Friday, December 21, 2012

Anniversary Club

Songbird is excited about our 10th anniversary.

"I'm Reveland Dolan, and you are getting married. You have to love each other and give your children 100 spankings a day. Now you are married."

"Papa, you're supposed to talk to Mama on your anniversary, not just sit around."

"Everyone has to shout to other neighborhoods, 'Look! It's the first anniversary club! Everyone, it's exciting news! All the anniversary guys and the anniversary women are going to the anniversary club! Oh yeah! Women dance in the streets." [collapsing in giggles]

Monday, December 17, 2012

Popcorn on the Cob

The kids had been asking about popcorn, so when they started selling these at the Farmers' Market, I couldn't resist.  We just popped it in the microwave in a paper bag.  Songbird used the husks to make a beautiful doll (sorry no photo).

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It's hard to move when you're dressed like a marshmallow!

Bro says, "I love the snow, it's so relaxing." Songbird says, "It's a lot of work to play in the snow!"

Nutcracker

Hubry took Songbird on a very special date all the way to Portland to see her first ballet.  They had so much fun, though it was a bit on the long side for an energetic Songbird to sit still.  She has been dancing the nutcracker in the afternoons ever since... 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

November













Thanksgiving

Even Baby had a special meal

Thankful tree and waxed leaves

The pumpkin pie



Corn on the cob, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and herbed pork loin and stuffing - Songbird was an enthusiastic helper with the menu and the decorations, and the kids have never said "thank-you" so much at one meal before.  There's something about setting a scene, building up to it, cooking all day, and enjoying the bounty together that forces thankfulness.

Smiles




Wednesday, November 14, 2012

First Snow

It happened last Wednesday in the night. The kids woke up around 5:45 and giddily pitter-pattered into our room, "It snowed, oh yeah, it snowed!!!" (They knew it was a possibility before they went to bed). And just like that the day began - oatmeal, coffee, reading book...Songbird was about to burst with anticipation. Somehow I had it in my mind that we needed to wait until after 8:00 to go play in the snow - that maybe it would warm up a bit or something. So once we reached the magic hour, we began the process of "suiting up." Raindrop was still sick with strep at the time (I had just recovered), and Papa was sick on the couch.

Once Songbird and Bro had all their layers on I let them out onto the virgin snow to prance around. There were chants, snow angels, snow people, snow balls, and everything "snowish" all at once. The excitement was so fresh and new. 45 minutes later it was time for a thawing break in the kitchen.

Lesson 1: Thin cotton gloves do not suffice for playing for extended periods of time in the snow. Lesson 2: A thick bath mat type rug is needed for outside and inside the house to catch the melting snow. Lesson 3: We need some kind of indoor drying system for draping all the layers on. Lesson 4: We need to buy a snow shovel soon for clearing our driveway!!





The Handy Man and the Creative Genius

The Okies came to visit a few days earlier than planned in order to skip out of DC (where they were visiting Charlotte) before Hurricane Sandy hit.  We had a lovely visit.  We personally didn't have any ill-effects from the storm (just a night of heavy winds and rain).  In fact, the morning after was so calm, lovely, and warm that we ended up going on a bike ride together :)  We ended up having unusually warm weather throughout their visit, which allowed for more outdoor time than we anticipated.  So when the rain ceased, we headed out to enjoy the Autumn Maine.

While here, Daddy-O fixed / made several coat racks for us (we had some major winter organization that needed to happen), he fixed the vacuum cleaner, fixed our bed (which I am loving sleeping in!!!), and fixed anything else he noticed was broken :)  BMa spent a great deal of time inspiring Songbird in the creative arts.  Songbird said, "when I grow up I want to have my own art studio just like BMa and hang my pictures in my studio (in reference to an upstairs bedroom  turned into a personal art studio).

Here are a few photos from our time together...

The circle rug.

A post-hurricane hike to one of our favorite State Parks: Wolf Neck Woods.



Pumpkinfest

When Mike was here we went to LLBean's annual Pumpkinfest.  I've never seen so many pumpkins at once - I think there were around 7000 or so.  They were all carved and donated by different high schools, then each pumpkin was lit with a candle.  Pretty impressive...





