Sniff, sniff.
Enjoying the Journey,
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Seventeen Years!
Happy Anniversary to my Sweetheart!
Seventeen years ago today...on a Saturday...Paul and I were married.
One of my best days ever!
Of the many pictures that were taken that day, this is one of my very most favorites. My paternal grandpa and grandma are on the left, my maternal grandma is seated in the front, and Paul's maternal grandma is on the right.
Paul's grandma, Jane, is still living and more beautiful than ever. Our kids call her GG (Great-Grandma). As you can guess, we all call her GG now.
GG lives close by, and yesterday, we spent the afternoon reminiscing and laughing over lunch, coffee, and dinner. The kids adore her and are always so excited when we go to visit. We love her stories of yesterday and her sweetness of today.
This picture is a reminder to me of the love of family.
It is also a reminder of how quickly time flies by and how we cannot take for granted one moment of our lives.
I am also reminded that Grandpa refused to wear a tie to my wedding. Refused...no matter how much Grandma talked to him about it.
Happy Anniversary, Paul.
I am honored and blessed beyond what I can comprehend that we have the rest of our lives to look forward to together.
I love you very much.
Enjoying our Journey,
Seventeen years ago today...on a Saturday...Paul and I were married.
One of my best days ever!
Of the many pictures that were taken that day, this is one of my very most favorites. My paternal grandpa and grandma are on the left, my maternal grandma is seated in the front, and Paul's maternal grandma is on the right.
Paul's grandma, Jane, is still living and more beautiful than ever. Our kids call her GG (Great-Grandma). As you can guess, we all call her GG now.
GG lives close by, and yesterday, we spent the afternoon reminiscing and laughing over lunch, coffee, and dinner. The kids adore her and are always so excited when we go to visit. We love her stories of yesterday and her sweetness of today.
This picture is a reminder to me of the love of family.
It is also a reminder of how quickly time flies by and how we cannot take for granted one moment of our lives.
I am also reminded that Grandpa refused to wear a tie to my wedding. Refused...no matter how much Grandma talked to him about it.
Happy Anniversary, Paul.
I am honored and blessed beyond what I can comprehend that we have the rest of our lives to look forward to together.
I love you very much.
Enjoying our Journey,
Friday, June 25, 2010
Warm Fuzzies
One evening as I was making dinner, I heard Matthew yelling, "Hi!" at something out the back window. I was a little afraid to see what...or who...might be standing out there.
It was a bunny!
As you can see, "Hi!" is one of Matty's favorite words right now.
He says it with gusto!
His enthusiasm was so contagious that Josh joined the welcome wagon.
It got a little boisterous at times.
Everyday, we see at least three bunnies in our yard.
It reminds me of when Mom and I used to take early morning bike rides around town. She would see a bunny hopping around in the dewy grass and say, "First place bunny!" Then, when spotting the second one, we would say, "Second place bunny!" And of course, we would give a "Third place bunny!" award too. After third place, though, the bunnies only received honorable mentions.
I don't know what started that. Kind of silly...but it's the stuff that makes for warm, fuzzy memories.
And...we're still talking to bunnies.
Can you believe that little bunny stayed as long as he did with two little boys yelling at him through the window?
They must know how cute and irresistibly fuzzy they are!
Enjoying the Journey,
It was a bunny!
As you can see, "Hi!" is one of Matty's favorite words right now.
He says it with gusto!
His enthusiasm was so contagious that Josh joined the welcome wagon.
It got a little boisterous at times.
Everyday, we see at least three bunnies in our yard.
It reminds me of when Mom and I used to take early morning bike rides around town. She would see a bunny hopping around in the dewy grass and say, "First place bunny!" Then, when spotting the second one, we would say, "Second place bunny!" And of course, we would give a "Third place bunny!" award too. After third place, though, the bunnies only received honorable mentions.
I don't know what started that. Kind of silly...but it's the stuff that makes for warm, fuzzy memories.
And...we're still talking to bunnies.
Can you believe that little bunny stayed as long as he did with two little boys yelling at him through the window?
They must know how cute and irresistibly fuzzy they are!
Enjoying the Journey,
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Older Sibling(s) Effect
I have to believe that this is a common phenomenon...an observable occurrence.
A child...who used to be the only child...is confronted with a younger brother or sister. Although at first an intrusion in his or her life, this new little sibling proves to be quite a bit of fun.
And, he seems to like the attention that the older sibling(s) give him.
Especially when he growls on command.
And dances.
I can say that this is a common phenomenon with confidence, because I am an older sister with a younger brother.
A younger brother who was dressed up as a princess.
A younger brother who was pushed around in a baby carriage.
A younger brother who was "fancied up" with his grandma's makeup and perfume.
A younger brother who was dressed up as a groom in a wedding.
