Lucy at 10 months

So this is my problem with blogging...I'm too detail oriented. I feel like I have to capture every significant moment, which I simply don't have time for. And then they start to pile up and the task begins to be too daunting and so then I don't do it. Half our summer was left undocumented--violin camp, our beach week with the Kirwans, various outings. And now the last 1.5 months is mostly undocumented. So I here begin AGAIN--striving to capture recent moments before the memory of them dissipates.

Recapturing Ella's birthday is a priority (and will have to wait until a quiet moment tomorrow), but first I have to show off my cherub 10-month old. She is the most darling baby there ever was. I cannot keep my lips off of her. I don't remember eating my other children as much as I do her. She is so soft and chunky, she nestles herself right into my shoulder, and she is totally more of a mama's girl than my other two were.

I think it's our blue eye connection.

In Bowcut girl fashion, she is not yet mobile. According to our pediatrician, their big heads slow them down. But she is showing interest, which is more than I can say for Ella and Sam at this age. Actually, she can move by pushing herself backwards. We left the back door open from the family room into the screened porch and she almost scooted herself right out the door. Generally, she seems to get wedged under a chair, couch or piano bench before she gets too far.

I adore pictures of Ella reading to her younger sisters.

And when I get bored at soccer practice or pushing children on the swings, I take self-portraits because who else is going to take pictures of me with my children at odd moments throughout the day?

More recaps are on the way. Hopefully before Lucy turns 1.

A Decade

I'm a sporadic blogger these days. But I couldn't let today pass without commemorating our 10th Anniversary. A whole decade we've been married. And it's passed in a flash, yet at the same time we've made a lot of history.

This is our engagement picture--taken the summer before we were married.


It's funny how you little you REALLY know someone when you get married. You think you know them, but you just don't. You really take a leap of faith. It takes some of the nitty gritty living to really know someone.

But after a decade, I think I know Brian pretty well. I'm sure he's still got one or two surprises up his sleeve, but I have to say, after all these years, I sure like him a lot. He is, without a doubt, the one for me.


We've come a long way, babe. I've loved the last 10 years. Happy Anniversary.

"First Grade was AWESOME"...

...was the first thing out of Ella's mouth after coming out of school on Monday. How's that for a great report?

The first day outift had to consist of all purple and pink. Ella took the news that her new purple backpack had not yet arrived, in stride.

According to our little pupil, these are the coolest things about first grade:
-she gets her very own desk and keeps her school supplies in it
-she already knew four kids in her class, one of them being our next door neighbor
-she gets to keep a water bottle on her desk at all times so she never has to leave to get a drink
-there is a super fast pencil sharpener
-there is an overhead projector (I gather from the description she gave me) that is named Elmo
-she has THE best teacher (which has been corroborated by all veteran parents)

On our side of the street on our block, are four homes. In each house lives a first grader. How's that for lucky? We're now the happening place for first graders and they tend to congregate here. Hopefully that will continue through the years.

It was a large procession walking to school. I love being able to walk to and from school (though that will morph into driving as the year progresses.)

Ella and her friends heading in through the front doors.

Rewarded by afternoons of play after school.

Next up...Samantha's school starts next week and she can't wait. She spends her time pacing up and down the sidewalks on her tricycle. And ringing the bell.

We're all delighted another school year is here. Maybe now I'll get to finish stripping the wallpaper in my bathroom.

Notes

It's the first day of school. The little girls are napping. The house is quiet.

I sat down at the computer to check e-mail and saw these little notes Brian and Ella have been leaving for each other.

She's only gone 7 hours a day now. When she's gone for good, I think these might just be the little things we'll miss like crazy.

A report of the FIRST day of FIRST grade to come soon!

Sam.

Three years ago today I had this baby.

Her name was Harper.

For a day.

But I have some tactless, overly-opinionated women in my family

(ahem Grandma Spring, Mother, Jen).

They didn't like Harper.

So then she had no name.

For about two days.

And then, after much debate and agonizing...

She was Samantha.

And we never questioned it again or looked back.

But according to Samantha, she is nothing but "Sam".

NOT Samantha.

There is something about "Sam" that denotes spunk.

It just seems so fitting for some reason.

I have an inordinate amount of love for all of my girls. But if I HAD to pick one whose antics and personality I want to ingrain in my memory for forever it is Sam. She is a pistol. A ball of fire. She provides endless amusement. There is spring in her step. Her personality is contagious.

So...here are some tidbits I always want to remember about her at age 3:

-I no longer am allowed to pick out her outfits. She is thoughful and meticulous about what items she will put together. I'm hoping her sense of fashion will improve with age.

-She gets time outs for playing in the toilet water.

-She sings Twinkle Twinkle, ABC, Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam and the Itsy Bitsy Spider like a Rock Star. When we sang "Happy Birthday" to her tonight, she was belting it out, singing right along with us.

-Her hair is crazy curly, also fitting to her personality. She rarely keeps any type of hair thing in it, adding to the crazed look.

-She is a contrary little thing. If you say up, she says down.

Example: last night's pre-dinner conversation:
Sam: Mommy, what's for dinner tonight?
Me: Quesadillas, fruit salad and carrots.
Sam: I DON'T LIKE CARROTS.
Me: Yes you do.
Sam: NO I DON'T.
Me: What do you want instead?
Sam: Broccoli. I don't want carrots.
Me: So, do you want broccoli or carrots?
Sam: Broccoli. I DON'T LIKE CARROTS. DADDY DOESN'T LIKE CARROTS. LUCY DOESN'T LIKE CARROTS. ELLA DOESN'T LIKE CARROTS. WE ALL DON'T LIKE CARROTS.
Me: Okay, you can have broccoli.
Sam: No, I want carrots.

