A decade.

Autumn bliss today. While all four boys headed to campus for the Purdue game, Tess and I took off for our very first girl outing - a baby shower for a dear friend. While she has some social etiquette -ahem - yet to learn, today gave me a great glimpse into some future fun with my only girl. Success overall. I think she handed half-eaten and well-licked favors to only about half a dozen strangers. And, only one food item went back onto the platter with a bite taken out of it. All things considered, that's a good showing for the three year old, folks.

Oh, and the guest of honor's mother wasn't offended one bit when Tess walked up to her, ran her chubby fingers through her perfectly salon-set hair and proclaimed loudly, "Your hair is kinda crazy, Grandma!" Thinking back to how this could have played out six months ago... not bad, girlie, not bad.

All of that snacking and uplifting conversation wore her out, so she sleeps. The boys are still gone and house is currently the quietest it's been in weeks, so I decided to use the time to take some pics off of my camera. Great September memories, especially of our new ten year old boy!

He was ten at the end of August, but because his heart was set on certain guests in attendance for his party, we had to wait until Labor Day to get everyone here.

A Pokemon party for Jack! My boys full well know my aversion to spending money on things like rocks (really?!) and Pokemon cards, but I finally came around to the fact that there are worse things in life.

Why the heart change, you ask?

I suddenly remembered Garbage Pail Kids.

For crying out loud, how we ever got away with collecting those politically incorrect things (and then trading them in the back church pew - while chomping our gum - in the middle of the sermon) is beyond me. Go ahead boys, loose three teeth, then take your bucks to buy a Pokemon pack, I say. Seems like a lot of hard work for a bunch of cardboard nonsense if you ask me, but I'd much rather have Tess going around the house repeating phrases like,

"I trade you a hundred damage, Chaser," all proud acting like she knows her stuff, instead of overhearing one liners like, "Hey, why that baby have a bomb exploding out of his head?"

Seriously. Mom? Anyone?

Oh dear, where were we?

Oh yes, the Pokemon party was planned and ready to go, with lots of games plotted out ahead of time to make sure no one was bored. Pokemon Bingo, Pin the Tail on Pikachu, Design Your Own Pokeball, plus detailed instructions on how to draw your favorite Pokemon character step by step.

Turns out, ten year olds do a fine job entertaining themselves (ahh... I knew I liked this age!). I've never hosted a quieter, simpler party. And we never played even one of the games I had planned. Eight boys escaped upstairs with their Pokemon cards in hand, and I never heard a peep out of them for the next two hours. Sweet.

At one point I got worried that Tess might be up crashing the boys' fun, so I went upstairs to check on her. This is where I found her. Reason #147 why Bjorn fits in so well around here.

He arranged (completely symmetrical to no surprise) and lit his own candles, and at that moment I realized just how much he is growing up. This boy who was once such a handful has become one of the greatest joys of my life. Ask me about that story sometime, and I'd be happy to tell you how very good God is. With God, there is much hope in parenting, and in life.

Ah, the quiet is officially over... the boys all just piled back into the house, sweaty and happy after the Purdue win and a stop afterwards at B-Dubs. Nothing like a little football and a few father/son hot wing challenges to make your Saturday complete.

They've been home for fifteen minutes and Tyler is already asleep on the couch. How men do that surrounded by such chaos I'll never know.

More to catch up on soon!

My time...

After a long, exhausting day, I always say there's nothing better than a chubby paw wrapped around your neck.

Or wait. Maybe sometimes I say, "Man, I wish I had just five minutes when someone wasn't hanging on me or calling my name in a chorus over and over and over..."

Yeah, that's more like it.

Tess cried out a few minutes after I had tucked her in for the night. We are serious about bedtime around here, and usually I have no problem responding with all business. After all, it was the first time the house had been quiet since six o'clock this morning. But tonight was different for some reason. Her tiny voice called my name, and before I knew it, I was laying in bed beside her.

