A perfect day

Snapshots in my mind

I can't believe I'm doing another post without pictures. I haven't been taking many pictures lately, and haven't done my routine every other day upload from the camera. So... the kids and I took a really really long walk today and I was thinking about how I didn't have my camera, and I wish I would've grabbed it, you know, just in case.
I got to thinking about all these special moment that I have tucked away in my mind, that I probably will never have a picture of.
Some of the memories that came to me are typical things and some not so typical, but they're things that I cherish so much. Ready?
* Whenever I take the kids for a walk, we usually walk down a utility road to get into town. It's a pretty steep hill, and every time Eden asks me if I'll run down it. I can't resist, and the glee that ensues is so amazing. Both Eden and Micah kick their legs as fast as they can and there is uncontrollable laughter. I'll probably wipe out one of these days because I get so caught up in them, it's hard to pay attention where I'm running.
* Eden and Micah's kisses are a huge one. I have one picture of Eden giving me a kiss when I was pregnant with Micah, and I will forever wish for more. Micah is so into giving kisses, it's the cutest. He even makes the little sound, "mah". Tonight Eden gave me a kiss on the cheek and I wished so bad I had a picture of that little tiny moment.
* Every night that I tuck the kids in (Mike and I take turns) I debate going to get my camera. I've taken one picture of Eden sleeping in her bed at night, but it's been so long. I just can't bear the thought of waking their little peaceful body, maybe someday.
* When Eden makes a new friend or someone new talks to Micah, I wish I could capture the look on their face. I think they're the opposite, yet I love those looks where their big blue eyes say so much. Eden's eyes sparkle and Micah burrows his face in my shoulder gently glancing up at me looking for a little consolation with stranger danger.
I know there's more, but my brain is fried.
Tah tah.

By surprise

Some things take me by surprise. Not much. But this weekend seemed full of them.
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We stumbled upon a parade in Hartland. Not a typical parade, but a POW parade. Eden was so excited and I think it may have jaded her parade attitude. I hop no though. It was a silent march, a bit depressing, yet an opportune teaching opportunity. I tried to talk with her about our freedoms, how we pray, go to church, etc... I guess I'll have to wait and see if any of that stuck with her.
*
On our way to church this morning, Eden recited her Bible verse from last week. Not a huge surprise knowing my little girl, but a surprise none the less. We were working on her Sunday school project on Thursday morning  and I think I said her Bible verse in access of one hundred times. She'd never say it back in completion, but she's got a mind like an elephant; she never forgets.
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Micah is closer to walking than we think. This was a huge surprise as he's taken steps several times this weekend. That's huge! I may not be ready for another toddler, but bring it on Micah! I'm so proud of you.
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I've never been sneezed on point blank until this weekend. That took me by a huge surprise. I was getting Eden dressed for bed and her little face was no more than six inches from my face. Her sneeze hit me smack dab in the center of my face. Wow, I guess I have no more words for that one.
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Mike and I got to sit through almost an entire church service together. I nursed Micah right after the worship time and he slept. I tried so so hard to concentrate on the message, but my thoughts were more like "I can't believe I'm sitting here next to Mike...How long has it been since we've sat in church together?...I hope Micah sleeps for a while." I'll get better on that one though.
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I've been sleeping. Mike's gotten up two of the last three mornings and I've slept until 7:30. Crazy how early kids are to start the day, but I love it when their attitude rubs off on me.
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Eden had her first piece of bubble gum today. I love watching the wonder of a child. It's so amazing, and it's something that truly makes my heart shine. Small, but a delightful surprise.
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Being thankful for our beautiful weekend together as a family. I don't think there's anything I cherish more and that is no surprise.

A birthday party for two

My computer was working intermittently last night, so I'm behind again with posting. I think the cuteness of the pictures makes up for the tardiness though.

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Eden was in her glory with all her little friends. Being around people gives her so much energy, and even without a nap she was peachy.

Micah had a bit of a hard time. I remember Eden at her first birthday, she wasn't a big fan of it all either. He wanted mommy and daddy and that' pretty much it, oh, and watermelon.

Eden had been dreaming of her crab cake for months. Thank you Grandma! It's everything she's dreamed of. 

 Grandma also made our watermelon shark. I saw a pin on pinterest that I thought was darling of a watermelon shark, and knew my mom was creative enough to do the same.

 Mike and I stayed up the night before the party making our pull string pinata. I thought it turned out adorable and the pull strings worked wonderful.

