I can't seem to get enough of these lazy fall days. I'm working minimally and enjoy teaching Liam pre-school and Elsie her baby signs/new words.  Liam has been playing kung fu panda non stop for the last 4 weeks and sings "Kung fu Fighting," and brings a 'kung fu' stick everywhere he goes. The 'pig day' was a book signing at the zoo.

Liam quotes

"Long, long time ago before there were indians, there were Strom Troopers."

"The cool thing about Vikings is they never have to go to the bathroom."   "I saw it on a movie."

"Can Ninjas pee standing up?"

"Mom, your hair looks weird. You look like a Russian. (P.S. I love Russians so luckily I wasn't offended)

"Mom, you're as important as the sun to me."

"Mom, if I was big, I would buy you flowers. Whatever kinds you want"

100 miles of Gettysburg

I'm so proud of Brady and his dad for gracefully pulling off 100 miles of hills. It was fun to see the excitement of our 2 riders and to see pictures of the places they went and a glimpse of what they experienced. Mark turned 50 this year and has done it in style, better than ever. He has three 100 mile races under his belt this summer. 

Nana's 50th

   












   






























 

My kids are wild about their Grandparents. Although it's too bad that both sets live so far away, we really cherish the times that we get to spend with them. Leisa, Brady's mom, came to D.C. for her 50th birthday and our little family was honored to celebrate with her and Papa Mark. I stole all these pictures from her and am glad that I have them to remember fun, simple times.

Love, a lifetime supply

      We're down to our last three rolls of toilet paper.
I'm only counting 'cause they're part of an unsupplemented years supply. It was stocked by my grandma on her D.C. visit one year ago and it's a funky little reminder, one of many, how grandma took care of me. Now she's passed on but the toilet paper stash is still giving.
     Everywhere I look there are reminders of her giving- the black polka dot dress Elsie is dancing in, the pot holder and soap dispenser in my otherwise unadorned kitchen, the book on my coffee table. It's like she's everywhere. And nowhere.  

      My grandma made me feel like a rockstar.
 Seriously.  When I drove 3 and a half hours to New York City with my brother Justin she told me I was a "world traveler." She ooggled over my family Christmas photos like they were signed by Babe Ruth. When I repainted my bathroom vanity she told me I should be on HGTV.
She always gave me more credit than I deserved. She was always good for a little over- the- top complement right when I needed it.
     As a teen I pulled shenanigans until I drove my family crazy.  I alienated myself by attempting late night stunts, and perpetually leaving the gas tank on empty. Consequently I depleted all my favors and exhausted my parents. But to my grandma, I was her wonderful, brite-eyed granddaughter.
      It wasn't that she didn't see my flaws. She saw them alright, glaring I'm sure, but she accepted them anyways. That kind of love works miracles. It's the kind of love that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. It is the kind of force that whispers to you to stop questioning yourself and just be.
Be content with the lot life has cast you.
Be happy to get up in the morning even on the saddest of days.
Be grateful for the supportive people in your life.
Be willing to take risks
Be ready to embrace the beautiful blessings God has placed in your lap

My grandma's persistent, and unearned, love has changed me.  And thankfully, she left me with a large supply of that too.

Imperial Death March

Elsie can sing two songs pretty much pitch perfect (just the tune, not the words- you know, la da da type stuff) . The first is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Credit that to parental influence. The other? Darth Vader's theme from Star Wars. Wonder where she gets that from...   Since birth she's responded strongly to music (I'd say more than most kids, and all kids love music), and continues to love it more and more every day.

pretend

Elsie's been exploring the worlds of make believe. Her favorite is cat. She also does a good horse and chicken. The last two weeks have been fun, as she's been learning/using new words and baby signs every day. Excuse the smack down on Liam- we were all getting a little tired.

Captain "AT"

Parenting Liam and Elsie is, more often than not, a fun thing.

First picture: Dad giving Liam a bath while the pirates, killer whales, and sharks circle the water.

Second picture: Dani's been doing great at teaching Liam how to read, and this week has been 'words with A-T". I caught her here being Captain AT (with her hAT, complete with mustache, as you can see, and Southern accent, which you can't see...next week will be a history lesson on where those in Union Blue were actually from--- but it was awesome!). Liam's not trying to be obscene, just showing off his cAT tail. Elsie is captivATed (that, or wishing she could evacuATe).