How can it be August 2nd?! How is it that I will have a three year old in 2 days?! We've had great fun anticipating the "Happy Day", and have squeezed in some more summer fun the past couple weeks. 


Last weekend we had the first birthday party - a combined one for Trevor, and Karis's b-day buddy, uncle Steve. Karis was thrilled to sit right between her birthday buddy and Aunt Debbie for dinner, it doesn't take much to get her into a celebratory mood. 


On Saturday we had a morning adventure . . . we three walked to the nearest bus stop (not far) and hopped on for a buzz to a fun area close by. Got off, had breakfast outside, took a walk, visited a park, hopped back on the bus for home. Karis has been interested in buses for some time, and it was hilarious to watch her eyes widen with elation as we lumbered down the streets. Her favorite phrases on the short trip: "What color is the bus? Mommy, the man is driving us!" A great memory. 


More mothering musings:


- When she knows Trevor is going to grill, she gets her little froggy fold-up lawn chair, unfolds it right under our sugar maple tree and waits for Trevor to grill. Oh, and don't forget the beverages! She has to have a little pink cup of water that fits into the chair's cup holder. Love it!


- "Thank you, mommy, for the ______ (meal, breakfast, taking me potty, anything)". Oh goodness, melts my heart - can three year olds really know gratitude? I'm reminded that habits start so early and sometimes feelings follow word or action choices.


- "Mommy, is it going to be my birthday?! I'm going to be three years old! On August 4th!"


- "Are the raspberries getting bigger, mommy?": said every time we drive by neighbor Bonnie's raspberries - because you know, we can't eat the raspberries until they get bigger!


- We took Karis to Kids Games (our church's VBS) last night. It is amazingly open to pre-schoolers . . . and it took me a full month to get her there after I realized KARIS IS A PRESCHOOLER. What?! Anyways. It was such a joy to watch her in a new environment . . . singing, dancing, running, mingling, praying, listening. The leader asked Karis if she would like to sing. Karis thought for a bit, and replied, "I think not".  Ha! Someone asked if she's been watching a lot of Downton Abbey.


- Karis continues to ask about our day's agenda (many times a day): "Where are we going in the morning? Where are we going after nappers? Where are we going after dinner? Who are we going to meet there?" We've had fun exploring new parks (including a behemoth indoor one with a bouncy house - about gave me a panic attach, so many tubes and twists there is no way to keep track of your child in such a place - not to mention every day camper within 10 miles was there that rainy day). Karis finds friends wherever we go: "What's your name? Mommy, she has earrings!" 


- Karis has these purple crocs shoes that she wears every.single.day. Everywhere, seriously. They are the most comfortable, she can run like the wind, put them on herself, kick them off quickly. I discovered a hole in the bottom yesterday! So, Happy Day Karis, we're off this morning to find their replacement.


We have much to be grateful for. Last night Trevor said how excited he is for #2, his phrase was "Double the fun". I agree . . . 

The grilling chair. Not sure what kind of face she's making?

Hot fun in the summer time . . .

Sometimes I start books, and I drag through the first pages and think, “I’m not gonna get through this one.” And then sometimes I plug through, and by the middle I think, “Oh my word, what if I would’ve stopped? This is amazing!”. I just had that happen last night with Acedia and Me, by Kathleen Norris. She is a poet, she is deep, raw, honest - and this work is somewhat a an autobiography of sorts as she explores her own “acedia” (one definition: spiritual torpor and apathy) in different areas of her life.
I read a passage this morning that inspired me to finally sit down and write a bit . . .
“Beginnings can be trying for anyone (who is goal oriented). I want to make quick progress and am tempted to take shortcuts . . . “

So true, and she goes on to explain how this can affect her as a writer.

So, here is a beginning to catching up on the happenings, deep thoughts, and Karisms of this summer.

Happenings:
Weddings, weddings, weddings. We’ve had a blast traveling to some special wedding celebrations this summer.

1 - My cousin’s wedding in Bowbells, ND (which I deemed a “destination wedding” because it is 10 hours from where we live!). We began that trip with a b-day party for Trev’s dad, then a visit to my birth-town, Minot, for breakfast at an old fave restaurant The Homesteaders. The wedding was gorgeous, and as always for this momma, Karis was a highlight, a hoot, and a blast. She was enamored by the ceremony, loved engaging with all the people, devoured spaghetti noodles, and cut a rug on the dance floor. I mean, the girl can DANCE. However, she is picky about her partners: only other little girls and my brother’s girlfriend were suitable for this occasion.

