Celebrating 75 years of southern folk

My parents were here for our birthday week. They came to help with Levi and to tend the kids while Braden took me on a birthday trip to Florida. The kids warmed themselves over 75 waxy candles that only slightly ruined Dad's pecan pie. We still ate it because it's not like pecans grow on trees. Actually they do, but they don't grow on my trees, making them a hot commodity. I insisted that we have all 75 candles represented and burning. That's a lot of years and a lot of life experience and the least we can do is be honest about it to honor all that time. 

What I'm really appreciating about my Dad at this season of his life is that he's still improving. In fact, I'd say I've seen more change in him over the last 2 or 3 years than in my lifetime. He's allowed himself to soften, to be humble, to be more flexible and gentle. 75 year old Dad is my favorite Dad of all. He just keeps getting better. I feel that I can still see the gospel working in his life-even though he's known it all his life-he's preached it, read it, studied it, given powerful talks about it- the power of the gospel, the atonement, the ability to keep changing/growing/improving, is actively working in his life. I've loved watching that process in him, and I'm grateful for that example. 

My Mom is the poster girl of gratitude. You could put her in the bleakest of circumstances and she'd find something to be grateful for. She would count herself truly blessed. And she wouldn't just say that- she would feel it and believe it and there would never be a word of complaint. I know, I watched her live through some heavy challenges and that's just what she did. 

I don't love their southern food but I do love their southern souls, and I'm so grateful for their grit.

                                                                                                      

Destin(ed) for a fantastic birthday

Braden did this super cool thing where he arranged to take me to Florida for my birthday weekend. Because the beach is always very healing to my soul but the salt water is also very healing to my postpartum body. Plus super cheap airfare. So it just made sense. And because if Braden doesn't get time away with me he gets little bits of grumpy. Because I never forget to be a mom but I sometimes forget to be a wife.  Stepping out of the trenches of motherhood helps me remember that. My parents agreed to watch the kids. Even though it was their birthdays too. Because I guess that's what parents do- make sacrifices to make their kids happy-no matter how old they are. 

Over the last three weeks, Levi and I have discovered that we have a lot in common: we both like to eat in the middle of the night, we both like to sleep in my bed, and we both have longish fingers. However, on this trip we discovered an unfortunate difference. While I derive great joy out of sitting on the sand, listening to the roar of the ocean, it makes him cry. And after Levi's been crying for a while, it makes me want to cry. I'm not going to say he ruined the trip- because it was still totally a good trip. But he did put a little damper in it. To make up for it, he slept through the night on my birthday! Way to be aware buckaroo. I'm fairly certain that was a result of having cried his face off the whole day before, but still. I obviously couldn't sleep because MILK, but, I did get to sit on the balcony and enjoy an absolutely incredible view of the ocean. 

We had a cool experience while Braden was tracking down the best burger in the area (seriously-he does research). We sat in a bar chatting with our waitress who asked us if we were Mormon-this after she learned that Levi was number six. She told us that she was raised in the church but is inactive and is also dating a guy with the same story. She mentioned that they had discussed going back together. I told her how happy the gospel makes us and said that it was so nice to have a solid foundation. She said that's exactly what her life has lacked- a foundation. As we were tipping her (really well) and paying our bill, I remembered that I had a Book of Mormon in my purse. I had gotten behind in the ward reading challenge when I had Levi and had brought it to catch up while lounging on the beach. I decided that she was probably the real reason I had the thought to bring it. I said to Braden that I wanted to highlight a passage so she had something to draw her in. He suggested 3 Nephi. I was turning to get there when the clear thought came into my mind : "No. 2 Nephi 9". Just as I was about to say this to Braden, he said, "Actually, how about 2 Nephi 9". I highlighted it, wrote my testimony and phone number in the front, and haven't heard from her since. But it was a powerful witness to me of the power of the Holy Ghost to do God's work. 

Loved seeing the ocean, digging for shells, shopping, and eating with Braden. We didn't get to swim as much as we wanted. We didn't get to nap on the beach as much as I wanted. But time away is time away and the beach is always my happy place. And not doing any dishes. But seriously, dishes are the worst. It was an expensive way to get out of doing them for a few days but sometimes you just gotta.

Thanks to Braden for making #34 count.  

The beginnings of his great big body smiles

If every morning started with a walk on the beach at sunrise would I ever lose my patience with the kids? Probably not. I would very likely be the kindest mother in all the world with perfectly folded laundry and timely nutritious meals. Unfortunately for them it doesn't look like we will ever find out. 

I could look at this view alllllllll day. All things that make my heart gooey- beach, baby, Braden.

Fun dinner with the Williams and the Divineys

Accessorizing.....

....I'd say they're nailing it. 

If I could just get them to return my "heel highs" as Elise calls them, these pictures would be even more entertaining to me. 

However we start the day, at some point, costumes happen. Daily for Elise and Emmett, sometimes the big girls get involved. They always look to my closet for reinforcements when their actual costumes lack the flair or options they desire. One day I'll miss it. Today, I want my stuff back. 

