The Chrstos Family

National Walk to School Day

2015-10-07T10:58:00.000-04:00

Happy National Walk to School Day! Since our town is only 3x2 miles and too small for buses, most of our kids walk to school everyday anyway, but it's always fun to celebrate it. We really enjoy getting to walk to school every morning this year now that I don't have to have two kids at two different schools within a 10 minute start window of each other. Drop off is much less stressful this year and I so love getting to enjoy the beautiful morning weather each day. To celebrate national walk to school day the girls got to walk to school with their principal and the bobcat mascot while getting to blow bubbles. It was very cute and just another reinforcement to them of the importance of walking, biking and scooting as transportation and making sure they move their bodies and get as much fresh air as possible each day.

Prayer Requests

2015-10-04T12:27:00.000-04:00

I know the church ushers and prayer team are getting a kick out of Hattie's prayer card this week. The struggle was real for her. She indeed wanted to do well at soccer and also didn't want to throw up again tonight. I'm not sure how the horse drawing ties everything together?

This sweet man worked about 80 hours last week that included travel, came home early to help the school robotics team, volunteered several hours for the OSU student formula one team, stayed up most of the night with a vomiting child so I could sleep off my exhaustion from being alone with the kids, mowed and raked, read Mill her favorite book 4 times, changed a broken part on the neighbor's car, built a beautiful piece of wood furniture from scratch for me because I couldn't find the right size of something I needed, entertained the kids in a "don't touch anything" furniture store for over an hour while I took twice as long as intended to pick out a fabric, coached a soccer game, cooked dinner both nights, cleaned 5 bathrooms and did all of our laundry. And you know the only thing he asked for this weekend? He asked if he could take the time to go on a 22 mile run with his buddy. That's how the man wanted to spend his downtime before going back to work on Monday. He is a machine and a saint. So while he was running around town "relaxing", the girls and I sat at church together and prayed for him. Prayed prayers of thanksgiving that we have such a wonderful, selfless man in our lives, and prayers that he will be blessed mightily for all of his hard work. There truly aren't words to express how much we love him, each in a way that is deep, meaningful and unique to each of us.

Childhood is Life

2015-09-30T11:53:00.000-04:00

One thing that I find myself having to remind myself of is that my children's childhood is not a preparation for life. Their childhood is life. While this isn't to be mistaken for hands off parenting and not living a lifestyle with a high importance on preparation, exposure and education, it's important to remember that their life is theirs to enjoy and there are many lessons and self discoveries to be learned in that. My children aren't getting ready to live, they are living. And living fully. And while they need us for structure and guidance, there are many times, most times, that they thrive at their best with us being hands off. Finding the balance between the two isn't always easy, but I think just being aware of it is key.

Watching our children at the farm is always a time when I am reminded that childhood is life. A life I wish could be more often than it is. No boundaries, no rules and miles and miles to roam, our hearts swell when we watch them take off. If you're a parent you know exactly what moments I'm talking about. Children on the loose, happy, probably dirty, just exploding with discovery and freedom. When you witness these moments, or experience them along side of them, it's like magic.

Bathing suit or not, creeking always leads to Hattie diving in head first at some point. She loves the feeling of the cold water and the discovery of cool bugs and critters. I always know to bring towels for chilly bodies or muddy toes.

Last month the girls got to drive a car for the first time, an old, rusty pick up truck to be exact. I have the fondest memories of my dad letting us drive illegally on country roads as a kid. Granted we were probably 10 or twelve, but who's to say that an 8 year old can't drive? Our's proved she could and drove for miles with a smile bigger than her head. Watching Jeff's joy in teaching Hattie to drive brought me to tears. A man who's years of study and a career built around the science and engineering of a car gets to teach his tiny girls how to use it. He was as happy as they were. Maybe happier.

What could be safer than an 8 year old driving?

An 8 year old driving while her little sister is bouncing around in the back.

Safety first.

Can't quite reach the peddles so the steering will do.

She was thrilled.

Happy Birthday, Hattie!

