We love questions around here, and good thing - the kids as about a zillion a day (wonder where they learned that?). Two q's swirling in my mind lately:
"What are we saying 'yes' to?"
"What are we excited about?"
(I'd love to hear your answers)
Fair Fun
Dan (you know, Dan in Real Life) has a song, "Prepare to be surprised". Well, my extreme enthusiasm about the fair is a big surprise. Let's be clear, I did not exactly love the fair itself - it's the bonding, memories in the making, decisions, meandering, delighting, glutton-ing together. Together! Getting a Monday "off" with my hub and watching him take the lead so wonderfully, the best. Here's what we did, for the record.
Leave early, listen to Waylon Jennings on the way
Birthing barn
"What are we saying 'yes' to?"
"What are we excited about?"
(I'd love to hear your answers)
Fair Fun
Dan (you know, Dan in Real Life) has a song, "Prepare to be surprised". Well, my extreme enthusiasm about the fair is a big surprise. Let's be clear, I did not exactly love the fair itself - it's the bonding, memories in the making, decisions, meandering, delighting, glutton-ing together. Together! Getting a Monday "off" with my hub and watching him take the lead so wonderfully, the best. Here's what we did, for the record.
Leave early, listen to Waylon Jennings on the way
Birthing barn
Big slide
Mini donuts/coffee
watched sheep dogs/sheep (ran into a friend from high school and his fam, watched with them. WILD!)
"Kidway" - dog rollercoaster, fun houses, bumper boats
Brats from "Cynthia's Sausage" (yum), corn dogs
Watched Dan Cole Common Man show (Trev's VERY favorite radio show). Karis did tug of war and got on the show. WILD!
Dairy barn - soft serve cones and princess of the Milky Way butter carvings
Gondola/ski lift ride to machinery hill (freaky)
Walked our way back - go into campers, sit on tractors . . .
Sweet Martha's
4H Building
4H Building
Cheese curds/beer while watching end of Common Man show
Tattoos (of bugs. big nasty bugs, handed out by a woman in a bug suit).
Tattoos (of bugs. big nasty bugs, handed out by a woman in a bug suit).
HOME (listen to classical/opera on the way home)
taco salads and tattoo putting on
We put them on after dinner.
(next year: matching family t-shirts, spend more time at the creative arts building, remember that momma loses steam and stops loving the cookie-to-kids-mouth-like-a-slot-machine around 1pm. Hmmm, maybe momma could go to creative arts building alone and leave the kids at the all you can drink milk)
Retreat
Mother/daughter book club annual event. So meaningful, simple, beautiful. Games (moms for sure the most competitive), ordered in Chipotle, singing, praying over each girl, playing.
Growing up, kind of
Oh Judah, we have kept him young and Karis has observed a few times: "Judah sure seems to get what he wants when he cries". In an effort to treat him like the age he is (almost 5, what?!) we're starting small. Like, not reheating his food because he's been playing while the rest of us eat. One Saturday he went to rest time without lunch (no, we're done re-heating your food). He called me into his room to say:
(next year: matching family t-shirts, spend more time at the creative arts building, remember that momma loses steam and stops loving the cookie-to-kids-mouth-like-a-slot-machine around 1pm. Hmmm, maybe momma could go to creative arts building alone and leave the kids at the all you can drink milk)
Retreat
Mother/daughter book club annual event. So meaningful, simple, beautiful. Games (moms for sure the most competitive), ordered in Chipotle, singing, praying over each girl, playing.
Growing up, kind of
Oh Judah, we have kept him young and Karis has observed a few times: "Judah sure seems to get what he wants when he cries". In an effort to treat him like the age he is (almost 5, what?!) we're starting small. Like, not reheating his food because he's been playing while the rest of us eat. One Saturday he went to rest time without lunch (no, we're done re-heating your food). He called me into his room to say:
"Ah, I just want you to apologize to me . . . ". Laughter. And then, "Well, I'm sorry I raised my voice, and we will not be reheating your food anymore".
Plum Picking/Creative Endeavors
Karis and Lucy are such buds, so dear. And I couldn't let the peck of plums go to waste, so we tried our hand at plum jelly. Satisfying project and beautiful in a jar, if a bit tart.
