The fourth of July was as fun as a box of sparklers. We enjoyed the day with Matthew’s family, complete with a parade and fireworks.
Somehow, Betty fell asleep soon after the fireworks began.
Back home, we cracked that box of sparklers open and made some designs in the air, while enjoying the fire pit.
Sometimes a whole lot of words aren’t needed when pictures speak for themselves.
whimsy
A Happy Time
I don’t recall what we were about to do or where we were going to prompt Elsie to say it, but she made me chuckle with this: I’m going to have a happy time, even if it’s boring! Now that summer is in full swing, the words “I’m bored” are about as allowed as some other unmentionable words in the urban dictionary. When they are uttered, a math lesson is swiftly pulled up on the computer, or perhaps the boredom quickly fades as they don a pair of goggles, pull out monopoly, shoot a home-made movie, or delve into the many library books I keep constantly in flow. 
This week was so full I feel like I’m bursting a little bit.
Any week where we can be altogether for six days in a row is going to be good. Unfortunately, every kid had a fever sprinkled into the entire week at some point in time. Thankfully, no throwing up, but a lot of laying low. Matthew finished my laundry room window, fixed this and that, hung this, moved that… basically filled up my love tank with acts of service mingled with quality time. I worked on various projects: crocheting a rug out of old sheets, making some chalkboards, beautifying our front porch, and organizing our school room a bit more.
Next, our dear friends, Ruthie & Jamie, arrived from Ohio to share our vacation time with us. We enjoyed the front porch, got wet, went to a water/amusement park, and laughed a lot. One night I even had the privilege of being a doula with an incredibly special couple and their precious baby girl.
The kids found a turtle and named it Road Runner after they rescued it from trying to cross the street.
While at the park, I learned how much Betty loves roller-coasters. If she was a bit taller, she would have gone on everything, but she was content to do the roller coaster her size. Her smiling face as she swooped down the hill of the coaster was absolutely priceless. Falling from 148 feet with Jack and Nadine was also a highlight. I’ve learned that I’m a bit more scared than I used to be of heights in general. 
Nadine came down for her breakfast today and was asking me how Matthew made her bagel. Do you know how Daddy made that bagel yesterday? Because it was amazing. It was because there was a hint of Daddy in it. I know he used butter… When I asked her how it tasted after she made it, she said, It wasn’t even close. Sometimes she takes my breath away.
One of my painting projects was a “new” dresser. I got the dresser for $10 at a yard sale and surprised Nadine with it.
As all the fevers floated around, I overheard this funny conversation between Elsie and Betty:
I have a headache, said Elsie.
Where? asked Betty.
Right here in my head! said Elsie with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
When Elsie struck up this conversation with Betty she was just stating a fact, which apparently was missing a very important detail in Betty’s little mind: You were sick, she stated.
No I wasn’t!
You you were!
I were last night! Of course. Last night. She likes to be precise.
Betty is learning her numbers, and I couldn’t help chuckling when she got to twenty-nine and said: Two=dy nine!
As June turns the page into July, there is more fun in store! Summer is such a happy time!
From Kayaks to Clark Kent
It is most definitely time for a photo dump. Halfway through June, and so much has happened! We went to Marsh Creek during Memorial Day weekend and had a fabulous time! The weather was gorgeous, and Betty was so cute in the canoe. Elijah experienced solo kayaking for the first time.
There have been moments of frustration and moments of sweetness. We still have Toby, who loves to go on walks with his little vest and leash on his back. 
The Weldons recently had a family reunion/anniversary party and there was a fabulous glam cam there. We took full advantage of the fun:
And just because I love it:
The kids and I recently went on a field trip to Harrisburg. What a beautiful building and fascinating history! The photo of the bookshelf is of a treat I found on it one day: superglue, super-glued to the wood. On Father’s Day all Matthew wanted to do was have a workout in the park, so he and a friend met there and did just that. Elsie and Betty continue to be “twins” every day, and it’s hard to keep their two “twin” outfits clean… but on the days they are dirty, they seem to figure out another way to manage the job of looking as much like the other as possible.
The small photo of the girls sleeping is a tiny glimpse of what has been filling my weeks. We have rearranged five rooms of the house to accommodate an office for Matthew. As his business grows, so do the papers and the need for a spot to do his at-home work. Happy Father’s Day to him! I will post pictures o the finished product soon. As an exclamation point to our week, Jack got glasses! We are excited to see if they help with the challenge that school has been for him this year. We may not have Mary Poppins living here, but Clark Kent is in the house.
A Day to Recharge
Celebrating life, love, and marriage. God blessed us with a whole lot of delight today.
