Hello Kindergarten.

The waiting is over.  Kindergarten has begun. 

 

As if holding on to the final hours of summer, the little lady had to be woken up for school today. The irony of having to wake our gal on the first day of school when she typically rises by 7 am was somewhat comical.  As I pulled her covers back for a second time, encouraging her to rise and shine, I felt as though I was beckoning a teenager from the darkly shaded room rather than a five-year-old.  However, once her milk cup was finished, she enthusiastically welcomed the day, threw back a few donut holes, freshened up, performed a little light household cleaning, ("I'll be down in a minute, I'm cleaning all of the disgusting blue toothpaste in the sink.") and eagerly put on her school uniform.  She was ready to face her first full day of school. 

 

After much prayer, deliberation, and multiple school visits, we have decided to send Charlotte to Charis Classical Academy.  Following the University Model, part of Charlotte's education will take place within the home, becoming a "satellite" classroom, which will allow me the unique privilege of being her teacher two mornings a week.  Thus, her starting kindergarten marks my return to the "classroom" after five fruitful years.  Not unlike our daughter, I'm motivated and enthusiastic.  Unlike our daughter, I'm slightly nervous.  I know this year with be marked by beautiful moments of growth and self-discovery, as she and I partner together.  She will carry me when I am weak, determined and headstrong.  And, I will carry her when she is vulnerable and uncertain.  Together we will weather our days together, persevering when we face the inevitable challenges that will come our way, for truth be told we are cut from the same cloth, so often our like-mindedness resulting in pride-filled spirits, our determination quickly developing into obstinacy. But, I am confident that the Lord called me to this place (after much resistance) and that He has great things in store for Charlotte and I as we embrace kindergarten together.  I honestly cannot wait for her return and to hear all about her first day.

 

 

 Because wearing a uniform demands a fancy pose.

Wait...maybe I do have a teenager after all.

 

Ready to begin her adventure.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - first library card

 

 

 





Bucket List - Madison Farmer's Market

Picking up right where we left off...

5649 Nutone

I follow you into the park,
Through the jungle, through the dark
Girl I've never loved one like you

Moats and boats and waterfalls,
Alleyways and payphone calls
I been everywhere with you

Laugh until we think we'll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you

And in the streets you run afree,
Like it's only you and me,
Geeze, you're something to see.

 

Home, let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you

 

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

 

 

Life is sweet in our new home.  Already faithful friends and family have walked through our doors, christening our home with sweet treasured gifts, memories and love.  We have spent our days unpacking, organizing, reorganizing, planning adventures, biking outdoors, grilling out, frequenting favorite restaurants,  meeting new friends, visiting friends of old, and smiling.  There's a lot of smiling.  Our hearts are full; we are grateful to be here.

 



 

It took the littles no time at all to feel comfortable in their new space.

 



Week one, the doc put his medically trained hands to work assembling LOTS of IKEA furniture.

 

How satisfying it is to unpack each box and watch our home come together.

 



Renters No More

July 22nd, movers arrived to take our many boxed belongings from Sheffield Drive to Nutone Street.  Our time in Milwaukee had come to an end. 

 

We will always look back on the seven months we spent on Sheffield Drive as a season of transition.  While blessed with a lovely rental property, and close proximity to family, the Lord was already preparing our hearts to leave, stirring within us a strong desire to establish ourselves in Fitchburg, WI, plant roots, settle down.  While we were ready to say "good-bye", we took with us many cherished memories - watching the littlest grow from an infant to bouncing babe on the go, observing the little man conquer fears, gain his footing, and grow in spirit and strength, and taking in the beauty of a little lady ready to leave the comfort of her home, experiencing a busy life on the go, and so perfectly fill her role as first born.  I will always be grateful for the many ways our extended family stepped in to help me care for our children, for the many meals we shared, gathering in the seclusion of our backyard for family fun and togetherness, and sharing our lives so openly after the eighteen months we spent in Cleveland.  For Jeff and I, the seven months brought closure, confirming the direction the Lord was taking us, growing us in our faith, and filling our hearts with great anticipation. 

 

And, as we caravanned through the neighborhood heading west, I was grateful that this move would take us only 70 miles west of our hometown, providing us many opportunities to return to the people we love. 

 



Month Eight

 

Month eight flew by as a result of packing up our family for yet another move.  In addition, month eight proved to be a significant one for the littlest as she started off the month scooting across the floors of our rental property to crawling across the shaggy rugs of our new home.  She now stands confidently against furniture, if positioned, crawls for objects beyond reach, claps joyfully, and fills our home with loud, enthusiastic outbursts as she attempts to communicate with her siblings and their booming voices.  Eating two to three meals a day, she continues to shows signs of being a vegetarian, refusing proteins, and favoring fruits.  She quickly grasped the art of picking up bite-sized pieces of food, and enjoys cramming various flavors of puffs into her mouth.  She and the little man bond over sharing puffs and baby food, he often asking to finish to her food.  She continues to be the apple of his eye, his true delight.  I pray their bond is always this tight.

 

Sweet Junebug continues to enjoy all forms of socialization, greeting new neighbors with her wide, gummy smile, though her first tooth is on its way, a process slow and sometimes painful.  Teething combined with a growth spurt has produced a solid nap schedule, allowing our littlest to nap twice a day for two hours; however, it has significantly interrupted her nighttime sleep patterns.  We recently discovered she has excellent balance, something big sister demonstrated early on resulting in her walking at the ripe age of ten months.  Perhaps we have another early walker on our hands.  Each day we see such sweet similarities in the littlest and her older siblings.  I continue to appreciate each comment or observation on her looks, which range from "she looks just like her brother" to "I see so much of Charlotte in her."  She is a beautiful blend of both.  Not a day goes by that we are not blessed by her joy-filled presence in our (new) home.  She seems pleased to no longer be a renter, but home owner.