2015-09-10T12:33:00.000-04:00

This sweet child celebrated her 8th birthday this weekend with her friends and family. Jeff and I both agreed that seeing and feeling the joy radiating from her all weekend as she was celebrated made our hearts feel so full we thought they might burst. A child's joy is so infectious, it spills over into every aspect of your home and relationships. What lucky people we are to get to experience God's love and beauty through our children. Happy Birthday sweet Harriet, you're slowly catching up to your aspirations to be a 40 something.

Hattie asked her friends to donate money in a jar to be given to the food pantry instead of bringing her a gift. This was hard for her as I know deep down she really wanted to get gifts (what kid doesn't?). She ended up receiving $84 in donations, which mommy and daddy topped off to make an even $100. It turns out that $100 at our local food pantry buys $1000 worth of food from food bank distributors. That will feed 4-6 families for a week! She was so excited to learn this that in the end, she was so thrilled with her decision and asked to do it again. We're very proud of her.

Summer Recap

2015-08-30T11:55:00.000-04:00

Summer. Oh, summer. I am so, so fond of your days, more so than any other time of year. Your expansiveness, your flow and your rhythm are replenishing. Time melts and boundaries blur. The compartmentalization of the school year is gone and we settle quietly into our own, natural state. Things are calm. Peaceful. And even if you have a crazy day, and they're not, it doesn't matter, because tomorrow summer will be back again. It's summer after all. Everyday is it's own day. Everyday unique.

This summer we played, we rested, we explored, we rode, we dreamed, we ate, we star gazed, we connected and we loved. Our kids got to enjoy relaxed, fun summer days in and around their home and community and for that we feel blessed. We witnessed the edges of their lives soften and watched their identities spread. We moved beyond the day to day structure of school, activities, dinner and early bedtimes into a state of now. Just living. They grew and we grew too. So goodbye, summer. We'll be dreaming of you and anticipating your special summer magic again soon.

*****

Hattie played softball for the first time. More then any other sport she's done thus far, this one was the most entertaining to watch. Such happy chaos from a group of little girls. Hattie's favorite part was getting to chew big wads of gum on the bench between batters. The coaches brought it to try to keep them seated and quiet - ha. Each child got a nickname and H was nicknamed "Wheels" because she was so quick to get to the bases and around to home Her thoughts at the end of the season were, "Well, I like it but it's too hot. I get sweaty. Maybe if we didn't play softball in the summer I'd like it more."

Mayberry night at Clipper's Stadium.

Miss Harriet bridged with her friends from a Daisy to Brownie.

Such a sweet ceremony.

Soccer camp. The coach allowed Millie to go because she has a daughter Mill's age that would be tagging along too. Um, hilarious. You would have thought those two 5 year olds were running the show. "Mommy, we passed out popsicles to the kids and practiced being goalie....with each other."

Crafts, crafts and more crafts.

Summer music workshops.

Fireworks exhaustion.

Safetyview Heights graduate.

Millie enjoyed meeting most of her incoming kindergarten class.
And the lights on the policeman's car, she liked that a lot too.

Hattie had her first experience with swim team and enjoyed it. Mostly because it was one big social hour with the parents and kids during practice. She loved hanging with her friends at meets, hitting the snack bar and writing all over herself. Wouldn't you be intimidated if you saw a 48 pound competitor telling you to "Eat My Bubbles"? Swim team culture is very similar to regatta culture. Long, chaotic and fun. I really couldn't tell you how well she did as we weren't the parents who'd run look at the score sheets posted after the races. Couldn't tell you any of her times and don't care. A few days later she'd come home from practice with a ribbon or a personal best from a meet we'd forgotten about and we'd give her a hug. We're so proud for for even doing it. She's so young and petite, that just being able to get from one end of the pool to the other at the ripe old age of 7 is a big deal to us.

Mill made strides in the pool this year, too, increasing her confidence in the water and feeling comfortable on the diving boards.

I love watching the girls play with friends at the pool.
It's a built in play date every time you show up. Such fun.