-She can recognize the sound of a violin playing on the radio.

-The girl can push buttons like no other. One of Ella's pet peeves is people closing books she is part-way through reading and has left opened, turned upside down (despite our admonishments to use a bookmark). Sam has learned to really tick Ella off by closing her books. The other day, Sam picked one up, not realizing at first it was Ella's. Ella, from the other side of the room looks at Sam, and begins to sprint towards Sam, yelling, "Saaaaammmm, nooooo!" Sam looks up, with a smile on her face and forcefully shuts the book.

But...On to the Birthday--

She celebrated with her sisters and dearest friends at the park.

She has been waiting to get to blow out candles. And she shined today.

She rode on a train with her friends.

She got her requested monkey cake.

Goofed off with her sister and cousins at the family dinner/celebration.

And of course opened lots of presents.

It was a good day for Sam.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Samantha.

We love you.

We're glad you're not Harper.

Hawaii- Part III

It's a good thing many of you expressed interest in seeing more Hawaii pictures. Because I've got plenty! Here is the third and final installment.

Surfers
Our first day in Maui, Drew drove us around and took us to the Northern coast to check out the surfers. Being from the east coast I haven't witnessed too much surfing in my time. It was fun to watch, especially young kids who could really work a surfboard.

Haleakala National Park

Maui is home to a dormant volcano, called Haleakala. It is driveable, but consists of many twists and turns, which leaves you dizzy and a little ill. We pulled off to catch a glimpse at an overlook, and to settle our stomachs--here is my brother Dave and his wife Janene above the clouds.

This is at the summit, where I fed Lucy at 10,000 feet.

We did a short hike before heading back down the volcano. The crater is behind me and Brian in the pic below. This hike changed my understanding of volcanoes--I always had a very simplistic view of a volcano--a mountain with large opening at the top that spews lava. And if you stood on the edge of the opening, you'd run the risk of falling in. (Perhaps I've watched too much Dora in my time.)However, the top is actually a bunch of hills and valleys with crevaces and openings that emit lava. Enlightening.

Family Beach Time

Can you believe these rolls? I butter and eat them daily. Such a chunky monkey.

I love this shot of my Mom--she looks so glamorous.

Lady talk at the beach. (The lady with the book is my SIL Janene--she FINALLY gave up the "I will never" shrug to the Twilight series. Here she is devouring New Moon.)

Snorkeling

The morning of the wedding, my brothers Drew and David went on a diving trip--nothing like going to the bottom of the ocean before you take some serious vows. The rest of us, not being scuba certified, took a trip out to the island of Molokini for some good snorkeling. Brian kindly stayed behind with Lucy so I could go with my family. Although I'm always game for snorkeling, I didn't think it compared to that on the Big Island and I didn't like being so crowded with all the others on the boat tour.

Wailea

Brian and I didn't fly out for a couple of days after most of my family, so we stayed a night at the Marriott Resort in Wailea, which was heavenly. Quite possibly the most relaxing part of our trip.

Lucy liked it, too.

Brian and I decided that resort life is not how we would want to spend an entire vacation, but a day or two longer would have been ideal. Our room was oceanside and this was our magnificent view. Is there anything more wonderful than eating breakfast with this?

And ending your day like this?

Hawaii...you haven't seen the last of me.

Mahalo.

Hawaii- Part II- The Wedding

The voyage to Hawaii was mostly driven by my little brother, Drew's wedding (though, a girls' trip was incentive enough). Drew and Chloe have been engaged the past year and a half and got married in Maui, which is where Chloe is from originally. They were married at the Four Seasons Hotel there on the island, which is extremely picturesque. We are delighted to have Chloe as part of our family--she keeps Drew in line!

Here are highlights from the day, some of these pictures are courtesy of my uncle, Doug Spring.

The Setting


Pre-wedding pictures

This is a pic of me and all six of my siblings. We all live in very different parts of the country (Oregon, Washington, California, Missouri, Florida, Maryland, Georgia), and so it's a rarity that we are all together in the same place. My father, Russ, said that one of his highlights from the day was seeing the seven of us standing there having our picture taken. That may be the ultimate best part of a wedding is the reunion of family. We're kind of a crazy mix, but we had a great week together and were glad we could all be there to support Drew and Chloe.

A stunning picture of Drew with my parents, I think.

The Wedding

The Reception

We had a lovely evening together--Brian and I were at a table with the rest of my siblings (with the exception of David, who was the Best Man) and we had a fun evening. (We apparently won the award for the most virgin pina coladas ordered at one table.) Chloe's lovely mother, Anny, is a florist in Maui and of course did all the flowers for the wedding--they were exquisite.

The first dance

Drew and my Mom on the dance floor (doesn't she look stunning in her fuscia dress?)

Fortunately, there were no mishaps with this dance move

More reception pics

We danced the night away, with my studly nephew TJ showing us how it's done.

And this was the sunset we watched while eating dinner. Postcard perfect.

And just because I KNOW you're not tired of Hawaii pics yet, there is STILL more to come. Stay tuned!