A younger brother who was always hosting a special Barbie and her entourage at his Hot Wheels races.
Was he a willing participant in these activities?
Well...yes and no.
He would never have chosen--or even thought--to do these things on his own.
As a mom, I can now see the tremendous influence an older sibling has on a younger brother or sister...for better or worse.
And, as much as we argued as kids (my mom used to call us "the Bickersons"), we have grown to be great friends who enjoy spending time together.
My prayer for my kids is that, no matter what the future holds for them, they will always be great friends and comrades.
And may they always remember to use their influence for good.
Enjoying the Journey,
A child...who used to be the only child...is confronted with a younger brother or sister. Although at first an intrusion in his or her life, this new little sibling proves to be quite a bit of fun.
And, he seems to like the attention that the older sibling(s) give him.
Especially when he growls on command.
And dances.
I can say that this is a common phenomenon with confidence, because I am an older sister with a younger brother.
A younger brother who was dressed up as a princess.
A younger brother who was pushed around in a baby carriage.
A younger brother who was "fancied up" with his grandma's makeup and perfume.
A younger brother who was dressed up as a groom in a wedding.
A younger brother who was always hosting a special Barbie and her entourage at his Hot Wheels races.
Was he a willing participant in these activities?
Well...yes and no.
He would never have chosen--or even thought--to do these things on his own.
As a mom, I can now see the tremendous influence an older sibling has on a younger brother or sister...for better or worse.
And, as much as we argued as kids (my mom used to call us "the Bickersons"), we have grown to be great friends who enjoy spending time together.
My prayer for my kids is that, no matter what the future holds for them, they will always be great friends and comrades.
And may they always remember to use their influence for good.
Enjoying the Journey,
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Stories Behind the Pictures
I have found, from talking to other people, that you either have a memory like a video camera or a memory like a snapshot camera.
Paul's grandma, Jane, has one of those video camera memories. She can turn on the video player in her mind and tell stories in such detail that you would believe you had been there too. I love listening to her tell stories.
Oh, how I wish I had that kind of memory.
My memory?
It's the snapshot kind.
William used to ask me to tell him stories about when I was a little girl.
I would have to pull out the shoebox in my mind of unorganized, unlabeled photos and thumb through them to find one that would be story-worthy.
The pictures that should be placed together are most often spread throughout the box...or lost. There are a few strips of negatives in there, but you know how hard it is to hold up a negative to the light and tell what that backward figure represents.
I have found that the best way for me to retain any memories is to journal.
Not the "handwritten in a pretty journal" sort of journaling.
Not the "get out my scrapbooking paper and tools" sort of journaling.
Blogging is the best way for me to journal this life of ours so that I can tell the stories my kids crave.
So...here are just a couple of "behind the scenes" stories that I don't ever want to forget.
I think I mentioned that I forgot to pack the can opener on our trip to Wisconsin.
But Paul came to the rescue!
I think that he opened two cans like this before asking William...
"Do you have your Swiss Army Knife with you?"
William says, "Yes. Right here in my pocket."
Paul asks, "Does it have a can opener?"
William answers, "Yep!"
Paul rolls his eyes.
I guess William was having too much fun watching Paul open cans with a screwdriver and ratchet to even think about the can opener in his pocket.
This is a story that they both like to tell...and laugh at.
The other story is one from our Wisconsin trip too.
And...it's one involving Paul and William again.
After visiting the Nature Center, we decided to take a short hike on the Kohler Dunes Cordwalk.
I'm not exactly sure why, but William was a little grumpy about taking this hike.
Grumpy for William is a sort of grumble.
"I don't want to go on a hike."
"Let's turn around and go back."
So...you can imagine how happy he was when he saw that a section of the cordwalk was closed.
"I guess we'll have to turn around and go back now!"
Paul says, "We're more than halfway back to the Nature Center now. We're not going back."
William says, "But it's closed! It might be dangerous! We can't take the little boys across there."
By this time, the little boys were already across.
This is a picture of Paul on the other side.
And the hike continues.
The second half of the hike was quieter.
No more grumbling.
William said shortly after the hike that it was a good hike and that he was happy that we finished it.
William is a bit like me.
O.K....a lot like me.
Apprehensive of the unknown.
Afraid that he and his loved ones might get hurt.
He has the perfect Dad and I have the perfect husband.
He pushes us gently past our comfort zones and into the unknown, reminding us that we are in this together.
Enjoying the Journey,
Paul's grandma, Jane, has one of those video camera memories. She can turn on the video player in her mind and tell stories in such detail that you would believe you had been there too. I love listening to her tell stories.
Oh, how I wish I had that kind of memory.
My memory?
It's the snapshot kind.
William used to ask me to tell him stories about when I was a little girl.