Lemonade!
Serious cash made here. The girls are lucky to be the only little ones on our street so the old people and parents of high school age kids around us go crazy for the cuteness. "Mommy, everyone keeps telling us to keep the change!" or
"Mill, this is it. THIS will be our job!"

Summer sleep is the best sleep.

Sun, exhaustion and hot dogs and watermelon for dinner does a body good.

Salt and Sun

2015-08-25T10:31:00.000-04:00

Our beach trip this year was one of, if not the, best we've ever had. As I made mention of after our spring vacation, we have definitely turned a travel corner. Our kids can officially go anywhere now with ease. And the icing on the cake for us, we look forward to our next trips because they are actually fun to take places. They breathe such life into us with their imagination and wonder. We were able to do a lot this trip too as Mill, although still more reserved than Harriet, is up for trying more things. From beach science classes to ocean kayaking to art classes, the Kellerman resort as we like to call it - ha, did not disappoint. The kids were so entertained we had to make sure we didn't over schedule. We were sad to see our nearly two weeks of fun come to a close. And as is the case with all of our summer beach trips, Hattie cried as the car pulled out of the driveway of the beach house.

Warm, warm salty water!

Millie would go out past the breakers as long as someone was holding her. She is still very cautious about ocean waves which I like. Hattie likes to get smacked by waves for hours on end or until she can no longer physically move her body. We'd have to be like, "Who wants to walk up and get ice cream?!" just to give her poor body a break.

I wonder if waking up to this everyday of the year would get old.

I doubt it.

I made sure to wave to Jeff from the coffee shop patio when I saw him run or bike by.

Lazy evenings.

Farmers market beauties and crabs we caught behind the house. We were able to catch about 12 a day though not all were big enough to keep. So many crabs we had them for breakfast one morning which the kids thought was funny.

When Harriet got her "shopping day with mommy", I asked her what store she wanted to go in first. Without skipping a beat she exclaimed, "The book store!" She now officially reads more each day than her parents do. Ridiculousness.

Skim board instruction from the surf shop.

The professionals were fun to watch. Our kids were fun to watch fall over.

Squid dissection class. Harriet hacked into hers like it was the greatest thing on earth. Mill liked listening to the biologist talk but there was no way her body was going to touch it.

Seining ocean water.

This was fun to watch. I enjoyed seeing what odd creatures the big nets pulled up for the kids to touch and play with.

Now that Harriet can entertain herself in the mornings, I don't mind at all that she's an early riser. What was once annoying when she was 2 I can now appreciate at 7. Just like her father, she can be very productive in the early hours. "Mommy, I read for an hour, got dressed, cleaned my room and drew some pictures. Can you please get up now? It's 7:15 already!" I enjoyed taking morning walks with her on this trip. She'd climb up in my lap, kiss my face and tell me how much she loved the ocean in her sweet little kid voice. When she'd spot a pair of dolphins I was able to see the excitement in her eyes so close to my face.

Beach, pool dip, beach, pool dip, beach, pool dip....

Evening s'mores.

Ocean kayaking in the coves.

Waiting for the town trolley. I seriously enjoy the trolley as much as they do because their excitement waiting for it's arrival, their excitement watching it pull up, their excitement picking a seat and their excitement while on it is so awesome. The girls would point to all the houses they liked and say, "I'm going to live in that one and you can be my neighbor and mommy is going to live with me and daddy is going to live with you. It will be perfect."

Everyone was included in the vacation fun.

Back to School

2015-08-18T22:20:00.000-04:00

It's back to school time! Parents rejoice! We are rejoicing!!

Ice Cream Social and Meet the Teacher Night

The big day!

To say that Millicent was excited to start school would be an understatement. She was very nervous, and manifesting that nervousness in some bad behavior the days leading up to school, but mostly she was excited in anticipation for the fun the day would bring. Finally she got to walk to school with her sister and finally she got to go in TOO. It's been both fun and a little sad (silently of course) to share in this milestone with her. Time is an interesting thing and these are definitely some of the best moments.

