NC spring '11: part four -grateful for

hot tubbing 

everyday

Gra's cookies

Ann's book in 83 degrees

rainbows and water-hoses

dish washing

coloring

racing on PS3

driving Pepere's John deere

sunlit scrabble

sprinkler fun

out door eating at On The Boarder

french fry cutter

bird feeding

window seat coloring

& black berry eating

bird watching, learning, naming

playdough

car washing

sliding

monkey joes & Aubry

Maggie and Buschie

new toys

playing ball

with Gra

bath tub cafe

building a bird house

with Pepere

someone to hate missing

someone to love having back

home sweet home.

YIKES!

NC spring '11: part three -fishin' with gus

Pepere really wanted to take us fishing on this trip. 

It was set in the plans, but the lake we were hoping for 

wasn't yet opened for the season. 

Thanks to God, Gra and Pepere, Groupon, and Meam's new YES gig, 

we enjoyed the perfect replacement plan...

FISHIN' WITH GUS! :)

But wait a minute, let me back up a sec., lest I forget 

the dog:

He was love-a-licious, and older than dirt, 

just relaxing by the water at the dock.

His collar was packed with tags; ID, phone numbers, 

licenses, proof of vaccines, and even one that read:

"please don't take me from the dock".

One tag revealed his name: 

TICKLES

SO sweet.

You were smitten!

Moving on.

Captain Gus didn't think you would be able to handle 

casting and reeling his type of fishing rods at five years old.

So, he pretty much declared that you would watch the 

bobbers from the rods in the holders, and reel any fish caught there.

But I know you, (you say that all the time, "you know me...")

you'd rather cast and reel all day than catch one single fish. 

I had your back, and with a little instruction you were well on your way. 

Captain Smaptain. ;)

Gra was super cute (and helpful) keeping you on the boat! :)

Captain Gus mentioned more than once how surprised he was

that you could handle the fishing rod so well.

He commented on your casting and helped instruct us all

with tips and pointers.

It was great!

He asked me a couple times,

"How old is he?"

mentioning again how good you were.

He said you will be a great fisherman, 

and I got the feeling Captain Gus would know. :)

You still wouldn't touch your own fish, though.

Gra claimed to be most interested in the beautiful houses on the banks,

but we're pretty sure she fell a little bit in love with fishing that day. 

She looked happier than ever with fish on her line.

Pepere was quiet and diligent. 

You liked fishing next to and just hanging out with him.

I dreamed of all the fishing I will get to do in the future with him. 

Finally, my fishing dreams come true. :)

And of course, I enjoyed fishing myself, too.  

Of course.

It was an awesome day! 

NC spring '11: part two -Crowders Mountain

About a mile from your Gra and Pepere's house is a lake.

The lake is at the foot of a beautiful mountain called Crowders.

We all agreed a great big YES to climbing to the top of 
Crowders Mountain during this visit.

It was a gorgeous day for hiking.

You were very pleased, walking hand-in-hand, 

taking turns between your Gra and Pepere.

And they were proud to have you.

Pepere was glad to show you the ropes!

You were grateful for the bench stops...

and your big strong Pepere's shoulders.

The top was breathtaking! 

We stayed awhile, climbing around, taking in all the views.

We were higher than the birds soaring bellow!

It was quite an accomplishment for a little fellow.

I was one proud Meam.
:)

NC spring '11: part one

Still at home, you came downstairs sporting these lovelies:

Gra's slippers left behind from her last visit. 

You've kept them tucked in the drawer of your roll-top desk in your room.

I knew exactly who was on your mind as we packed our bags that morning.

You were adorable with your little red carry-on

and Lightening McQueen backpack stuffed with cats.

Our travels went well.

We were blessed to meet some awesome people 

which made the trip extra special.

Once in NC, we were met quickly, curb-side,

by an excited Gra and Pepere who whisked us off

to our favorite restaurant in Charlotte, 

On The Boarder! 

At the house we unpacked and then went for a walk

to see what the ground looks like without snow...

we had forgotten.

(a photo taken by you on our walk)

Godborn

I walk out of the room you are sleeping in and flash back to seven years ago

-empty and low from years of no you. 

Knowing you were filling somePlace, completing His promise someWhere, 

with Him. 

Unsure, unaware of what that looked like on earth, in skin.

