Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A story worth recording

Mostly, I'm blogging this story so that I can remember it. Emma Rose is starting kindergarten in less than two weeks, and I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. I think about what I might not remember from the first five years and how much I might forget of the next many, many years. I love looking at the posts I've written because I have forgotten. When I read what I've written, it brings those memories back.

Emma Rose goes to Waumba Land most every Sunday morning. It's the Sunday school program at our church for children from 6 weeks through 4 years old. She only has a few more Sundays before she graduates to UpStreet, the cool program for kindergarten through 5th grade. She's so growing up! When I picked her up this past Sunday, I talked with her teacher about who she plays with regularly and who she might want to have in her small group with her at UpStreet. The guess I made earlier in the week was correct: two little boys. Caleb is the son of one of the awesome employees at the church, Bryan. Bryan knew Emma Rose from Caleb before John and I even met Bryan. Apparently, Emma Rose is Caleb's special friend on Sunday mornings. He is a sweet little guy! The other child is the son of a man I went to church with as a youth, Andy. Drew is a fun, active little boy, and I remember his father as a sweet, kind man. I hardly know him now, but I do know those character traits are still in him. I felt proud that I was right about her buddies.

Her teacher also shared with me that Emma Rose had been kind to another child that morning. The class was playing a bean bag toss game, and a little boy was "fussy" because it wasn't his turn. Emma Rose gave him her bean bags and gave up her turn. No one, not even the fussy boy, asked her to do it nor would they have. She just decided to be kind. When her teacher told me this (and even now), huge alligator tears started to stream down my cheeks. It makes me so happy to know that she is kind-hearted and thinks of others. She's generous and thoughtful. She empathized with another person enough to want to help him stop hurting. Maybe you think I'm reading a lot into this one small interaction, but I can see these traits in her everyday. She is such a sweet little girl, and I am so proud of her!

July 4th Weekend

Nicki invited us down to south Georgia for her dad's annual Independence Day celebration. We had a great time! There was a red-neck water slide (large plastic tarp + sprinkler/water hose + baby shampoo), yummy food, and fire works. There was also a gaggle of children, so Emma Rose and Anabelle had a great time playing. John actually took some pictures of me, too!





Sunday, July 18, 2010

Volcano in the Driveway

The girls spotted a volcano in the basement and insisted that Daddy hook it up to the water hose. They had a great time running though the water! Emma Rose also stuck her face right on top of the volcano when it erupted. She got a nose full of water. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that. They both also practiced their fighting stances, too. Very cute! Pie almost had a little bath, but Anabelle quickly gave her to me for safe keeping.







Visit to Mamaw's House

At the end of June, the girls and I went to visit my maternal grandmother, Mamaw. She lives in Murphy, North Carolina. It was a beautiful summer day, and the girls were able to enjoy some time playing in the branch (the little creek in Mamaw's front yard). They even saw a salamander! Mostly, they threw rocks and sticks from the footlog (the little bridge over the branch) and walked across a piece of wood balanced between two rocks. The weather was hot, the water was cold, and the girls were very, very happy!

Mamaw will be 95 at the end of August, and she was glad to see us. We had a huge lunch, and I was able to visit with Mamaw, three of my uncles, and one aunt. And, Cricket was there, too! We don't get up there nearly enough!












A Few Pictures from the Beach

Last month, we were fortunate enough to be able to go to the beach for a few days! My mom went with us and had some much needed time to relax after her surgery. We drove by our old house, went to our favorite restaurant, saw a few friends, and, best of all, visited with Cathy (John's youngest sister), Eric (her husband), and their children: Marlee and Kingston. It was Anabelle's first time at the beach!

The girls had great fun at the beach and the hotel pool. They built a sandcastle, got to sit in a giant hole (compliments of Daddy), search for shells, and play in the waves. Emma Rose also swam accross the pool for the first time ever! Anabelle tried to do the same, but she was not successful, and Mommy almost had a heart attack. Both Emma Rose and Anabelle have been asking if we can go back! I'm totally ready.