The Wind is Blowing Our Faces Into a Smile
There are many lost journal entries this month, as I’ve either been too exhausted to sit down and write, or I’ve been too wiped out by the end of the day. One of those two. Starting with tonight and working my way backwards, however, I will attempt to do a brief overview of our May Days.
The weather today has been awesome. Matthew experienced hail the size of small golf balls where he was working, and we experienced sunshine and dark clouds, changing back and forth all day. I had to explain to Betty five times tonight where all the snow went.
Elsie is my helper. I told her if she wore goggles while she chopped onions, they wouldn’t sting her eyes as much. The other day when we were driving and smelling cow manure which wafted through the open windows, she said: If I could pop my nose off whenever something is stinky then put it back on when something smells good… Well, that would be great. Speaking of smelly, Nadine had this descriptive offering of armpit odor: they apparently reeked of rotten chemicals with hotdogs dipped in mayonnaise. Yum.
Right now my dad is in Africa. In fact, this week he was able to visit the station where I was born and raised. Partly because I was feeling especially nostalgic, and partly because the kids have been begging to pop into our “old house”, I decided to do just that. We stopped in, and it is now a dentist office. Everything is bright blue from the outside. The downstairs is completely different, but the upstairs was just the same. It’s hard to believe I stood on those stairs in my wedding dress over 12 years ago! In my old bedroom, the inside of my closet door still had the glow-in-the-dark paint signatures of my siblings and friends, from back when I was a teenager. There were even a set of my nephew’s baby footprints, glowing in the dark when we shut the door and stood inside the closet. The same day, my same nephew, had just flown his first solo flight!
School is winding down, with our last week stretching out before us! I have learned way more than the kids, I’m sure. Nadine has become a much more confident reader. Elijah has improved in his math skills. Jack is reading and writing. Elsie is also reading and writing. Betty loves books and can write a few letters of the alphabet. She told me the other day: I don’t want to take it easy. I want to take a break. They love games, and have really improved in so many areas. I have a nice-sized list of things I am changing for next year. As my ever-wise husband has told me: this teacher and mama must keep a tight ship. This week Betty also overcame some of her fear of bugs. She managed to pick up fuzzy “calipitters” for hours on end with her second cousin, and she also willingly let an ant crawl onto her hand. She told me very excitedly the other day: Mom! Mom! Guess what? Lady bugs climb on trampolines.
Besides book work, we are out and about for so many activities. Nadine’s horse club has been a huge blessing for her. Elsie & Jack have even gotten a turn to ride when we pick her up at the end of the day. Field trips, archery, friends, blowing bubbles, picking flowers, and riding bikes leaves mama pretty exhausted some days. I am no longer the endless source of energy that I see in my children. I remember having it. I know it once existed. But it has been sucked out of my veins and into their own. So now they just borrow my phone to take pictures of their tired mama.
We do have a lot of fun around here. The beautiful moments of this month I think can be summed up in this one picture of Jack:
Our windows are down. The wind is blowing our faces into a smile. Summer is just around the corner.
When It Comes to Five
Maybe it’s the way her hair curls to beautifully, or the way her smile has always been exceptionally bright. Maybe it’s her ability to make people feel special. Maybe it’s a little girl trapped inside a woman’s body, that comes out when she’s excited or playing a game. Nadine loves creatures with fur, especially the ones that neigh. She has friends she calls on the phone, can clean a kitchen well, and loves to write letters. A woman of habit, she sleeps in the exact same position every night. Her little sisters adore her, and the other day Nadine said something funny to Betty: You know English fully now, don’t you? When we were eating bacon the other day, Nadine discovered she actually liked it and said, I think I’m finally coming to my senses about it. You got that right! Today she started back doing a special homeschool girls’ horse club with a few girls her age. She proudly donned her helmet she’s been dying to wear since Christmas, and I left her happily basking in the environment where she thrives.
Maybe it’s the way his bright blue eyes haven’t changed since he was a baby. Maybe it’s the way his body is swiftly changing into a young man. Maybe it’s the way I look at my phone and see a note from him telling me I’m the best mom ever… usually on a day when I’m feeling anything but good. Maybe it’s the way we both connect through music. The other day he walked into the kitchen and “Don’t Stop Believin'” was playing on the sound dock. He sighed and said, I love Journey. His peace-loving soul hates conflict and strives for resolution. Right now he is taking archery lessons and is one of the best shots in his class. He is counting the days until he can drive a car, and I have to remind him how awesome it is to be a kid. His feet are bigger than his mama’s. Today he was looking for the peanut butter in the cupboard. He poked around a bit then said, Maybe you can see it, because you’re taller. He paused and looked at me, then added, Well, not that much taller, and chuckled. He is a good observer. Once he saw how Elsie had dressed herself. I don’t remember the exact outfit, but generally it has to do with stripes, polka dots and flowers combined. He said, Mom, I always thought Elsie would be good trend-setter. When I asked the boys why they had their shirts off the other day (when it wasn’t hot outside) Elijah said, Because it makes us stronger!
