Pope Family Christmas

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Picture This!

As that mean old magician from "Frosty the Snowman" would say, We've been "busy, busy, busy!!" Just a few shots from our busy holiday weekend. Because we can never have just one thing to do on our weekends. We've either got nothing...or 100.

Above, the Westwood gang at Armida's for Karaoke after graduation Friday night!

Derrick, Man, and Veronica. Close up.
I didn't sing. Man pretended to turn in song requests,
but I think he lied.
And Derrick sang "Everything." I didn't cry this time.

Derrick & Ellie before he headed off to the Bronco/Raider game on Sunday.
Ellie helped him pick out the Bronco hat.

A moving self-portrait of my mom and I at the

Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens Monday night.
Funny. We were holding up traffic.

Rylee Bear loved the lights!

Papa Jim and Ellie have a snack while somewhere off camera Parker sleeps.
Good little boy.

John is lost in space!!!! Ahhhhhh!!

Just cool.

Infatuation

Things I'm Obsessed With:

1. Eliana constantly asking, "Mom, whatchaaaaa dooooing?" And her ballerina dancing.
   
2. Parker's whole-face smile. It's just about the sweetest thing. And his snuggling.
   
3. My husband. You know how sometimes you look across the room and think, "Wow. That person actually married me. And loves me. And puts up with me. And if I was just meeting him now for the very first time I'd be even more attracted to him and in love with him and completely infatuated with him than I was when I originally met him...." That's been happening to me a lot these last few days. I adore you, Derrick.
   

Cookin'

We've been eating a lot of soup. I love soup. I don't know why. I mean, I know why we've been eating a lot of it; because I've been cooking a lot of it. I just don't know why I love it so much, accept to say that it is delicious and just right for cold winter nights.

Here's what's been going down in my kitchen as of late.
Please to enjoy.

Baked Potato Soup

(Second Round Changes: Only did half of requested milk and substituted chicken broth for the rest. Saved 2/3 bacon to put on top as a garnish instead of in soup so it doesn't get so soft. Liked it even better the 2nd time around!)

Cheese Tortellini Soup with Cannellini, Kielbasa and Kale

Spicy Black Bean Soup

Broccoli, Red Pepper and Cheddar Chowder

(Side Note: I'm obsessed with Epicurious.com. They are fabulous. Now you can even select a bunch of recipes and the site will create an entire shopping list for all of the ingredients you might need based on your selections. So cool.)

Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup:
Click on "Good Eats" below. ;)

All that Stuff

So, first things first. Let me set the scene: I am a modern, suburban, moderate-liberal, tree-hugging hippie. I throw the "moderate" in there because while I enjoy things like sushi and lattes (and lots of other stereotypical liberal delicacies) we also own two SUV's, way too many electronic gadgets, and well, I'm a stay-at-home-mom who cooks and cleans and cares for babies all day while Pope goes off to be the bread-winner in a (sexy) suit and tie who fights the good fight and pays the bills. That's just down right traditional, right there!

But I digress.

The point is I'm a hippie. And I hate too much stuff. So the joy of Christmas for me can sometimes be temporarily shadowed by the idea that all we're doing is cramming more stuff we don't need into our house and into our hearts. Who needs a new Xbox 360 game when I could just bake you some nice banana bread, instead? Well....Derrick does. Because he loves video games and detests bananas. Hmmm.

And why do my kids need so many toys? They spend most of the day playing with my pots & pans anyway! It's just so much fun to see the joy when they open the presents on Christmas morning. Christmas is magical because I have kids....but they get too much stuff.

And so, I start my lifelong quest to teach my kids about giving and not about getting. To make them love Christmas and not just for the presents. To teach them gratitude and graciousness and generosity.

Because it's not just about the stuff. But Christmas morning sure will be fun. And my black SUV is packed full of presents, anyway. See what ideals get you? Nothin'!

Kung Fu Santa

Eliana, Parker, and cousin Rylee went to visit Santa Claus at the Lakeshore Athletic Club. Santa was a brave soul who said he could hold all three babies at the same time.
And he did.
And this is the result.

Kung Fu Santa!!
Merry (almost) Christmas!

This & That...

Things have been busy lately. Not like we're not always busy, but they've been busy in a really good way with the holidays and family and good friends. I've had time to reconnect with some of my favorite friends that love me even though I'm forgetful and chaotic and mildly annoying. Hehe.

We got to see my favorite Josalyn twice while she was here for Thanksgiving. We even had a pizza night complete with babies and husbands. It's so funny to talk about getting detention together in Mr. Aigner's 7th grade math class while our kids play together in the background. I've also spent more time with our favorite parents of twins, and Katie impresses me every time I see her (even if she feels like her life is totally out of control. Which it is, of course, but she handles it all so well!!) Next week, another playdate, with Kelly and kiddos, whom I suspect is moving back to New England and I am sad. More good times with good friends from all these little parts of my past.....

I'm more aware than ever what it takes to be a good friend. I know I have some of the best and they always make me smile.

Auntie V

So, you wouldn't know it from the old blog, but I'm a new aunt to my very first little niece. Things have been, well, crazy, but I intend to do a much better job being an aunt as little Rylee grows. It's hard to do much with my two running around and Rylee being only three months old. But that will change. I can only imagine what the holidays will like in two years. So fun!!! Kids playing everywhere. Fighting, laughing, giggling.....

