Orange Juice Ice Pops

Memorial Day

We went to a friend's house for a Memorial Day bbq which was lovely. And the photos she snapped of the kids were equally as lovely. Ahhh, nice cameras are magical....

Ballet Class Videos

Mother's Day

We have recently started attending Mass at a new church where my mother sings in the choir on Saturday nights.  It's a great way to see my parents each week.  The day before Mother's Day, we met up with them after Mass to eat ice cream at a great local place called The Inside Scoop.  What a fun Mother's Day treat for all of us!

Ballet Class

Photo by Alma

Mama-James Dates

While I am sure to take time each week for Alma and I to have special time together (i.e. Friday night swimming, Saturday morning ballet practice), James and I have only recently been doing excursions as a couple.  We went to the Please Touch Museum with some friends and the Lehigh Valley Zoo.   He is such a fun traveling companion and loved getting to sit in Alma's car seat (forward-facing for a change) and see me as we rode.  Every animal at the zoo made him laugh with joy.  We sat very close to a mountain goat, who was leaning against the cage, for quite some time while James "talked" to him. 

First Bandaide

James was walking outside without pants (a.k.a protection) and when he fell he skinned his knee.  His reaction was cute because he hardly cried but kept shaking his leg as if the sting could be shaken off his leg.  We went inside and he loved the process of cleaning it up and getting a band aide. Alma and Joshua seemed to love the process too.  I think it is these small moments of big love that deserve to be remembered. 

Glipse of our backyard

Alma and James playing chalk (yes, while James is also holding a ball) while the diapers dry and Joshua's section of new grass grows. 

Cookie and Cookie Dough

The kids enjoying a treat -- Alma with a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie and James with the spoon we used to make the cookies.  It is still nearly impossible to bake with the kids together, which is a shame because when Alma was the age James is now we were baking all the time. Eventually we will get there but for now, baking is a rushed process during kid's naps. 

Saturday morning cartoon

I've recently started allowing Alma to watch one episode of Blues Clues after her nap in the afternoon while James is still napping.  Here is James joining her for an episode on a Saturday morning for the 5 seconds he will sit down and watch.  As a generally anti-tv mama, am I allowed to love their zoned-out faces? 

Garden

I've officially given up on the garden space behind our garage (along the back alley) since we never see it (and hence forget to water, weed or even take the produce from the plants) and since Joshua recently scrapped off all the old paint from the garage wall, which then got into the soil.  So we are instead planting sustainable (and free) plants we received from friends: rose of sharons!  Hooray.  They are just sticks now but I'm hoping that in the next few years we will have a great row of bushes.  Alma was a great help with the planting and James sat contently digging in the dirt until the planting was completely.  A minor miracle and a fun project!  Now just to remember to water them occasionally.

Earth Day

On Earth Day, we went to a park and picked up a whole bag full of trash.  Alma was such an enthusiastic helper and felt really proud of her work. 

Coloring

While I make dinner these days, the kids sit at the table and color with markers.  It's awesome.

Butterflies

Early in April we received caterpillars in the mail for our butterfly kit. They have since become cristilines, butterflies and were released in the backyard.  I just had to share this older picture of Alma's love of the little caterpillars, who we never (well, rarely) actually saw move.

Front Porch Swing

We entered front porch swing days again and it is beyond wonderful.

Skyping with Uncle Scott

We all loved Skyping with Uncle Scott last month.  We were hoping to see him this past weekend but our trip was canceled due to Pastor Yoder's passing and funeral (which was lovely, by the way).  We hope to see Scott and Josh soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

"Everything in nature bespeaks the mother.  The sun is the mother of the earth and gives it its nourishment of heat; it never leaves the universe at night until it has put the earth to sleep to the song of the sea and the hymn of the birds and brooks.  And this earth is the mother of trees and flowers.  It produces them, nurses them, and weans them.  The trees and flowers become kind mothers of their great fruits and seeds.  And the mother, the prototype of all existence, is the eternal spirit, full of beauty and love." Kahlil Gibran About Motherhood

 

Grandmothers, Mothers, Sisters, and In-laws (I don't have photos of all of you but know I'm sending you my love).  Whether you have children or not I want to thank all of you who encompass Motherhood.

 

Happy Mother's Day

Love,
Joshua

         

                                                       

Moravian Tennis

Since we are so close to Moravian College, it's fun to walk over there in the afternoon to watch some sports.  It's been fun to introduce the kids to tennis, baseball, football (practice only), and field hockey (last spring) by watching it in real life.  These two will sit for a surprisingly long time watching -- longer than my attention span, at least in the case of tennis.  Neither of them are too impressed by baseball, which always surprises me because the practices have so much batting.  Good thing I'm not planning on taking them to any real baseball games any time soon. 