Maybe it’s the way he is always catching up to his growing body. Maybe it’s the way his giant puppy paw hands will one day match the rest of his muscular body. Maybe it’s the way he leaps over three stairs at a time in his roller-blades and makes this mama’s heart beat very fast. Maybe it’s the way his heart tips the scales of my own when he wraps his arms around me and tells me he loves me. Maybe it’s in his smile that’s so big it makes his eyes squint closed. For Jack, an umbrella becomes a parachute, taking him to another world where there are things to fight and conquer. He is okay with going to the store wearing a button-down shirt, soccer shorts, boots with no laces, a holster with gun, and a cowboy hat. The other day said something very funny: Mom, I just have a question. If you pick your nose at night do you need to brush your teeth again? Today we reviewed our neglected chore charts. Orange marker in hand, Jack checked things off one-by-one. A few minutes later, I heard someone mowing, which is still a rare sound, after such a winter. For the longest time I thought it was our neighbor, then I poked my head outside to check on the boys. There was Jack, in his pajama pants, clip-on “pirate” earring, and flip-flops, mowing the grass for the first time this year. I didn’t even know if the mower would start. Elijah was right behind him, weed-whacking. They took the “yard work” part of their charts very seriously, and I think we’ll be keeping those chore charts handier. 
Maybe it’s the way she likes two little strands of hair un-tucked from her ponytail, so she can smooth them behind her ears. Maybe it’s the way she wears stripes with polka-dots on most days. Maybe it’s the gaping hole in her smile where her tooth was knocked out last year. There’s something about Elsie that makes me chuckle whenever she walks into the room. She loves friends, changing outfits, and monkey-bars. If all three are included on any given day, it’s pretty much the best day ever. She loves to sleep with her stuffed bunny under her head, just so. 
She also sleeps in a different position every night. She likes to do her own hair these days, and she likes to “babysit” Betty. She’s a terrific helper and does things almost always with a cheerful heart. Currently, she is wearing a purple shirt, red vest, shorts, striped socks up to her knees, and sparkly shoes. She sings hymns and songs and says the books of the Bible with lightening speed.
Maybe it’s the way she cocks her head and smiles. Maybe it’s the way she says, Bless you! whenever she sneezes. Maybe it’s the way her hair is still uneven from the perfect haircut she gave herself many months ago. Maybe it’s the way her brown eyes pull me in with their sweet chocolaty-ness. There’s something about Betty that makes me scoop her up and cover her in kisses whenever she walks into the room. She loves her dollies, taking care of people who are hurt, baby spoons, and the color yellow. To emphasize something of great importance she will say, “So bad”. For instance, I want to button my shirt so bad! I need a banana so bad! Sometimes she will say, Mom! I have a secret! Then she’ll whisper in a voice loud enough to hear all around, Please, I want a chocolate chip! I mean three chocolate chips! She still loves receipts as “taggies” to hold while she sucks her fingers. The other day she exclaimed: I found them all! Seriously! After finding a pile of receipts in her little purse. Seriously. Her vocabulary is hilarious. There aren’t always darling moments, but there are many funny ones. Like today, when I laid her down for her nap… for the fifth time. Without a word, I carried her back upstairs, put her in her bed, tucked her covers around her and walked out. She cried behind my retreating back: I’m not a baby! I’m not a baby! To which I chuckle. In fact, you are. You’re my baby. When she’s not a baby, she is doing her own schoolwork, and already knows how to make an H, B, and E. You’re still my baby, Betty.
Maybe it’s a combination of five hearts, all with their own special places in my own. Whatever it is, I love these beautiful children. Seriously.
Hippy At Last
Yesterday two pretty momentous things happened. First, it was Jack’s eighth birthday! Everything about the day was exactly how it was eight years ago: the blue skies, spring flowers blooming everywhere, and excitement in the air. Yesterday we also welcomed a new member into our family. Please, meet Oceanus, named by the kids this morning. Our bright blue happy van! (Oceanus was the name of the baby who was born on the Mayflower when the Pilgrims came to America. They like that story, plus the color reminds them of the ocean.) We are so very thankful for this blessing from our Father above, who cares about every detail of our lives. We are excited to make many memories and road-trips this summer, bouncing along in Oceanus.