My heart wasn't in that compassionate place at first. There were dishes to clear from the kitchen sink, and surely a load or two of laundry to fold. And a ten year old boy would need tucked in soon, after his bonus reading minutes had expired. I had computer work to do, and a list forming in my mind of the rest of the week's events. This was supposed to be my time; the first efficient time in my day.

She snuggled up so close that I could feel her nose-breath hitting my face, and it almost made me giggle. Just when I thought she was asleep, she kissed me on my lips, and I could feel the shape of hers smile. Her right hand was smack in the middle of my left cheek, pressing down like a paperweight, ensuring that I wasn't going to sneak out unnoticed anytime soon.

And then I snuggled in too. This time wrapping my arms around her, instead of hoping for a quick escape. I told her that I loved her very much, and she said thank you very much.

And I realized that sixteen will be here before I know it.

Back.

Let's see if I can remember how to do this. I just logged into blogspot and typed in the wrong password if that tells you anything. Heh.

Three school boys. Good start. No, great start. Turns out Chase isn't weepy in school like he can be at home sometimes. Guess it's easier to find your place in a sea of five year olds who may or may not overpower or get more attention than you. He did cry once the first week after I asked him if he was doing a good job following all of the rules. He quickly burst into a full-blown sob and said, "There's one rule that I just can't remember to follow, Mom." I nervously inquired which rule that was. After crying for what seemed like forever, he finally took a breath long enough to admit, "I'm a horrible kid. I just can't remember to push my chair in every time."

That, I can handle, Chaser.

That kid is starting to read, and you can see the elation in his eyes. I can't get enough of it, and he can't get enough of my reaction. He read a short poem to me the other day, and when I limited my praise to just a (huge) smile and a quick, "Wow, great job, Bud!", he responded with, "Aren't you going to jump up and down and clap and scream really loud for like thirty-five seconds or something??"

Uh... let me wash the raw chicken goo off of my hands, then of course I will.

And here's another neat trick: These two miss each other while Chase is at school. How that is possible in the quickest three hours of our lives I'll never know, but it's true. Enough to embrace when we pick Chase up from school, and play their little hearts out from the minute we get home until nap time. No TV needed (not even once in the last three weeks), rarely a fight, and lots of "Come on, this way Girl..." to direct their play.

As for my three hours alone with just Tess everyday? We are so NOT efficient. We light candles, drink hot chai (with lots of whip cream on hers), chat with neighbors who are out walking their dogs, dance to music in the kitchen, and fold lots and lots of laundry together.

And occasionally eat pickles.

She's killer at folding washcloths, even if the tags aren't tucked in and they're not all stacked facing the same direction. And now, all these years (and four kids, which have to be a lot like therapy) later, I don't even fix them before putting them away. That's progress, people.

Oh, and we started attending an aerobics class. I won't go on and on like we're pros or anything since we're totally the new chicks on the block, but hey, it's something. You're talking to the girl who doesn't exercise. Ever. And my sad, sore muscles are proof. Tess comes along to play in the gym during the hour long (free taught by my friend at her church) class, which will totally take the place of any gymnastics or dance class I had considered putting her in before now. She jumps and dances and copies the moves (hopefully the instructor's and not my sorry version), and giggles at me when I look silly.

Which is practically the whole sixty minutes.

My facebook status this week pretty much sums it up: "Here I thought my lack of stylish workout clothes would be what made me stand out at aerobics this morning. It all worked out... everyone surely was so distracted by my lack of coordination that they never even noticed my outfit. Sweet." :)

As for the older boys, they've got the school routine down. Except for Trey, maybe, who occasionally forgets to listen to instructions fully and has to start over because he's too excited to get his work done as fast as humanly-eight-year-old-boy-possible.

Not because he loves doing homework, necessarily. It's all just a means to an end for his incredibly packed social agenda. Sadly (or not so sadly??), I can relate, buddy. Reading comprehension... who has time for it when there are people to see and things to do? But don't challenge him to a face-off in mental math, 'cause he'll beat you every time.