Library

We still spend a lot of time at the library.  James is so comfortable in the space, the other day he ran in, made a left hand turn, ran to the end of the building and then .... stood there confused because he wasn't in his familiar children's section.  He was so sure of his direction but he accidentally missed the turn for the children's room.  I love how comfortable we all feel there and how well I know most of the librarians.  Alma is always willing to go up to the children's librarian's desk and ask for something special.  The kids also love checking out their books at the main counter.  James usually carries the biggest book he can find around with him and even out to the car.  It is ridiculous and wonderful.

Lowe's

Look at that beautiful smile.  Sheer happiness.

Pet Store

We have recently started taking local trips to do fun things after we pick Alma up from preschool.  The kids love when we go to the pet store to see the animals.  Alma loves seeing the dumbo rat, because that is the pet they have in her classroom at school (Skittles).  James is amazed by the fish but also really loves the cats.

Child Labor

 

Alma is at that great age when she is helpful, willing and cooperative.  During her Spring Break week in March, we polyurethaned the kids lawn chairs to protect them from the weather.  It was a fun project to do while James napped in the morning.  I'm excited to think of an entire summer of projects like this to do with her.

Musings on Everyday Happiness

All day every day I feel so grateful that I am living this current life of an educated mother, wife, homeowner, and crafter.  I have always wanted to do this.  So many moments in my day, I say to myself "Wow, I'm here in this moment that I have daydreamed and desired for so long."  And not only that, I have tons of these moments that get to happen on a reoccurring or daily basis.  Some examples: family walks with the four of us around our neighborhood; holding a child's hand; watching the kids stop to smell flowers; putting on my boots to head into the yard to check on plants; hugging James before laying him into bed; sitting across from Alma and chatting about our days during lunch; having my folks pop by to see their grandchildren; sitting in the car planning out my schedule (drinks with friends, racquetball matches, dates with Joshua) while a child sleeps in the backseat and another is soon to come out of her preschool; climbing up to the attic to my very own craft room to engage in my creative side.

Feel so blessed that there have been tons of pockets in my life like this: sailing on the ocean, traveling through Asia, driving cross country and spending lots of time camping by myself, being fiercely in love with Joshua (dating him in Seattle is still one of my dreamiest times of my life), fixing up a house.  All those times I've thought, very loudly (if that makes sense), "This is what I'm supposed to be doing.  This is what I've been aiming and dreaming about for quite some time."  How awesome it is that I've been given the gift to recognize the "good old days" when they are happening. 

Not that I love everything at all times or that I don't complain about the little inconveniences; but, in general, life rocks.  And, obviously, it isn't only me that made these dreams possible.  Joshua sacrifices a ton to provide for the kids and me -- especially in making it possible for me to stay at home with the children -- not only providing monetarily but also emotionally, with his time and all of his energy.  He tells me again and again that it is totally worth it to know that it is creating so much happiness for us, which I think is the biggest gift anyone could ever give.

When I was in college, a close friend told me that I was too much of a dreamer and that most of my plans would never come true.  It surprised me because I felt that about a quarter came true because I was always expressing those dreams to other people.  I feel that if I don't share my dreams out loud and write them down then I won't be as moved to work towards them and other people won't know to be an extra set of eyes to see opportunities for me.  It still bugs me that this "friend" said this and that I didn't speak up for myself.  I feel so blessed that most of my bucket list has been crossed off due to pushing myself, having great chances present themselves to me and the amazing support of all of those who constantly listened to my dreaming.

Even though I'm in a magical moment of actualizing some big dreams of life -- motherhood especially -- I'm eternally on the look out for the next big thing.  I'm thinking that it has something to do with enacting real change in my community and am feeling pulled by the political world or at least being a voice in the community in some meaningful way.  I've been starting to take steps in that direction, which is both exciting and a little scary.  But mostly, I'm just excited for a new adventure and lessons to keep me going. 

Peace, Pastor Yoder

Kate's father passed away this morning so I've been spending the day telling Alma fun memories I have of him.  He was such a joy to be around -- especially when we would dance wildly to the B-52s.  One of my favorite memories from our wedding was his excitement that the band played "his song" of Love Shack. 

Here is he dancing with his beautiful bride in Lancaster in 2011. 

It's nice to know that we have another smart, faith-filled angel watching out for us.