La Famiglia
Before more time goes by, here are the closing remarks via photo, from our special family fortnight.
A rose among thorns, Heidi between her brothers.
We had a “see who can hang the longest from these freezing cold monkey bars” contest. Jack was the one to beat, and his daddy rose to the challenge and won.
My ever-present comedian.
The series of these photos was hilarious. We had a photo-bomber named Jack darting in and out from behind us. Among the lot, there is not one of all three coupes kissing. We tried. The middle couple were pretty oblivious to all the crazies. So cute!
The cousin shot didn’t work out too well. It was cold. Betty was sad. Elsie was silly. That’s life!
Sisters by love, not blood.
So blessed.
Thirteen Is Odd
The times I feel odd happen frequently. Maybe because I’m born on an odd-numbered day. Sometimes I feel this way because of something I have: You have five children? People say, as if having any number over four has basically become as astronomical as living on Mars. Sometimes it’s because of something I do: You homeschool your kids? I could never do that. I’m never sure if that statement is supposed to make me feel better or worse than them. It always makes me feel odd, though. Sometimes I also feel it because of something I don’t do: You don’t wash your hair? Ok, I admit, even I thought that was weird a few months ago. But when one suffers relentlessly from dandruff, one will do almost anything, including the crazy, to be rid of those unwanted snowflakes which aren’t really snowflakes at all. Plus they never melt. Maybe I’ll do another post on that one a different day.
Lately, I’ve felt especially odd as I ran through the coldest, snowiest and sometimes most beautiful of days. Eight weeks ago I wasn’t quite sure about running one mile. Even the day before yesterday, I wasn’t quite sure about it:
“This is how I’m feeling about tomorrow,” I wrote on Saturday.
Yesterday, I set out to do 13, with about 10,000 other oddities in the Philly Love Run. Finally, I’m not odd. Everyone, a common goal. Everybody screaming you on to finish.
Miles 1-5 were relatively smooth.
By mile 6, the rain was pretty heavy. My friend, Gail, and I ran together. We would laugh at how the rain pooled up inside our jacket sleeves. Whenever we straightened out our arms, rivers of water poured out like faucets. I stopped avoiding puddles and my sneakers spoke a second language, sounding a lot like: squish, squelch, squish, squelch. 
Around mile 9 my legs felt a more like iron mixed with mush, and less like muscles and tendons. I was so hungry at mile 10, that when someone handed me a Swedish Fish candy, it tasted like a ten-dollar dessert. I savored the sugary calories stuck in my teeth for a few minutes. At mile 11 we ducked under an overpass to stretch one last time.
We snapped our only mid-run photo under the overpass.
The deluge had turned to drizzle, but the cold was starting to cramp different parts of my legs. After a minute, we set off to whip those last miles into oblivion. At mile 12, the welcome sight of Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row came into view. As we approached mile 13, I had some emotional moments inside my head and heart. This is what it’s like to finish, I thought. It hurts. It’s beautiful. It’s thrilling. It’s really, really hard. For a few seconds I was given a quick glimmer of life’s finish line. Like an instagram from Heaven. We will look back and think: That was so hard. How did I get through it? Wow, life was so amazing. So difficult. Beautiful. Rewarding. Painful. So worth every second.
Unlike our eternal finish line when we’re finally Home, the thrill of this finish line was quickly replaced with the need for warmth and sustenance. We found our husbands, cheering under an umbrella. Then we squelched through inches of mud to receive our reward: a cool medal and a bag of potato chips (among other snacks, but the chips stood out to me the most). 
It was a grand memory. I couldn’t have done it without the constant cheering of Matthew and Gail. Many others encouraged me as well, and you know who you are. And just like people ask you if you’re ever going to have more kids, the second after your baby pops into the world: YES, I’m going to keep running. Is that odd?
Italian Surprises
Surprises are the spice of life.
We had a surprise brewing for a few weeks now. I kept it from the kids, excitement building in my own heart. It had been almost three years ago since we saw these sweet faces, flown straight from Italian soil to our side of the ocean!
One night previous, Elsie had just been in tears for her cousin, Hannah. She missed her so badly.
Few words are needed. It was a blessed week and a half. So thankful we were able to see them a few times and cousins were able to connect over dress-ups, dance-parties, and sidewalk chalk.
In the between days when we weren’t at Matthew’s parents house visiting, we kept busy with the usual school and business of life. Soon I will post pictures of our entire family together. What a beautiful week it’s been.
Grow Old With Me 