April 2018

Reading to Emerson and Darby

Emerson started official swim lessons. He's totally comfortable in the water, and it didn't take the instructor long to sort him into the more "advanced" learners group.  Evelyn and I cheered every time he made it to the edge of the pool, arms working and legs working and a big smile on his goggled face. Won't take this guy long to figure it all out.

He also started soccer, which has been a healthy challenge for him on a number of fronts.  First, it's all new. Listening to a coach, in a large group of new kids, in a whole new environment that requires focus amidst tons of distractions. He comes in and out of "fun mode" and you can see him working through it. He and Evelyn are both very prideful and used to being great at everything. So it's good when they have a chance to try something really difficult and fail their way forward.

My yoga teacher always says, "Show up and suck, until you can show up and shine!" and I feel like this is an important lesson for Ev and Em. I don't want them to be as self-conscious and self-limiting as I was growing up - I was afraid to look dumb, and to mess up. Tag and I tell them both, routinely - give it a try! Mess up! It's totally cool! But that is, I know, easier said than done - so we try to find those opportunities for them to practice tough things that they can work out on their own and build that confidence of, "This is tough, and I might struggle through this in a messy way, but I believe I can figure it out."

silly cross-eyed beauty

Evelyn has hit a beautiful stride of confidence and capability. When she feels good, she's so helpful and generous and thoughtful. It's inspiring and fills my heart with yum.  Her piano lessons are going really well -- she was proud to share some feedback from Mrs. Esposito that she is the only student who really practices and it shows. She's doing full chords (both hands) and will belt out the words in her unique singing style, fully immersed in her practice.  Fabulous.

any prettier place to take a leak?
(King Family Vineyard)

Making a wish...for a peddle plane LOL

Self Portrait (at IX Art Park)

Powerful Girl!!!

...the world lost an amazing man...and we lost an incredible pillar of the Graham family...
Rest In Peace Grandpa Graham - We Love You

March 2018

The Crazy Days of Spring-Winter-Spring !

Just Look at this Radiant being

Poppa getting some puppy kisses

Working in the office...

Foosball with Oma and Opa at Firefly!

Pinball Wizards

The Easter Bunny rocked it this year !!

A little stretch on the road trip to Memphis with Oma and Opa

(no words. just *ahhh*)

Taking full advantage of one last wintry day

Stella loves her Emerson

These two. They are going to be true friends forever.

February 2018

We've Lost our Minds

So, I've been out of a job since October. And it's affected every facet of our lives. And maybe it's broken loose a few thinking cogs in my head. Because, after we ran into the sweetest little rottweiler in the pet store parking lot I couldn't get him out of my head. And one thing leads to the next, and Tag and I are completely smitten with a 4 month old puppy and bring him home to our two shocked and supremely excited children.

Met this little guy in the parking lot (Rollie and Randy)

"Okay I love you."

Uhm, the CUTEST

I think this might work out... 

"Mamma, I'm a puppy."

"Seriously Mom? WHAT did you do?"

Yes, we're crazy, but this is going to be fun.

What better time to housebreak a puppy than when you're home everyday? All sorts of logic can be strategically applied here to justify our lack of prudence. Evelyn declared his name to be Riggs and has really taken on a caring, teaching role for him. She walks him expertly and loves having puppy energy in the house. Emerson has regressed a bit on the behavior spectrum (is there a case study opportunity here?), due to the excess attention lavished on this canine invader. He insists on barking and crawling and wearing a collar and leash. It's surely just a phase (we're praying it's a short one).

New Jersey Turnpike Pit Stop - On the way to Connecticut ! 

As part of my job hunting, career defining, soul searching journey, I wanted to meet the owner of a children's art studio in Norwalk, CT.  Super close to Auntie Laurie, so Evelyn and I took a just-us-girls road trip and had a totally fun time eating out, shopping, visiting a gallery (where I discovered carmelo blandino, incidentally), and generally having a ball. Laurie came to visit us in Virginia shortly thereafter, so we got a wonderful double-dose of Auntie L.

Auntie Laurie is the BEST

Met the actual Roaming Gnome (at Duc Donuts)

#ourlife #justaregularsundaymorning

December 2017

The last month in this slog of a year -- and we're doing it up in high Christmas style.

The school winter assembly wrapped up the semester -- with Evelyn performing her much anticipated African Dance class routine (she, of course, was the one with the HUGE grin throughout - bouncing around gleefully like she was full of jumping beans). Awesome drumming performance as the soundtrack for the dancing. We love her school so much.