School Starts
2nd Grade
Preschool
Writing this in mid-October, it feels like . . . an afterthought, which means we're full on into routine (YAY!). Loving the routine. Karis's first day was sweet, the excitement in the building buoyed us all and I felt not sad this time. Judah started a couple weeks later, and he was just so ready that it was easy to let him go. Trev helped take him (with a stop at Bruegger's first).
Fortress/FOMO
The end of summer had me feeling like saying no to lots and to build a little fortress around our family. Tired, ready/not ready to face the engagement that fall brings. And it made me ponder what it will mean when some of my family wants to say "yes" (for example, to the picnic/movie night at church) and half wants to say "no". Sometimes its as simple as the ones who want to go and the others stay back, but then there's FOMO! Such a real thing . . . around the corner was . . .
Minne-Revive/Ordination service
I went to a conference at our church, I'm also very excited about this. I wrote about it here. Being there helped me to get back into fell-the-fortress mode, to remember to say "yes" when needed and find peace in the "no's", even when there's FOMO.
Well Check Wonders
We had to break up with our pediatric clinic, sniff sniff. While sad, I was still marveling at the fact that we can easily take for granted that whatever care we find will be very okay. I still was on the look out for some sweet comfort in the transition and sure enough at the new place was one of our old nurses. Such a wonder to me, when this metropolis seems small and also I remember that in my small concerns there's still attention and care. Grateful.
Sunset Catcher
Karis padded down after being tucked in one night to exclaim that I just had to look at the sunset. So we sat on the front step in our jammies and just chatted and I remembered the importance of being open to these moments. When I think the day is done, to keep my heart ready to connect and delight and make memories with this dear daughter.
Peek a Boo/Catty
We have a resident cat living under our deck. Judah named it Catty, Karis convinced him to consider "Peek a Boo", which seems about right because it peeks out now and then and we never really know when he's going to be here. Advice?
First Book Cry
Karis padded down another night and sobbed into my arms because someone died in one of her American Girl books. Oh, a good book cry.
Wedding/Montreal/Wedding
Within ten days we took two trips to Bismarck and Trev took one to Montreal. All so sweet and special and full and fulfilling. Connecting with family always the best, especially in the spaces of celebration, and I'll always remember feeling the nearness of heaven at A's wedding. We even got a late night hotel stay (in an effort to get Trev to the airport in time on Sunday). Memories already of watching kids make pillow forts and wake up with puffy eyes.
Truth Telling (bites)
Twice in one week I told the truth and wish I'd fibbed. Karis and I went to the mall when she had a random Tuesday morning off (Judah in preschool). Oh the fun we had, finding jammies and opening the Disney store and coffee talks - we decided we could tell the truth to Judah AND not gloat. Didn't go so well. Meltdown, and the one thing he thought would help, "I NEED MY HOME POOTSIE" was not to be found. We rode the wave with humor and the storm passed, but really, I wish we'd fibbed. And then a few days later went to mail a book media mail and when the gal asked if there was a personal note I fessed up, "yeah, one sentence". Sorry, can't send it that way. Fib. Should I have?
Other September fun . . . Minnetonka Orchards, Westwood Nature Center, Bellacour baby shower with littles in tow running around the courtyard, IKEA with dear friends (the only way), free Chick Fil A with lots of kids, Karis and Trev going to The Hobbit with friends . . . grateful.
It's the overview here, folks. Plenty of not perfect moments, as always. Trying to be present, live into fullness, always growing and learning and making so many mistakes and receiving so much grace.
 |
| Judah in his "snuggle fort" (using every single blanket and pillow in the house) |
Plum Picking/Creative Endeavors
Karis and Lucy are such buds, so dear. And I couldn't let the peck of plums go to waste, so we tried our hand at plum jelly. Satisfying project and beautiful in a jar, if a bit tart.
School Starts
2nd Grade
Preschool
Writing this in mid-October, it feels like . . . an afterthought, which means we're full on into routine (YAY!). Loving the routine. Karis's first day was sweet, the excitement in the building buoyed us all and I felt not sad this time. Judah started a couple weeks later, and he was just so ready that it was easy to let him go. Trev helped take him (with a stop at Bruegger's first).
 |
| Last minute scrubbing off tattoo |
Fortress/FOMO
The end of summer had me feeling like saying no to lots and to build a little fortress around our family. Tired, ready/not ready to face the engagement that fall brings. And it made me ponder what it will mean when some of my family wants to say "yes" (for example, to the picnic/movie night at church) and half wants to say "no". Sometimes its as simple as the ones who want to go and the others stay back, but then there's FOMO! Such a real thing . . . around the corner was . . .
