Oh, One of THOSE

Anyone have one of those days recently?  You know the kind I'm talking about....

There you are, just enjoying the day.  Exploring, learning, and so on.  You know, the kind where you're just busy crawling along the floor minding your own business and the next thing you know your 3 year old sister slaps a bunch of stickers all over your face?

Or, you're a thirsty dog just in from outside, longing for a cool drink of dog bowl water.  It's in the mid-90's and for some reason you were laying in the sun for a while.  Why?  Because it felt good.  But now, you're roasting from the outside in.  You plod to your water bowl, your tongue dragging behind you...only to find it filled with Cheerios.

Or, how about you're a mom.  You have a very quick phone call, thankfully to another mom of three who understands the side conversations you are able to have while still staying in full discussion on the phone, and you watch your kids painting with water color paints.  Together.  Happily.  So, you take a moment to pick up some toys in the other room.  After all, they're playing so nicely, why not help 'em out a little bit.  So, there you are, on the phone -- for more than 3 minutes in a row, a miracle! -- and then, you go back to the painting area.  Which, thankfully, is the kitchen.  And you see that SOMEONE, and there are clearly two somebodies really involved in this but one is waaaaay more into it, SOMEONE has dumped the cup (which you made sure was a small one, just in case -- intuition I suppose) if dirty water.

But wait, there's more.  Because not only did they dump it -- clearly on purpose -- on the table.

But, they are now, currently, as you speak on the phone, after cleaning up the toys, as you were stupidly basking in the quiet moment that was creativity and sisterly love, they are now splashing in that pile of blue-brown water and it is spraying all over them.  The floor.  The counters, and probably other places that have yet to be found.

And because it's been one of those days, you don't even feel the anger any more.  And, even though that somebody has not regret and so obviously enjoyed every moment, you simply clean it up, and move on.

And actually, that seemed to have worked.  Because the eerie silence you have demonstrated has just caused four little eyeballs to watch your every move...waiting.

And you finish your phone call.

And make sure there is fresh water in the dog bowl.

The Sound of Our Voices

If you see us reeling and stumbling and smiling, it's because we are giddy with new car smell. It was time. We needed elbow room.

Or at least fingertip room.

When we were expecting Baby Belle and doing all of those pre-baby things, part of the scramble was spending a small fortune on new car seats that fit in the car.

But now...now there is space. Big Belle has the whole back seat area all to herself, and Clara Belle and Baby Belle are in the middle, still well within reach.

One thing this vehicle currently does not have which is a big change from before, is a DVD player. While this may seem trifle to many of you, while some people think the entire brain-rotting idea of that in a car is ludicrous, I was once one of you. And then I had children. Yes, it's one of those "oh, now I see" moments. We try not to use it on a daily basis or just for driving locally, although there are days....
It will be interesting to see how a longer trip: say, to a mall, goes.
Will the radio do? The cd books? Each other's company? The sound of our own voices? I hope so.

We're not entirely against the idea of having a portable number with screens on the headrests, but for now we're loving the space and the new car smell, and we'll enjoy a long lost tradition...enjoying good conversation and watching the scenery out the window.

Sent from Adrienne

One Month To Go...

I'm obsessed.  

She's almost one.

Who would've thought,

a year could be done.

So soon, 

so sweet,

so fast, 

 so neat,

my love

you keep

so deep

with each

heartbeat....

Your eyes

they glow

your heart

it knows

how much 

you mean 

to

us.

Return from Beyond

Hello all.  I am sure you have had quite enough of the previous crying baby post, so I am relieving you.  I have had faint urges to blog here and there; have mentally written some phenomenal posts, at least they seem phenomenal.  To my brain.  Usually during the night, or other times when I am far far far from typing....  I have been busy.  I have been lazy.  I have been avoiding stuff too.  But my summer break is quickly fading fast.  I go back to work July 11th and Big Belle and I both start school the week after that.  I have to say that year round school is still the best idea since sliced bread.  I will save you the reasons why, I'm sure I posted them somewhere before.  One of these days I'll start looking back to old posts for you.  In the meantime, if you really want to know why it is so great leave a comment and I'll let you know.