And Jack? Once upon a time, the Lord knew that I'd have four kids and the four o'clock hour would be completely nut-so in our house, so He gave me a boy who just gets it done. No instruction or motivation needed, no jumping up and down in a cheering frenzy required, just a signature at the bottom of his assignment book saying he's completed every last bit. Now you can go read happily for hours on end, my friend.

School happened. And so did Fall. A new nephew, a wedding, AWANA, flag football, a moms/school prayer group, ladies' bible study, a new ten year old, school fundraiser, multiple out-of-town grandparent visits, random ministries, plus a whole lot more.

Life is full.

But it's that good kind of full.

(Unless it's flag football in the rain. We baseball people aren't used to playing sports in the rain, you know...)

New adventures for all...

The day started out on a happy note. Everyone was up early, beaming with excitement, more than ready for the first day of school. Chase was especially pumped to ride the bus for the first time, and reminded me over and over that he definitely wouldn't be tired enough for a nap after putting in his half-day. Tess hadn't grasped the fact that all three boys would soon be off on their own separate adventures, leaving her to invent a very new adventure of her own. It didn't take long for her to realize that the morning somehow wasn't about her. Major depression over a request for her to step out of the picture so I could get some shots of the brand new Kindergartner all by himself. The limp body act on the ground no longer sways me either, I'm happy to report. If it's comfortable down there, you go for it. I'm pretty sure you won't stay there for long. Ah, there's that shot I was looking for. He's big and not nervous one bit, although he despises the pig name tag he's required to wear for the first week. "Pig name tags are for babies," he announces. "Kindergartners follow instructions," I announce right back. A sure sign he's the third child: he soaks up photo shoots and thinks of a thousand poses all on his own with his new dino backpack as his only prop. He's so excited he can hardly stand it. He's not thinking about whether he'll find his way to his classroom all on his own in a brand new place, but I sure am. I'm thinking of that, while trying to keep my emotions in check as I take in every sweet expression he makes while he tells me what he thinks his day will hold.

Third, Fourth and Kindergarten boys. How in the world can three boys have such different looks and personalities and come from the same two parents? Never mind, I don't want to explain the intricacies of that phenomenon to any boy anytime soon. Carry on...

Before heading to the bus stop, Daddy pulls the big boys aside to make sure they know to look after their little brother at school. They get it. At least we hope they get it, instead of choosing to tackle each other in the hallways whenever they cross paths, which might be the more natural inclination. And then we know, when Chase later told us that Trey had his arm around Chase's backpack the minute they stepped off the bus until they reached the right Kindergarten classroom. Thanks, God. I needed that.

Ok, the girl is allowed in one more shot. No smile, but she's slowly on her way to recovery. Girl drama or just duke it out like the boys? It's a toss-up, but I'm leaning towards just getting it over with.

It's been a whole four days, and we're still walking over to the bus stop to hang out and wait with the school kids. Not because the boys need us, of course. They'll kick us out eventually, and then we'll have to just hang out in our own driveway and wave until we can no longer see the bus over the top of the hill. Every day for 180 days. Even in the snow. Yes, Tyler, I know you think that's crazy, and I'm ok with that. I waited and waited for him to look back for reassurance, but he never did. I really should be thankful for his independence and confidence, shouldn't I? Great qualities to have. Yes they are... Tess waves to the boys and confirms her feelings by telling her neighbor buddy that she can't ever ride the bus, and he's not ever going to either. Thank goodness he puts up with her nonsense.

Then she gets it. She's the only one left, and that just might not be a bad thing. I ask her what she wants to do (her pick the first day, my pick the rest...). Her first request is to paint her fingernails and toenails. I am pleased, and pleasantly surprised that it is a somewhat girly activity. So we head to the bathroom and find the pinkest pink polish we can find.

