I have had the most wonderful birthday weekend! We started it all of by Robert taking off half the day on Friday to take me to P.F.Chang's for lunch. As soon as I returned home from school, he had us all prepared for a physical outing that he and the kids were in on - Rock Wall Climbing at Tumblebees! We had a blast! Both of the kids are super adventurous and zoomed up the walls. We learned how to belay each other and tie the ropes. It was a really cool experience and I am so greatful for the time that thought that went in to planning it.
We then headed straight to Green Valley for a dinner with lots of friends. We took homemade peach ice cream - yum. Towards the end of dinner, I saw Robert hustling away with Landry. Robert and the kids returned with a delicious chocolate cake reading "Happy Birthday Mom" with pink and yellow flowers. So very kind.
Saturday morning we had breakfast with Grandma and Uncle Eddie. We then headed to Haight Orchards to pick yummy apples. We were off to the pool where Uncle Eddie met us for tennis and swimming.
Sunday was a great day at church as we continue to figure out a new schedule with the 1st Graders. We then spent the afternoon at home reading and playing games. That night we had a date to Bravo, Fresh Market for dessert (Delicious was closed) and then to see The Butler - excellent.
Labor Day Monday was postly comprised of louging around the pool and family tennis.
Which finally brig
Monday, January 6, 2014
City Meet 2013 unfinished
Of course this happened before our blog but this blog would not be complete without highlighting one of the best parts of our summer.
Green Valley Park has an awesome swim team under Coach Scot Budde. You two both always practice so hard. Brooks was seeded top 3 in all 5 8&Under events during the whole season. You have to be top 3 to secure your spot in the Final days at City Meet. A swimmer may only swim 3 individual events so it is possible to be eligible to fill one of those 3 top spots once the top swimmers make their selections for their own events. You were seeded 3rd in the whole city for 25 Back so that sort of put it in all of our minds that it was possible you would be on the podium. During the morning preliminary season, you must finish top 20 to advance to the evening session. If you finish top 10, you automatically advance to the Championship Heat that night. You shaved major time in all of your events while at City Meet. You were seeded high in the whole city in your other individual events but based on your times, what you like and your seed, we decided which 3 to swim.
Brooks swam
Green Valley Park has an awesome swim team under Coach Scot Budde. You two both always practice so hard. Brooks was seeded top 3 in all 5 8&Under events during the whole season. You have to be top 3 to secure your spot in the Final days at City Meet. A swimmer may only swim 3 individual events so it is possible to be eligible to fill one of those 3 top spots once the top swimmers make their selections for their own events. You were seeded 3rd in the whole city for 25 Back so that sort of put it in all of our minds that it was possible you would be on the podium. During the morning preliminary season, you must finish top 20 to advance to the evening session. If you finish top 10, you automatically advance to the Championship Heat that night. You shaved major time in all of your events while at City Meet. You were seeded high in the whole city in your other individual events but based on your times, what you like and your seed, we decided which 3 to swim.
Brooks swam
Brooks' Birthday Letter
My Dearest Brooks,
Of course your birthday letter must be in Carolina Panthers colors. I love you so much. Words are not adequate to explain my love for you. You are all of my dreams embodied in a 9 year old boy. You are loving, generous, loyal, tender hearted, bold, adventurous, encouraging, exciting, self confident, snugly, helpful, respectful, smart, funny, athletic, coachable, hard working and the most wonderful boy I have ever known.
I am so very grateful that the Lord has seen fit to allow me the honor of being your mom. Thank you for still snuggling me, kissing and hugging me no matter who is around, speaking works of thankfulness to me, praying for me, loving your Landry, working hard, making me feel like I am the special one and desiring time with me. You haven't pulled away from me at all and yet your are totally capable of being your own person. I love watching you grow and imagining the amazing man God will make you if you will simply follow His way. Be wise and bold enough to follow God's desires for you. Oh, what an adventure it will be for you if you will.
I adore watching you and Landry laughing, getting too wound up and running circles through our home. This is such a happy and loving place. I am so very thankful that you two enjoy each other. Landry looks up to you far more than you will probably ever understand except to say that it is a lot like how you view Daddy.