The week before school started the girls and I shared a very special week together and I think that made the transition to school so smooth. We had absolutely nothing planned, like not one thing on the calendar (so odd), and spent the week riding bikes, wearing PJs until noon, hiking, going to the pool, laying around, visiting cousins and strolling around town as we saw fit at whatever moment it was. We were all three very present and connected with each other and it was really special. Wouldn't life be perfect if it was an unscheduled, calendar-less week every week?

Sweet Millicent -

May you be blessed as you step forth on this wonderful new journey of learning and discovery. May god open your mind to the treasure of your studies. May god open your heart to the gifts that your teachers and classmates offer. May god open your soul to the many blessings He has prepared for you. May you be blessed on this day of new beginnings with wisdom, faith, hope and love.

'merica!

2015-08-15T16:05:00.001-04:00

We had a fun American history lesson in D.C. this summer. Despite the heat, complaining from the heat, the lack of a stroller, the complaining of legs hurting, me losing almost all of the pictures I took and the seemingly constant need for a bathroom break from my insistence on hydration, the girls loved it and all four of us had a really great time. They have been to D.C. before but they were too young to understand it's significance so this time it was fun for them to see some of what they now know more about now. Both girls insisted that they thought they saw Obama wave at them from a window and Millie declared at one point randomly with excitement, "Hey! I'm an American! Oh yeah!" It seemed like a moment from a Will Farrell movie the way she said it and we got a great laugh out of it.

It should be noted that Hattie is now obsessed with there being a woman President. Nothing we've encouraged as we've only mentioned that Hilary's running maybe once to her (and we make a conscience effort not to let them know which way we vote) but she's said several times since being in D.C., "Mommy there really, really needs to be a woman President. Why hasn't there been? Let's get one!" I do hope they get to see a woman in office sometime in their lifetime. They also oddly enjoyed the security cameras and guards everywhere. If I'm being honest, the thought of being a spy, and them thinking there were spies all around, was way more entertaining to them than monuments and museums. Whatever keeps them happy, right?

Here's a good then and now........

Progress and Patience

2015-08-07T12:20:00.002-04:00

Our house has been renovation/construction central for several months. It seriously looks like a bomb has gone off inside and out of it and it has been the ultimate test of my patience. Not being able to use our yard, and more importantly our driveway, has changed the dynamic of our summer a lot. The plan was to take several vacations and be outside as much as possible 8-5:00, but then we got an unusual amount of summer rain and that put a big wet blanket on our day to day life. Big boxes of lighting quickly became forts and scrap boards and rolled up rugs turned into balance beams. We've made due with our surroundings and the girls have been great about finding a free nook to play in, a pile of construction material to play on, or a ladder to hang from. I've found them in the strangest spots and it never fails to make me laugh when I do.

Poor Jeff, who would be happy living on $200 a month in a box, said the other day, "Do you think we'll be able to sit peacefully with a beer sometime this fall or do you have more ideas in your head?" God love a man who just goes with things. Thank you sweet husband for working so hard for your family. The construction crew, architect and decorator thank you, too. Te he he.

Fun in the Mountains

2015-08-02T17:53:00.000-04:00

Mountains

By: Jenny Kelley

Misty smoke floats over and covers mountains

and valleys spreading out for miles in front of and around me.

Before me are colors a thousand rainbows mixed together

could not duplicate.

The most talented artists could never capture their beauty

and glory with mere paint.

Shades of green turn to yellow, turn to gold, turn to orange,

turn to red, scarlet and purple.

Sounds of water splashing against rocks

as it rages down streams traveling I know not where.

The air is clear, crisp, fresh and easy to breath.

Here, in this place, I feel I have all that I need.

There is a feeling of tranquility around me and inside of me.

The presence of God seems to surround me.

Supreme Happiness

2015-06-28T21:43:00.002-04:00

Today at church we stood outside with our dear friends and neighbors sang together the old hymn Christ Has Broken Down the Wall in celebration of the SCOTUS ruling. We stood together in the glorious sun as the church bells rang, and we smiled and got goose bumps and wept. It was a special moment that I never want to forget. I am so proud to be a member of a church that has been such a voice in this fight, and in many fights for human rights. There's so much I could say but I won't. I thought this article said everything I've been thinking so well. I am thankful that the Supreme Court did their job by interpreting the Constitution, not the bible, with this case. We've come a long way but we still have a long way to go for understanding and acceptance for the LBGTQ community. All things to come with time, knowledge, understanding and prayer.

