ten years....

Yesterday our sweet Caroline turned 10!!  Double digits, baby!  I guess that makes this blog officially a decade old, too!

We planned a fun overnight shopping spree in Richmond for our gal who wanted clothes.  

BUT, as life likes to do, our plans were thwarted suddenly when we noticed another skin staph infection developing on my leg (just inches away from the one I battled 2 months ago and landed in the ER...what in the world).

So what was SUPPOSED to be our fun birthday overnight was spent in the Urgent Care...

(That's how I'm blogging.  I'm in pain on the couch waiting to get in to see my doctor today...)

Thankfully I was able to pull it together to get to a few stores and Caroline got some cute stuff.  

Just not at all how we all wanted to celebrate 10.

But since I've got a little time, I'll give a super quick update....

Caroline's LOVING her new public school.  She's got a group of diverse friends, her grades are great, she's in almost every club and activity they offer... show choir, math club, jump rope club, gifted & talented program, she's got a major role in their big play this Spring, you name it.  She's also started on violin and if I could just get the girl to practice more often, she has SO much talent for it.

Now I am FAR from a crafty person, but she and I came up with this art project together with $3 canvases and a $1 bag of dried beans. 

Jameson is growing like crazy in every way.  He's taking swim lessons at the Y, going to pre-school every day to get ready for kindergarten next year, and is in love with everything that involves fighting and battles... Star Wars, Kung Fu Panda, and most recently Black Panther.

Jameson & his friend DJ

He BEGGED us to use his own money to get a Black Panther costume. 

Marc surprised him by taking him to see Black Panther on opening day.  He wore his full costume and people in the theater were all snapping pictures with him!  

My basement apartment Airbnb has been killing it.  Booked almost solid.

And I've been loving it so much that I've now got 2 clients who want my services to help me set up and manage their own Airbnb spaces!  Dream job.

Marc is doing great.  Back to work after Christmas break and rolling along this semester teaching Romans in RUF.  He's taking students to an inner city mission trip in Chattanooga, TN, in just a couple weeks. 

 Students over for the Super Bowl!

I know my recent blogs have been rather raw and ambiguously depressing.  There's no doubt we've endured our fair share of suffering in the past 6 months. But it's finally beginning to feel like we're coming through on the other side, and for that I am SO grateful.  We'll still wear the scars, but at least there is healing ahead.

the big things...

I feel like I'm working on "big things" right now-- rehabbing the River House, working to be a catalyst for a multiethnic church plant downtown, starting a "Be the Bridge to Racial Unity" discussion group, performing across the city with our band-- "big things" that change our city and our world.

I'm so passionate about the things I'm doing in the city, and I love what I'm doing.  More on that another time.

But there's really only TWO "big things" in my life.

Her.

And him.

 So here's what's big around here...

first day of preschool

My baby boy has now started preschool!

We were going to begin next fall, but the preschool we chose thought it best that Jameson started getting used to the routine of school now with a month left to go in the school year.

first day!

And he is just eating it UP.  He LOVES his school.  In the first few days, he's already made two friends that he talks about all the time.  I can tell he is being so stimulated educationally, and it's exciting to see him grow and mature into this phase of life.  The preschool director told me he's so pleasant and super smart.
But as you know, preschool is exhausting work.

Especially when you've got to get home to have lightsaber battles.

I love these two!

Caroline is having an amazing school year in 3rd grade.  She continues to be at the top of her class academically though we've now entered the point of girl drama with a few friends.  I guess that's just part of the growing process.

She's doing an after-school math club once a week, gymnastics once a week, and playing outside in the yard with neighborhood kids almost every other waking minute.  This is my social BUTTERFLY.

She just lost her 16th tooth. (she's counting)

And can you believe, the Tooth Fairy forgot to come the night she placed her tooth out and wrote a letter!  (#parenthoodfailure)

The next evening, Caroline came up to me, "Mom, I'm just gonna put this in your room so you won't forget again."

(hahahaha!)

*SO* happy the recorders came home

 Another parenthood milestone was the day the school sent home the recorder last week and my ears went ouch!

But y'all know my Caroline.  She's an excellent musician.

So thankfully, it didn't take too long before all the ear-piercing shrieks turned into controlled, decipherable notes.

Whew.

her first persuasive essay

And you know what? I'm not the only one thinking about "big things."

When other classmates were writing persuasive essays about "why we should have a class pet" or "why we should get an ice cream party," my sweet girl decided to write "Why We Should Help the Homeless."

I could not be a more proud mama.

I'll update you all on all the other stuff going on, but wanted you all to know about the truly BIG things in our life.

8 is great...

"Mom, this was the BEST birthday EVER," she told me at the end of the day.

It started with a lunch visit at school.  We LOVE this girl.

Aaand it was ice cream day!

After school, we took Caroline and her best friend, Lizzie, to the children's museum in town and the girls had a blast playing.

