You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April 2009.
They played with cousins, and swam like fish. The mommies talked, walked, and tanned. Crab legs, spending breakfast to dinner in a bathing suit, bare feet, freckles, pink shoulders, laughing. It’s good to be with family.
Fantastic weather seems to have descended upon us! Spring is such a refreshing time of year. Everyone and everything comes out of hibernation: we see the neighbors again, trees turn green, gardens get planted, the summer clothes are unearthed from the closet, and the windows are thrown open. We sure have been enjoying the outside weather here…some days we do our school on the back porch, most dinners are hot off the grill, and evening walks are peaceful and warm. SO nice!
Thanks to everyone who’s been asking how we’re doing. Each day that passes is a gift, time goes on and, in a way, things seem to fade a little bit. Most days are still pretty difficult, for several different reasons, but we are grateful for God’s kindnesses and his gifts.
Here’s my sweet Charlotte. She is reading like a pro now, picking up books out of the reading basket and plowing right through them. She is also doing very well at riding her bicycle, and Mommy is excited about that because now Charlotte and Ivy can ride bikes our walking route, and only Asher rides in a stroller. (The walking opportunities are unlimited!)
She is excited to go to the beach next week, to see aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grampa and Gramma. After that she’ll go see more aunts, uncles, and an Oma and Opa.
While the children are staying at grandparents, Scott will whisk me away to Portland (Oregon, not Maine. Brrr.) for a few days. We have never been to that part of the country, and hope to eat some great food, take some great naps, and see some pretty things while we are there.
Last Saturday we spent the morning as a family, eating breakfast at Krispy Kreme and hitting some yard sales on the way home. Just had to post a picture; the hats are killin’ me!
Ivy’s piano lessons are coming along quite well. She really enjoys it, and her piano teacher is wonderful: limitless patience and wisdom for teaching children. Ivy and Mommy have been practicing some duets. We asked Daddy to take a movie of us playing one of our favorites, so here ya go.
Our Ivy June turns 6 today, and we couldn’t be more excited!
Six years old. What an exciting year ahead…absolutely full to the brim with possibilities. And she is ready to go: reading books, learning to play the piano, serving and helping Mommy with many things in our home, making friends, learning to be a big sister and a growing-up girl. Ivy is turning into quite our little lady.
I remember so well many parts of those first few months of baby Ivy. We had so much learning to do as parents then, and we are still learning. Learning about Ivy as a baby was such hard work, but she is worth every second.
A friend told me once after Charlotte was born that “there’s nothing like your first”, and I am sure I have said this before on here, but it is really so true. Everything with a first baby is so new, so focused; all of my time was dedicated to this one little tiny person who changed our life completely from the moment she was born. She turned from a tiny 6-pound baby into such a delicious, chubby, giggly, perfect toddler that we just couldn’t get enough of.
Ivy, you are wonderful and such a gift to our family. Your infectious giggle, sweet disposition, beautiful baby-blue eyes, white-blonde hair…you were gorgeous from the second you were born. So often others comment on what a pretty girl you are, and have from the time you were very small. You are beautiful, both on the outside and in your precious heart.
You love to dance, eat dessert, giggle, and sing. You love princesses, fairies, good music, pink and purple, Little House on the Prairie, and glitter. You love to pick flowers for Mommy, be cozy on a rainy day, watch a movie, ask questions and learn new things. You love to “do school,” memorize Bible verses and poems; you are so excited at this new-found skill of reading books, and are exploring the likes of Morris the Moose, Little Bear, and Frog and Toad. You love to be around people, spend quiet time to yourself, and make new friends.
You are full to the brim with affection and love for others, and are one of the most perceptive children I have ever known. You sense when someone is upset or even the slightest bit sad, and it affects you a great deal. Often if you notice if Mommy is having a difficult day, you give me a hug right away and ask what you can do to help me. You have always been a particularly compliant child, and rarely lose your sense of humor, sweetness, and eagerness to help.
We love you more than you know, Ivy…to the moon and back, and then some. Happy Birthday to my sweet, sweet Junebug.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!
He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth. (Isaiah 25:8)