In the past few weeks we've ended a school year.  I've packed up my entire classroom.  It is entirely (well, I hope entirely by now) moved to my our new school where it sits for me to put it together.  Nana came to visit and we had so much fun.  (ClaraBelle asks everyday what you are doing and when can you come back.  She wants to play games.  "Because she is MY Nana."  You've graduated to ownership status, must've been a great visit!!!)  Also thanks to Nana Chris and I went to a Phish concert and had a great time, despite about 10 minutes of panic where we had no idea where we parked and my super human (so aptly named because I don't have any explanation how I do it save panic) vehicle finding beacon led us right to it.  Big Belle had a super busy week at a Vacation Bible School with her friend -- whom I think it is safe to safe might be elevated to best friend status.  She learned so much, and was telling me all about it everyday.  I was so impressed.  Plus, the songs she learned were really great.  I'll share some with you in another post, because you can find them on You Tube.  Not a huge fan of Christian music, these kids songs are very enjoyable to even me.  Now Big Belle is on another week of VBS, this time at the church we attend.  Baby Belle -- only another month of that status, and then I might need to change it to Toddler Belle -- had ear tubes today.  The surgery is thankfully super quick, and even though we had to be at the office at 6:30, we were home by 8 and all but 10 minutes of that was waiting in the waiting room or recovery area.  Not bad.

We had a great family day at the zoo on Saturday, and I can say I didn't waste one single photo on an animal, except the 5 you see in the photo below.  :)

My goal is better blogging.  I have so much to say.  I'll see how I can do.  

It's Starting....

...but 10 1/2 months seems a little old for this intense drama.

Damp

There is not normally a waterfall at the side of our house, nor a raging river through the backyard....

To call it rain, would be an insult to Mother Nature's abilities. To say thunderstorm would be to laugh at the clouds.

We celebrated this much needed 2+ inches, and enjoyed an otherwise boring Friday evening. And after this foray outside, we thought we best not push our luck, and spectated through the windows instead.

Post storm

We're having one heck of a thunderstorm right now.  Very loud, and very long.  And, while it's also VERY overdue, it has been a huge source of stress in the house.  Big Belle has developed an intense fear of storms.  I feel bad for her, because I know she gets it directly from me.  I remember that fear.  And it is real, and rational.  She does better when we discuss the real reasons about storms:  how badly we need the rain, and that helps daddy come home to us from work more; we talk about how thunder comes from clouds, but clouds are not like people or animals.  Clouds are not mad, that is not what causes thunder.  God is not moving furniture, nor is he bowling.  WE talk about clouds getting very heavy because they are ready to rain, and then they get crowded.  They make lightning, and that causes thunder.  AND, as long as we are inside there is nothing to worry about.  Of course, the blinking lights and flickering t.v. don't add to the comfort.  So, after about an intense hour of stress and the storm still a presence, the girls finally drifted off a bit on the couch.  WHile another rumble has currently awakened Big Belle, ClaraBelle's thumb has fallen out and she is blissfully asleep....Time to see if we can sneak her off to her bed now.

First Things Firs

Running Man

Weekend 10K 

(That's 6 miles of purposeful running.)

#1 in his age group...

Top 20% of the racers...

and #1 in our book.

and fortunately the weather turned lovely.  Instead of being 72 degrees at 7:00 am it was about 65.  It turned 72 about 8:25am.  And things really went down hill....

We're knocking on 100's door.

Starved, Can't You Tell?

Warning...although it may look like it, the baby really does not try to eat the camera at the end of the video.  In fact, she was finally done eating.

Justin Bieber Fan Club

Dear Mr Bieber,

You've got a big time fan down south.

Crops

Down here on Belle plantation we've never spent much time cultivating food. We don't have a lot of usable space as most of the plantation is taken up with Longleaf or Loblolly Pinetrees. Which means a LOT of pinestraw everywhere. But this year, we felt the urge to spread our wings and venture into planting. We are sticking to container planting for now, and are starting pretty basic: 2 kinds of cherry tomatoes, a cucumber, and a yellow banana pepper (strictly for me).  I can't wait!  You can see the tomatoes are looking scrumptious. The cucumber plant is WiLd with vines and flowers, and the 2 older belles eat cucumber nearly every night.  I have recently discovered just how divine cucumber sandwiches are.  I plan on making my hummus very very soon, and think that a cucumber and hummus sandwich would probably make the world go round.