Monday, November 12, 2012

Well

After a week of passing strep around our house, the sun is shining a glorious day out my window, and we are all well!

I'm so thankful for:
Tom's parents who helped while they were here
Friend Tammy who brought not one but two meals (feasts) to us last week and took Aida on an adventure in the woods
Sweet Hubry who took off work to care for me and the kids (then took off work again when he got sick later in the week)
A sweet Bible Study retreat I was actually able to attend for part of the weekend and a group of supportive women who have so enthusiastically embraced me and my family in such a short time!
Such a beautiful world to look at
A gift of plane tickets so we can be with family over Christmas
Fall in New England


















Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sick

I don't remember when the last time I was sick in this way was.  When I think of sick, my mind is flooded with images of the early months of pregnancy.  But the sick of today is flue-like - achy all over, sore throat and ears and head, glued to the couch all. day. long.  My mother-n-law did 5 loads of laundry and kept a half eye on the kids, all while providing me with tea and crackers, etc.  My father-n-law and Hubry worked all day on our bed - fixing it so the mattress is not on the floor.  All the while I just stayed still and quiet on the couch.

We had a full afternoon / evening planned, and everyone, including the babe, just drove away in the car.  I am still here, and the house is so quiet.  Come to think of it, this is the first time since we've moved to Maine that I've been totally alone in the house for longer then a 30 minute chunk of time.  Kind-of eary.  I want to use my time well, but there's not much to do from a lying down position :)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Looks

Shortly after we moved to this vacationland, I remember sitting at the kitchen table looking through our health insurance papers, trying to decide how to decide what practice and doctor would be the best for our family.  We had narrowed our search to 1. family practice and 2. woman - mainly because I wanted one doctor who could treat all the kids and me.  But after that narrowing, I was still left with lists and lists of possible practices and doctors.  Since we didn't know too many people at the time, I had nothing to go on.  So I did what made the most sense to me - I read all the short bios and looked through all the photos and chose our doctor totally based on looks.  Seriously - after calling around to see who was still accepting new patients, I made a list of the possibilities, then looked at all their pictures online.  I chose the one that I thought looked extra caring and compassionate. :)  (We might have prayed a bit about it, too). Then I called to make an appointment.  And guess what???  I loved her, and she was totally caring and compassionate - just like the picture suggested.

Well, last weekend a girl from my Bible study of 10 women hosted a Fall Festival at her house.  My Bible study is a whole other story of Grace, but that's for another day. Anyway, we went to the festival, with our friend and houseguest Mr. Mike, excited to meet the husbands and children of the other women in the group, and I walked in the door to find....my doctor sitting on the floor with her one year-old son and her four year-old daughter.  Want to know what her daughter's name is?  Eliza!!!  Turns out her family goes to my friend's church, which is how they know each other, etc.  I had such a good time getting to know her better, and felt overwhelmed by Grace.  I had some serious feelings of anxiety over having to choose a doctor blind, and feel so thankful for the woman we chose.  So thankful.

Speaking of thankful, we were blessed to have Mr. Mike join us for a few short days.  He drove all the way up from Chattanooga just to be with us.  We really appreciate his friendship and encouragement through the years.  It was lovely to watch him interact with the kids - especially Bro, who can be a hard nut to crack. But Mr. Mike showed him such dignity, respect, and gentle care it didn't take him long for him to warm up.  He and his wife "raised" many, many children through their home daycare, and the love he has for children is quite evident.  Pictures to follow. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Remember

Every week we walk to the front
to Remember how the blood poured out.
We take the cup and lap it up
to the last warming drop.
But this week you reached for Grace
with jerky hand and juice spilled down
your dress upon the floor.
For a moment there was a commotion
of paper towels and quick fingers
whisking mess away.
And your eyes looked down and back
and you forgot that we were there for Grace.
Your knees dropped to the floor as you
buried your face in my quiet whispers.
But kneeling renewed your strength,
they brought you another cup,
and together we took communion kneeling.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

on spoken word / rap

Is this music or is this the news?
- Songbird

some more photos from the visit of the visiting professors of art and astronomy

bro was very ill for most of the visit. spontaneous sleeping was a regular occurrence. 


what bro loved most about the ferry was that there were cars on it. and also the hydraulic ramps at either end.



Mom! got a live one here!