And So Begins...

 ...the multiple vacation posts. This blog is primarily a scrapbook of sorts for our family so please forgive me if I give too much information and show a whole passel of very similar pictures but we may want the details in retrospect. :-)

A couple of weekends ago we went to Estes Park for our first family vacation in almost four years. To say that we had looked forward to it was an understatement! We took off Thursday afternoon with the goal of the kids' nap time taking up at least a few hours of travel time. It worked!

 

 

 They were really good little travelers and thanks to books, toys, treats and some "Tangled" on the dvd player we made good time.

 

 

Rest stop #1

 

 

 Court's First Driving Lesson. He is a BIG fan of driving.

We stayed at Ravenscrest, a Christian Bible School where Shannon attended and our cabin was fabulous (with one small negative of not having any hot water, but we managed). Beautiful view from our balcony, separate room for the kids (awesome!) and a very convenient location. 

Luca tried out both the top and the bottom bunk, sometimes in the same night.

The elk outside our door each morning:

The vacation fun can commence! 

Twice the Fun

At the end of each Titus Tuesday Bible Study year there is a week full of various activities to choose from as kind of a kick-off to summer, this year I was ambitious and signed us up for two.

Outing #1- Tour of Memorial Stadium

 

It’s true that this activity was primarily for me however Luca did enjoy watching football with us last season and was very excited when I told her we would get to run on the football field and maybe even see some players.  (Perhaps our plan to subliminally raise a football fan has worked? Ex:  Luca, Halloween 2008)

One of the biggest hits for the wee ones was the floor to ceiling water feature in the Osborne Athletic Complex lobby (according to rumor, T.O. thought said water feature was too flashy). Court was enamored.

 

The Strength & Conditioning Center revamped by Suh  (Luca was helping Court look at the camera).

 

The Tunnel Walk

 

Court’s First Touchdown

Excessive Celebration

 

Too Bright for Luca (She reproached me for forgetting her sunglasses…)

 

The Trophies (Luca, Madison & Court)

 

Outing #2- Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

 

This time I remembered her sunglasses.

 

We had ten Mommies, seven kiddos and six babies along for the trip- what fun! Luca and Miya were joined at the hip and had the added bonus of sweet Ainsley giving piggy-back rides.

 

In the Jungle: Luca swinging on the vines

Outside the Desert Dome

 

Inside the Desert Dome

 

 

 In the Aquarium (where my camera battery died) Court was in heaven. His particular favorites were the jellyfish and the reef, complete with noisy surf.

 

 Luca's favorite animals were the puma which was pacing, yowling and sharpening his claws on a tree trunk while we were there as well as the polar bear and giraffes. There were five little ones lined up next to the puma's cage who were emulating the yowl perfectly, may have confused the cat. I would say that the giraffes were my favorite of the day, there was a 2month old, and watching the dynamic between the baby and Daddy giraffe was really sweet.

The Garden

The warmer, earlier-than-usual weather had me out and planting our vegetable garden much sooner than is recommended by experts but I figured that even if a frost punished my impatience, I’d only be out a few seed packets. Happily, that wasn’t the case. We have a flourishing garden that’s already starting to yield yummy-ness!

 

Joe built me this garden box last spring (the bunnies here are terrors) and it has earned a special place in my heart for not only guarding against the four-legged destroyers but also the short, two-legged kind.

 

Summer squash already!

 

The potatoes (all along the fence) have already begun blooming so I’m hoping to get 3 crops this season…

 

And we have our favorite tomatoes, Early Girl and Sweet 100 as well as two new varieties to try, Purple Cherokee and Lemon Boy (which I bought purely because they're purple and yellow, respectively) with Luca's zinnias scattered between.

 

We’ve had some drainage issues behind the garage so Joe dug a trench and built a mini retaining wall using leftover rocks from around the yard. His hope is to save the garage from rotting, my hope is to cultivate a pretty moss garden. With maybe a fairy door in the side of that tree and some miniature ferns…Joe’s so excited.

 Aren't baby broccoli the cutest things ever?

 I'm also attempting asparagus…really hoping it doesn’t take the full 3 years to have some for dinner! It's been surprising to me how much I enjoy gardening, and the flavor of fresh from the ground veggies just can't be beat!

Our Little Cubbie

Luca completed her first year as an Awana Cubbie a couple of weeks ago. She did a wonderful job of memorizing her verses and often was the one to remind me that we needed to "do her book and learn her verse" before the week got too far along. She loved her teachers Mr. Jake and Ms. Elizabeth and of course, her buddies were there so what a fun way to spend Wednesday nights!

Award Night:

The all-important Cubbie Cookie award:

Partners in Crime:

May 16

Today is my Dad’s birthday.

Eleven years in heaven, not enough years on earth.