We wrapped up that trip celebrating Father’s Day, a maiden voyage to Cherry Berry frozen yogurt, and then getting to welcome Trev’s brother home from China. All blessed and beautiful events. And honestly, Karis was a traveling champ, the long drives were a fun chance to listen to her chatter and sing.

2 - THE wedding, the anticipated event of the summer . . . Trev’s brother and our new sister . . . this all began a full week before the wedding with Trev going to a bachelor party weekend and me welcoming my mom and grandma for a girls’ weekend in the cities. We fit in: IKEA, a trip to Excelsior, Potbelly’s, Yo Yo Donuts & Lone Lake Park, the American Swedish Institute and Mill Valley Kitchen. We loved every minute.

Then I ended up being away from Karis the longest I ever have, I rode to SD with my brothers to get to SD in time for the bachelorette party. A blast all around, and I even got a generous hotel room to stay in for the night. An odd feeling! Refreshing at first, and then felt empty at bedtime. The rehearsal was gorgeous, the groom’s dinner meaningful, the wedding day magical. It was an honor to stand up for my new sister, to walk with Karis down the aisle and share that memory with her, to walk by Sylvan Lake for pictures, to watch two sincere people exchange vows and enter the covenant of marriage - it was an emotional ceremony, and I find my eyes welling a bit even now as I bring back the memories. Congratulations, Jordan and Cassie!

Karis had two cupcakes for dinner (you read correctly: for dinner, not after dinner) and then completely whooped it up on the dance floor - I mean, at one point she had everyone circled around her clapping in time while she grooved to “Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night” by the Black Eyed Peas. I will always remember watching her in all her flower girl glory! And the way she tried to sneak in every dance with Aunt Cassie, she is clearly enamored by her aunt.

That night as K was trying to fall asleep around midnight it was quiet for a good 20 minutes, and then out of nowhere, I hear her whisper, “Jordan and Cassie” . . . and then drifted soundlessly off to sleep. A precious memory, like she was breathing a prayer for them. 

The next morning found my brother and I up hours before everyone else, sipping coffee on a rock patio overlooking the black hills. Breathtaking, and accentuated by a heartfelt conversation - the kind that you can’t plan and treasure in memory for a lifetime.

We hit up Mount Rushmore before the trek back to Mpls, and left feeling immeasurably grateful for our stellar family and friends. Life feels rich and full.

A Karism from returning home: I hear her from the kitchen as she played in the living room and exclaimed, “I’m so excited to be home!” I guess we all know where we hang our hats.

3 - Our final summer wedding was this past weekend in Grand Forks: Trev’s cousin and his new bride. The 5 hour drive felt like a breeze compared to the other destinations! The hotel was a blast and time with family was precious

In between 2 & 3 we had a jubilant fourth of July - convinced Karis to get wet at a splash pad, got free Starbucks coffee (although it was about 100 degrees that day), napped, and then crashed a dinner party at Maynards in Excelsior before going to Dierkers for dessert. Phew, we packed it in. Karis loved wearing her stars and stripes.

Also amidst all this hustle and bustle, we enjoyed having my bro live with us for about 5 weeks. Such a memorable time and we miss him - he would play catch and hide and seek with Karis every day and we just generally savored the time of seeing him more often. We had a fun visit from my best friend from college and her friend, to more college friends dropping by for morning iced tea, and now . . . we have one of our favorite houseguests here for a week and I can tell Trev is soaking up having a buddy to “talk shop” with, go to Pizza Luce with, & accompany him and Karis to the park. Summer fun! 


Oh, and Trev had a birthday in there somewhere! We snuck in some mini-parties - one really mini, just us at Uptown Cafeteria for dinner, another one on the actual day at Chipotle with my bro and his girlfriend. Happy Birthday to you, Trev - you know how to make life fun and meaningful, you are simply the best.


Deep(ish) thoughts: 

Can be summed up with an email-ish journal entry I sent this week to some people on a prayer chain . . . I will include here (clearly this blog is for me and posterity, feel free to skim!) I think I need to read it every day to remind myself to think about and do important - not “urgent” - things:

Did you wake up this morning ready for the week, hopping out out bed before your alarm, ready to tackle all the to-dos of the days ahead?