Minne-Revive/Ordination service
I went to a conference at our church, I'm also very excited about this. I wrote about it here. Being there helped me to get back into fell-the-fortress mode, to remember to say "yes" when needed and find peace in the "no's", even when there's FOMO.
 |
| Bishop blessing the children |
Well Check Wonders
We had to break up with our pediatric clinic, sniff sniff. While sad, I was still marveling at the fact that we can easily take for granted that whatever care we find will be very okay. I still was on the look out for some sweet comfort in the transition and sure enough at the new place was one of our old nurses. Such a wonder to me, when this metropolis seems small and also I remember that in my small concerns there's still attention and care. Grateful.
Sunset Catcher
Karis padded down after being tucked in one night to exclaim that I just had to look at the sunset. So we sat on the front step in our jammies and just chatted and I remembered the importance of being open to these moments. When I think the day is done, to keep my heart ready to connect and delight and make memories with this dear daughter.
Peek a Boo/Catty
We have a resident cat living under our deck. Judah named it Catty, Karis convinced him to consider "Peek a Boo", which seems about right because it peeks out now and then and we never really know when he's going to be here. Advice?
First Book Cry
Karis padded down another night and sobbed into my arms because someone died in one of her American Girl books. Oh, a good book cry.
Wedding/Montreal/Wedding
Within ten days we took two trips to Bismarck and Trev took one to Montreal. All so sweet and special and full and fulfilling. Connecting with family always the best, especially in the spaces of celebration, and I'll always remember feeling the nearness of heaven at A's wedding. We even got a late night hotel stay (in an effort to get Trev to the airport in time on Sunday). Memories already of watching kids make pillow forts and wake up with puffy eyes.
Truth Telling (bites)
Twice in one week I told the truth and wish I'd fibbed. Karis and I went to the mall when she had a random Tuesday morning off (Judah in preschool). Oh the fun we had, finding jammies and opening the Disney store and coffee talks - we decided we could tell the truth to Judah AND not gloat. Didn't go so well. Meltdown, and the one thing he thought would help, "I NEED MY HOME POOTSIE" was not to be found. We rode the wave with humor and the storm passed, but really, I wish we'd fibbed. And then a few days later went to mail a book media mail and when the gal asked if there was a personal note I fessed up, "yeah, one sentence". Sorry, can't send it that way. Fib. Should I have?
Other September fun . . . Minnetonka Orchards, Westwood Nature Center, Bellacour baby shower with littles in tow running around the courtyard, IKEA with dear friends (the only way), free Chick Fil A with lots of kids, Karis and Trev going to The Hobbit with friends . . . grateful.
Karis-isms:
- "Oh, I bet you did" (when I said we missed her when she went back to school)
- "Oh yeah, I want my belly to process the food in my tummy nicely" (getting a probiotic after eating a baconator from Wendy's)
- "My mind is basically like a big piece of notebook paper" (when I told her I like to write down quotes from books)
- "Mommy, these aren't just dreams, these are wants" (when talking about her birthday next year)
- "Well, as I always say, 'some is better than none!'") (when we had a short play date)
- "To tell you the truth . . ."
- "I must say . . . "
- "Mom, it seems like the Julie books are in my time - they have cars and TV! Is 1970 like my time?"
- Really into knock knock jokes
- "Well, it appears Judah gets what he wants when he cries!"
- "But mom, Judah doesn't have closed shoes, what's he going to do?" (on his first day of Preschool, she was quite concerned)
- "Now Judah when you tell people your name, say 'Judah', not 'Judah Robert Ryan'"
- "I wish Lauren was my sister"
- "Pastors have such neat stories about what God has done. I wonder if I'll ever have stories like that?" (we had a good convo that a lot of those stories come from struggle . . . and then talked about the stories she already has - such a sweet moment)
- "Can we still do 'dear sweet baby?'" (a little bedtime prayer my parents used to say to us . . .I had stopped for a while and she missed it. So dear)
- "That was a bit of an awkward silence, I must say"
- "I feel bad for the frog. Judah's not the best frog keeper, you know"
- "We killed the worm so we're gonna have a funeral! Should we say nice things about it?"