I would have to pull out the shoebox in my mind of unorganized, unlabeled photos and thumb through them to find one that would be story-worthy.
The pictures that should be placed together are most often spread throughout the box...or lost. There are a few strips of negatives in there, but you know how hard it is to hold up a negative to the light and tell what that backward figure represents.
I have found that the best way for me to retain any memories is to journal.
Not the "handwritten in a pretty journal" sort of journaling.
Not the "get out my scrapbooking paper and tools" sort of journaling.
Blogging is the best way for me to journal this life of ours so that I can tell the stories my kids crave.
So...here are just a couple of "behind the scenes" stories that I don't ever want to forget.
I think I mentioned that I forgot to pack the can opener on our trip to Wisconsin.
But Paul came to the rescue!
I think that he opened two cans like this before asking William...
"Do you have your Swiss Army Knife with you?"
William says, "Yes. Right here in my pocket."
Paul asks, "Does it have a can opener?"
William answers, "Yep!"
Paul rolls his eyes.
I guess William was having too much fun watching Paul open cans with a screwdriver and ratchet to even think about the can opener in his pocket.
This is a story that they both like to tell...and laugh at.
The other story is one from our Wisconsin trip too.
And...it's one involving Paul and William again.
After visiting the Nature Center, we decided to take a short hike on the Kohler Dunes Cordwalk.
I'm not exactly sure why, but William was a little grumpy about taking this hike.
Grumpy for William is a sort of grumble.
"I don't want to go on a hike."
"Let's turn around and go back."
So...you can imagine how happy he was when he saw that a section of the cordwalk was closed.
"I guess we'll have to turn around and go back now!"
Paul says, "We're more than halfway back to the Nature Center now. We're not going back."
William says, "But it's closed! It might be dangerous! We can't take the little boys across there."
By this time, the little boys were already across.
This is a picture of Paul on the other side.
And the hike continues.
The second half of the hike was quieter.
No more grumbling.
William said shortly after the hike that it was a good hike and that he was happy that we finished it.
William is a bit like me.
O.K....a lot like me.
Apprehensive of the unknown.
Afraid that he and his loved ones might get hurt.
He has the perfect Dad and I have the perfect husband.
He pushes us gently past our comfort zones and into the unknown, reminding us that we are in this together.
Enjoying the Journey,
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day, Sweetheart
I find that when I want to write a blog that expresses lots of emotion, I stall.
I have a hard time putting into words everything that I want to say.
Just the way I want to say it.
This is one of those times.
How do you tell the man that you love...in "just the right words"...how much he means to you?
How much he means to your kids?
So...I cheated.
Just a little.
I found this poem that describes Paul so well.
And the pictures. You know what they say...
"A pictures says a thousand words."
What Makes A Dad?
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
--Author Unknown
This is the man I love.
The man we call "Daddy."
The kids are much more uninhibited.
Here's what they have to say about their Daddy.
I love my Daddy. He keeps me safe and understands when I'm scared.
--Matthew (as told to Mom) :)
"I love my Daddy. He teases me and makes me laugh."
--Joshua
"I love my Dad! I've learned that Dad can get through a dangerous place."
--William
"I love my Daddy! I've learned from him that it's OK to be a dork sometimes, but always remember to laugh at yourself." :D
--Carrie
"The best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother."
I love you right back, Paul.
Thank you for being the perfect Dad for our kids!
God sure knows what He's doing, doesn't He?
Happy Father's Day!
Enjoying the Journey with you Sweetie,
I have a hard time putting into words everything that I want to say.
Just the way I want to say it.
This is one of those times.
How do you tell the man that you love...in "just the right words"...how much he means to you?
How much he means to your kids?
So...I cheated.
Just a little.
I found this poem that describes Paul so well.
And the pictures. You know what they say...
"A pictures says a thousand words."
What Makes A Dad?
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
--Author Unknown
This is the man I love.
The man we call "Daddy."
The kids are much more uninhibited.
Here's what they have to say about their Daddy.
I love my Daddy. He keeps me safe and understands when I'm scared.
--Matthew (as told to Mom) :)
"I love my Daddy. He teases me and makes me laugh."
--Joshua
"I love my Dad! I've learned that Dad can get through a dangerous place."
--William
"I love my Daddy! I've learned from him that it's OK to be a dork sometimes, but always remember to laugh at yourself." :D
--Carrie
"The best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother."
I love you right back, Paul.
Thank you for being the perfect Dad for our kids!
God sure knows what He's doing, doesn't He?
Happy Father's Day!
Enjoying the Journey with you Sweetie,
Friday, June 18, 2010
"I Could Live in Sheboygan!"
What a sweetheart.
And what a testimony as to why we need to take more camping trips!
Josh, after being in Sheboygan for just a couple of days, said, "I could live in Sheboygan!"