Oh and Justice Kennedy, your closing words were so beautiful:

Changes

2015-06-26T22:12:00.001-04:00

Last week I went to the BMV to renew my license and as I stood in the long, snaking line that is the BMV, I looked down and remembered that I was pregnant in my old license picture. Big, round and uncomfortable, but still glowing, I had our Millicent in my belly. For a brief second, I was sad to have to hand that license over to the lady for a new one. It was yet another reminder of the passing of time.

And with the passing of time, Millicent graduated from preschool! She is now officially a kindergartner and so very excited. It was such an emotional day for me I couldn't even make eye contact with the teachers for fear of bursting out in tears. I would have my kids graduate high school from this school if they could. We will forever be indebted to the women who taught our kids how to read, write, explore math, and love science and geography - all while having a lot of fun doing it. The Montessori method is so special and these teachers will forever hold a special place in our hearts. We are grateful for the seeds that were planted in the girl's most developmental years that have since fostered a desire for a challenge and a love of learning.

And then there's this that happened in Millville. The loss of her first tooth. What?! I'd say it seems early, at least to me, but many of her friends have already lost a tooth or two so this made her feel like big stuff. The tooth wasn't even close to coming out and she wanted it out so badly she yanked it out herself (and proceeded to bleed for a long time - gross). The tooth fairy visiting took her to a new level of joy. She squinted and shook with excitement upon reading the tooth fairy's note. It was pretty stinking cute, and exactly the kind of moment that makes being a parent so awesome.

[Unofficial] First Weekend of Summer

2015-05-25T20:03:00.003-04:00

We enjoyed a great weekend with friends and family. Memorial Day weekend is always a lot fun in our neck of the woods. We really enjoy the sweetness of our small town parade and laugh that there are so many children from town in the parade that there are hardly any kids on the street watching. After the parade, every kid from 1st grade to high school who plays ball gets to have their name announced by the mayor while they run the bases in front of the town (surprisingly H liked this - made her feel big). Right after running the bases H had her first game. It was just as entertaining as the parade. The rest of the weekend brought more time with family and friends, several nights of staying up way too late and a heck of a lot of outside time. It's nice to be able to say you've spent more hours outside than inside over a weekend. Welcome back, summer!

Arrivederci, 1st Grade

2015-05-22T16:46:00.001-04:00

Hattie finished first grade this week, something that is odd for me to get my head around given that I feel like she just started school. If the next 11 years go as fast as this year went it will feel like we're sending her to college next week. She had a fun year, enjoyed library and Spanish class the most, and got closer with the 27 other girls in her class (there are only 28 girls out of 78 first graders - what?). She wouldn't cooperate for a last day of school picture because she hates having her picture taken, so this is the best I could get. Actually looking at it a day later, this picture really is her for so many reasons so it's a perfect last day of school picture.

True to form, Hattie woke up on her first day of summer break at 6:05 AM, quietly propped herself up with pillows and a book that looked like it weighed more than her and proceeded to read without a peep for the next two hours. Every time I walked past her sitting there like an old lady, I felt the need to offer her some coffee and a cigarette. When I asked her to stop reading so we could get Millie to school she offered me this insightful tidbit while getting dressed:

"I'm still not sure if I should live in a dorm or an apartment in college. Maybe a dorm and then an apartment. What do you think, Mommy"?

"I think you'll know exactly what to do when that time comes."

"So after I go to school for 16 years...well....20 if I go to extra school (grad school)....so after that then, THEN can I get a job at Dairy Queen?"

Millicent chimed in to clarify her thoughts, "Oh mommy, you know I'm just going to live here forever. You and me and daddy in THIS house."

The money we're saving to foot the bill for college definitely seems like it's going to do well for us. Happy summer, Hattie G. May your dreams of working at DQ in your 20s come true one day.

