Family Pictures

Andrea took our pictures on Sunday and I absolutely love them! Here are some of my favorites. Thank you, Andi (photog, extraordinaire & assistant Miss Kyla)...

Hip Harp Does Preschool

This girl is too cool for school. Way too cool. She walked in cool as a cucumber and basically never looked back OR said a word according to her teachers. She doesn't have to talk; she's that cool. Oh, brother. Harp here's to you starting such an adventure and to two mornings a week where I can work out in peace. I love you dear girl. You got this, smarty pants. In case you forgot, Pea's first day of preschool was way more emotional and haggard...wonder what will happen this year? Also look how huge she is now compared to then...wow.

1st Day of 1st grade

This is a big deal. It's a big deal, because she's gone for so long and the 1st graders get to have almost all the same fun as 5th graders, WHAT? It's crazy how fast time is going and I want to capture every minute. I'm back dating this post a bit and the girl is loving the first grade and since she's doing looping this year I'm really hopeful for next year too. She's gaining confidence and I love her to see her personality grow and shape. Sweet Pea this is you, 1st day of 1st grade...

Getting ready...I'm not ready...

Taylor Swift

We got the tickets as a Christmas gift so it's been a LONG time coming. Finally the day came where we would see THE Taylor Swift and I'm not the biggest fan, but I have to say she impressed me. All belles were extremely excited, but Kyla was beside herself. Full on performance mode. Also the cuteness factor was WAY over the top due to Gramma's gift of cowgirl boots for all Belles. I think Pea liked the opening acts just as much and she was SO tired by the end, but what a great memory; thanks Gramma Carolyn!!

Summer Spotlight: August

Holy WHIRLWIND. This month has brought with it MUCH change and with school starting just around the corner I can't get over how much we have done and what has all happened. To catch you up, here are some pictures with captions...

 Ty, Tim, Raeg, and Blake compete! Took 5th.

 pool time. This girl is a fish. In fact they both are.

 River adventure: Flaming Geyser State Park.

 Bed FRAME! (In other news: I'm a real adult now).

 Bike Ridin' with E.

 Adult Wild Waves Adventure. AWESOME.

 Children's Museum.

 Front Tooth: MIA. And just like that: no more baby smile. Tear.

 The Family Stone(s) came to visit!

 Birthday WOD. Could barely walk the next morn.

 Birthday Lunch with Seal and Hawk. That's spumoni.

Kyla's card. Another inspiring piece of Brooklyn house poetry...

Juxtapositions.

I don't know how else to describe it all. My Grandma Ruth who was 93 had been sick for weeks; unresponsive and not eating or taking her medication. In the middle of trips and visits, birthday fun, and back to school prep, my dad called to say it wouldn't be long before she went to be with Jesus. But she held on and so it seemed like celebrating my birthday was appropriate. Then two days before my birthday she passed away. My party was the next day and I decided to compartmentalize my life for a night and deal with the rest as best I could Sunday (my actual birthday) morning. My party was amazing and the next day I woke up, got on a plane, and headed for a piece of what I'd call home: her hometown in Illinois. My parents, brother and sister and I met that eve and started the hard process of saying goodbye. I feel I could write for days and what it's all meant. To turn 30 on the same day you're saying goodbye to a loved one felt surreal. The passage of time totally evident and frankly slapping me directly in the face. This has been a week teeming with life: my birthday, a friend's fresh start, fall coming and school starting and then just like that of saying goodbye. I don't believe in coincidences anymore and so I will find the purpose in it some time soon. I'm not sure I quite have yet, but I have to smallest inkling it has to encompass a mirror. I felt I had one held to me this week and I'm not sure exactly what I saw reflected back this week. I'll continue to process that. Just like I did with Big Red, I tried to stay in the moment, feel the grief and love and let it pass through me without stuffing it away. I can tell you it hurt. But. There were just as many laughs and memories and homemade pies, and pictures that brought back pieces of a legacy I hope to pass down. More than one person told of her famous hospitality serving meals to people on Sundays, every major holiday, at her yearly garage sales. Her hospitality is what sticks out most for me, but also the verse they used in her Eulogy: Philippians 4:4, 5. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 
It was perfect. Because it said everything I thought she was in two sentences. It's inspired me to become more hospitable even if my house and life is a wreck. I'm sure hers was more than once. To let my gentle spirit approach first without diluting it with bravado. And to rejoice in the Lord and then rejoice AGAIN because that's after all is said and done: the point.
Here are some pictures of the hard, the funny, and the good times we shared and remembered...