Growing Up, or The Babysat Babysits the Babysitter's Babies (and Gets Married!)

Every few pages, I pause and hope for silence. The little voices in this dark tent have been seriously debating critical choices for over an hour now. Should we go down that abandoned mine shaft? Or not? Now, after a long, fun day with my little buddies I'm ready to leave the world of children and return to the adults. As a teen whose parents' friends all have younger kids, I find myself straddling these two worlds often.

Now, after waiting a few moments to make sure their sleep is sound, I tiptoe over sleeping bags and do my best to silence the obnoxiously loud tent zipper. The river rushes nearby and I successfully escape to the nearby cabin where the Clark parents, whom we’re vacationing with, and my parents, are playing cards.

My teen years, like most people’s, weren’t always the best of times, but I get nostalgic for those summer nights in the tent and cabin. The Clark kids—Sarah, Peter, Becky and Daniel—who made many memories with us at my Grandpa’s river cabin are all grown up now.

The youngest, Sarah, the one I call Little Fred, just graduated from high school. Are those little hands that could barely help make the solar system mural on the back fence during my self-run summer camp, really off to Gonzaga this fall?

Peter, or Pedro -- a nickname I gave him because he always wanted to help with my Spanish homework -- is now a junior at SPU, my alma mater, and a Peer Advisor, just like I was.

Becky, who loved the Pocahontas sound track and candy salad just graduated from Pepperdine and married a Brian of her own!

And I can still see the eldest, Daniel, trying out his favorite Power Ranger moves, a show he made me watch more times than I'd like to admit. Now he lives on his own with his new puppy and works as a bartender and server. I guess it shouldn't surprise me so much...He is 24.

But this summer I have been surprised by how much they all have grown up as I've attended a graduation party, a shower and a wedding. On a couple of occasions these kids also babysat my kids. It all brought so many memories flooding back.

Clark kids, you all have a very special place in my heart. I sure wish we could find that time capsule we buried at Grandpa's cabin. I bet it would bring back even more memories....

In Which My Family Creates Their Own Dance Party in the Playroom

In Which My Family Creates Their Own Dance Party at Becky's Wedding

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday (or maybe Saturday if I didn't have time to get to it) ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to find and see.

Our Little Walker

Word of the Week: Why?

Why: (adverb) 1. for what reason, cause or purpose? 2. a one word question asked incessantly by a toddler with seemingly no cause and decreasing sense of true curiosity, often habitual and whined.

Mama!

Maggie, I am writing a blog post.

Why?

Because I like to blog. I need to finish this one up. Then we can play.

Why?

Well, because it is now Friday and I haven't had time to post the Word of the Week.

Why?

Because I've had to go back to school a lot this week and I've had less time.

Why?

Because it is almost time for school to start.

Why?

That is just what happens in September.

Why?

I don't know.  Legislation.

Why?

*pulls own hair*

Why?

*develops eye twitch*

Why?

*small traces of smoke come out ears*

"A Blue Spider Called Jellyfish"

This summer Magnolia reached the artistic/developmental milestone of trying to represent objects with her drawings, not just making lines and circles. She'll draw, for example, a person with a circle (head) and four long lines, two out of the bottom (legs) and one on either side (arms) and then tell you their name and sometimes have you title/label it. We're not planning on making her into the next Marla Olmstead, but it is pretty fun to see this next stage develop. Below are some of our favorite chalk drawings from this summer.

Fish for Penguins!

Yesterday, at the seafood counter, Magnolia told me, "They have fish for penguins!"

"Yes, Maggie, penguins eat fish. We're going to have some fish for dinner tonight too."


As we strolled a little farther along I was brought out of my deep thoughts about what to make for dinner by her exclamation, "They have more fish for penguins! One, two, three! Three fish for penguins!"


The penguins at the zoo eat whole, unfileted fish, so these must be for them.


"Mags, do you think penguins come to the store very often?"

With the utmost confidence: "Yeah."

So, next time you are in your local grocery, don't be alarmed when you see a penguin in the seafood aisle.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo (or maybe two) - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you are inspired to do the same, leave a link to your moment in the comments for all to find and see.

Words of the Week: Yebraz and Yooz

Yebraz: (noun) horselike African mammals having a characteristic pattern of black or dark-brown stripes on a whitish background.

Yooz: (noun) a parklike area in which live animals are kept in cages or large enclosures for public exhibition.

Mama, I want to see the yebraz at the yooz.