Gratitude

2015-05-19T18:06:00.001-04:00

Each year spring brings with it such gratitude for me. I feel grateful for the colors, the smells, the warm sun on my skin and the very dirty little bodies that roll in at the end of the day. It's like sensation overload because it's inevitably always so long overdue. And somehow it never fails, that I also feel especially grateful for our community each spring. We live in a very special town, one that's somehow managed to be progressive while still keeping it's 1940's family values and charm. The people here are close and really care about each other. For that, I am grateful. I'm grateful that we live in a walking neighborhood so I can feel these spring sensations on my errands each day. Grateful that our kids get the joy of walking to school every morning and are greeted with friendly waves and hellos from familiar neighbors while on that walk. And I am especially grateful that with warm weather comes impromptu visits from neighbors passing by on bike or foot, and open windows that let in the sounds of children spilling into any and every yard. This time of year, and always, we rejoice for all of God's blessings both in our home and around it.

Spring

2015-05-18T10:56:00.000-04:00

Smokey Vegan Mac 'n' Cheese

2015-04-22T21:28:00.001-04:00

This yummy dinner made it's way into our monthly weekday meal cycle this winter. It's a healthy, vegan comfort food that everyone enjoys. Who knew vegan and comfort food could be used together? It definitely can!

I generally have all of the ingredients for this on hand and can usually whip it up fairly quickly. It can be made ahead of time and then baked with the oven's on/off timer feature so it's hot, ready and waiting for you when you get home from evening activities. Bonus is we get at least two meals out of it.

Smokey Vegan Mac 'n' Cheese
Chef Jerri Hastey

1 sweet potato
8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp. canola oil
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke
1 1/2 tsp. salt - divided
8 oz. quinoa elbow pasta
1/4 cup nondairy butter, softened
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tbsp. sriracha chili sauce (or any kind of red hot sauce)
8 oz nondairy shredded cheddar cheese
chives for garnish

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce sweet potato several times with a fork. Place the sweet potato on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove skin from sweet potato and set aside. Sometimes I do this step earlier in the week if I am cooking something else. I just bake it then throw it in the refrigerator to save time.

2. In a mixing bowl toss together mushrooms, oil, liquid smoke and 1/2 tsp salt. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes, stirring once. Remove from oven and set aside.

3. Lower oven temp to 350 degrees. Cook pasta until al dente - about 8 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Stir together sweet potato, pasta water, 1 tsp salt, butter and the next 6 ingredients until smooth. Fold in pasta and mushrooms and bake covered in a lightly greased 11x7 inch baking dish for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve.

Serves: 6-8
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 min

Spring Break

2015-04-20T15:39:00.000-04:00

Spring break did not disappoint this year. It was fun to have it on the calendar to look forward to to get us through another unseasonably cold winter (I love winter, but it was time). The girls are good travelers and we oddly had a week with no whining, complaining or sibling bickering. Everyone was relaxed, happy and enjoying each other. It was wonderful. I guess there's nothing to bicker about when you're in a pretty place and your only concern is what drink you want the pool boy to bring you to your lounge chair. These girls have it rough. The girls can even haul their own luggage around now which inevitably leads to Jeff and I high fiving each other in the airport as we watch them break a sweat schlepping bags around that weigh more than them just because it was us for so many years. We've come a long way.

We celebrated Millicent turning 5. How nice to have your birthday always fall on or right before spring break. She was happy to tell everyone that a long time ago she was 4 but today, today she is 5!

The bellmen surprised the girls with tiny beach cruisers to ride during our stay and Mill managed to somehow get a sweet treat out of people pretty much everywhere we went.

Tree bridge hiking.

The blissful exhaustion that comes with playing and exploring in the heat for 12 hours.

Hotel scavenger hunt that led to finding the mascot bear.
I was told their animals told them that they really wanted to meet her.

After breakfast lounging.

Morning treasure searches.

And of course, more pool time than can be imagined. You can take kids this age anywhere in the world and they really won't care where they are as long as there's a pool or a park. I love that about this age. They just want to play.

Happy Hour!

