her baby.

She loves to applaud people.  She loves to clap for people...whether she's clapping along with a crowd or if she alone thinks someone deserves to be clapped for.

She gets away with a lot more than her older siblings.  If she wants something, she gets it.  If she doesn't want something, she doesn't have to have/take it.  She's my baby.

She loves to play "boo".  She'll peek around the corner and say "boo!" followed by a cute little giggle.

She's quite dramatic.  So much so, that there are times she'll go to the wall, put her arm upon the wall, lean her head against her forearm, and cry...while every few seconds, looking up at me with her big eyes and pouty bottom lip.

She can carry on an entire conversation with someone without using any words.  It's amazing.  She talks with such emotion in her voice and eyes and there's so much conviction in what she's saying. She even talks with her hands!...her petite little hands.

She is so good at going with the flow.  We can go anywhere and do anything and Mia tags along, loving every minute of life.

She get's prettier every day.
I know!  How is that possible?!

Whenever Mason or Mia are upset or crying, Mia immediately finds their blankies and walks over to them with their blankies in tow.  It's precious.  She loves them and she knows what comforts them.

She's learned to ignore us...but can't ignore us without smiling.

She loves her mommy!  She loves her mommy!  She loves her mommy!  There's no one else she wants or needs when I'm in the room and I kinda like that!

20 Questions, Makayla

An interview with Makayla -

my five year old baby girl.

My daughter who marches to the beat of her own drum...

My daughter who blows me away with her intelligence...

My daughter who loves everyone and everything.
My daughter who has.my.heart....

What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Go to Florida.

What is your favorite color? Skin color.

What is your favorite toy? My baby dolls.

What is your favorite fruit? Bananas and oranges and grapes.

What is your favorite t.v. show? Sponge Bob.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheeseburgers and popcorn.

What are you afraid of? Bears and lions and monsters and ghosts.

What is your favorite game? Guess Who is Who

What is your favorite snack? Graham crackers. 

What is your favorite animal? Zebras and giraffes.

What is your favorite song? This Little Light of Mine.

What is your favorite book? The potty book.

Who is your best friend? Izzak. Mason. Mia.  Mrs. Sharp and Miss Martin.

What's one thing you're really good at doing? Swinging.  Anything.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the swing set.

What is your favorite drink? Orange soda.

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas. Valentine's Day.  Easter.

What makes you happy? Mommy.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A Veterinarian. 

20 Questions, Mason

An interview with Mason - 

My 3 year old little man.

My son who hates green beans, but will eat them until he thinks the muscles in his arms have had enough...

My son who wants to grow a white beard so he looks like Santa...

My son who likes to put my shoes on and pretend he is a "mother".

My son who has.my.heart...

What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Go bowling.

What is your favorite color? Blue.

What is your favorite toy? My  markers.

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries.

What is your favorite t.v. show? Team Umizoomi.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Macaroni and chicken nuggets.

What are you afraid of? The dressed up ice cream cone at Culvers.

What is your favorite game? Bowling.

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks.

What is your favorite animal? Elephants.

What is your favorite song? Oh, Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind.

What is your favorite book? Spiderman.

Who is your best friend? Kaeli.

What's one thing you're really good at doing? Playing basketball.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the swing set.

What is your favorite drink? Soda.

What is your favorite holiday? Fourth of July 

What makes you happy? God.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor.