Artisic and thoughtful

Marilouise dictated. Mommy labeled.

Typical transformation

Early morning moments

I'm sure most parents on the "other side" realize that you must savor the moments of peace and happiness as a family because they are fleeting, sandwiched between utter chaos and daily tasks. Which is why a good mother is always ready to capture the lovely moments at any moment.

40 years of silence (well, almost)

Long silence. We were bowled over by our business expansion. I've missed posting pics and thoughts. I think about my thoughts often but never take the time to write them. So while I nurse and type one fingered with ML happily coloring in the background I will add to our ongoing record of goings-ons.

K & J -
We finally took our first non-family visiting vacation as a married couple (since our honeymoon). We went to the Methow Valley with our friends Tom & Kristen and their 4 children. It was so fun and relaxing. Even the drive late at night was nice. We listened to U2's Joshua Tree while the girls dozed and talked about silly and serious things. While at the cabin we forged the river in Chacos and flip flops, participated in a "4th of July Olympics" which included a Boci Ball game, old clothes race, and "golf" tournament. I went on a quiet bike ride with the 14 year old and thought about happy memories I have from my childhood trips to Winthrop and the Valley. Now we are back at work but the trip gave us the necessary respite to make it through the busy season.

ML -
We are in the "Why" stage and I have found that sometimes I can stop the neverending stream with "Because that is how God made it." "Oh."

We have also turned three. Sorry to all who missed out on the festivities (Evelyn slept through them too). Pinning tails on donkeys, making Fruit Loop necklaces, and eating cupcakes--a three year old's dream.
Her birthday continued with the arrival of spending money from Great grandma and Grandpa Sherman, which turned into a play kitchen. Then Grandma and Grandpa Sherman sent something very special.
Watch ML opening a birthday present









Ev -
We are in the crawl and "laugh at my sister" stage.

Watch our littlest peanut

Puzzling

Our little circus monkey doesn't mind performing for the camera...

Evelyn's baptism

Another milestone! We missed everyone who couldn't be there.

Baptism by Pastor John
Prayer for parental help (Ev's gonna need it)

imitation is the scariest form of flattery

If you look closely you will see what mama is doing, though not pictured.

Building my mission and real life

Now that I've hit the "almost rolling over" milestone with Evelyn I feel like "real" life should commence again. The newborn stage is so short in hindsight (I suppose parenting is so short at the end of it, too). Now I feel like it is time to stop living moment to moment and actually know what I'm doing at the beginning of each day. That involves planning. My usual mode is to be spontaneous, respond to whatever is urgent, feel productive rather than deciding what's really important and prioritizing those things. And may I say that being a parent of two makes this kind of living oh so easy. But I find that it isn't very satisfying. Not because the unending pile of laundry feels a little deflating or pointless but rather because I'm not sure whether I've done what I should have done or whether I completely wasted good opportunities. Until the past few years I used to spend my money like that. I didn't spend money very often but when I did I never had the reassurance whether it was a good idea and if I actually had it to spend.

All that to say the last time when I went through this transition from newborn to baby I used Franklin Covey's mission statement builder. So once again tried to encapsulate everything I hope to be in a couple sentences. It sounds good. Now I have to implement the next step in Covey's 7 Habits planning mode--goals and tasks. If I'm ever going to remember where I'm going I need to post this statement somewhere I'll think about it, instead of just trying to find bunk beds on Craigslist. It will probably find a home on a bulletin board near my desk, along side Marilouise's preschool learning (letter of the week, memory verses, etc), and maybe the grocery list. Organized planning must coexist with the chaos of being "a mom to young children." Now I know the full meaning of that phrase when my mom would say it and give a "You know what that means" look. I utterly did not appreciate the weight of what that meant. I still don't because I think I'm pretty blessed with wonderful children. But it is pretty crazy. All that to say creating a mission statement is so much easier than living it. That may sound obvious but proactive living is not my specialty. I'd much rather react to whatever comes into my life. Fortunately, I realize now that I need an aim, besides that nebulous "For God's glory", so I will sit at my 80th birthday party with satisfaction and my husband and children will be more joyful. So now that I've reseeded our lawn and finished the laundry I'm off to live my mission statement.

Love to Grandma

We didn't forget you! Lots of love!