After Christmas, we went to a beach condo for some much needed R&R. Selah June loves staying at “beach hotels,” and this was no exception. Though the weather has been crappy — lots of fog and rain, we’ve had a great time visiting with Grandma and Madison and learning about shared family history using Ancestry. Jeremy and I are definitely kissing cousins, and Linda and Mom have had a lot of fun tracing all the branches back to Pennsylvania, looking at draft cards, the census, school yearbooks, and immigration papers. There is definitely a singing bent running through the men in Jeremy’s line. And Jeremy is the spitting image of his grandfather.

Selah June has played with Christmas toys, gone swimming multiple times, and watched movies before and after nap time. It’s been pj and coffee weather, and I’m not complaining.

This marked the first Thanksgiving in Mom and Dad’s house since the remodel. It was really really beautifully decorated. Mom outdid herself.

Somebody photobombed my picture…

The kids uncovered the dress-up clothes, and they all came downstairs at once full of giggles. We made sure to capture this one for the memory books. Liam found a Mexican vest that was perfect for him. Winston turned into Martha Washington. Satie was just beautiful. Sebastian was their puppy. Jules was some kind of orphan on the prairie. And SJ was a ballerina with a super long train that made her Elsa. It was right up against nap time, so sweet Elsa soon turned into Bridezilla when her train wouldn’t stay straight flowing behind her as she walked.

The night before I had to leave for CCAS in Chicago, I realized I had left my computer cord at school. Bummer. So I accepted my fate and let Jeremy know I needed to run up to the office for a second. SJ wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity for an adventure, so she ran to her room to “get herself ready.” She came out looking like a 1980s aerobics instructor with water shoes and a baby.

Stylin’….

She ate soooooo much chocolate while we were up there that she made herself sick.

SJ is really into pretend play. She comes up with elaborate schemes involving evil witches and Ursula, good witches and princesses, lots of babies and little sisters, and usually making potions or cooking. She uses her Calico Critters houses, her dollhouse stairs, her ice cream truck… really anything that can serve as a backdrop to the drama.

Daddy was gone one evening, and we decided to video one of her stories. This one involved Barbie being very frustrated at Minnie Mouse because she wasn’t available at the cash register to take her order. Barbie kind of lost her cool and it all degenerated into a cat fight. Police were called to the scene. It was a nightmare.

November 12, 2018

Satie and Sebastian were staying with Grammy and Grandpa because their parents were out of town. So SJ and I spent the day with them as well so that she could have a playdate. They are growing up so fast…

We went as a family to the Pensacola Arts Festival. Giotta was dancing with her troupe in the kids section of the festival. She’s really really good, and SJ enjoyed watching her and the other girls – especially given her privileged seat in the audience.

SJ also LOVED the kid craft section. She painted rocks, made a magic wand, made sand art, decorated crowns… It was the perfect arts festival experience as far as she was concerned. I can’t say that I saw much of the adult section of the arts festival, but I can say that we did our best to socialized SJ to appreciation of the arts as a maker and enthusiast.

We were a bit behind with our wellness visit. We weren’t in town around SJ’s birthday, and then I had a conference. But finally, in November, we made it to see Dr. Jen. It’s hard to believe it’s been 4 years. I remember taking a tiny little baby into the same examination room and feeling so helpless having to lay her on the countertop for shots.

Now she is such a big girl. She knows exactly what to do to measure height and weight. She had an eye exam and an ear exam. She doesn’t scream anymore when Dr. Jen checks her out. What I didn’t know (or just didn’t expect) was that this visit marked the last of her vaccinations until she’s 11. We weren’t expecting shots. It broke my heart to see her have such a great visit with the doctor only to have to hold her down and comfort her through shots. And the site on her little leg where she had two together became horribly swollen, red, and hot. It freaked all of us out. Dr. Jen said it was totally normal – especially with the last booster. But it was scary nonetheless. It’s been weeks since our visit, and the location is still discolored.

No more of that for a while!!! Jen’s pregnant. We’ll see how she likes torturing her own baby…. 😉

Of course the visit was right during regular nap time. We went straight home, and she crashed out. I thank God for her every day.

Selah June wanted to dress as Wonder Woman for Halloween this year. We went all out on the costume and the shoes. She even found a cuff from my jewelry box that she wanted to wear. But the night of Halloween, she decided her costume was too itchy. With quite a bit of drama, we made a quick change of course and found a princess costume in the closet that seemed the right look for the evening.

Jeremy coordinated a cousin pizza party at the house just before venturing out in River Gardens to hit up all the old people for premium candy. The kids were a hoot. Satie was Moana. Sebastian was Minecraft. Liam was a hot dog. They scarfed down pizza and stopped just long enough for me to snag a photo before running off into the road towards oncoming traffic. Aaron and Grandpa did a great job trying to get them to form a line, but all rules went flying out the window as soon as they headed through the yard of the first house.

They made it down the street toward Scenic Highway and then back up to the “spooky house” before pooping out. The one with the most whining was actually Liam. We labeled him the “Whiny Weiner.” At one point, Winston just laid right down in the yard.

They had a tremendous time, and we are so blessed to live in the same place. I am grateful beyond words for the connection these kids have with each other.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Selah June and I had a wonderful lazy sunday making crafts out of felt and popsicle sticks. We made a bed, a table, and a quilt/rug. She told me that she was using her “creative processes” and was feeling “inspired.” I know she’s picking this up from the YouTube videos she’s watching. At least now she’s into crafting and coloring videos. And I can tell that it’s really helping her improve as an artist! It’s wild! I can’t believe that watching someone color within the lines actually can translate into greater precision for the viewer as well. It’s wild!

It fit perfectly in the felt house she made a few weeks ago with Grammy.

And after two fall festivals and two corn mazes, we managed to bring in three pumpkins from the patch. Selah June wanted to draw a face on her pumpkin. It was very detailed. Jeremy asked what she used as a guide. I told him that was all her. She even gave the pumpkin eyelashes and nostrils!

I absolutely love that SJ likes to do art projects and crafts. She’s a girl after my own heart.

Our other project for the morning was coloring on hot rocks with crayons. The wax melts and makes beautiful pools over the rocks.

j

Saturday, October 20, 2018

We had a lovely time out at Holland Farm. It was still super hot, but Selah June and I found a nice cross breeze sitting in the corn pit. It was definitely outlet favorite spot. She showed Emma how to make corn angels. And she eventually got both of us in the corn pit with her.