The Birthday Child

Everything's been different

all the day long,

Lovely things are happened,

nothing has gone wrong.

Nobody has scolded me,

Everyone has smiled.

Isn't it delicious

to be a birthday child?

Rose Fyleman

Talking to the Espinosa Family

Dinner at Fuddruckers, where she spent $5 in quarters at the prize machine.

Ate ketchup and chocolate cake for dinner.

Cleats for spring soccer!

oooweeee! polka dot skirt!

Lots of fun friends at birthday round 3

so excited over chalk!

self dubbed: "the Jenga wizard"

Party animals, swinging from the ceiling on this crazy 5th birthday night.

Post or Perish

Lots of my words go towards other things besides here on this blog, albeit important things. Mainly my children. Friends. Husband. Coworkers. Family. Dog. Siri. Plants. Self.

I find I am an all or nothing kinda girl. If it can't be it's best, then it simply won't be. I hesitated to post this post, seeing as I do not have an image I prefer to put with it, nor do I have the time to search for freebies on the web. But then I remember the warnings of Solomon in Ecclesiastes: "If you wait until conditions are perfect, you will never get anything done." (11:4)

On studying doctrine with our Community Group, I read this post on John Piper's blog. He says "Language may not carry all there is, but what it carries can be true and valuable." That "can be" part I appreciate. How much of my language is true? How much of my language is valuable? For others, and for myself? 

The idea of Post or Perish - there is an unquenchable urge for me to talk it out, this journey. Not necessarily for the purpose of landing on understanding ears, but simply to speak it all into reality, forcing it out of my head and into the air. Perhaps that is why, when being intentional and dependent, I find myself praying out loud.

At what point, if at all, do those words get translated into prayers? By translated, I mean to ask how mindful am I being of my conversations with God? How mindful am I of God? How am I allowing Him space and time to speak? The Resurgence had a great series posted about prayer, and how it is most often a last resort, when God intended it to be so much more.

Thomasina Dances

I've been trying to capture our little man joining in our dance parties, but inevitably I pull out the camera and he quits being as cute as possible. But I must share what we are constantly laughing at, and hopefully justify why I play the same songs over and over, and over, on Spotify. In the one below, Thomas is loving Foster the People, a welcome reprieve from the Laurie Berkner songs I repeat a dozen times a day. He gets so carried away with himself, he often falls on the floor. He was extra spunky last night, maybe due to him sporting one of Nancy's headbands.

Thomas is not unlike his sisters before him (Nancy is almost 2, Kate 5):

All of this reminiscing brings me to a conclusion: I like dancing babies.

So I Think We Can't Dance.

Enjoying our new Christmas gift. All 5 of us.

3rd Annual Burns & McGowan Griswold Christmas Tree Road Trip

There are several other posts floating around in my head. But other things must be taken care of before I put fingers to keys. But there is no reason to wait for this post: it was too much fun, and too many wonderful photos that captured the fun, to wait for it to be chronological. 

Here's the gist: in 2009 Chris suggested cutting down their tree, something the McGowans have done before, and something us Burnses thought sounded quite romantic. We followed directions that took us into the middle of the Pisgah National Forest, over 6.5 miles of bumpy gravel road, to emerge onto Zeigler's Tree and Trout Farm. We passed a sign that says "Keep Going, Almost There!" that was placed at that exact spot where one begins to think "yeah, we should turn around." Click on their name, get the address, and try it if you haven't gotten your tree already. This is the family's livelihood, and they would appreciate your business!  To say I wish we lived out there may be an understatement. And there are no shortage of perfectly beautiful trees.

The road entering the farm.

Thomas & Kate carrying our measuring stick.

T liked to hide in the trees and say "bye bye!"

I told Cohen to smile like he liked me. This is the face he made. 

Looking back at the house & part of the farm. We like to take the scenic route to hunt for our trees.

This, of course, is the year we decide not to send out photo Christmas cards. The first year ever that everyone's looking at the camera.

The family lets you put your kids on their 4 wheelers and take photos....

...and ride in the back of the trailer with your freshly cut trees.

Pure excitement!

It may look like Emily is about to fall off the back of the trailer. I think she had just made the joke that it was it was obvious from our kids' squealing that we do not live in the country.

I Am From Family, Laughing and Coffee

Yesterday I joined Kate in her class for an Author's Tea. The students are studying poetry and the teacher hosted a time when parents and family could come in and hear the kids work. There were also notebooks on each students desk where you could write "critiques" of the author's work. 

I took a video of Kate reading her poem, since Dad couldn't be there. I love that you can hear all the students reading their own poems out loud in the background. 

Kate likes to write. She likes to write short stories, poems, thank you notes....pretty much any opportunity to put her vocabulary to the test. Remember last years impromptu Thanksgiving poem? I am not sure what I was expecting of this poem thing, but I can definitely say I was caught off guard. It really did make me tear up. 

The students were given a template to follow, almost like a Mad Libs. You know, "The (adj) (noun) walked in a (noun) and (verb)." But it was done in a way that what they were able to verbalize what they hear and do and love. My tears were because I love what Kate loves. It makes my heart happy. Listen closely, you may hear something about what you love, too!

I like collections of things, like books in a series, pens in a set, paint from the same brand, and the entire line of My Little Pony miniatures. I hate having just one of something. The Randomness, it disturbs me for some reason. I like things in chronological order. I like to make lists and mark things off. And yes, if I do something not on the list, I write it down just to mark it off. 

Can you hear my sharpie marking "August blog post" off the list?

T, big ball, big belly.

Aunt Nancy, Mo & Kate. Who doesn't love a 3 in 1 celebration!?

The combined age of the celebrated ones. Kate turned 8. I will not disclose the remaining subtrahends.

Nancy Rose pretending to be shy, cuddling up with Uncle Charlie, who welcomed his first grandbaby in August as well! We are efficient, if nothing else.

The Birthday Girls opening presents.

Birthday donuts.

Nan took this one. Not a bad angle, and it's actually a cute photo. Especially considering Kate nor myself are wearing any makeup.

Getting the bags of stuffed animals, pillows and clothes down after 16 days in the attic. Hoping the lice were melted in the August heat.

The girl wanted a pile of donuts for her birthday "cake". Done.

Our wonderful and memorable trip to the American Girl Store in Alpharetta, GA

My surprise Happy 10th Anniversary arrangement from RMB. 

Third Grade!!

'Maters. After 3 years of trying, a triumph for me!

Goodbye, Osborns!! We love you!!

T, Everett and CK. Not Calvin Klein. Eatin' dawgs, hangin' out.

Nancy said she was crying because she was going to miss Belle and Lucy so so so so much. I wish I could give her the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately am privy to her track record.

K4!!

Big boy. Happiest when misbehaving.

Baseball game. Nancy just got the news that since she didn't eat her supper, she doesn't get dessert. Our eldest, the Rule Follower, kinda looks like she's reveling in the justice of her sister's consequence.

Taking in the game with yet another hot dog.