It hits hard again, 

I could have been a women who never had a child 

There could have been no Plan for you, 

and I could have been left to what my flesh could handle on its own. 

Not the forming of a baby inside. Not the miracle of you. 

Not this life full.

I remember, before you came, someone begging me to see a doctor, 

using the success of my sister's medically assisted pregnancy 

to strengthen her case. 
I remember the plea in her tear brimmed eyes. 

She must have thought I'd lost my mind when I told her 

that we had chosen God for our Doctor in this... 

when I promised her that even if I had been born without a uterus 

He would make it happen if he wanted me to have a baby. 

I saw her hope slump and heard her closing cry. 

She believed that God could not be everywhere at once. 

She held, "He has a lot of people to help, and that is why He gave us doctors."

I remember standing there with teen Isabel, 

watching our family of unbelievers watching us believe, 

and I see now how we weren't just waiting for you, our son. 

We were waiting for Him and all that He could do 

with the miracle you would come to be known as. 

All the ways He would be Glorified in what still can not otherwise be;

a childbearing me. 

Sometimes I do think of what we'd look like without you, but only for a second. 

It's a reminder I'll never take for granted. 

I think of the pain and struggle of laying stretched out, 

bleeding the dreams of a mom and dad. 

I spill out over the joys of those dreams coming true everyday. 

When you're laying soft and sprawled on our bed fast asleep 

and I have to sneak out for a quick minute, 

I stop in the space between us where I can only imagine without you.

Then I quickly return to catch my breath full of this sweet truth 

-you, right beside me.

Praising God for you today and always.

a homeschool boy's journal: week one

I have been thinking on ways that I could get you involved with this scrap-blog full of you, since you are such a cute and good writer.
Sue @ The Homeschool Chick, hosts a weekly "homeschool mother's journal" with writing prompts. 
I think this would be a fun thing to join in on, only we will do a "homeschool boy's journal", allowing YOU answer the questions each week. 
I'm hopeful that this will get you thinking back on your week, recalling things you've done, taking evaluation and offering ideas and questions about your schooling. 

So here goes your first week:
(answers by Zeek)

In my life this week...
I wrote one napkin, six knives, seven forks, 13 spoons, 1000 trucks, 20 signs, 30 cars, four boots. That's all. 

In homeschool this week...
I want to do a thing that we never do and it is Politeness Piggy Cards. 

Places we have gone this week...
Store. Supermarket. We went to little gym. We went to Applebees. That's as far as I can resume back. 


People we have seen this week...This week we saw Teri, Manny, Little, Carole... 

My favorite thing this week was...
Playing with the pug and my mom's birthday.  

What's working for me...
You playing with me, you snuggling me, you everything!


Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
I want to love you in school, but you will not let me. Gotcha! That's it! 

A photo, video, link, or quote to share...
This is a book that Zeek likes to listen to on CD. 
Each week he reads a few pages from the book himself. This new practice has been an asset in skill building. It guides and provides him with the experience of reading out loud with feeling and expression. 
It is also a great confidence builder!

independent steps

You've been asking for and taking on some new responsibilities these days.

You are making friends of the bartenders at Applebee's

as you confidently belly up to order your kiddy-cocktails 

during our Wednesday lunches. 

You've been asking to do more things to help out at home, too.

In the past you've joined me in emptying the dishwasher, 

but this time you asked me to step aside completely

as you confidently climbed atop counters, handled glasses,

and even put away all the knives yourself! 

With all the added effort  you have been putting in around the house 

your Dad and I thought it was time you start getting a weekly allowance.

On Friday (allowance day) you asked how soon 
we might be able to make a stop at Walmart.

You were thrilled to handle your own purchase choices

and to make the matchbox car buying transition on your own. 

You totally made the cashier woman's day.

You and I went sledding this weekend with my girlfriend, Erica.

It was the first time you and I had been to this particular sledding hill.

When I saw that the other sledders were quite a bit older than you, 

and then learned that they do not let people go down the hill in pairs,

I was a little worried that you would not be ready for this monster hill!

Much to my surprise you were FEARLESS on that hill.

Once you took a rolling tumble halfway down the hill

that sent this mama FLYING to your rescue

sure to find you in pieces at the bottom.

Instead, you were laughing hysterically at me for nearly

killing myself to get to you as fast as I could.

???

You even insisted on handling the tow-rope all on your own!

YOU ARE AWESOME!