Paddle boarding in the bay and finding a school of 30+ baby sharks in the nature reserve.

I want to take away from this trip the fun of seeing the girls so joyful over everything they experienced. So happy to be in the sights, sounds, smells and environment around them. I want to remember their giggles with each other and the deep joy it brought us just to sit and watch them be so playful and free. I want to remember their boundless energy and their wonder while standing at the shore of the vast ocean. They seem so small and fragile up against such a mighty, powerful force and yet also somehow a part of it. Watching the people you love experience joy and happiness is one of life's true blessings.

Happy Birthday!

2015-04-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

Millicent is thrilled to be 5. She is constantly asking anyone and everyone, "Did you know that I am five? I really am." Or she'll start a conversation with, "A long time ago when I was four....." (that one really bugs Hattie so she'll sarcastically reply with an eye roll, "You mean last week?") She is so joyful, easily excitable and happy. Anything and everything can make her light up. Her bright, big eyes, mousey voice and full face smile will shatter even your worst mood. She has an incredible imagination and is happiest when just left alone to process in her own bubble. I wish we could bottle her up to keep like this forever. I will miss this stage. Millicent is most certainly a blessing to our family and we each cherish her for different reasons. I hope she keeps this happy and free spark glowing inside of her for the rest of her life. Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Millie Chit Chat:

"Are those giraffes (at the zoo) just people in costumes?"

"Is heaven in Asia?"

"Mill, what do I owe you for all of these groceries (playing store)?"

"Oh, just a hug."

"Can we buy a baby koala? A tiny one. I'll collect our change and we can get some poisonous leaves for it to eat."

"When we go on vin-cation this summer can the pigs get their own room?"

"She was so sad today, mommy, so I asked her to sit by me on the circle and rubbed her back."

"Today (Valentine's Day) I give my heart to all of my pigs. Skinny, Fluffy and Biggie. Oh and to you mommy."

"I'm so glad I'm real so I can touch and see all of the pigs."

"Can I just live at home with you forever, Mommy? You, me, Daddy and Hey-riet forever."

March!

2015-03-11T21:35:00.000-04:00

March

By: Elaine M. Ward

"March!" shouts the wild wind

Behind the new, green grasses.

"March!" grins the merry sun,

With laughter as he passes.

"March!" sings the robin,

Above the blooming flowers,

As March greets the raindrops,

That gather into showers.

1st Grade Gold

2015-03-06T20:30:00.000-05:00

Our little 1st grader won a gold medal this week for our school's read across America challenge. She reads for hours each day anyway, but I can safely say that in the last 6 days Hattie's spent every minute of her free time reading so she could log as many hours as possible. I liked that she took the challenge on herself and was motivated to read without us having to say a word. It was her challenge and she enjoyed it. We take great joy in always seeing her with a her nose in a book and are tickled that she truly loves to read. Nice job, Hattie girl!

Hattie G

2015-03-05T14:10:00.000-05:00

She's a text book introvert. Though not at all a shy kid, she often comes across as shy because elements of apprehension about situations and people can cause her to withdraw. She'd rather have a conversation about an idea or concept than a social matter, pop culture or surface talk, making it sometimes hard for her to start a casual conversation with people. Well liked, she has many friends and is a helper to others in the classroom. A constant thinker, she sometimes has trouble completing a task to perfection like she's intellectually been envisioning and analyzing it in her head for days, and her frustrations from this can be fierce. Fun, silly, frustrating, and complex, I find her to be a really interesting person and look forward to being with her. I feel bad for family members who haven't taken the time to get to know her, to have a relationship with her, because they are truly missing out on knowing a fun kiddo. Her emotions are tough to get to, but if she lets you in, lets you feel them with her, it can be crazy emotional and breathtakingly beautiful.

She's been exactly the same way since birth, it's just taken us awhile to acknowledge it. Her personality, strengths and weaknesses? They've been there all along. Only now, now after seeing them surface repeatedly over and over for seven years, we see things clearly. We know. This is Harriet. Our beautiful, full of God and life daughter.

