Benjamin's First Swim

Welcome to the pool Benjamin!

 Benjamin has been going to the pool with us all summer, but he normally spends his time in two places:  my lap with his toes in the water or in his stroller.  Now that he he is officially 6 months, it was time to introduce him to Pool Fun!

His cousin Evelyn showed him the ropes.

Anna-Kate, of course, was where his eyes went most of the time! 

That's right world!  Here I am!

She still says, "I don't want to go deeps, Mom."  (Translation:  I don't want to go under water.)  But she loves the pool and hasn't gotten scarred when she has accidentally fallen in a time or two.  

She wanted Benjamin to have all the toys...sweet for Benjamin, not as great for the other friends at the pool today!

Lunch time!

Anna-Kate makes me laugh when she sets herself up as queen of the pool in her lounge chair and shades!  

Benjamin decided he was done with the pool and slept through lunch  (translation:  He fussed, pretty much begging to go home, but with the older sibling's timing finally collapsed in his stroller.  Lucky for me and his sister, he is still pretty flexible in the mornings with his naps.  The afternoon nap remains sacred.  I think his flexibility is almost over, though.)   

Anna-Kate's Opinion

At supper last night...
AK pointing at me, "You're the Grumpy Old Troll!"
Will:  "Who am I?"'
AK:  "You are Spiderman!

A couple weeks ago as I pulled down the ceiling attic stairs, AK said quite upset, "No!  You're not strong; Daddy is strong!"

What is Will telling AK when I am not around?!


PS.  "Grumpy Old Troll" is a grumpy and old troll on Dora.

Feed the Hunger

Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done it unto me...

The focus on missions in my church is one of my favorite parts!  Every February we have a Missions Festival.  This past February our missions pastor challenged the church to partner with the group Feed the Hunger and raise enough money that weekend for 150,000 meals.  The church raised enough money for 300,000 meals!!  This past week people volunteered to help pack the food (rice, dehydrated vegetables, a soy protein and vitamins).  In 4 sessions, the church packed 302,400 meals (to be sent to Kenya)!

Will and I had a stressful week with his job.  Saturday morning as we sealed each bag of food, we talked about how perfectly timed this pack-a-thon was.  It was so great to be a part of something that gave us perspective.  

The pack-a-thon also flooded me with memories of Malawi, a country where hunger is a big problem.  James, the handsome boy above, is a child I met during my second trip to Malawi.  His family's story is common to that area.  I remember holding him one day, just mad that I didn't know how to fix his problem.  I couldn't fix my husband's stress at work, and I couldn't fix the hunger of Malawi or even the hunger of this one boy.  

Hold unswervingly to the hope you profess for He who promised is faithful!

God is faithful!   Through stressful weeks, happy moments, disappointing seasons, God is FAITHFUL!

Just one more sweet picture to pull at your heart strings!  (Daisy a sweet girl in a Hispanic church-start I worked with in college)

And to end on a fun note....

 becca, barefoot, on a mountain in Malawi in Africa, 2002

My mom may not have appreciated barefoot on a mountain in Africa, common sense may tell me not to do it again, but pride says, "That's me!  I did it!"

Smitten

Have you ever met such a smile-y boy?! 

I am 100% smitten!

All about Natalie

In honor of Natalie's mom's birthday...

look at this big girl!

 This grin says, 

"Oh yeah, I am a big girl sitting with Anna-Kate eating my snack!"

 Guys, how do you choose only one?!

Two favorite things to do:  cook in the kitchen

and do inventory on all the books

"No, Mrs. becca, I am reading them!"

Look at me!  I did this by myself!

From your friends here at the Simmons's,

Happy Birthday Mrs. Meredith!

Wacky Thursday

Can you tell what's wacky in this picture?

She did it herself and was so proud!

Practicing

Mom says I can't be big enough to be practicing to sit on my own, but I am!

A Squinkies Parade

Look Mama!  My squinkies are on parade with me!  Take our picture!

Now take a picture of my doggie!

The Normal and the Rare

The Normal

Will and I like to keep a neat home.  We both don't like clutter.  We admit it.  I even have this weird quirk that I don't love that things of different types/genres touch when stored.  This makes linen closets pretty stressful to me...I need help, I know.  

With that said, it is still true that this is what my noon looks like!  Books that Natalie wants to read, baby toys spread out, Anna-Kate's toys that she has hoarded on the love seat and coffee table, lunch cup on coffee table, 2 babies bathed and 3/4 dressed, 1 toddler still not bathed in swimsuit, ...  

The Rare
Will and I both have admitted that for the last little bit (okay, maybe more than a little bit...), we have been not the best version of ourselves.  I blame not enough sleep, admitting that I have given in to the whiny-ness that accompanies tired where I am concerned.
BUT
Will and I both have said we are ready to be better people.  That sounds dramatic, doesn't it?!  We are at least going to be less whiny and more patient!  In honor of that decision, we were very intentional about having a nice family night on Friday night.  And, it was one of those super rare nights that worked out just the way you wanted it to!

 dancing in the living room

 learning all about a fruit that looks funny

but tastes yummy!

I leave myself with the challenge of creating more fun, intentional family nights.  More importantly, I leave myself with the challenge of also being that patient, intentional mom/wife/person amid the normal!

at 5 months old...

...this raspberry-blowing little man has finally, consistently been sleeping until after 5am for 2 weeks now! 

But, the big smile is because last night I skipped the dream feed, and he slept from 7:15 - 6:40!!!

Yeah, that's right, we are smiling today!

So, Benjamin, I am counting on past 5 am; we will see if after 6:30 continues.

Then and Now

I don't know if I will ever be able to resist Then and Now with AK and MK...

October 2009 (5 and 7 Months)

 December 2010 (19 and 21 months)

 July 2012 (3 years old!)

I need a picture frame

Look Who's Playing Now

 After posting that Benjamin hadn't rolled back to tummy yet, he immediately proved to me he could!  

That's right guys; she's talking about me!  

A pause in play to check out what big sis is doing.  Love this one!

Alright mom, what are you going to challenge me to do next?!

For the Aunts

Today in honor of 

Aunt Amanda's birthday!

I am posting some pictures from around here that made me think of all the aunts!  So, Aunt Amanda, Ashley, Bonnie, and Heather, here's to you!

Aunt Amanda, I l-o-v-e movie nights!  

Aunt Heather, you know it was a princess choice and you know I needed to wear a pretty necklace!  Aunt Bonnie, mom says you can help me with accessorizing correctly too!

Aunt Bonnie and Aunt Heather, how do I talk Momma into buying this ring for me?  Yes, I like your senses of style and I neeeeeeed this ring!  Or, maybe you want to go shopping with me....

Aunt Ashley, you see this?  Mom says these colors are "so you."  But, don't you think they are so me too?

Fellow chocoholics, there is a new member in this club!  I won't out those aunts, but let's just say the chocolate can abound, and this newest member would be quite happy joining in on the fun...

 ......the proof is on her face!

 Aunt Ashley, this one is for you!  Why do we love these toes so much!  (not mine, the sweet little ones!)

Happy Birthday Aunt Amanda!  And, to all the aunts, we love you!