Daddy is a conversation all its own...You two were truly made for each other. You guys are like the two best friends ever and yet there is an awe and adoration in your eyes for him and an tenderness and adoration in Daddy's eyes for you. What a blessing you are to him. You make your awesome dad even more amazing.
Brooks, I appreciate your forgiveness and the way you challenge me to be the woman God created me to be. I continue to grow in God's Word and in His strength to be the mom you need. I am holding on to these days with deep joy as you sleep beside me on a winter's morning or run to me at afternoon pick up from school. I hang on to these days of hearing every detail of your day and your hopes for what a school year will hold, what a football season can be and a what a 20 second race in a pool mean to you as a young man.
And a young man is what you are becoming. How? I am not quite sure where over 3,200 days have gone. Where did they go sweet boy? They have gone into the deepest, most cherished, precious parts of my memory. As we prepared your poster for you to be "Celebrity of the Week" at school this week, I am so vividly reminded of all the days we have shared. I wish they were as crisp as the moment they happened. It all gets so mixed together and I am so thankful I am on my 4th camera in your lifetime because of all the pictures I have taken. But, I know this, yours has been a like full of laughter and love. Our days have been filled with each other and our family being together. What a gift to all of us! Changing your diaper, dressing you, feeding you, putting on your shoes and coats, opening your car door, buckling your seat belt for you, holding your hand in a parking lot, hugging good bye around the seats of our car in the morning school drop off, "roughing you up" after points scored or an amazing swimming race, numerous fist bumps when we are celebrating an awesome grade or achievement, holding you in my lap while reading (oh the hours we have spent that way - priceless), sitting across from you at the dinner table all these years, scratching your back at the end of the day, brushing your teeth, seeing you emerge from your room in your black blanket known as "Pharaoh Robe"... these have been the best moments of my whole like because they were with you. With you my love. We were together. Looking in each other's eyes. Touching each other. Knowing that we were both loved, safe, wanted.
Of course your birthday letter must be in Carolina Panthers colors. I love you so much. Words are not adequate to explain my love for you. You are all of my dreams embodied in a 9 year old boy. You are loving, generous, loyal, tender hearted, bold, adventurous, encouraging, exciting, self confident, snugly, helpful, respectful, smart, funny, athletic, coachable, hard working and the most wonderful boy I have ever known.
I am so very grateful that the Lord has seen fit to allow me the honor of being your mom. Thank you for still snuggling me, kissing and hugging me no matter who is around, speaking works of thankfulness to me, praying for me, loving your Landry, working hard, making me feel like I am the special one and desiring time with me. You haven't pulled away from me at all and yet your are totally capable of being your own person. I love watching you grow and imagining the amazing man God will make you if you will simply follow His way. Be wise and bold enough to follow God's desires for you. Oh, what an adventure it will be for you if you will.
I adore watching you and Landry laughing, getting too wound up and running circles through our home. This is such a happy and loving place. I am so very thankful that you two enjoy each other. Landry looks up to you far more than you will probably ever understand except to say that it is a lot like how you view Daddy.
Daddy is a conversation all its own...You two were truly made for each other. You guys are like the two best friends ever and yet there is an awe and adoration in your eyes for him and an tenderness and adoration in Daddy's eyes for you. What a blessing you are to him. You make your awesome dad even more amazing.
Brooks, I appreciate your forgiveness and the way you challenge me to be the woman God created me to be. I continue to grow in God's Word and in His strength to be the mom you need. I am holding on to these days with deep joy as you sleep beside me on a winter's morning or run to me at afternoon pick up from school. I hang on to these days of hearing every detail of your day and your hopes for what a school year will hold, what a football season can be and a what a 20 second race in a pool mean to you as a young man.