Emerson is exploding with 4 year old energy, and can hardly contain his excitement in his powerful little body -- he resembled a bobcat or a brawling badger more than my sweet last-born at the assembly. The good news: it always ends in a blissful collapse of sleep that carries him through to morning.

My Little Aerial FlyDog !

Oma & Opa came back (after a Thanksgiving visit) for the grand Christmas event -- We've been counting down the 25 days with advent calendars and the lighting of advent candles -- Ev & Em focused on who gets to blow which candles out at the end of the evening, but enjoying the process of identifying each candle (Peace! Hope! Joy!).  Emerson has really gotten into the magic of the season this year -- sooo excited seeing Santa at the parade, and wondering why - after the tree was decorated - there weren't presents left under it yet.

After a late night at a loooong Christmas Eve church service (we of course wanted to attend a candlelight service), Emerson fell asleep on the car ride home and Ev prepped for Santa (candy canes positioned in the shape of a heart, an oreo truffle that she made, and a cup of milk) and his reindeer (9 carrots - one for each reindeer and an extra in case Rudolf was in the mix) and then skipped off to bed.  It was such a fun morning (I got to sleep until 8am!) and not a tear was shed. Ev was beaming from ear to ear the entire day - making slime (thanks Oma) and playing games. Em played with cars, discovered a newfound love of the space shuttle, and played pool with Tag and Opa.

We're just a few days left of this year...and I can't say it was a bad year, but I can't say I won't be glad to see it go -- looking forward to the adventure that 2018 brings...and hoping it will allow us to stay in this lovely place we've started to call home.

Ev Turns Eight

For her eighth birthday, she asked for a slumber party.  With 3 friends over.  How could I say no to that?  Her lovely friends Aoife, Abby and Hallie came and celebrated with Evelyn in the sweetest way -- doting on her with gifts and kindness and helping her manage the excitement of a "sleep" over (they seem to be more experienced with this and actually did want to sleep).

There was so much excitement we forgot to sing her happy birthday -- following a hilarious piñata beating contest, they built their own sundaes (in lieu of a birthday cake) and then dashed off to play upstairs in Ev's room.

...she has shared the bunkbed with Emerson until only recently. Tag and I suspect that she started sleeping in her own room with her eye on this epic birthday event...  She's maturing and starting to chart her own course. As we roll on toward nine, I cannot wait to see what this amazing girl chooses as her favorites, her opinions, her approach to the world.

November 2017

Let's see, what's the news this month?

Well, Ev lost her other front tooth - the look suits her! Makes that megawatt smile seem even bigger (LOL). The tooth fairy is on the ball -- Ev's teeth are earning neat little stacks of quarters.

We orchestrated self-portrait family photos for this year's Christmas card -- a bit of a circus, since I had the brilliant idea to bring the dogs (that was a no go - they ran around, exalting their freedom, pooping everywhere, and completely disrupting the photo set up with obstinance (I'm certain they knew to sit and look at the camera, but they simply refused). I also ran back and forth between the fence (our prop) and the tripod, racing the self-timer and trying not to trip over dogs. After I threw a temper tantrum (got it out of my system), we settled into the silliness of it and ended up with some super fun pics. Evelyn was full of great pose ideas, while Emerson preferred the Spiderman look. Gotta love the mountains in the background (Pen Park is a popular photo spot).

As Head of School for A Day, one of Evelyn's schoolmates hosted a Color Run - Ev had an epic time -- and made the newsletter! Such a cool school.

One of my favorite things is Kissy Day. Emerson has adopted the notion of Kissy Day and uses it to reward (or punish!) me.  I think it started when I attacked him with kisses one day, and he said "No kisses!" and I asked, "Isn't it kissy day?" And from then on, he would be in charge of when it was Kissy Day (or not).  He will look at me with a sly smile when he's feeling generous and say, "It's Kissy Day!" and I am permitted to attack him with kisses. It's awesome. He is the most super yummy little boy ever created.

At a Birthday Party for Georgia

Goofin'

Goofin' Too

October 2017

Beautiful C'ville Sky

Trip to New York for Jessie and Kurt's Wedding

Sweetest EVER

Cutest EVER

Atop the Empire State Building in NYC

Walking along Rockefeller Center

Obligatory Times Square shot

The most expensive photo known to man

Chopsticks!

Building a master piece with magna tiles

Bouncing JOY!

Spiderman. Always Spiderman.

Abby's fairy birthday party

Camping with Neighbor Kids

Evelyn, Evelyn, Sophie and Ava

CHEEEEESE!

Decorated with Love by Ev

Lovely view off our back deck....

Sunday Morning Jam Sessions

Halloween / Fall Festival

Okay, not always Spiderman. Iron Man!