Grief is an inscrutable thing, some days it’s hidden, some days it catches your breath and adds a new gash when your guard is down. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about emotions. Mainly because I have a little girl who overflows with them but also because I still, after so long, hate that my Daddy is gone. Pastor Gil has been preaching on creation and I have been snagged on the concept of “in His image He created them, male and female He created them”. If we are created in the image of God, then doesn’t it make sense that the capacity for emotion is in some measure also in Him? I find this thought comforting, the idea that feelings, are not failings in and of themselves, that only in my reaction to those feelings, can there be fault. I’m not a theologian and there may be error here but when I read Matt. 26:38-39: “Then He said to them, My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed saying “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will but as You will.”” I wonder that I haven’t noticed these things before. I hear a lot about the compassion of Christ, His joy, the “happy” emotions but in Hebrews 4:15 it does say “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” So it would seem that Christ experienced even the strongest of emotions. Back to Matthew-  “Grieved to the point of death” sounds like dread to me, “Falling on your face” feels like dismay, “If it is possible let this pass” sounds like a deep loathing for the path before Him. If Christ experienced emotions such as these and yet was completely holy, completely perfect then doesn’t it stand to reason that being rid of feelings like this isn’t the goal, being holy in spite of them, is? I am imperfect, I am still learning to turn these over to Him, learning to leave my burdens, learning to have the godly reaction of “not my will but Yours” be my first reaction. Sometimes I am frustrated that I can’t shut down the emotions that threaten to crumble my resolve, but I’m beginning to believe that I will never be free of them this side of eternity.  I will most likely always resent the word “cancer”. I will probably never see a tender Daddy-Daughter moment without my throat tightening with longing. Every “big” event and a great many “little” ones will always make me miss my Dad just a little bit more. I don’t understand why. BUT, I do trust Him. And I’m so grateful that He is compassionate, and for the end of that chapter in Hebrews: “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need”.    

Stats

Court Robert Reinhard

1yr and 19days

29 1/2 inches tall

22lbs. 14oz.

10 teeth (including two molars, ouch!)

Brown hair that is quickly sun-bleaching towards blonde
 Coffee-colored eyes
 Award winning eyebrows
 Pinch-able chunky baby thighs
Elfin ears
 Skin that even with bouts of eczema looks to be tan-perfect thanks to Daddy.  

Loves: his Blanket- oh how he loves his blanket, music, dirt, snuggling and Mommy (heart)

Hates: having his diaper changed, being told "no" (really!)

Favorite Foods: eggs, pasta, Trader Joe fruit bars, bread, corn, bananas, fruits, sweet potato fries, anything sweet (he got Mommy's sweet tooth)

Will-Only-Eat-If-Sneaked-Into-Something-Else-Foods: meat, green beans, cheese,

Sounds: Ba, Ga, Da, Ma, Wa, Ya, Boo, Ooh, and I think he says "Mum" for Mommy. Of course there are also lots of whines and cries of varying degrees, he is human after all.

Fine Motor Skills:

Large Motor Skills:

Favorite Toys: trucks (especially ones that make noise, although he can provide the universal "spitting-vrooming" vehicle noise if needed), blocks (for knocking down of course), keyboard (and anything else that makes music), Luca's cooking set (pots, pans and spatulas make excellent noisemakers), phones and generally anything else that he shouldn't be playing with.

New Skills: Putting objects in and out of containers, the shape sorter, puzzle, etc., lining up toys into rows, walking behind the stroller, getting to a standing position without holding onto anything, climbing stairs (not good at going down yet).

Cute Court Things: Nodding slowly and soberly in answer to any question. Doing the "cool guy" lift of his chin in acknowledgment/greeting, Long inward sniffs that he is so fully invested in his nose crinkles shut and his lips curl up. A true baby giggle. The speedster crawl and happy cackle when Daddy gets home. Hiding both hands under his tummy and snuggling into my chest or lap (especially if his blanket is there too. His stand-up-all-over-bed-head-mohawk hair.

He is a joy

One Year Old

This little boy turned one year old on April 14th

We (I) decided to do a themed party for Court based on the book Circus Caps For Sale mainly because I love the illustrations with their muted colors and because Court looks adorable in a newsboy cap. However, when I brought the book, and it's predecessor Caps For Sale home from the library, Luca really enjoyed them and as a result was a big help with choosing the decorations.

Of course the day of the party turned out to be a little (ahem) windy so I didn't do up the serving table like I had planned but we had our picnic area and drink station just as I envisioned. The best thing about the decor was that when I sat Court down on the blankets he put his hands together and started "ooooh"-ing and "ahhhh"-ing at everything. Made me so happy! Then he promptly began trying to pull the pennant banner down....

Luca and Naomi

Luca picked out the lion drinks for the kids (red for girls, orange for boys) and my Mom's trunk and the small green one from Joe's Grandma made great tables. (And I scored the smaller tub at Goodwill for $1!)

The adorable newsboy cap and the adorable little boy who thinks caps are for throwing:

 

 The adorable big sister who knows how to pose for a picture and keep a cap on,

 Food & Guests

 Eating his hotdog and 3 bean salad

 Sweet Isla Rae

 I garnered cake inspiration from Pinterest copying the pennant banner and spray painting cheap plastic animals gold. Then with a ziploc baggie, some melting chocolate and lot of experimentation I managed to get Court's name and some fun squiggles for toppers. I love the way they came out. Kind of a Classy/Vintage Circus.

 

  

Due to dropping temperatures and the aforementioned wind, we moved the party inside for cake. 

 

 Court likes cake. A lot. We finally had to take it away from him, he just kept stuffing handful after handful into his cheeks. As it turns out I didn't quite stop him soon enough because as soon as I had him wiped down, he threw up. Clean clothes and a cup of water set him to rights and he was ready to finish out the party and open his presents. Lots of noise-making, boyish presents. He was in heaven.

 A Circus Party completed! (And did you notice the happy absence of clowns? Excepting Luca, Isaiah, Miya, Cole, Noah and a few un-named Daddies of course.)