And a young man is what you are becoming. How? I am not quite sure where over 3,200 days have gone. Where did they go sweet boy? They have gone into the deepest, most cherished, precious parts of my memory. As we prepared your poster for you to be "Celebrity of the Week" at school this week, I am so vividly reminded of all the days we have shared. I wish they were as crisp as the moment they happened. It all gets so mixed together and I am so thankful I am on my 4th camera in your lifetime because of all the pictures I have taken. But, I know this, yours has been a like full of laughter and love. Our days have been filled with each other and our family being together. What a gift to all of us! Changing your diaper, dressing you, feeding you, putting on your shoes and coats, opening your car door, buckling your seat belt for you, holding your hand in a parking lot, hugging good bye around the seats of our car in the morning school drop off, "roughing you up" after points scored or an amazing swimming race, numerous fist bumps when we are celebrating an awesome grade or achievement, holding you in my lap while reading (oh the hours we have spent that way - priceless), sitting across from you at the dinner table all these years, scratching your back at the end of the day, brushing your teeth, seeing you emerge from your room in your black blanket known as "Pharaoh Robe"... these have been the best moments of my whole like because they were with you. With you my love. We were together. Looking in each other's eyes. Touching each other. Knowing that we were both loved, safe, wanted.
Brooks' Birthday Letter continued
And during all of those wonderful times, God was right there with us. He has been gifting us this time together your whole life and guiding us. He has never left us.
In my mind your are a 5 year old boy and Landry a 3 year old girl. It is as though my mind is incapable of understanding how much you have grown. I wish I could keep you this way forever. And yet, I am excited and amazed by our days ahead. Your days ahead Brooks are shaped by the perfect parent, your Father God. What a blessing that you know Him! I wish I could hold onto these days forever but I trust in the one who holds your days and that He will be the one you cling to more than anyone else.
May this be your best year yet. You are "the love of my life", "my favorite", "I am keeping you", "I lub you", "my fella boy", my "hubba" and my dreams realized.
I love you with every bit of my soul. God is so good that on December 22, 2004, when we didn't even know if you were a boy or a girl, and then didn't even know your name, He gave us all that we could imagine or ask for in His perfect goodness as He always does Brooks. May you know Him more.
With All My Love,
Mommy
In my mind your are a 5 year old boy and Landry a 3 year old girl. It is as though my mind is incapable of understanding how much you have grown. I wish I could keep you this way forever. And yet, I am excited and amazed by our days ahead. Your days ahead Brooks are shaped by the perfect parent, your Father God. What a blessing that you know Him! I wish I could hold onto these days forever but I trust in the one who holds your days and that He will be the one you cling to more than anyone else.
May this be your best year yet. You are "the love of my life", "my favorite", "I am keeping you", "I lub you", "my fella boy", my "hubba" and my dreams realized.
I love you with every bit of my soul. God is so good that on December 22, 2004, when we didn't even know if you were a boy or a girl, and then didn't even know your name, He gave us all that we could imagine or ask for in His perfect goodness as He always does Brooks. May you know Him more.
With All My Love,
Mommy
Mommy's Christmas Present 2013
Christmas 2013
Christmas was wonderful! The way that Christmas Day fell during your break made the 2 weeks feels so long in the most wonderful way. We enjoyed sleeping really late, lots of time with friends and with family and of course celebrating Brooks turning 9! The years really do fly.
Landry was very into American Girl and received a wardrobe and horse for her doll Caroline.
Brooks is in a transition year as he moved from toys to apparel. He received a football board game, Carolina Panthers gear and a Nike hoodie and Elite socks.
The highlight, truly, each year that we all agree on is spending time each evening around our Jesse Tree. We learn so much about our Lord and grow closer as a family during this time. Landry loved it so much she wants it to continue. While family devotions have always been a part of our lives, we are going to be more intentional about spending time in the evenings reading our Bibles and discussing life applications on a more regular basis.
I am so very thankful for the family God has so perfectly given me.
Landry was very into American Girl and received a wardrobe and horse for her doll Caroline.
Brooks is in a transition year as he moved from toys to apparel. He received a football board game, Carolina Panthers gear and a Nike hoodie and Elite socks.
The highlight, truly, each year that we all agree on is spending time each evening around our Jesse Tree. We learn so much about our Lord and grow closer as a family during this time. Landry loved it so much she wants it to continue. While family devotions have always been a part of our lives, we are going to be more intentional about spending time in the evenings reading our Bibles and discussing life applications on a more regular basis.
I am so very thankful for the family God has so perfectly given me.
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