I did not. =) But here we are, right? Something I'm thinking about this morning is the continual need to live with great intentionality. There are various intentions we carry with us in our day: to do lists, goals to pursue, ways we hope to act and react to various situations. I'm thinking about this because my mind is spinning with all the things I hope to accomplish this week - but to what end? The phrase ringing in my mind today is: "Begin with the end in mind". What goals am I pursuing this week, what are all my "lists" going to really accomplish, what is the "end" I'm looking towards? Is it things or is it people? Is it a spic and span house or is it time spent on the floor playing with Karis?!

Without God, without the leading of His Spirit, without the love of Jesus - anything I do today or tomorrow or the next will be done in vain. I'm writing this to myself as much as to you, I need this reminder today (well, every day)! What will bring joy to the heart of My Father this week? I am thinking right now of how I will love and serve my family, my friends - how will I be in tune to their needs, their dreams, to who God has made them. We have a houseguest this week . . . what atmosphere would God have me help create in my home of hospitality and peace (not performance of meals and entertainment!). Lord, help me (us) to remember that glorifying You is the end we are looking towards, and teach us what this means and how to do it - by Your strength.

Thanks for reading this "journal" today . . . writing it somehow holds me accountable and makes things look clearer for the moment.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 (from The Message)
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
So yes, that’s what’s on my mind and heart this week. Settling down after a lot of traveling has me trying to find my bearings and focus again.

To end with another Norris quote that I laughed at while nodding my head in solidarity:
“If I am not going full-tilt, I’m likely to collapse”

So true. I haven’t collapsed - yet (or at least, not for a while). Full tilt is feeling okay right now . . .

Oh, and I neglected Karis-isms here. Too many, needs another post altogether, another beginning to start.

(Well, okay, just one from this morning: "I have boogers in my nose. Yeah, I think I do.")

post-dancing at wedding number 3

Nature walks and baby talks

It's been an eventful week here, full of fresh air and parks and nature explorations. Some highlights were:

- going to graduation parties. It only took Karis one such party experience to ask when we were ready to leave for the next one, "What are we gonna eat there,  momma?" One even had a bouncy house, which, combined with the crazy hot day made for one red-cheeked little girl. We escorted her to the basement when we got home to cool off.
- examining huge green caterpillars perched on a neighbors' bush . . . it'll be interesting to see if they remain there to cocoon
- seeing baby birds in their nests in another neighbors backyard
- discovering a mulberry bush down the street and picking the berries, singing "here we go round the mulberry bush"

Notice, not much is happening in OUR back yard. And that's okay, we enjoy the fruits in other places for sure. I can't imagine that Karis will EVER have a graduation party!

We had the joy of having our first midwife appointment yesterday. Trev got to join and we sat in awe at hearing this baby's heartbeat for the first time. Life is a miracle. A crazy thing happened in the waiting room: Trev stepped out to take a phone call, and shortly after this beautiful and very pregnant woman approached me and asked if my daughter's name is Karis. I was so taken aback and my mind was racing trying to think of where I might know her from. She explained that she saw my husband step out, and she recently met him and Karis at a nearby park. Well, once she told me her name (Maryama, a memorable name for sure) I was completely floored! Trevor and Karis have been talking about her and we've been praying for her at night, for her and her baby who is close to being born. It was so random and bizarre and wonderful to have that chance encounter. I hope we meet them again, I'm so curious and prayerful today about their baby (she was being induced yesterday). I appreciate how this big city can feel so small (like when I ran into a neighbor today at the grocery store - love it).

Not 2 hours after that appointment, I was at the park with Karis and started chatting with a mom . . . turns out her due date is just a few days later than mine. It was special to have those connections to make the day memorable.

To top off the day, last night Trevor and I went out to celebrate our 8 year wedding anniversary. We grabbed some hot food from Whole Foods and took it for a picnic at Lake of the Isles. We enjoyed sitting on our fluorescent beach towels and watching everyone else exercise while we ate. We did not go for a walk afterward, we instead packed up and went to YUM for decaf and cookies - a good night, hopefully memorable (we can't seem to remember from one year to next how we celebrated the previous year. We finally remembered that last year was Chipotle and Dairy Queen ice cream cake with my bro and his girlfriend - I know, we're so fancy, right?!). Tonight for the "actual anniversary" we're including Karis in a run to get some "Old McDonald's ice cream". Again, fancy. We might actually wear jeans instead of sweatpants, but that's yet to be determined. Anyways, I'm so thankful for the past 8 years of marriage with Trevor - you're the best, Trev. To top off the day, he even ran an errand to Target for just 3 things . . . while I sat in the car and closed my eyes. It was great. I wonder where we will be next year? Hopefully fondly remembering this one.