I asked him why, and he said, "I just love it. And I love Lake Michigan. And I do love camping!"
Here are some highlights from our first morning in Sheboygan.
This is what you do your first morning in Sheboygan if your wife forgot to pack the can opener and you would really like to eat breakfast.
And for the very observant...no--it wasn't Halloween.
I also forgot to bring a seasonally appropriate tablecloth.
Guess who slept in and missed all of the can opening excitement...
This is one of William's favorite camping breakfasts.
The other would be Pop Tarts.
Our campsite was pretty sandy/dusty.
Josh--even though he had plenty of warning that his feet would get really yucky--decided to play barefoot outside. When he came in he cried to have his feet washed. I told him that his feet would get all sandy when we went to the beach anyway.
He said, "Dirty feet bug me. Beach feet don't bug me."
I don't know.
For some reason, it's fun to play "shower cap" with these stretchy bowl covers.
See the nice marks on Matthew's forehead and nose?
He took a pretty good fall on the Sunday before we left.
On the sidewalk...no hands to catch him...all face.
Josh would look at him, make a face, and say, "I really wish that bump would go away. It makes me so sad!"
Finally!
We are on our way to the beach!
No turning back now!!
One stop before the beach...
Carrie is helping the little boys fill up their squirt guns.
And the boys are trying out the water pump.
Back on course!
The beach and Lake Michigan was only a five minute walk from the campsite.
Past a few campsites, across an open field, over a sand dune, and...TaDah!!
Paul is enjoying the view.
Matthew is admiring his bucket.
It may be spring, but Carrie celebrated "fall" on the beach.
Matthew is trying out the sand tools that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for Easter.
Sand castle disaster.
I love the expression on William's face!
Pretty girl on the beach!
Sand castle success!
Josh celebrates his first ever sand castle!
William and Josh are just enjoying the water.
Once William got in the water, we couldn't get him out.
It didn't matter how cold the water was!
Matthew's favorite activity was "sand flipping."
He would pick up sand in his shovel and flip it out into the water.
We really had to keep an eye on him, because each time he flipped a shovelful of sand, he would step back and get a new one.
He could travel away from us pretty quickly, all the while flipping that sand into the water!
I know what you're thinking, Honey.
Let's build a house right here.
Sun, sand, and waves.
I could live in Sheboygan.
Enjoying the Journey,
And what a testimony as to why we need to take more camping trips!
Josh, after being in Sheboygan for just a couple of days, said, "I could live in Sheboygan!"
I asked him why, and he said, "I just love it. And I love Lake Michigan. And I do love camping!"
Here are some highlights from our first morning in Sheboygan.
This is what you do your first morning in Sheboygan if your wife forgot to pack the can opener and you would really like to eat breakfast.
And for the very observant...no--it wasn't Halloween.
I also forgot to bring a seasonally appropriate tablecloth.
Guess who slept in and missed all of the can opening excitement...
This is one of William's favorite camping breakfasts.
The other would be Pop Tarts.
Our campsite was pretty sandy/dusty.
Josh--even though he had plenty of warning that his feet would get really yucky--decided to play barefoot outside. When he came in he cried to have his feet washed. I told him that his feet would get all sandy when we went to the beach anyway.
He said, "Dirty feet bug me. Beach feet don't bug me."
I don't know.
For some reason, it's fun to play "shower cap" with these stretchy bowl covers.
See the nice marks on Matthew's forehead and nose?
He took a pretty good fall on the Sunday before we left.
On the sidewalk...no hands to catch him...all face.
Josh would look at him, make a face, and say, "I really wish that bump would go away. It makes me so sad!"
Finally!
We are on our way to the beach!
No turning back now!!
One stop before the beach...
Carrie is helping the little boys fill up their squirt guns.
And the boys are trying out the water pump.
Back on course!
The beach and Lake Michigan was only a five minute walk from the campsite.
Past a few campsites, across an open field, over a sand dune, and...TaDah!!
Paul is enjoying the view.
Matthew is admiring his bucket.
It may be spring, but Carrie celebrated "fall" on the beach.
Matthew is trying out the sand tools that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for Easter.
Sand castle disaster.
I love the expression on William's face!
Pretty girl on the beach!
Sand castle success!
Josh celebrates his first ever sand castle!
William and Josh are just enjoying the water.
Once William got in the water, we couldn't get him out.
It didn't matter how cold the water was!
Matthew's favorite activity was "sand flipping."
He would pick up sand in his shovel and flip it out into the water.
We really had to keep an eye on him, because each time he flipped a shovelful of sand, he would step back and get a new one.
He could travel away from us pretty quickly, all the while flipping that sand into the water!
I know what you're thinking, Honey.
Let's build a house right here.
Sun, sand, and waves.
I could live in Sheboygan.
Enjoying the Journey,
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