Afterwards, we came home for dinner, cake, and presents!

Sweet Lizzie got Caroline the perfect gift, "Best Friends" necklaces!  They proudly wore them to school the next day.

I could not have hand-picked a sweeter friend for my daughter.  Thank you, God.

And the present she'd been hoping for and had NO idea she'd get.... Samantha, the American Girl Doll.  She was SHOCKED and so, so happy. (if you can't tell from her smile...)

We kept the actual birthday simple because we had plans to party hard with our South Carolina family this weekend, but I became sick and was dizzy and vomiting late Thursday night, canceling our trip.  We were so bummed, but we will get down there as soon as we can and make up for it! 

But even a seemingly simple day with a friend was MAGICAL for my Caroline.  I love how grateful she is and how easy it is to make her day.

Happy birthday, sweet Caroline!  

We hope 8 is great for you!

see ya outside...

The weather is finally warming up and there's nothing better after school for my two than having a park and community center teeming with kids right across the street.

Jameson's first time in the big kid swing

Caroline's new trick

smorgasbord...

I came across some random pictures on my phone from the past few months!

Our little two-year old Jameson is now exploding with language!  Sooo maybe it's not all that clear to the average hearer, but for a guy who began with ear infections and speech delays, we are thrilled.  He's attempting to repeat almost every phrase he hears you say.

And being able to clearly communicate with him just makes us fall in love with him all the more.

 Caroline is our imaginative seven year old gal!

She made a circus in her room last Saturday.

 And at the very first sign of spring weather, she and her brother put on their swimsuits and made a "pool" to enjoy in her room.

 We have a season pass to the children's museum 

(a 10 minute WALK from our house!) 

and during the winter months, 

it's been a fun after-school activity 

for Caroline and Jameson to play and explore.

In the music studio, 

Jameson likes to take to the electric drums.

And Caroline's all about dat bass.  ha ha

 And out of all the amazing exhibits there,

it's funny that the two of them spend a good portion of time

playing together with these little "excavators,"

as they call them.

Jameson's obsessed with excavators.

Car rides are now just an excuse 

for the kids to search for them.

Construction is exciting stuff around here, folks.

Caroline is LOVING 1st grade and is doing really well in it.  Her handwriting is beautiful, and I'm impressed with all she's coming home learning each day.

 Awwww, look at the love birds.

Almost 17 years of marriage to this guy.

And I still like him.  ;)

 How about the REAL chicks that came to preschool playgroup at our community center last week??  How cool is THAT?!

Yeah, Jameson thought so, too.

 How about the time when he fell in love with the remote controlled R2D2 in the store?

Which was quickly followed by a 

screaming meltdown when we had to leave...

 Cute little pic from the playground across the street.

 Oh!  How about the time I was struggling to carry groceries up to my front door and accidentally dropped a gallon of milk?

Aren't you eager to see that picture?

 I may or may not have cried over spilled milk that day...

You know, there's alot to mourn in life these days.  But these two (as crazy as they make our life sometimes) are a reminder that in many ways, we are living some of our best days right now.  

the cold never bothered me anyway...

Okay, when Caroline said she wanted a FROZEN birthday, this isn't quite what I envisioned... 

But even with eight inches of snow on the ground and no school all week, it didn't keep us from having a fun celebration at home with friends on her actual day.  One of our guests brought the PARTY with glow sticks!!!  So this (above) is what it looked like with the lights ON...

But THIS was the scene with the lights OUT and the party music blaring!

Woohoo!

Over the weekend, the official Frozen birthday celebration was with all our South Carolina cousins!  I love how God has grown our family over the years.

Make a wish, Caroline!

All the cameras rolling.  

Thankful Papa could be with us.

Cousins eating cake.

This little guy... soooo cute.

After cake and presents, Jameson thought Uncle Larry needed his hair brushed.

Cousins Julius and Jameson.  Such a sweet little pair.

Since many of Caroline's birthday presents this year were clothes for her new American girl doll, the gals decided to give the family a fashion show with all of Caroline's new looks.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the fashion show.

Jasmine's doll, Kit, with her first look.

Maddie's doll, Julie, with her first look.

Caroline's doll, also named Caroline, with her beach look.  (I'm dreaming of warmer days right now!...)

How're we doing, guys?  Enjoying the show?  Jameson looks concerned.

Backstage the girls quickly changed into their next looks.

And their third...

Then the boys wanted to model their looks for us.

Julius.  What a stud.

Jameson.  Toddler model.

Malik.  With the hat turned sideways.

And then, the final fashion show looks...

Along with a grand finale of singing Frozen's "Let it Go."

Except that throughout the song, two of the girls dropped out leaving Maddie to belt out the ending all by herself.  (Something tells me she didn't mind.)  :)

Happy FROZEN seventh birthday, sweet Caroline!  

We love you!!!