I feel like we might be onto something. An entire morning full of mom and daughter fun. Girl stuff. Tender moments. Memory making, just the two of us. Her second request? Ahem. To the kitchen for a snack of pickles. At nine o'clock in the morning. Not exactly scrapbook worthy, but I can think of worse things I suppose. Pickles for my girlie it is. Ten of them, to be exact. Her third request? She let out a little giggle and whispered....

"Let's wrestle."

School love...

Here's to the start of the new school year tomorrow. To prepare, we cleaned out old backpacks last week. Aahhhh. That little exercise alone was a good reminder of how very different our boys are. Jack's backpack was tidy and straightforward. Papers were tucked away neatly in folders, and only the necessities were allowed. Trey's pack, on the other hand, contained leftover school supplies crammed in every which way, random wrinkled up papers, a dozen Matchbox cars, old gum wrappers, rocks, sticks, and trash galore. What's even more bizarre is that they're both straight "A" students. And best friends.

Who would've thought.

Anyway, I ran across this folder in Trey's garbage pile of second grade stuff.

If any excuse will fly, buddy, it's this one...

I'm gonna miss that kid, and his brothers too. Praying for God to surround, protect and guide them into a great year!!

Three minutes captured...

Intentionally looking ahead...

I just went online and registered three boys for school. Ugh. The end of summer can wait just a little bit longer if you ask me. I know lots of moms are itching for their schedules back, but this one is pretty comfortable right where she is, thank you very much.

We have enjoyed a great summer routine, thanks to a little bit of intentionality. But since it's August 1st and those crazy registrations are submitted, I've been forced to look ahead to what our schedule will look like once school starts.

Some leisurely things will sadly have to go. The kids will have to actually take baths instead of relying on the sprinkler to clean their dirty summer feet. Meals must consist of more than a PB & J on the way to a ballgame. The nighttime routine is in serious need of being bumped back by at least an hour. And pancakes in the shape of Star Wars battle ships? Well, those molds might have to be reserved for lazy Saturday mornings.

Oh, and one more thing. Sweet, sweaty boys, you might as well get it through your thick skulls... shirts must eventually be worn, whether you like it or not.

But I'm praying for the resolve to continue to make some things a priority when we say goodbye to this beloved season. Yes, we've enjoyed the simplicity that summer can bring. But, in an unexpected way, summer has also caused us to be more disciplined in certain areas.

Like Bible reading.

We take the time because there's more of it. Or maybe it's because we've intentionally scheduled it into our days. Could it be that we've come to the realization that our older boys need to be honing some of these spiritual disciplines for themselves instead of always relying on us to make it happen?

As we gear up for another year of public school, we want our kids to be armed with the Gospel of Truth. Guided, encouraged, and filled with the wisdom that God has revealed to us through His Word. It might mean getting everyone up a half-hour earlier. It definitely won't always be the easy or natural thing to do. But if I could only commit to one thing as the school year starts, it would be this.

Our practical plan over the summer has included Jack and Trey learning to study the Bible on their own. Trey completes his daily reading and worksheet for his Sunday school class, then has a head's up for the story they'll be covering during their next class time. Jack is reading through the New Testament (a challenge from his dad), but has recently decided that he wants to take a detour in Proverbs, covering a chapter a day. He then picks one verse out of his reading to write out and apply to his life personally. Chase and I just completed The Jesus Storybook Bible (the most beautiful tying together of scripture for children), and are now attempting to read it through again with Tess.

Yes, attempting.

Only the Lord knows if she is hearing the words through all of her squirming and hanging off of the bed upside down.

No matter. We're not perfect. But we're giving it our best shot, and we're begging God to do the rest.

To work in our kids' hearts. To change them to be more like Him. Then to empower them to make an impact for Christ in their own little worlds.

So far the one who has been changed and challenged the most?

Me.

Ninety degrees.

Fourteen

That's how many years I've been married to this man. Before fourteen, we went on quite a few mission trips together during our college days. Before fourteen we tried setting the other up with our good friends. He even trusted me to start cutting his hair when we were just buddies (either he was cheap or he wanted an excuse to sit close to me...). A few years before fourteen we debated and fought like siblings. And then we got engaged and never looked back.

