Journaling-watching

I pulled the warm laundry from the dryer a few minutes ago, moved it to the dining room table to fold while I watched the kids play outside.

Katie is spinning in circles.  They are both digging for worms and giggling at each other.  Owen marching across the yard with a hoe over his shoulder off to 'fix' something.

Now they are spitting out the dirt that somehow made it into their mouths.

I had this feeling....'this will pass'.  They are growing up. Katie is almost 5 and O is 2.5 and someday soon they will both be in school (no matter what we do-homeschool, regular) and the house will have more of these moments of quiet.  And I might think, oh, this is too quiet when right now I am grateful for this one quiet moment.

They will get older and care what they are wearing....right now it is blue Jayhawk football gear, purple KSU sweatshirt with white socks and brown work boots. And for Katie is a 'cheerleading outfit' aka last years 4th of July dress with a gray sweatshirt and pink go-go shoes.  She hasn't had her ponytail redone since last night either.

Their beds aren't made-no matter how hard I try to teach them to do it before they leave their rooms, they still sit unmade.  The toys that they were playing with earlier are strewn across their rooms and have tumbled out into the living room.  A load of laundry sits in the washer, releasing a strong odor since I forgot to turn it on last night...a stack of bills/recipts need my attention...

But our kiddos are making memories and being creative.  They are healthy and joyful. They are siblings and a daughter and son to us.  They love us and we love them.

Many days I forget to cherish these moments.  But this one that I am writing about is one that will last, its imprinted in my memory.

I'm thankful that the Lord impressed upon my mind to stop and watch-just watch them being kids.  Watch them playing and enjoying the creation around them.  I am sure in a few minutes there will be some disagreement that we will have to train through but until then...I am grateful for eyes to see my kids simply being kids and enjoy this moment.

DC, part II

Notes to Self

A few things about traveling

1. Forget your tennis shoes, walk all over DC and ride the METRO in your clean, newly bought by my husband, cream colored TOMS.  Not the smartest idea I've had lately. My TOMS did hold up well.  And I successfully stretched them to fit (TOMS always stretch to fit your feet they say). Needless to say they are well broken in.  

2. Forgot to bring water on our outings.  I forgot numerous times to grab the water bottles.  And yes, I paid $5.99 for a bottle of water.  Next time-don't forget WATER!

3. Swim in an outdoor pool in April.  Hummm...was this a bright idea or not. Though the pool was heated the air temps were not.  Of course Katie loved it, but Owen and I only lasted 33 minutes.

4. Pack one more outfit then I think necessary for each kid.  Washing clothes in the sink works, but I need to be prepared an extra wee bit more-mud puddle jumping, rolling in the dust/grass....  :)

5. ALWAYS a good idea to stay close to where we are exploring.  This we did well!  The hotel was within walking distance for Justin and us.  Plus the METRO had a stop in right below the hotel-score!

Here are the rest of our photos.  As one can see from the photos we had a great time.  We'd do it again especially since we saw two great friends!

While at the Roarks (a friend we were SOOOO glad to see) playing, Katie was beyond excited to dress up in princess outfits and wear heels.  Thanks Emmaline for sharing your clothes and dolls and thanks to Hudson and Elijah for being such generous hosts with their room full of lego and dart guns and swords.  Thanks to Allison for opening your home, conversations, being real and pizza.  :)

The two littles were left at the table to finish their lunches.  Owen was mixing his applesauce in with his lemonade while having a cell phone charger around his neck. Interesting. Emmaline was fingerprinting and eating her yogurt.  Creative. :)  

The kids got to watch a Mickey's Clubhouse and were glued to it...  What else keeps five kids quiet for a few minutes? :)

Nana, this photos for you (hint-look closely at the tongue :)

Hey there....thanks again for letting us stop by, play and eat lunch!  Your company was refreshing and your home beautiful.  SOOOooo glad that Robin introduced us and our men had classes together way back when we were just couples.  We appreciate your family and all the Lord has you guys on doing-being on mission for His Kingdom.  

We had to do some funny faces at a yummy pizza place.  Thankfully we were able to grab dinner with Justin two nights in-between sessions!  :)

Q Conference venue-an amazing hall.

The kids loved walking the sidewalk 'balance beam'.  I think walking on the edges was the highlight of  our many walks.

Dancing in front of the Smithsonian Castle

A resurgence of the 80's...Eat your heart out Tina Turner.

seriously...my hair-wow.

Ka-Chow!  

I heart these two guys.  

And we loved this coffee shop called Ebenezers on Capital Hill.  They have a neat story and exceptional coffee...it was worth the walk (around the block since we got turned our with our directions :)

Owen is licking the sugar off the table from the cookie we got the kids-good boy, get all those crumbs!

DC was beautiful-azalas everywhere, tulips blooming on every corner and cherry trees blossoms flying in the wind.

And to round out our photos...a moment captured by Katie Grace.  

OOOOHHHH, and one place we absolutely loved eating was Chop't Creative Salads...it has inspired two weeks of salads for dinner...Katie has been fond of saying, "This hits my yummy spot!" 

-more on that later. :)

Our Dude

Owen, right now you love using the word, dude.  We are working on you only calling guys, dude and not girls.  :)  But I love the way your lips pucker out when you say dude.  Daddy said that he has visions of you when you are 16 ish saying, 'hey, dude!' when you see your friends.  Little one, you are growing up -thanks for all the hugs and kisses.  We LOVE you O!  

Oh and all the "I Lvu You's" you tell us...we are keeping in our hearts forever.

And Dude, your lookin' dapper!   

(Justin captured this on his phone and we cherish it!)

SImple Pleasures

Katie, was enjoying the sunshine the other day and I caught her relaxing-super sweet.  

I can remember days like this when I was younger...I probably would have been reading a Nancy Drew book, sitting up in our apple tree or laying in the hay loft in our barn...

I love these simple pleasures and am thankful Katie gets to enjoy these moments.  :)

Washington DC

Washington DC.  

It was windy, fun, filled with walking, walking, walking, jumping on air mattresses, heated pool swimming, seeing sights, catching up with friends, visiting the zoo, riding the Metro, playing in parks, smelling flowers, drinking coffee, attending a conference...

It was a blessing to be able to travel to DC with Justin!  He went to the Q conference and thoroughly enjoyed it....and we toured around seeing friends and the sights!

The kids did great in the hotel room which was just off the mall. And even though at the kids ages they couldn't understand or appreciate all of it, it was worth getting them out to explore the city and introduce them to our country.  

Enjoy our first batch of photos!

Air and Space Museum

The Wright Brothers first airplane!

I think know watching construction machines was the highlight of O's week.

We visited the National Zoo with our friends Page, Sayde and EllaKade.  Thanks SO much for spending time out and about with us. :) What a blessing your family is to us!  And it has been a neat journey to hear what God is doing in your church in DC!  

Hi Sayde!  You sure are a cutie pie!

"May I hold your hand?"

"Please?"

"I think I can grab it, I think I can, I think I can..."

Katie's thoughts on the Monkey house.

Yummmmm, FROZEN  YOGURT...Delicious!

I don't think the kids wanted to share their yogurt with me at all.  They LOVED it! :)

Page, thanks again for meeting us at the Zoo!  We are thankful for the time with you and Joey (while you were in WF) and will be praying for your work in the city.  Press on friend and keep living wide open for Jesus.  :)

Our two sweet adventurers