Wednesday, May 26, 2010

home stretch!

We are officially on the home stretch at the Welch house. School is almost up for the year and we are leaving for Florida right after that, so it is indeed upon us. Nolen has graduated to father's independent right hand man. He is big enough and strong enough to mow the lawn by himself without us lording over him and he has even procured a summer mowing job with our neighbor! He will be making money! For all of his favorite things like duct tape and air soft what-nots. Emma is growing up so fast that I am often wondering where my little girl went! She LOVES her people and will be your biggest ally, unless the dispute is within her family an then she is the peacemaker. She has spearheaded the campaign to free the girls room from the fetters of the bunk bed and has succeeded. The beds are separated and there is a sweet little desk between them and she is in heaven. Now to paint, tear up the carpet and paint the floor, and get new bedding, but that too will come with time. Mia is also in a state of bliss over the decimation of the bunk system and every night exclaims "I love my *new* bed!" Her bed actually never moved, it's just missing it's top. Too cute. She just finished researching river otters for a school report that she's writing up and giving to the grandma's and grandpa's for Grandparents Day. She loves school and all her class mates and the prospect of summer both excites and sadden's her intermittently. The prospect of a huge old slip and slid at grandma's in Florida does console her, though. Titus is finished with his first year of BSF and only has 2 more weeks left of bible study. He has matured sooo much over this year that I can't believe it. We have prayed this boy from Tasmanian devil to Knight in shining armor. He loves cars and especially car tracks and has perfected the art of their construction always dreaming of new ones. Now he's hoping to find one where the cars jump off a jump into a dinosaurs mouth. Anyone? He and I have had some great conversations about sin and death and how to help Nadia and protect her (she is definitely his test subject). Nadia is growing into a little lady and I know when we go down to Florida she will keep everyone in stitches with her silly sayings and dances. If we have just the right hoppin' music in the car she begins to swing her bent arms back and forth and dance with a BIG smile on her face. She and Ty have had some hilarious conversations in the back seat. I need to post some, I'll keep my ears open. Her siblings are wrapped securely around her little pinky finger and believe it or not, ESPECIALLY Nolen! When he comes home she runs to him shouting, "Nolie! You'z home!" and he searches her out for those sweet little 2 year old hugs.
With the lure of Florida in the distance we are pushing on to finish strong. The school year's not over and there are still tests to take and papers to write and lunches to make and we still need to be up by the crack of Dawn. God is good and we are still running the race and fighting the good fight, for another couple weeks.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Love this :)

This picture is so perfect for my girls :) I love the white painted floor and the floral carpet and the robins egg blue walls and the petite little night stand and the peaches and cream bedding, all the wonderful pillows and the gauzy curtains with the vintage door knobs as hooks :) Even the notebook on the floor with a pencil reminds me of Emma, always writing. to change what we have to this would involve paint and lots of it as well as *new* bedding. We have a desk that we could paint cream . .. hmmm . .. And the cute rug! Where would I find it? Just thinking out loud. Suggestions?

Monday, May 10, 2010

My Mothers day Lesson

Today was that day. The day I have prepared for every year for 11 years. Mothers Day. I have meticulously planned and prepared and readied my home and each and every year.
Only. To. Be. Disappointed.
And it was all my fault. I had no faith in my amazing husband to pull off one day with out my hands in it. In my children to Love me and Shower me in thanks with out my direction. Like a director I put everything on the stage and then placed the actors in their positions with the script in their hands and with HIGH expectations required Oscar winning performances. "Why?" I would ask myself. "Can other families make mothers day special without their mothers telling them what to do?"
So this year I decided to have no expectations and just see what would happen. I didn't take my children to make flower pots for me at Big R, like I usually do or go to help them pick out cards for me or any of it.
I just woke up.
Sunday morning I woke to a QUIET house. This alone bizarre and strange and even slightly spectroesque. I walked down stairs, opened the blinds ~ truck, hubby and Emma gone. hmmmmm....
The other 4 were still asleep so I hunkered down on the couch to wait :) Emma rushed in the door with a big smile and a bright yellow bouquet of flowers! (yea #1) Hubby was following right behind her with my grande caramel macchiatto. (yea #2) Emma then went to rouse Nolen, Ty, Mia and Nadia for the present opening! They all made me cards and Nolen even made me a beaded bookmark for my Bible :) Their thoughts were so kind. They all made me swear not to lift a finger for the rest of the day. Then there was a town hall meeting (that I was not allowed to be a part of) to solidify the plans for the day. We all jumped in the car in our church clothes and headed out. We ended up at one of my favorite places, Apple Annies a massive antique store that is bigger than Target, and has a 50's diner inside. We looked around for a couple of house and ohhed and Awwwed over all of the great bits of Amaricana then headed over to get something to eat. Nolen and Emma were insistent on buying us all fun drinks so we got to try something more 50's ish for a change. We had huge burgers and laughed and took tons of pictures :)
Next we headed to Leavenworth for a day of exploring the Bavarian shops. We tried on hats at the hat shop. We examined all of the toys in the toy store. We scrutinized the bikes in the bike shop for one to fit Nadia and Mia. The girls and I breezed through the Kitchen shop and then we walked down to Blackbird Island for a nature walk. We walked around most of the island and landed at a small old fashioned playground hidden in a small glade. It was one of the warmest days we've had so far (70*) and it was sunny. Scott started a rousing game of throw the stones into the puddle (amazingly enough it had rules). The children played Pooh Sticks on the bridge and Emma created a game for us to play on the various stumps that consisted of us all pretending to be statues and with various rules and such :) Nolen tried to spear a fish with his walking stick, the fish laughed. My children had so much fun together playing and laughing, creating memories the will last forever. Not contrived, but real. I was walking with them all at various times during the day and we all talked and walked holding hands. They showered me with love and affection and I was PRESENT with them rather than directing them. We then headed home and after a few stops got home at 7ish tired and happy. My tank was full to over flowing and I didn't have to plan anything. Today was favorite.
Lesson Learned.