Fourteen years ago, we walked Purdue graduation together, then began our married life with a journey to Arizona for Tyler's first job. We were young, half-way fearless, but mostly cheap, so we slept in the back of our U-Haul to save money on our drive out. It was a fourteen-footer (see fourteen is magical!), and with hardly any furniture to our names, our 6'3 and 5'10 frames had plenty of space to sprawl out on sleeping bags for the night. We even put safety first and jammed a wood block in the top of the back door since we couldn't lock ourselves in from the inside.

See, I did use my college education for something other than changing diapers. Street smart, I tell ya. Unless you're talking about being locked in the back of a U-Haul on a drive out West in the middle of blazing July heat.

Good thing we spent the weekend in Chicago celebrating, because on our anniversary night we're taking four energetic children to the local fair. At fourteen you splurge, and then you get practical, because there are traditions to keep and family night fair deals that can't be missed. Tonight we won't talk about dreamy love. Instead we'll talk about the outrageous cost of fair corndogs, how three year olds can't possibly behave in 100 degree heat, and we'll encourage our mini 4-H'er with gushy words about his coin collection displayed in an egg carton.

All in the name of love, of course.

Fourteen.

At fourteen, fancy Chicago meals turn into conversations about our kids, and leisurely strolls down Michigan Avenue turn into photo shoots of elite cars that our boys will absolutely flip over. At fourteen, we choose the American Girl store over Nordstroms, and she doesn't even own one yet. Afternoons in famous city parks freeze in time long enough to answer texts from a nine year old, who is beyond excited to report that his grandma is playing Hearts with him while the little ones nap. Quiet hotel moments become beautiful times of prayer as husband and wife, lifting our family - and each of our children specifically- up to the One who made it all possible fourteen years ago today.

Fourteen has changed us. Physically, demographically, and in numbers.

And fourteen couldn't be sweeter...

"The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy..." - Psalm 126:3

The one MUST on my summer list... love lindsey

My kids are growing up. Surely mine aren't the only ones. This girl was just a baby yesterday, and now... she's a mover and a shaker. I watched her in swimming lessons today and couldn't believe the little girl that's transforming before my eyes.

I want time to stop so I won't forget.

I always think I'll remember everything from their little years. The cute faces unique to just them. The pudgy bellies and crooked smiles. The adventurous spirits and playful moments. The lazy summer days of following them around outside, exploring and interacting.

Letting them just be themselves.

My remembering fails me more often than I would like to admit (can you still have pregnancy brain without actually being pregnant?). But even though I can't make time stand still, I can capture some of these priceless moments and keep them as memories for a lifetime. I plan to do just that this summer with love lindsey.

I walked through my kitchen the other day and looked up at the photos of each of my four kids hanging on the wall. It was at that moment that I realized how pathetic I am.

Tess's latest professional picture? When she was sixteen months old. Yikes. Do you know how much changing happens between sixteen months and three? Tyler even requested out of the blue this week that I get an updated photo of her on the wall. You know it's bad when he notices.

So I found out about an amazing summer deal that my photographer friend Lindsey is offering right now (don't you love it when you know friends with mad skills?), and it's simply too good not to share with my local friends. Get this...

You know you have thirty minutes. And if you're like our family, if you skip one round of McDonald's, you have thirty dollars (now there's a tragedy, folks). This might possibly be the best thirty minutes and thirty bucks you'll spend all summer, because the results will last long after the fireflies (fireflies sound so much more romantic than mosquitos, don't you think?) have disappeared for the season.

And for the record, it's lifestyle photography, otherwise known as no-stress photography. Ha. She captures your kids as they just do their thing. No posing. No forced head tilts. No cheesy fake backgrounds. Just natural personality through and through. And you'll look back on her photos and think to yourself, "Ah, I remember when she used to make that cute face...," instead of saying, "Look how miserable she was sitting still for that long." Finally, someone invented something that works for kids like mine.

