Catch Up Part II: Summer 2015

This summer was crazy! We moved the last month of school and stayed with some friends for a month while we closed on the new house and started projects. The projects have been slow, but I am so excited to be here. The kids spent the summer helping around the house, swimming in our new pool and the lake behind our house, cousin time, and camping with more cousins at the beach. They also got to spend a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa. I hope they will always look back on this summer fondly. Since we moved Grandpa Dave has come over nearly weekly during the late summer and early fall to spend time on the lake with the kids. It has been a blast!

Emma on the lake

Grandpa with Mia and Justin

Beach fun

Emma was in her first Road Show at church. Justin played Mowgli and Emma was a zebra.

Road Show

Road Show

True Love

Catch Up Part I: We Moved, Emma Graduated!

So, I haven't posted in a log time. We had an eventful year. Emma graduated from elementary school and we moved across town. Emma has not historically done well with change, but she has been great. She decided to go to a different middle school than her friends from the old school. She said she was ready for a new start.

All of the kids were excited to move, but Mia was a little concerned about changing schools. She reluctantly gave it a try and loves her new school. Justin stayed at his high school and we are actually closer for him.

Inappropriate

Mia said "Dad, I want to see you and Mom wrestle!"

One

We were listening to "One (is the Loneliest Number)" when I hear Emma say "What about zero?"

The Magic is Over

One of my fears as a mom has been realized. I was caught in the act of being the tooth fairy. Emma pulled out a couple teeth right before bed and couldn't fall asleep for a long time because they kept bleeding. I was tired and Charlie was out of town, so I decided to do it in the morning when I take Justin to seminary at the crack of dawn. I slowly walked into her room and her eyes shot open. "Hi, Mom. What are you doing?" I said I was just taking Justin to seminary and decided to check on her. I kissed her forehead and was about to back out of the room. "What is that behind your back?" I told her she must be tired as I wondered how she could see behind me. Shadow? Then Emma said "You are making me very suspicious." I told her she was tired and needed to go back to sleep. I left the room and went to my bathroom. When I came out she was sitting on my bed waiting for me. "Mom, what were you doing in my room? I am very suspicious. I just want to know what is going on. It is almost like there isn't even a tooth fairy and you are really the tooth fairy. I just need to know the truth." Her big eyes started to well up with tears. I knelt next to her and told her that parents give their kids gifts when they lose teeth to make it less scary. I asked if she was disappointed. She said no, at least now she doesn't need to write the tooth fairy any more letters. She asked where all her teeth were. I pulled out her hanging file and showed her the bag of teeth. She was excited. I asked for her latest teeth and gave her her gift. She was skipping and excited all morning. Such a different and pleasant reaction compared to Justin who told me I ruined his childhood. Awe, the joys of parenthood.

#Normal American

Justin: Mom, I'm hungry. What's for dinner?
Me: HMmmHm.
Justin: What does that mean?
Me: Hmmphmsm
Justin: MOM, what's for dinner?
Me: Hmphmmsf
Justin: Speak a language.
Me: Bee boop boop bee bo
Justin: Mom! Speak like a normal American.
Me: Hashtag I'm hungry
Justin: (laughing) not a stupid American

Joys of Life

Today I took the kids on a bike ride. On the way home we went down a small hill. I heard Emma behind me let out a "WHOO HOO!!" This was followed by Mia's "That's right, Emma! WHOO HOO!!"