Remembering how to see...

I recently started reading the blog www.chattingatthesky.com and today the author wrote, "Sometimes I write because I have something to say, and other times I write because I want to remember how to see."  I thought that was so poignant and completely true of our experience from last weekend.  So here you go...

Can you imagine not remembering life without your best friend in it?  That's the story of Madelyn and Joey.  They have been best friends since they met when they were 2 1/2 years old.  I'm not talking a-friend-I-like-to-play-with, I'm talking an I-can't-live-without-her, she-helps-me-breathe kind of friendship.  Often, it seems my spirited Madelyn bends her will to no one but Joey.  Joey brings out the absolute best in her, she calms her and loves her unconditionally.  When Madelyn colors pictures or makes a bead bracelet, her first thought is to send it to Joey.  When Joey recently had girl-drama at school, she cried for Madelyn.  They give one another a peace and security that is to be honored and appreciated.



First photo I could find of them together...Madelyn's 3rd birthday



Best friends off to the first day of Kindergarten

 




Celebrating 5 years of friendship

Now on to the Marathon festivities and other photos...we had so much fun cheering on the 1/2 Marathon runners, albeit in the rain.  Then, we had the pleasure of spending the rest of the day with our visitors from Charlotte, the Dodge family after Jamie, Joey's mom, ran the race.  This family has such a special place in our hearts, in part, because of the love they have showered on Madelyn over the years, their willingness to share Joey with us and the priority they, too, place on their friendship.

Cheering in the rain.  They both wore owl shirts and skirts.

This sign was specific for Jamie, who works at being awesome

Kai made it into the Richmond Times-Dispatch with a photo very similar to this one.  The runners LOVED this sign.

Waiting for dinner at the Marriott.  I love this photo because of all the different things happening.

It's been a big day.

Joey used to be afraid of our dogs, but she's gotten over the fear.  Yay Joey!  Notice that the girls are matching again.

Hooray for Fall!

Like many of you, we have been enjoying the Fall season (my favorite) full of pumpkin-flavored treats, fall festivals, cool weather and beautifully colored trees.  We have been busy with homework, tests, lots of playing outside, and enjoying all that Richmond has to offer. Eric and I recently went to an exhibit on Revolutionary Music of the 1860s and 1960s (civil war and civil rights); it was pretty cool.  Last weekend, we all went to a Halloween party at our new friends' house where we snuggled inside sleeping bags and watched Hotel Transylvania on a big sheet-for-a-movie-screen outside.  We also went to the Fine Arts Museum for a Hollywood costumes event. 

 

Rylie started gymnastics a few weeks ago.  She has taken on and off over the past 2-3 years as we can afford it.  This time she is using birthday money and hoping for more funding at Christmas!  Gymnastics is her love!  She also started learning the violin.  They have a wonderful program at school for 4th and 5th graders where all we have to do is supply the instrument and they get free lessons and prepare for a few performances.  Just this week, she earned her yellow belt (similar to marital arts, they earn belts as they gain knowledge and experience).  Similar to when Phoebe teaches Joey the guitar, but won't actually let him touch the guitar (on Friends), Rylie is only authorized right now to pluck the strings, she can't use her bow.  I think that changes with the yellow belt designation.  She is struggling with test-taking, please keep her in your prayers regarding that.  She seems to do fine on homework and classwork, but freezes on tests even though we have studied together and she feels prepared.  I am trying to schedule an appointment with the school counselor next week to see if she can help.  I have a LOT of teacher friends, so if any of you have any advice, send me an email.

Madelyn started soccer classes, too--another school-based program.  So far, she says they just learn to kick the ball every week.  She is really looking forward to a few weeks from now where her BFF, Joey, comes from Charlotte for the weekend and we get to cheer on Joey's mommy and our friend Jill during the Richmond Marathon!

Kai's Halloween Extravaganza Parade!

Superman is ready to protect his buddies from their crazed fans

Enjoying the pumpkin pickin'

In the Pumpkin Patch Labyrinth

Now let's go fill those buckets with chocolate for mommy!

I was going to add a cute video of Kai's class singing this adorable Halloween song, but my tech skills aren't awesome and the video link is so slow that I want to throw the computer right now.  Therefore, to preserve the computer and to allow myself  few minutes to eat candy before picking Kai up from preschool, I am going to PUBLISH!
 

First days of school and Happy 5th Birthday, Kai!

September started out full of activity and excitement as Rylie started 5th grade (top grade in elementary school) and Madelyn started 2nd grade. 

We had a bit of a shocker walking into Rylie's classroom seeing that she had no friends from last year in her class.  It really hit her hard since she was new last year and was just making headway in establishing friendships when the school year ended.  By God's grace, her principal came into their classroom on the first day and noticed she wasn't looking too excited about the first day.  Upon asking her what was wrong, he volunteered to move her to another class.  By the end of the week, she changed teachers and was back with some friends.  We were so grateful that he was so perceptive and took action to help get her beyond that obstacle so she could start the new year well.  Now, if we could just get that girl to write her homework down and stay organized...