You know, the ones who don't sit still for more than ten seconds.

Lindsey has creatively chosen different styles of locations in town (from country to urban), and different dates to suit busy people like you, and because I love you, I'm getting this info to you now before she fills up. But you won't want to mess around, people, because she is just that good.

You won't regret taking advantage of this unique offer! First come, first served, and the first mini-sessions start THIS SATURDAY!

P.S. You must reserve your session time... double click on the schedule above to zoom in on how to contact Lindsey.

Need more convincing? Check out Lindsey's website and blog to see some of her incredible work. I promise you won't be able to say no. :)

Happy memory making this summer with the ones you love...

A birthday party, fourth child style...

Moments like these are what make busy moms glad they stayed up until 1:00am to make a last minute birthday cake. She never smiles this big when she first wakes up.

Last week was one crazy week. We made a very exciting trip to Cincinnati to see the newest cousin on Thursday and Friday. Tess's birthday fell on Saturday, but I got home and quickly got to work on the baby shower I was scheduled to help throw on Sunday in Bluffton (for another new cousin... babies everywhere in this family, and we love it!). We had already decided to lay low for Tess's birthday with all of the traveling, and I even talked myself into no cake... just a candle stuck into something at some point in the day.

Wow. This is fourth child thinking, for sure. Good thing I'm so far behind on scrapbooks that they'll never know the difference. And good thing you don't remember anything from when you're three anyway. But there are those simple moments that are worth the effort, even if they won't remember it a year from now. Or next week. After I couldn't stand it any longer, the cake went in the oven at 11:00pm the night before her birthday. I had no cute plan or even a theme. No matching napkins and streamers. I scrounged around for anything remotely girly and party-like (hard to find in this house!), and began decorating the kitchen at midnight.

She loves babies, and this is as creative as I get on a whim. Heh. Her surprised face when she woke up the next morning.... totally worth every minute of lost sleep. The great thing about having three brothers is that you always have a party on your hands. They cheered and sang and cheered some more, and didn't even fight over her presents.

Probably because they were all pink.

As much as she gets in their space, I think they've still all asked at some point why they can't marry her. She's still spunky and spirited, but she's finally maturing in her behavior and is becoming such a fun little personality. A day doesn't go by when we don't laugh hysterically at her antics. She was able to attend VBS while I volunteered this year, and every night multiple leaders would come to me with the funniest stories about her (they usually had something to do with her expressiveness, extreme silliness, or her crazy good three-year-old dance moves). One leader's comment was, "She's so adorable because she's hilarious and she doesn't even know it."

I couldn't agree more.

Thanking God for his faithfulness (and help!) these last three years. Tess, you are such a gift.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

4th of July Pie!!

Popping in to share my favorite Independence Day treat with you all...but first of all... can you believe it's almost July?! Where in the world has half of the summer gone already?!

Oh yes, it's flashing right before our eyes... on the baseball field.

I'm madly in love with my little ball players (especially their cute bottoms in their baseball pants...), and actually really enjoy watching the sport (though I'm still working on the newly-turned three year old to acquire the same affection), but geesh, what a commitment. Just when we thought our season might be over, Trey had to go and make All-Stars. Super proud of that fired-up first baseman, but I'm trying hard not to drag my feet about the season now being extended by three more weeks.

The league, however, will be thrilled to know that the Daugherty siblings will be around a little bit longer to contribute to the concession stand fundraiser. :)

Ah yes, back to the pie. It's fresh, light and in-season, and it's one of those recipes that looks really impressive even though it's super easy - my favorite kind (you might want to splash some flour on your face at some point so your guests know it's homemade!)! And it's so 4th-of-July-like that we just have to make it every year. Inspired yet?! You can find the recipe here.

And, because they're too cute not to share, check out some other kid-friendly Fourth of July ideas on this sweet blog.

What's YOUR favorite 4th of July tradition?

Someone has the giggles...

... and I love it! Cherishing moments like these this summer...