That's Modesty

(most of below written a full two weeks ago . . . )

The story of the month is about trying to teach the lesson of modesty to Karis. Karis has a dress that is, in fact, not modest. She loves to wear it and then take her arms out of it, leaving her top unclothed. So in an effort to start some deep lessons early, I tell her to leave her dress on, and that it's called modesty. Now when she takes her arms out of the dress she says, "That's not modesty!". I  hid the dress until it fits correctly, however on its way to the appropriate 'for later' closet (yes, we have one of those - this little body has her things crammed into many nooks and crannies in this home) she spotted it and exclaimed, "The modesty dress! Wear it?!". So, the dress is back. I'm happy to report that she now leaves her arms in.

Recent Karisms:
- Singing "One spirit . . . one body . . . ", then saying, "We sing that at church"
- At a restauarant, we were kept telling her "when the man comes back you can have more milk", so she kept saying, "The man is back!"
- "Uncle Drewey, Grandpa Kirkey" funny new names for some family members
- "I'm sick". Something she's never said before. I soon realized that she was simply repeating what she's been hearing me say. Oops.
 - "That's your stomach? Mommy's gonna get a baby belly like momma Beth?"
- "Is that the right foot, mommy?" when putting on her shoes
- "You can read the Laura book, grandma" (I love how she gives people permission for what she wants people to do, cracks me up). Other such directives: "You can do that", "You can stand right here", etc.
- "I have choices" (as in, choices for outfits of the day)
- Karis is adjusting to our summer schedule of morning outings. Within minutes of waking she asks: "Where are we going, momma? Who's gonna be there, momma?"
- "I like your haircut, momma" (said correctly after I got a haircut, and unprompted from Trevor. So sweet!)
- "Where's the owie chipmunk?" (we had a no-longer-living chipmunk in our yard . . . she saw my bro and I clean it up)
- Social as ever, Karis will walk up to anyone and say, "What's your name?", immediately followed by, "Look at my nails!" while stretching out her fingers and showing the remnants of fingernail polish on her digits
- New favorite songs: "Pop, goes the weasel", "Skip to My Lou", "Whole World in His Hands"
- Latest favorite books,: All the World, Knuffle Bunny Too, Let it Shine, Morning Has Broken 


Perhaps you caught our news from some of the quotes above . . . I'm assuming that if you read this, you already know that Karis is going to be a big sister. We're quite excited, I'm so thrilled and thankful that Karis will have a sibling. The way she adores babies and wants to give them blankets and help in any way is so precious. I know I adore my brother and am so thankful to have a sibling, we're just in awe of God's creation. Also why I've been saying "I'm sick" a little too often (and really, I'm not terribly sick, just kind of enough to whine about it more than I should). I am reminded that not too long ago, proclaiming news like this in a public setting would not be modest! Times have changed, now we touch women's growing bellies and share all sorts of details that would probably make our great-great-grandmother's gasp if they could hear.

A recent memory I'll treasure was sitting in church, Karis cuddled on my lap for most of the sermon. I rarely get cuddles these days, and they are precious! Karis has started saying "I want a hug", and I feel like I could hear that a million times a day.

We had our fair share of drama the past week, we're hoping for this next one to be very boring: - Thursday evening before dinner, Karis fell all the way down the stairs. She was fine, thank God. A little crying and some cuddles, within ten minutes she was re-telling the story and didn't seem traumatized. Trevor said he fell down the stairs a lot as a kid, I said I didn't remember ever falling down stairs. Hmmm.

That same night I also took a tumble, of the fainting kind. It could be a long story, but I'll just say I didn't realize how exhausted I was and I now know not to push my limits. The ER visit was interesting, I had the same doc who treated my burned arm years ago from an incident while working at Caribou. I'm thankful to have learned the limit lesson while my parents were here and able to be with Karis AND help me slow down.

On Saturday, Karis got nail polish in her eye. Again, thank God, no damage done beside some stinging and crying and she is happily retelling that "daddy got in the bath. We went swooosh on my eye. Mommy and daddy fixed it".

Some more recent highlights (the following written the day I'm finally getting around to posting this!)
- We spent last weekend in Park Rapids at a  lake with some of Trev's extended family. So beautiful in every way! We celebrated his grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, had a bridal shower for my new sister, took lots of walks, had quality conversations, ate wonderfully and came home encouraged.
- Last week our dear friends (practically family) welcomed their little girl to the world. Welcome, Eliza! She is too precious, and we couldn't be more thankful for her life. Every baby is such a miracle.
- Last night we had a wonderful surprise when my dad's flight was overbooked and he got to stay here through this morning. So fun!

