Good People, Good Times

This weekend was a great reminder of how blessed we are to have so many amazing people in our lives.  As a family, we had friends visit from Kansas City, hung out with the KA, and got to watch the hockey game today with a mix of friends from church and Rolla, who happen to be neighbors (go figure!).  I also got to spend some quality time with my friend Mandi and her newborn son Nolan.

Despite the hustle and bustle, the unexpected issues (like Barrett coming down with strep on Friday) and staying out past my bed time two nights in a row, I had so much fun.  I tend to be very practical, I am not that spontaneous, and anymore, I am not the best at planning ahead.  So, I often find that it has been weeks or months since I have seen some of my dearest friends.  More than that, when I do see them, it is usually at grown-up events like weddings or girls weekends.  That is why this weekend was so refreshing.  Not only did we see our friends, but out kids got to hang out too.  They played together and had fun and started building relationships that I hope they will see through to adulthood.

Here are a few of my favorite photos of the weekend.

Welcoming Nolan

 

At the Zoo

 

Family Fun at the Nances

 

Let's Go Blues! 

 

Yard Transformations

The first time we pulled up to what is now our house, I was completely underwhelmed by the curb appeal.  Then, when we looked at the back yard, I realized the front yard at least had something going for it.  The back yard literally had nothing...well, except grass.  No trees. No plants.  No fence. Nothing. 

For the past two years, landscaping has been on our home improvements list. The first year, we had so many other items on the list that we only got a couple of small yard tasks completed.  We tore out an overgrown evergreen by the front porch, I took the hedge trimmers to the boxwoods that frame the garage, and we planted a tree in the front yard.  We also put up a fence in the back yard. 

 

Last year we actually had some landscapers bid out work, but our budget and our wish list didn't match up at all.  So, continued to make some small improvements on our own to at least give the house some curb appeal, but we primarily focused on saving money up so we could do larger landscaping. 

This year, after much waiting, we were finally able to get more of the major landscaping done that we'd been hoping for.  It took longer than anticipated because of the spring rains.  However, now we have trees in the back yard, other perennials to brighten up the landscape, and a beautiful wall to break up the sloping back yard and help level it out a bit.  We are by no means done...we still have some drainage issues to work out on the side of the house, but the heavy lifting has been completed.  Now, I can't wait to just sit back and enjoy! 

Fun Photos

How is it that we're already halfway through the month of April?  Where has the time gone?  Fortunately for you, I have captured many of the passing moments with pictures.  Here are some of my favorites from our activities the past few weeks.

Audrey's birthday



Audrey had many birthday festivities.  She went to the movies and out to dinner on Friday.  Then on Saturday, she got to celebrate with her nana and papa as well as her grandma and grandpa, and got to blow out the candles on her very fancy birthday cake.

 

 

  

 

 

Easter



The Saturday before Easter, we spent the day doing Easter Egg hunts and hanging out with friends and family.  Easter Sunday was spent in Greenville.  We went to church, enjoyed a lovely dinner with family, had a little egg hunt, and even got to go on a boat ride.

 

Go! St. Louis

 Billy ran another half marathon this past Sunday.  The kids and I tried to make it to cheer him on, but we failed in our attempt.  We had signs ready to go, but Billy just ran too fast for us.  We are glad he got is PR though!

6 Years Old

I can hardly believe that my baby girl is six-years old tomorrow.  When you first have them, people tell you that your children will grow up so fast, and you just smile and nod wondering how the lengthy sleepless nights could ever go quickly.  Then, six-years later, you look back and smile about the advice and how true it is. 

Six years ago around this time, I was timing some minor contractions, making sure my bag was packed for the hospital, and wondering how I was going to get any sleep if the baby didn't come until the next day.  I had no idea how God would use the little human living inside of me to change me in ways I didn't know I could change. She has helped me learn to be more patient, more kind and less uptight.  She has taught me to laugh more, mostly at myself, and not be afraid to let people (especially her) see me struggle.  But, most of all, she has taught me so much about love.  We all have people in our lives we love unconditionally. When Audrey was born though, there were times when it was the easiest thing in the world to love her and others when it was the hardest.  Heck, there still are.  And because of that, God has shown me that love is not perfect, it isn't always pretty, and it definitely isn't easy.  Instead, as 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud...Love keeps no record of wrongs." 

Tonight, after the kids when to bed, I wrapped Audrey's gifts (a brightly colored basketball and a "voucher" for tickets to a show of her choice at the Muny) and then sat down with a cup of tea to write this post.  Sitting next to me on the desk is her 3rd quarter report card from kindergarten.  That's right, my daughter is in her last quarter of kindergarten.  While this school-year has been a challenge for her in many ways, she has grown dramatically. 

Her names means Noble Strength, and even though we didn't really know her when we gave her that name, it describes her well.   

• When everyone around her (including me) was telling her she was doing things wrong, she didn't stop trying and has improved steadily.  Granted, that same strong-will is what gets her in trouble sometimes, but I hope she never loses that tenacity. 
• Her nobility comes in the way she cares about others.  At six, she doesn't always understand the best ways to express that care, but she is learning and getting better.  When I pinched her neck while putting on her bike helmet last week, I felt so bad I was almost in tears.  So, she went into the office and made me a card so that I wouldn't feel so bad.  Now that really made me tear up.  Despite her own pain, she was more worried about how I was feeling.  Audrey's selfless love is something that makes her more beautiful to me than I could have ever imagined her to be. 

So, as I go to bed tonight on the eve of Audrey's 6th birthday, I will be thanking God for this gift that he as given me and praise Him for the joy and love she has brought to my life.