Ready for Rain

It's always a fashion show after a package from Grandma arrives!

“I’m only four, you know.”

Abby reminded me of that fact last Wednesday after I asked her to clean her room. I didn’t answer, but I was thinking, “Yes, I know you’re only four, and it’s kind of a precarious age . . . you’re irrestistibly cute, running around in your spring-green leisure suit with satin bows on the pockets, and bright green bows on top of your pigtails. I want to swoop you up in my arms and plant a kiss on your rosy little cheek. And yet I also want you to be so grown-up: make your bed, feed the gerbil, practice reading, brush your teeth, set the table, be nice to Katie, hold Alex while I shower . . . and the list goes on.

"You're somewhere between the curly-haired toddler who snuggled in my lap and rarely left my sight and the long-legged, inquisitive girl who will soon start kindergarten."

I suspect that much of parenting is a balancing act between holding on and letting go. I’m just beginning to feel that tug a little more acutely as I picture Abby stepping onto that yellow school bus in five short months. I think I’m ready; I think she's ready. But I also think I need to treasure this waning time with my preschooler . . . even if her bedroom strongly resembles a rummage sale gone awry!

Katie Mothering

This video is from three weeks ago, but it's so cute, I couldn't not post it. It's Katie singing to Alex before his nap. You may recognize tidbits of "I Am a Child of God" and "I Am H-A-P-P-Y" in her performance. :)

Alex & Cereal

Alex isn't too sure about rice cereal yet . . . the biggest grin here is from the end of the feeding, when we wiped him off and put away the food! Then he was back to his jolly self.

Benefit Concert in SLC

This concert in a few weeks sounds awesome--I wish I could go! Click on the poster above if you'd like to learn more about it. I don't know Paul Cardall very well, but I do love his beautiful piano music. And I am inspired by the courage and grace with which he battles his heart disease. His condition is almost identical to our Abby's, so Luke and I have looked to him and his family as a source of comfort and enouragement in our own journey with heart disease over these past few years. I wish Paul and his family all the best and hope the concert is a huge success!

The Butterfly House

On Saturday we visited The Butterfly House at a park on the other side of the city. It was really neat to walk into the conservatory and see hundreds of butterflies flying around! As soon as we walked in, a butterfly landed right on Katie's cheek and startled her. After that, she was a little apprehensive about the whole experience and wanted me to hold her. She perked up when we got out to the playground and found a green slide just her size. Abby loved learning about the butterflies' whole metaphorphosis process and was quite fascinated. And Alex . . . well, he slept peacefully through the whole thing!

We've been homebound with icky viruses for the past two weeks (which Baby Alex and I are still recovering from), so it was nice to get out and about!

Giggly Baby Alex

Alex found it hilarious the other night when Abby was being silly with his binky. Enjoy the video clip!

Luke's B-Day

Happy Big 3-0, Luke! Here are some pictures of the celebration. They don't include the "day-before" festivities, when Luke celebrated by staying home ALL DAY in his pajamas, hanging out with the family and watching cool BMX biking clips online, followed by Chinese take-out for dinner. His fears about becoming an old fogie at the dawn of this new decade were confirmed when the fortune in his cookie read: "Use temperance in all pursuits of pleasure. Don't fatigue." Quite a blow to the old ego . . . at least he has his even fogi-er wife to commiserate with!