I found this troll the morning after we found out about the new baby. CRAZY. It was in a random box where I was looking for old picture frames . . . it was mine when I was growing up. It was like this huge (if not seemingly silly) affirmation that yes, we are indeed going to have a baby (we both kept thinking "no way, this can't really be true"). So, Karis got to announce the news to many people, even though she was the last to know.

Mother's Day

I feel like there are a lot of unexpressed expectations for Mother's Day . . . and always so much to think about. The "Prayers of the People" this morning acknowledged that the day is a blessing to celebrate and yet for so many can be one of grief. So many who want to be moms, or have lost their mothers, or have a disrepaired relationship . . . well, there are a range of emotions for many.

The closing of the prayers this morning was this:
"O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire"

Loved that. I think Mother's Day for many can bring to the surface some hearts' desires. I love the reminder that God's promises fulfill all of them (although maybe not in the way or timing we would choose).

Something else I've been talking about with friends and seems to be a theme is the thought of expectations on Mother's Day (I think expectations for any "holiday" can be an good thing to explore and discuss). I want to not expect much, but there is still this weight of expecting . . . something. Except, I don't always even know what? Just a thought to throw out there.

One more Mother's Day comment: I adored this blog post, it made these feelings of "YES" rise up in my soul and I have to record it here if only so I can come back and look at it from time to time. This mother thing can feel weight-y if I let it . . . such a precious child of God entrusted to my care, such responsibility.  And yet, we are both God's.

Karis is keeping things light and busy around here, I'm so thankful to be able to learn more about who she is every day. She is a character! I'm learning that she loves to explore wherever we are, and one sure way to do that is to wield the phrase: "I have to go potty". That way, she knows she can at least check out the bathroom. Nine times out of ten, she'll just sit there and giggle and survey her surroundings without a single tinkle. It cracks me up.

I love the way she says, out of the blue, in a deep and drawn out voice, "Mommmmmaaaaa". Still my heart.

I treasure the way she adores Trevor, follows him around in the yard, came in one night because she needed "garden gloves" (pink winter gloves) to match his (his were not pink).

I enjoy watching when she sees people she loves, she gets so excited that she can't contain herself and has to run all over the place and put on a little show.

Out of nowhere today she said to Lukas, "Bless your heart!". ! Oh my goodness, I melted! Seeing what a good reaction the phrase got, she starting "Bless your heart" to everything: me, her shoes, her dresses . . .

Picture from Easter, close enough to Mother's Day . . . 

May Day

May Day, defined (by wikipedia):
1 - an emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications
2 - an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures

I have some great memories of filling up (and receiving) dixie cups full of sugar-y stuff on sunshine-y May 1sts. Karis and I had fun ringing a few bells today.  

Last week we had a hosting high as we welcomed some dear people into our home. First, M & C joined us for a weekend that ended up feeling like a staycation to us: walks, bakeries, coffee, bookstores, simple meals, and neglected housework. Staying up past our bedtime, talking, laughing, encouraging. A beautiful boost to our routine days. 

Then my dad was here for a couple days, and we had a refreshing time with him: a dinner of "small plate" offerings from Trader Joes, he chased Karis around "the field", chatting till bedtime in the basement, lunch on the patio of a favorite cafe. It was sweet, when we dropped him off for the meetings that brought him to this area, Karis said, "Grandpa has to go back to grandma." Yes, Karis, indeed.  

Switching gears to random reflections: 

Trevor and I love to tell people about Karis's elaborate bedtime routine. It's about twenty steps long and at least that many minutes. However, we just realized that when one of us is gone, bedtime is lickity split. I had this moment of realization that her long bed-time is really created  by Trevor and me, we really savor that time of connection among the three of us and I think we prolong the event ourselves and Karis just goes along with it. It's precious that we can create routines together and make memories in the daily-ness of life.

We came across a verse this week that I thought was so appropriate: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). BE STILL. Lately, Trevor and I have been talking about how hard it is for us to just stop. We like to be busy, get things done, see people, go places. Mostly we're okay, but we're both trying to examine what balance looks like in our family.

Our Reading Rainbow lately:
Karis's latest faves are Animal Babies, Hand Hand Fingers Thumb, A is for Annabel, Nursery Rhymes, Ferdinand the Bull, Blueberries for Sal. 