Father's Day every day...

Do you ever click through old pictures and get to one that brings back a flood of memories? I did that recently with this one. Jack was four, and was admitted at St. Vincent Children's Hospital. A day or two expected hospital stay post-surgery had turned into five, and we were all a little bit weary at this point. One sweet, patient daddy took over and helped Jack finally visit the playroom down the hall, IV pole, loads of tubing and all. You look at this picture and see a pale, puffy four year old working on a puzzle. My heart knows the full story of how much that daddy loved on his boy that day.

A few years ago I read an article encouraging wives to affirm their husbands with spoken or written words. I took the challenge and left a note showing my appreciation for him on his bathroom sink the next morning.

And I learned something that day.

Men need to hear those words. Even if they act like they don't.

Seven years later, that note is still tucked away in his vanity drawer, in full view when he grabs his toiletries each morning. I'm humbled by that, and reminded that I need to do it more often. Father's Day is a great day to recognize Tyler, but my spoken affection for him shouldn't be limited to just special occasions.

I'm thankful for pictures like these that give me a good place to start...

“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. " Proverbs 31:11-12

One year older...

I think we've found a regular family photo spot on our Florida vacations. I only wish we had started this little tradition when we first began traveling here with our kids, when Jack was just six months old. This fountain is in a huge outlet mall outside of Rainforest Cafe... the only place all week we venture away from the pool with our kids in tow (and trust me, since they were used to bumming at the pool all week, they quickly complained about wearing collared shirts and having to do their hair...). This was us this year: ...and this was our family exactly one year ago: It will be so fun ten years from now to compare how they've grown each year (look at the difference in Tess's hair alone!).

No more swim diapers :)

Summer, with a little bit of intentionality...

I feel so out of the loop. We just returned from our nine day family vacation in Florida, and funny enough, everyone else's life went on while we were gone. Heh. Friends had babies, houses went up for sale, our lawn grew much taller, and the weather improved by forty degrees (what in the world?!) while we were gone. My pile of ironing is still here (darn that) and weeds seriously need pulled, but for today, I'm soaking in the fact that it is officially summer around here.

Now I am one of those mommas who sincerely looks forward to having all of the kids home for the summer. I also love the much less structured schedule... for about the first week. While we love being together, it's a trick having varying ages of kids in the house all day every day. Nine, eight, five and three... quite a range of interests, abilities, concentration levels, and ideas on what's entertaining.

And we haven't even talked about four different sets of emotions yet. Oh, dear. Wait, make that six.

So, the longer we venture into this parenting thing, the more we learn about how children work best. Every child is different, but this much I know - every kid needs structure. Some thrive on more and some on less, but their worlds run much more smoothly when there is some predictability involved. So instead of leaving our summer to chance (within God's master plan, obviously...), I must plan enough structure in each day to set them up for the best possible scenario for success. Because when I skip the intentional part, all that's left to show for our special time together is way too much Wii, and not nearly enough love. Enough said.

I've jotted down my summer ideas and have somewhat of a master plan in place, but I'm still working on tweaking the fine details. We have bigger events scheduled each month, weekly activities that we'll revisit, all the way down to daily time slots set aside for reading, chores, and honing spiritual disciplines. Not scheduled so much that we can't change it up if necessary, but scheduled enough so we won't all completely loose our minds by week two.

If I'm starting to sound too structured for summer, don't you worry. We'll fit in plenty of time for the ball field, popsicles for no reason, water fights, picnics, star gazing, Dog 'N Suds, and fires in the fire pit. And that's just getting started, ya'll...

It is summer, after all.

Movin' on up!

Look what we took down this past week! For as much as I feel like we've been in the baby stage forever, I can't believe that after ten solid years of use, this thing will no longer take residence in our house. If I thought about it too long, I might get a little emotional. That is, until I remember the schemes of this little daredevil.

