Choked Up...

Today was the girls' final baseball game and awards day, with their Orange Crush team placing 4th. It was a proud moment when the coach announced that the team's Christian Character Award was going to...Evelyn Blackman. :)

Walking on Sunshine

I went to a songwriting seminar once that used "Walking on Sunshine" as an example of a fantastic, poetic song lyric (by Katrina & the Waves. I would NOT have gotten that right on a game show.) We instinctively understand what "walking on sunshine" would feel like as an emotion. Of course the idea of creative, metaphoric songwriting can be turned on it's head--let's just say it like it is: "I'm Happy." Catchy music counts. 

These pictures are from a couple of Saturdays ago when Alan and I split the girls and had a little one-on-one time. 

Evelyn and I hiked in nearby Herring Run Park. It was a ridiculously beautiful day.

And this is my ridiculously beautiful daughter looking particularly lovely in the pretty shirt her ridiculously sweet sister bought for her. :)

We were walking on sunshine...happy!

Growth Spurt.

Tonight Evelyn finished her own dinner as well as Alan's and Amelia's, had second helpings of pasta, a large salad and a smoothie for dessert.

When I kissed her goodnight she asked me what was going to be for dinner tomorrow. :)

Normal Day

I go through cycles of recording each day's events on the calendar. Often I miss a bunch of days then go back and try to remember what we did. In reviewing March 10th, I guess I had a memory lapse and simply called it a normal day. Evelyn then added her own thoughts and highlighting. She also added detail to March 17th, when we took down the Christmas cards while listening to the girls' favorite Christmas CD--a collection of holiday songs performed by the barks and meows of dogs & cats. (CD compliments of Mom Bisset several years ago. She knows we're trying to raise music snobs here.)

 So what DOES happen here on normal days? Well, it might mean having a friend for a play date, dressing up in costume and putting on an original play.

 It could involve riding in the car. Upside down, apparently.

Maybe a fort will be made in the basement--a dormitory--and it will be so cold that cloaks must be worn. The residents will drink tea that is "head to toe warmers."

Lots of Harry Potter will be read aloud.

Smoothies will be made and drunk, and sometimes a smiley face will be found at the bottom of a glass. Always a good omen.

A day would not be normal around here without some form of silliness.

Maybe that's why "normal day" elicited a "ha ha!"

Remembering Someone's B-Day

Last month, on May 16th, Amelia turned 8. She was pretty excited about it. :)

Our tradition is to get up on the birthday morning and open any cards or packages that have come in the mail as well as the cards and gifts from our immediate family. Great Aunt Betty always sends something (which never ceases to amaze me!), and it always includes a gift to share with the sister of the b-day girl. Brilliant. She always refers to Hobbits, who GIVE gifts on their birthdays. (Good ol' Tolkien.) Here is Amelia with one of the tubes of creatures Aunt Betty sent, along with a vintage card.

Grandma & Grandpa Blackman always send something, too. And this year, knowing a shopping spree was in the works, they sent a hit with the Old Navy gift card. (The story of spending it is really fun--next post!) Thank you, Grandma!! (And Aunt Becky, who also brought an Old Navy card later in the week!!)

Evelyn picked out these big-eyed stuffed animals--all the rage in our house right now.

After opening gifts, we always walk to Dunkin' Donuts. It might have been raining, but spirits were high.

Nothing dampens the spirits of two girls who are going to get donuts for breakfast.

We got some for Daddy, too.

Then we got in the car and drove to upstate NY, where the girls were slated to rehearse their roles in my cousin Savannah's wedding to her now-husband, Mel. SO sweet of Savannah to include our girls in her big day. Turns out it meant it was a big day for ALL of us!

Because they were about the prettiest things I'd ever seen. I could hardly stand it. I can still hardly stand it just looking at this photo! I think I'm going to burst.

So look at those lovely girls--8 and 9 years old respectively. How we love you!! Happy belated birthday, Amelia. You bring companionship, humor, silliness, tenacity, and thoughtfulness to our lives!