I've been enjoying some riveting reads that leave much to contemplate: The Gifts of Imperfection, Anna Karenina, China Road, My Life With the Saints, Dallas & The Spitfire, Simplicity Parenting.


Things you might hear Karis say this week:
- "Ohhhh yeahhhh" (said just like Trevor says it, hilarious every time)
- "No mommy do morning devotions! No mommy read Rhyming Bible" (what is it that is so intrinsic to want to do anything but read the Bible sometimes?! I'm trying to make it as fun as possible!)
- "No mommy ________" (talking, putting my hair up, putting on a sweatshirt . . . anything.)
- "What IS that one?"
- "No way!"
- "Mommy sit RIGHT HERE!" (I am mandated to do many things throughout the day)
- "You so goofy girl" (a rendition of what when we call her a goofy girl)
- "Watch ride in an automobile?" (latest fave youtube Sesame Street video)
- "Go to lake! Be so tall!" (referencing walking on a block wall on a trail by a lake last weekend)
- "Actually. Exactly" (two of her new favorite words)
- " (insert name of any of Karis's friends coming over) NOT gonna take the bike away" (um, a little possessive of her bike!)
- "Bye ______, say hi to _________!" (she knows who goes in pairs and if one person is missing she makes sure to tell the present person to say hi to the absent one. She is a parrot, I didn't realize how often Trevor and I do this until Karis picked up on it. It's way cuter to hear it from her than us!)
- "Keep in my bed a little longer" (I've said it before, this family enjoys their sleep)

Assembly required

Karis picked out her outfit this morning and said, "My May Day dress!"

A not to do list

I stumbled on this blog post a while ago, and I just loved the idea of it . . . making a "not to do" list! I need that in my life. So many things I'd love to do, but just aren't part of who I am. Interestingly, most of the ones on this author's list would be on mine too. Gardening always comes up this time of year. April showers bring may flowers, but those flowers seem to need to be planted first! I so badly want to be a gardener, but besides putting tomatoes and cucumbers in containers and planting my annual pots I just can't bring myself to figure anything else out. So, I just might have to add expanding my gardening skills to my "not do do list".

Add to it: sewing. baking things with yeast. deep cleaning my house every season. doing piles of art projects. keeping up photo albums. creating homemade cards.

Note: I do still want to try these things . . . which leads me to my other revelation lately that I can get discouraged and even debilitated by all or nothing thinking. I have to bake ALL our bread or not try at all. I have to have a HUGE garden or not do one at all. I have to sew EVERYTHING in our house or not even take the machine out of the box. I have to clean out ALL the drawers or not even start. I have to do a craft with Karis EVERY day or not do any at all.  It's been illuminating and also freeing to realize I can just attempt some things and if they flop, whatever. Actually, this isn't a new thought to me, I just seem to forget my struggle with this and need to come back to practicing a balanced approach. Life is too short for such black and white thinking.

Another phrase that keeps going through my mind is one from my cousin (who is graduating this month with a master's in counseling): "Don't get so excited!". Ha! Isn't that the best?

- Outside yesterday I was standing with my hands on my hips and one foot out. Karis walks right beside me and imitates my pose. We were laughing so hard.
- At dinner one night she had to eat her taco just like Trevor, bunching up her tortilla and stuffing it into her mouth. Also had to eat dinner right beside Trevor yesterday.
- In her bath she has taken to pouring and serving "tea". So fun. She also loves to wash her little people with her washcloth.
- Before her nap one day she had to remove her socks, open the door and put them in the hallway.
- I love watching Karis talk on her "phone" (a calculator). She can be overheard nodding her head and saying, "So. Okay? Yeah? Sounds good."
- Or watching her with Lukas or her babies, saying, "You okay? Ohhhh."
- Or when she meets people and shakes their hand while saying, "Nice to meet you".
- When our neighbors get home, she watches them (read: stares) until they get out of their vehicle. Then says, "Welcome home!" and runs in circles around a tree in our backyard.
- Tickle monster is a new favorite. She curls her index finger, waves it in the air, gets a surprised look on her face, says, "tickle monster gonna get _____", and tickles whoever is in sight.
- "We'll do that soon. Later."Written down just doesn't capture how convincingly she says this . . . to an array of things (like, watch youtube, eat candy, go somewhere she wants to go).
- "Laura book - see the cheese?". There is one page on one of the "Little House adaptation" books that shows Laura, Mary & Ma making cheese . . . Karis loves this page.