When Elise gets herself dressed for the day, it seems that she makes an effort to include all the colors and all the patterns and all the seasons-which is so nice because I've really made an effort to teach her inclusivity. With humans. I didn't realize the spillover it would have in matters of wardrobe. Sometimes, when her outfit gives me a headache, I tell her to go change one thing she's wearing to a solid color because she doesn't match. She always asks in an exasperated voice, "Why do I have to match"? I've come to see that I'm holding her back. I've decided lately that she doesn't have to match. I shall liberate her from that restraint (for the most part) and allow her soul to embrace the rainbow of options she so loves to display in her ensembles. I think the rule is that if you have perfect ringlets in your hair that occur spontaneously and are not even marred by clumps of yogurt or streaks of chalk, you are allowed to wear whatever the heck you want to wear. It's a cruel world for the rest of us. 

I'm looking forward to a future day, maybe 30 years from now, when I go to her house for a visit. I will quietly slink into her closet and in a matter of minutes all her accessories will be furiously utilized. Whirlwind of scarfs, shoes everywhere, tank tops and bracelets for days, hair bows without end, lip gloss like you would not believe, and hats galore. And then I will leave, throwing a shoe under the bed and one earring in the trash and her favorite beanie behind the dryer on my way out. 

I'll just have to be sure to pick her a bunch of her own flowers from her garden and bring her a platter of really random food items afterward. That's how she gets me. 

As for Emmett, let it be known that I made him a Batman cape and bought him Batman slippers. The idea was that these items would replace the dresses and tutus. It hasn't. That boy can maintain a steady full blown run in high heels. He has spent hours in every dress we have. But if you take his favorite purse, expect to have a quick punch to the face or a car thrown at your nose. It's a weird world he has to live in, and bless his heart, he's really doing his best to make sense of it. Perhaps Levi will offer some balance to our estrogen heavy playroom. 

The truth is, they spend their days playing together, pretending to be family. There are worse things. But if I have to clean out one more purse that has 5 items from every room in the house, I might just really actually lose my mind forever and ever. 

It might find good company with our stapler and our can opener, which I'm sure are in someones purse under someones bed, buried under a heap of granola bar wrappers. 

I'm trying here, folks. I really am. 

In the mean time, enjoy some fashion inspiration:

Emmett loves to wear "gobbles". Unfortunately, they ironically hinder his visual abilities and walls come at him faster than he calculated. Being the terrific Mom I am, I made sure to document the moment before wiping up the blood. 

Emmett loves these church shoes. He loves shoes in general but has a special place in his heart for these loafers. As soon as he wakes up and he gets his underwear on, he insists on wearing these. He can be found most mornings enjoying a bowl of cereal in his underwear and loafers. He does however hate bow ties as of late. I am fighting this phase because they are adorable and he has a vast collection of them and I'll be darned if I'm not going to photograph him in at least half of them. So the other morning before church I literally spent 20 minutes trying to talk him into a bow tie. Then it turned a little forceful and it ended in a wrestling match. Which he won, I'm only mildly embarrassed to admit. As he sat on my lap in sacrament meeting, a man stepped to the podium who was wearing, as luck would have it, a very nice bow tie. Emmett sat and looked at him for a minute. Then his hands went to his neck where he felt absently for his own bow tie. He literally burst into tears because he wasn't wearing a bow tie. I think if I wasn't sitting in clear view of the bishop I might have at least pulled his hair. 

My favorite child is two weeks old today

I know that seems hasty, and probably even wrong. But listen:

-he takes several long naps throughout the day

-never argues/disobeys/talks back

-eats what I prepared for him, when I give it to him, and finishes all his food

-has poop that doesn't smell like poop

-has hair that doesn't need to be braided

I mean, it can't be helped. The others have the same opportunities, they're just not taking them.

Do you know what's more magical than having a brand new, fresh baby snuggling on your shoulder? 

Not a dang thing.

 The trick is waiting your turn to get him. He's pretty popular and his available hours are pretty limited. Lucky for me, I get him most of his waking time. Unlucky for me I'm stifling tears through most of it. BUT- he's just so sweet. He has such a sweet and patient disposition. His aforementioned qualities have won him the chance to sleep in my bed. In fact, he has sort of taken over my bed during the day, and he crashes on the couch in our room at night. I know the habit of sleeping all day on your parents couch will eventually be frowned upon, but for right now it's working for him. 

We are all so smitten by him. It's no wonder that he is already sick. Too much germy love. Out of the hundreds of kisses he's received in the last two weeks, a few of them were bound to be contaminated. 

I am so in love with this little guy. And so very grateful he is here and part of us.

Emmett came in and announced that he needed to take a picture of baby brother. As soon as he held the camera up to his eye, Levi broke out into a grin. It's the beginning of a great brotherly bond.

Maisey reading him a good night story. Obviously he had heard that one before.

Lila waiting for him to wake up

He is such a finger sucker. Any finger, all the fingers. It's really entertaining to me. He also does what I call "the face show". If you watch him for a minute he makes his face do all the funny things. It's like he's trying his face on and trying to get it on straight. He uses all his muscles in succession and comes up with a wide variety of expressions. And this is why my bathrooms smell like the city dump. Because I sit and watch him suck his fingers and do the face show and dress him up in different outfits and then show everyone in the house how adorable he is. And I am happy.

*Should you decide to drop by (but please don't), I recommend squatting instead of sitting. Or better yet, there are Clorox wipes under the sink. Feel free to do some wiping up. I would but, I don't want to be late for the face show.