Madelyn is doing great.  I helped in her class yesterday and it was fun getting to know the students.  She spent the first week of school in her splint, but we were cleared to take it off three weeks after the fracture.  She's totally back to normal.  Hooray!  Please no more jumping off swings, girl!  We also had a follow up appointment to a surgery she had in May to remove a benign cyst from her cheek (pylomatricoma) and everything is healing beautifully.  The work was done by a plastic surgeon and he cut an inch diameter circle of skin, deep into her skin and then did a facelift stitch to close.  I didn't realize this at the time (a good thing or I would have been super stressed), but because the cut was so big, he checks her for muscle movement and facial symmetry (do the muscles still work right and did the skin stretch like it was supposed to).  Here I was concerned about the scar*.  Guess that's why they get paid the big bucks!  As I was uploading pictures for this blog post, I was struck by how beautiful my little girl is and was so thankful that I didn't even KNOW to be anxious about this aspect of the surgery. [*which she calls her "chicken wing" for some reason]

One week after the girls started school, my Kai started pre-school (9am-12pm everyday); he leapt out of the car on the first day and hasn't slowed down since.  Because he was so excited, I didn't even cry.  I cry at everything, so this was quite a surprise!  He loves telling me about his classroom rules and is militant about making sure I check his communication folder everyday ("Mommy, you HAVE to check it every day and every night.") 

I am so happy to see them all meeting new friends, enjoying their teachers and loving learning!

Just after school started, Jan and Leon came for a visit.  We were able to sneak in a last trip to the beach and celebrate Kai's 5th birthday while they were here.  On his actual birthday, I took cupcakes to class and we went to the Children's Museum in the evening for more cupcakes!  Don't even get me started on the fact that my baby is 5!

First day of 5th grade

First day of 2nd grade (taken after school because she was in a grumpy mood in the morning)

First day of pre-school

Enjoying his Batman cake!

He loves his new baseball mitt, Uncle Brian and Aunt Sandi!

Now, I'm ready for school!

This Batcave is awesome, Mam-ma Louise!  Plus, we needed more bad guys so now we have Mr. Freeze.

Again, loves the mitt

A favorite beach activity: sandcastles with Boppa



I love this picture!

He relished being the star of the show for his birthday celebration at school



The prince and his subjects

Dance party after cupcakes

Rylie and her friend Ana

Happy Birthday, Kai, with your weird chicken/baseball face paint!

Adventures in the Flyover States

2000 miles, 7 states, 16 days, and 1 wrist fracture...mission accomplished!  The kids and I had a great time on our 2-week Midwest vacation; thanks again to all our loved ones who hosted us and played with us!  Here are a few photo highlights: 


We are started with a visit to the American Girl store in Columbus, OH



Then, on to a weekend at one of my favorite places, Lake Tippecanoe in N. Indiana.  In this picture, Rylie is tubing for her first time.




This is the life!



Captain Dave and his first mate, Aunt Francine



Having fun on the boat with Emmy, Gannon and Jenny (Rylie was out tubing again when this picture was taken; she was much more into it than Madelyn)



We took a train ride from Chesterton, IN to Chicago for the day.  Spent the day with longtime friend, Emily McBean (Parrott), and her girls at Shedd Aquarium.  We loved the Aquatic Show with views of Lake Michigan and the Beluga whale.



I haven't seen Parrott in years!  I have missed this girl!



Twins...snuggling in bed together



Playing Putt-Putt with Emmy.  I didn't get any photos of our afternoon at the beach on Lake Michigan (5 mins. from Emmy and Matt's house), but it was so beautiful with the clear, cool water and sand dunes!



Ice cream makes everything better, courtesy of Matt's parents Carolyn and Rick!  Madelyn fractured her wrist jumping off a park swing.  Here she is with her new splint and Rylie's sympathy bandage.  The splint has since come off and she's healed!



We met another longtime wonderful friend, Emily Zang-Bodis (Greenberg), and her daughter in St. Joseph, MI

Em and Claire
We went on the carousel, played at the playground on the beach and toured St. Joseph's little amusement park museum.  Unfortunately, it poured down rain and our trip was cut short.



Sporty Kai and Aunt Susan playing basketball (trashcans as goals).
After a week in Northern Indiana/Chicago/Michigan, we spent the next week in 'home sweet home' Anderson.



Me on the Euro Bungee!




Alyssa and Rylie on the zipline.  Fun, but a little scary!



It's a bird!  It's a plane!  It's my awesome sister Kari!



Fun day of bouncy houses, bungee, bull riding, zipline, and LOTS of ice cream and snow cones!



While we were in line for the adventures, she was a regular at the ice cream and snow cone stands!



Happy 80th Birthday to my sweet Momma!  We threw a party for her full of family and friends.



We've missed you all!  Madelyn with Leah and Crystal.



Rylie playing with Aria



Brother and sister



Mom and her grandchildren (not shown: Erik, Cori, Gunner, Kaiden)



My sissies



My sissies and cousins

Because our family of girls is becoming more diverse (boys!) there was a backyard baseball game going on during mom's party.  Thanks to Matt, Jeff, Brandon and Chris for taking over my job of pitching to Kai!!  Here's Matt and Madelyn...playing baseball in a dress just like the All American Girls Professional Baseball League!




Mom with her girls.  We love you, Mom! 

During our time in Anderson, I also got to have a great child-free dinner with my high school friend Julie.  We all enjoyed ice cream at Frazier's, picniced at Shadyside, had dinner with Leah and saw her new apartment, played at the pool with Aunt Susan, and just relaxed with mom at home.  On our way back to Richmond, we spent the night with my friend, Tiffany, and her family in Cincinnati. Thanks to her kids, Beyblade wars are on at the Titler house now!  We ended our two week long adventure with lots of rain and the blessing of a full rainbow leading us home in the VA mountains!  We are so grateful for the time we were able to spend with all our loved ones; we miss you already!