Sometimes fear and insecurity get the best of us as parents and we feel completely inadequate to have been tasked with this role. How naive of us to think in the early years that this parenting gig would be so easy. Managing naps, feedings and tantrums is nothing compared to guiding and respecting a person and their personality. A personality, emotions and a soul all still in an emerging, volatile and immature state, trying to find the strength to accept and honor what it is. It's surreal to watch and experience sometimes and hard to put into words. What a wild ride.

We love you sweet girl. Read this one day and know that whether in body or in spirit, Mommy and Daddy are always with you. We will be your witness, your advocate and your crutch when you need us. In you, I am me and together, we are with you.

Go Bruce

2015-02-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

They're on campus several times a week, maybe as much as some college students. It's part of our routine, part of what their parent's do each week, and lovely that it's 3 miles from our door. In theory they should be bigger buckeye fans than most of the OSU football fans that didn't even go to school here. And yet, these cute souls were blessed with parents that despite having 5 college degrees between the two of them, couldn't be more indifferent about college sports or all things buckeye. While in the campus library with them recently I overheard this gem of a conversation:

"Har-wee-et, I just saw a picture of that buckeye man."
"What buckeye man?"
"The one everyone likes."
"The one with the big brown head?"
"Yes! The one guy with the really big head."
"I think his name is Bruce."
"Oh, OK, I saw Bruce!"
"Cool. I wonder why he was here."

Diva Hot Chocolate

2015-01-26T21:10:00.001-05:00

This is the day someone, a friend of mine who shall remain nameless, let the cat out of the bag to them that Starbucks serves drinks other than coffee. For seven years I'd been able to keep this secret from them as I ordered my coffee in peace. And now, now it's met with a whiny, "Mommy, can we please, PLEASE get a hot chocolate too?" No you may not, not unless you have some cash on you. Which means I now have to listen to them whine in disappointment as I sip my coffee. I've got real problems, right?

To Educate and Think Critically

2015-01-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

"The Function of Education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.

Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Children truly do soak in so much of the words and actions of the people around them. It's funny to watch Millie parrot a fun fact she's learned from her teachers, freakish to watch Hattie give a look or move her head just so in a way that is just like her father, or weird to hear them use an off beat word or a description I know I've said before. Kids don't miss a beat. This can be good and bad of course, and as I parent I have to constantly remind myself that they are watching and listening. They hear me when I am teaching them something or sharing a good book just as much as they hear how I speak on the phone or to people in person. They can see my tone, body language, joy and frustrations as they are learning how to have friendships and interact with others. Oh the pressure.

Today is Martin Luther King Day and we are discussing what it is, who he was and why it's important that we remember the past. Most people agree that prejudice is a learned trait. Children are not born prejudice, they are taught it. They do not see someone of color as being less than, they see them as someone who looks different than they do. They do not see same sex parents as people breaking the law or sinning, they see them as people who love each other and their children just like, to them, all parents do. They think of people in simple terms, it's their environment and the people they are around who teach them to see differences otherwise. If given the opportunity to always think for themselves, to think in pure, educated thoughts without other people's fears seeping in, the world would be much less fear and hate driven.

We were visiting the State House recently and I was almost embarrassed by all we had to explain to the girls. Display after display read of heroes and important people who have served Ohio and done many good deeds. All good things of course, we've made a lot of progress, but still odd to have to tell her why that World War II hero got that medal and why we were at war, why we mistreated slaves or women or why so much terror is religious based. Over and over we found ourselves explaining why one group of people hated another group of people and the outcome of that.

"Why would anyone not like Jewish people, Mommy? Aviva and Ruby are Jewish. Do people want to hurt them?"

"People took the brown people away from their families and made them slaves? Why would you want to make someone sad?"

"Why would you use the bible to as a reason to treat people in a different way?"

And then finally, something that effects her. A pause for something relatable, something that would make her less than. A confused look with a twinge of anger:

"Wait...girls weren't allowed to vote? Why not?! Everyone knows girls are smarter than boys. You're just like Daddy right, Mommy? I want to sign that (pretend) petition!"

Get it girl. Use that mind of yours for good.