Sentimental

I'll be the first to admit it: I'm sentimental. Very sentimental. On Monday Jared and I will have been married for SEVEN YEARS and I can't believe what I've gotten away with since then. Sure, there's the fact that he's awesome and that he puts up with ME...but today I discovered something else: I have kept stuff for way too long. The sentimental stuff.

I don't know what to do with it. It's like I'm throwing away memories if I get rid of it; but keeping it isn't doing anyone any good. Much of it I've kept since I was a child, thinking I'd give it to my little girl, if I ever had one. Now that I have one, I realize that I probably won't give it to her (she probably wouldn't want it anyway). Good old Amberie, a former roommate, told me once to take a picture and let it go. So that's what I did. I just want my parents and sisters to know how much each music box, jewelry box, statuette and figurine meant to me. Their love was the reason I've kept everything for so long, but I took a picture and I'm letting go.

Now, what to do with the wedding dress?

(Sheesh, how silly is this post?)

Visit from Grandma Toni

Still catching up, my mom came out to visit the day after Jared left for COT. The last time she came was just in May, but this visit was very timely and helpful.



Of course we took her to picnic at the swimming hole.


We even visited the local buffalo farm at Morris Meadows.

The only really big thing we planned to do was go to Washington D.C. on the day of the Restoring Honor rally. We knew it would be challenging. It was.
It wasn't as packed where we were right by the Lincoln Memorial...we found out soon that this was because there were no speakers facing us. We didn't dare try to navigate the throng with the stroller, though, so there we stayed and strained (our ears).



Ellie, of course, exceeded all expectations.


But this was not an uncommon sight.


They were grateful for every opportunity to act like monkeys.


It was more of a sacrifice than anything, but it was really cool to be there and to see so many different people all together, caring about our country. Not a lot of kids; we were hailed by many as "brave." I think we were.


On the bus ride home, Ellie fell asleep in my arms, a rare moment. Poor girl. We were all so hot and thirsty and tired...and then there was rush hour in DC.


This was a "before" shot. We were so excited to be going! You don't really want to know what we all looked like afterward. Oh, those poor people at Pizza Hut on the way home....

Anyway, there's a look at Mom's visit. We were so happy she could come and help and play with us!

Catch Up: The Beach

The first exciting thing we did while Jared was gone waaaay back in July was go to Assateague Island and finally see the Atlantic Ocean. The boys had never been to the beach. It was so nice to be invited by good friends (whom we miss very much now) and just have a ball.

Crazy little thing called sand





Not tired.


Noah was way more into the sand than the water on the "fun" side of the island. That was where the crazy waves were. I even got a chance to forget the kids on shore and be a kid again myself there. I forgot how much I love swimming in the ocean!


Isaac enjoyed both sand and water.


On the "calm" side of the island, this poor sea turtle was about to lose a fin...and from Noah's face, you'd think he was losing one, too. I obviously had a good time, though.


Warm ups


Ellie and her new friend spent their time in the tent (genius)!


Isaac is one of "those" kids when pictures are being taken...he's totally distracting to those around him. But we do love these girls! Little angels, I tell you.



Between the two of us moms, we had 6 kids, two of which were newborns! It was so nice to have Lauren come with us to help. She's a cool young woman and a hilarious traveling companion.


On the day we arrived home, they are a bit more sunkissed than we'd planned. I didn't know sunscreen could be so tricky with little 'uns.

That evening, Brian (and Camille) came up and visited one last time. They are always so much fun (and so helpful...Noah was determined to disappear under the pew during church the next morning)!



The swimming hole was our closest "beach" and we had countless picnics there.

This was supposed to be a picture...



Where are we?

Half a Decade

Happy Birthday to Isaac! We love this kid. He's thoughtful, grateful, hilarious, brave, smart and...sick today. Still, he went to school yesterday, and reported on how special it made him feel every time his birthday was mentioned. He came home with a crown, but without much of a voice.

In the morning he opened his presents, each of which he was extremely thankful for. This may have been his favorite:


"Just like Dad's!"

Noah had a good time with the presents while Isaac was at school yesterday. Check out all that camo!

He became progressively sicker throughout the day. I didn't get a picture at dinner--he was lying in the booth half the time anyway. Despite it all, he told me that this was "the best birthday ever!" We look forward to a soldier party for him on Saturday after the Air Show. Hopefully he feels better by then. We love you, Little I.