- "Oh I'll be sad when Judah can read and doesn't want me to read to him anymore!"
- "Well, sorry not sorry!"
- "Oh at last, my favorite clothes of the day! (pajamas)
- "Oh, I bet you did" (when I said we missed her when she went back to school)
- "Oh yeah, I want my belly to process the food in my tummy nicely" (getting a probiotic after eating a baconator from Wendy's)
- "My mind is basically like a big piece of notebook paper" (when I told her I like to write down quotes from books)
- "Mommy, these aren't just dreams, these are wants" (when talking about her birthday next year)
- "Well, as I always say, 'some is better than none!'") (when we had a short play date)
- "To tell you the truth . . ."
- "I must say . . . "
- "Mom, it seems like the Julie books are in my time - they have cars and TV! Is 1970 like my time?"
- Really into knock knock jokes
- "Well, it appears Judah gets what he wants when he cries!"
- "But mom, Judah doesn't have closed shoes, what's he going to do?" (on his first day of Preschool, she was quite concerned)
- "Now Judah when you tell people your name, say 'Judah', not 'Judah Robert Ryan'"
- "I wish Lauren was my sister"
- "Pastors have such neat stories about what God has done. I wonder if I'll ever have stories like that?" (we had a good convo that a lot of those stories come from struggle . . . and then talked about the stories she already has - such a sweet moment)
- "Can we still do 'dear sweet baby?'" (a little bedtime prayer my parents used to say to us . . .I had stopped for a while and she missed it. So dear)
- "That was a bit of an awkward silence, I must say"
- "I feel bad for the frog. Judah's not the best frog keeper, you know"
- "We killed the worm so we're gonna have a funeral! Should we say nice things about it?"
- "Oh I'll be sad when Judah can read and doesn't want me to read to him anymore!"
- "Well, sorry not sorry!"
- "Oh at last, my favorite clothes of the day! (pajamas)
Judah Jabbers:
- "So I changed my mind, I think I wanna go to the monster truck show with daddy instead" (on mother/daughter retreat day)
- "Mom, can we go to London? I want to go tomorrow. Daddy said I could drive my car there"
- "Mommy, was it my last day with you at church?" (asked this many times . . . he usually comes to work with me there Thursdays and now will be in preschool. Sniff sniff. I'll miss him there)
- "Can you take me to ma-Kohls for my birthday, to get a toy?" (not sure how it came to be 'ma-Kohls'?)
- "Mom, Mater is on Netflix" (fave lately is "Cars" and especially "Mater's Tall Tales")
- "Mom! The birds are playing tag with the airplane!"
- "Ohhh, I smell something sweet. Are you baking something yummy?" (indeed, cookies)
- "Mom, where is my sister?"
- Can climb over our fence with ease
- "Oh well I prefer to play booger man"
- "I gave daddy the tomato. He ate it all. in. one. GULP"
- "Hey dad, I like your underwear!"
- "Hey mommy, where's my sister?"
- "Mom, how did I get really cool?"
- "Mom, can we go to London? I want to go tomorrow. Daddy said I could drive my car there"
- "Mommy, was it my last day with you at church?" (asked this many times . . . he usually comes to work with me there Thursdays and now will be in preschool. Sniff sniff. I'll miss him there)
- "Can you take me to ma-Kohls for my birthday, to get a toy?" (not sure how it came to be 'ma-Kohls'?)
- "Mom, Mater is on Netflix" (fave lately is "Cars" and especially "Mater's Tall Tales")
- "Mom! The birds are playing tag with the airplane!"
- "Ohhh, I smell something sweet. Are you baking something yummy?" (indeed, cookies)
- "Mom, where is my sister?"
- Can climb over our fence with ease
- "Oh well I prefer to play booger man"
- "I gave daddy the tomato. He ate it all. in. one. GULP"
- "Hey dad, I like your underwear!"
- "Hey mommy, where's my sister?"
- "Mom, how did I get really cool?"