I made all of the hanging decorations this year. It was fun to do, and didn't cost me a dime. The above little flouncy banner was an old fitted bed sheet that had the elastic all stretched out. I shredded it and the kids had fun playing in all the scraps in the process. Sounds like a win, win to me.

All of the buntings I made from my great grandma's handkerchiefs. I ironed them, cut them diagonally in half and sewed them into some biased tape. I thought they were darling, and now I have them for a playroom or many more parties to come.

It's going too fast

I wrote the title to this post more than twelve hours ago today. I find it funny because today felt like the longest day of my life. It makes me laugh inside to think about the post I was wanting to write this morning could be opposite the post that I feel like writing right now.

When I'm honest though, it really is going too fast. I've felt like lately I've looked at Eden and Micah in their beds when they're asleep and felt like their bodies were five times bigger than I remember them being. I think maybe I've been emotional over it lately as Micah turned one on Sunday.

His birth day seems like yesterday in my mind, and though Eden's nearly three, I have the exact same thoughts of her birth day. We had a pretty big party (pictures to come tomorrow) this past Saturday to celebrate the kids' birthday's together. It was awesome. I love people coming together in celebration. Is there anything better?

I kept thinking all day on Saturday how unemotional I felt about Micah turning one.

Of course, it hit me Sunday.

Isn't he darling?

I still can't believe he's one, it's just going too fast. I think that this is the part that all the older people and middle aged people tell me about in passing at the stores or on walks. "It goes so fast, enjoy it."

For a while, I felt like that was all anyone said to me, but now I understand, now I get it.

Of course there are the endless days (like today) where your children seem to do everything you tell them not to. The days that you felt like you weren't a fabulous mom, today was one of those days.

But that's not how we live day to day.

We have a ball, and we live out love.

Eden started Sunday school on Sunday. We bumped her up a class. I walked in with her and I knew by the look on her face, she was nervous. Her little hand was clutching mine, and I felt so honored to just be standing at her side. She quickly made a friend, and that moment was gone, but I'll remember it forever.

Or tonight, after our long day; after our books, stories, prayers, and kisses; after I told her "I love you Eden", she said "I love you more". 

There's no way, but those are the moments that I will never ever forget. 

Ever.

Even when it's going too fast.

Let's go fly a kite

Eden and I made a little staycation jar the week before last for all of the things that we wanted to do while Mike was off of work. We used a little baby food glass jar, and lots of colored strips of paper. For each thing we wanted to do, we wrote it on the little paper and folded it up really small and put it in the  jar. One of the things we wrote on there was to fly kites.

 By golly, last week, we did.

 Micah was happy as a clam watching from his car.

 I can't think of anything that I love more than family time. Mike and I are a little protective of our time as a family. But with him working and school, the time we do have is so precious.

 I wish I could freeze these moments, and make time stop. Sometimes when their going on, I feel that, at the same time I feel it slipping by.

 The kite flying was a new concept to my little girl. She did great, but the wind wasn't that mighty, so we settled for a eight inch long kite string.

I'm sure there will be many more times to come, and we can show her how it really soars.

 But in the meantime...

 she's happy with her eight inch string.

 Maybe I should've schooled her more.

 Eden went off, always wanting to run near the road. I think it had to do with the chase factor. So, I decided to play around with the camera and teach myself some manual camera ways.

 I'll improve. 

I love my family time, and can't thing of anything more dear to me.

My patience paid off and other random thoughts

A while ago, I wrote a post about how I couldn't get any pictures of the kids together. I mean, I could get them, but one would be looking down or away and then the one who was looking would crawl or run away. A good picture of these two has been a long time coming.

It finally came, my patience paid off! I love this picture. Their faces, expressions, the joy that children emulate is so beautiful. Can't believe their mine to guide through this life.

 These pictures were all taken a few weeks back at my in-laws, also the place that Mike and I met 14 years ago. Crazy.

 I've learned that when I'm attempting a photo with the two of them, if I hold my finger down on the button, I can usually get one good one out of about fifty.

 We had so much fun over there. It was the first fall-like weekend of the season. So beautiful. Chilled but not cold, breezy but not windy, my favorite time of year.

 Totally unrelated to my in-laws or to my disorganized picture taking  chaos, Eden and trees, she loves them. She also loves the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

Whenever she sees a beautiful full tree, or one cut to pieces on the ground, she brings up the book.

Close to two years ago when Eden was around one, she saw her first frog at Grandpa and Grandma Bellands' house. It didn't go so well the first time around. And with one time in between then and now, I'd have to say the third time is a charm.

Or maybe it's just her that's a charm.