Dancing with Pepere

Owen loved having Pepere here for a days. Pepere never knew when Owen might crawl in between his feet, give (or throw) a car to him, bring him a book to read, share the iPod, go looking for him if he wasnt in the same room, pretend he was a monster and hide from him, or as in the pictures stand on his feet and dance with him. Owen had so much fun the last couple days, and I sure enjoyed having someone else entertain him. When Owen woke up this morning he went looking for Pepere but then I reminded him he was at Auntie Nettes. He said "No, Auntie Christine's) because that's where we have visited him a couple times. Owen will be happy to see him again Sunday morning before he heads back to Connecticut. He will miss him as we all will, it was great to have him visit.

iPad with Pepere

Owen was teaching Pepere the iPad today. I enjoy having someone else entertain Owen I should be accomplishing more but such is life. My favorite picture is the one where Owen is looking up at Pepere smiling because they had just finished a task in one of his math games and Owen thought that was fantastic.

Planting with Pepere

Our garden is underway. We had some seeds that needed to be started inside so the kids asked Pepere to help. The kids did all the work while Pepere gave advice here and there. They all enjoyed it and now we just hope to eat fresh veggies this summer.

Green Eggs and Ham

Yesterday at school they served green eggs and ham for breakfast. I didn't let my kids but it because one I didn't want to get them there that early and two it was a Friday during Lent. I promised them I'd make them for breakfast today. Secretly I was hoping they'd forget, but they didn't and so we had them. Green eggs look super unappetizing to me but they all enjoyed breakfast and Beau said it was more appropriate to have them today because today is really Dr. Seuss's birthday. It's fun to do different things with the kids and make memories that will last.

Beau At the Beach

Beau tends to do his own thing. He plays in the waves, he hunts shells, he sits and reads, and he explores his surroundings. He is fun to watch but he is usually far away so I tend to not get as many pictures of him.

However, when I snapped the above picture I knew immediately it would be one of my all time favorites. He's missing several teeth, his hair is too long, his jeans were too short, but it's just Beau the way he is every day doing whatever it is that catches his attention at the moment not caring what the rest of the world thinks.

He is his own person, and I couldn't wish more for him.

His smile shows how happy he is taking a break from everyday life at the beach.

 Climbing a tree, smiling at me.

Going higher than last year.

Stopping to see where his siblings are.

Not afraid of what's above or what's below.

Enjoying the moment.

 Swimming...

It's cold, but he doesn't notice.

He has no pool toys but he has his brother and sister.

He can swim the length of the pool, he can be the shark when dad's not there.

   He stops to play with Owen.

I don't have to be in the pool, I can sit on the side and watch.

I'd jump in if necessary but it's nice to be able to be warm and just observe.

 At Fort Pickens, a fort built in the 1800's, one of the kids probably knows the exact date. Beau paused for just a moment so I could grab a shot of him. They were running and hiding from eachother and me, I think we all had a great time in the short visit we had there.

Broken

This Lent I have been reading daily meditations, the theme this week is temptations. I'm realizing my biggest temptation is to keep my status quo. If I'm down stay down, I'll eventually get over it, if I'm happy,great go with it, but not put a lot of effort into adjusting or improving wherever I am.

While on vacation, enjoying the ocean I love to collect seashells. While doing that I have noticed how many broken shells there are. While the broken pieces are still beautiful I only pick up the whole to take home.
But that's what is so great about my God, I am one broken mess stuck in my mediocre, but He sees the beauty in me, and He whispers to me that in Him I am whole, I have a place. A place specifically that I am called to fill. He accepts my mediocre, but He wants me whole because then I am giving Him and all those around me my best. It is then I am truly showing others His love through me.
I found a really beautiful broken shell today, when I showed it to Anna she said that would look awesome as a sun in a piece of art. How much her words spoke to my heart, brokenness can be made whole by surrounding it with more beauty. To step out of my comfort zone (my house) to search out more beauty in my life and to become more beautiful myself. That is my challenge this Lent, that is what I seek, it's my journey.
"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life,then that you and your descendants may live by loving your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him."
-Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Choosing life, it's so easy on the beach as the kids laugh and play. It's harder in the day to day when their is schoolwork to be done, appointments to make and keep, exercise to do, and discipline always discipline, for the kids and for me. Choosing life = choosing joy. I have so much joy in my life, I just have to choose to see it and thank Him for all of it, the big moments and the fleeting ones.
Clinging to Him on my journey.

Sunset with Anna and Owen

Owen LOVES the beach. He gets out there and doesn't stop. He digs, he drives his cars, he runs. He's not much calmer in the hotel room, he reminds me of the ocean waves continually rolling in, if his feet aren't moving his mouth is running. So before dinner (of glorious crab) I took him to run on the beach, Anna came with me because we collect sea shells together. I love these moments of shadowed kids, they are brief but fill my soul completely. Loving our much needed vacation.