She and Trey, my two little climbers... up, over, and right on out of the crib. It only took one time to shake Trey up. Tess on the other hand... oh dear. It takes a whole lot to sidetrack this girl. I haven't had to get her out of her crib for the last month and a half. Spunky, that kid.

So the new big girl bed is working out quite nicely, and she's even slept past six a.m. a couple of times in the last few days. That alone is a miracle, and worth the switch, if you can credit it to that. The first night she slept in her new bed, I listened to her sing herself to sleep through the monitor. It was soft, sweet, and purposefully tender and melodic, and it went a little something like this:

"I like you new bed... you look like Jack's bed.... you're so pretty and cute... I no climb out.... my momma 'pank my bucket... I love you new bed...."

Sometimes instead of blogging...

You have to take on the world. Or at least engage yourself a little more in it.

Parenting with Tyler has taught me many lessons over the years. About how daddies seem to be able to hold their ground with a little less (ok, a lot less!) emotion involved. I've noticed (with some longing, I might add) how they can often times be more efficient, because clingy two year olds don't hang on their legs like they do ours. Fact. He also gets kids to fall asleep on his lap sometimes, because he actually sits down with them and enjoys them, instead of always trying to get every last thing on the to-do list accomplished. And for the record, he doesn't video our kids. We do have some sweet footage that we'll be able to look back on and embarrass them with when they're about to graduate from high school, but many times we pass up the urge, because as Tyler says, "If my eyes are behind a lens, I'm not engaging in the moment."

This past month has been a lot like that. Sometimes the social technology, the urge to document it all takes over the living for me. And this past month, I happen to have had a lot of living to do.

It was one of those reevaluation times for us. The start of baseball season always seems to do that. Heh. Tyler and I had late night conversations about how we spend our time, and how that is affecting our children. We talked about goals, and what we wanted our kids to remember about their days at home with us. We asked hard questions about our commitments, and how those reflect our priorities. And we walked away a bit discouraged that we might regret the craziness that we found ourselves in.

That being said, it's not all about the schedule, is it? Tyler and I make very deliberate choices, realizing our limits with four young children. Sometimes it's more about the attitude I wake up with in the morning. Sometimes it's the discontentment in my heart when I take my focus off of others and onto myself, or when I try to move onto another season in my life, instead of embracing the one I'm in. Sadly, it happens when I put my to-do list before my family and my time with God.

So we went to the Bible for answers. I tell myself it wasn't a last resort effort after all of our logic and hard work didn't pay off. God pointed me to verses that confirmed my need to live in the moment - daily with my children - taking every opportunity to teach them about Him. I was reminded to love God with my whole heart - not just my leftovers - and then to love and serve people well. I needed to hear again that this world is not my home, and to stop acting like it. That God's purpose and plan in my life often goes far beyond my limited view.

We're making some changes in this house. That doesn't mean that life will ever be simple, or even that it will slow down all that much with four busy, needy kids. But it means that my perspective is beginning to take that needed shift.

Up earlier, less facebook, more relationships, less wasting time...

I don't think it's any coincidence that God placed some significant people with some pretty significant circumstances in my life over the past month to remind me of the shift that needed to happen in my life - and to do it much sooner than later:

A precious mommy friend whose world has been blessed and turned upside down by a sweet boy who happens to have Williams Syndrome. Megan, you've taught me a lot about embracing and finding joy in the life God chooses for us.

My Grandpa Fincher, whose life we will celebrate this coming weekend. Just weeks after being diagnosed, he lost his short fight with lung cancer. Thank you, God, for reminding me that life is short - and precious - and can be over when we least expect it.

My dear friend Tammy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Our late night talks have reminded both of us that God is up to something, and that His promises never fail. Tammy, your courage and faith have inspired me, and so many others. I am privileged to walk alongside you on your journey, and to call you friend.

My dad, who retired last week, and is embarking on his new carefree adventure across the country! You have not only taught me much about hard work and sacrifice, you've taught me to enjoy every minute of every day... as if it were my last.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Sometimes instead of just blogging about it, you have to simply live it.