I've had a picture of my kids and brothers kids playing together since I was young. Even when I thought I would never have kids I still had this little picture in the back of my mind of cousins playing. As John lay in the hospital I prayed and prayed on that picture. John had to stay with us because he still had work to do. Things to accomplish. Stories to tell. Maybe he'll have his own kids one day, but at the very least, he has nieces and a nephew to watch over and love.

So, here's to my little bit, Rylee. My first niece. And to me getting my act together and getting ready to help watch over her for many years to come.

Rudolph

Make a Smilebox greeting

"You're a greedy, broken old man!!"

(Eliana, Thanksgiving 2007, Pacific Beach, Washington)

In a lot of ways I am in a big ole rush to see 2009 come to an end. It's been a rough one and I'm just fine saying "Good bye & good riddance!" to a year that's brought some tough stuff. I love new starts and rebirths and all those exciting "new" things. But as I reflect, the bad stuff and the tough stuff can sometimes only reinforce all the things that really matter and all the things I am truly thankful for.

Like yesterday with a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with wonderful family. And like tonight. With Derrick's awesome Robot Birthday Party. And like when I'm listening to Derrick and his Dad watch football, drink wine and insult each other mercilessly with both humor and contempt. (Okay, no real contempt....but a good vocabulary can go a long way. Write that down.)

I'm reminded of all the post-Thanksgiving birthday parties we've had. All the good food. All the good friends and all of our amazing family. We've added new members, grown closer with others, and added friends that might as well be blood. We've had some close calls, some rough days, and a few too many desperate prayers. But lately I've never been so proud of where I am in my life and who I have to share it with. I'm thankful for every little laugh, back-handed compliment and wine-fueled insult we've had this weekend. Because despite it all we haven't lost our sense of humor. And I look forward to the many more laughs to come....

(Grandpa Bowman's last Thanksgiving, 2008)
(I'm pregnant with Parker....and John's jaw isn't made out of Titanium....)

Sing Along with the Popes!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A Chill

Derrick loves fall. Something about the perfect combination of warm sweaters, hot chocolate, cool mornings and falling leaves. I suppose those things are all very nice. I'm rather fond of them as well. It's just that here in old Colorado fall is so stinkin' short! Once again, we have transitioned much too rapidly from crisp autumn nights to snowy, icy days.

But the snow hasn't been able to get me down. I love the snow, too... (in November. We are not friends in March.) Because no matter the weather these short Colorado seasons will inevitably turn into my favorite time of year, come snow or sun or both. I adore the holiday season. Our Thanksgiving will be filled with family and food and fun. I expect a similar story for Christmas.....

I cannot wait.

Vegas, Baby!

It's been a LONG time since I got a little crazy. I mean, it happens everyday in my life, but having to say things like "Honey, we don't lick the cat," is a different kind of crazy than, say, "One ticket to Vegas, please."

Armando & Elijio turned 30. In Vegas. It was awesome. My 36 hour trip was probably too short but I missed Derrick and the kiddos like crazy and was super excited to come home once the time came. Nonetheless, while there...we got a little crazy. Good food (can you say sushi? that's right, I knew you could), some of my very best friends (I like to say I got custody of them in the "divorce") and just plain old good times.

Vegas, Baby!! Vegas.

JB

Sometimes I'm actually at a loss for words. It doesn't happen to me often, but this week was one of them. I don't know from minute to minute if I'll be feeling fear, pain, faith, trust, anger, acceptance, exhaustion....or just trying to ignore everything I'm feeling for a few blissful minutes.

This week was a very long, scary week in a story that had previously been improving by the day. But again things are looking up.

Here are my mom's words, once again, as we move forward on bringing John home.

Dear All,

Well, much has happened since my last update - life is a whirlwind! John's progress from his initial injuries has been absolutely incredible. He was in the Rehab Unit of the hospital for about 2 weeks where we began physical, speech and occupational therapies. He's been regaining his balance, losing his confusion and becoming more and more desirous of a cheeseburger. With his jaw wired shut, he's been on a pureed diet since he's been allowed to eat again...you can't imagine what some of his meals look like!

On Monday of this week he had an appointment with the jaw doctor and was told it would be at least another week until the wires come off and a week or more beyond that for the brace at the large joint of his jaw. I knew John was disappointed but he responded with, "That's okay. I'm working on patience and acceptance...patience and acceptance." And he truly seemed as though he was doing a good job with both those concepts. (I'm still working on them myself.) He was scheduled to come home on Thursday of this week.

By that evening, however, John was in tremendous pain. It took until mid afternoon on Tuesday to get a CAT scan done and find that he had a very large blood clot in his lung and several more frustrating hours to get him moved out of rehab and up to a medical unit where they could administer pain medications, anti-coagulents and monitor him closely. All of our patience and acceptance was wearing thin as it seemed so unfair that he should have to experience still more after having dealt with the brain injury so positively.

The docs had to weigh the risks of blood thinners to address the blood clot while being so careful to not reinjure his healing brain. When the doctor first told John about the condition and the complications, John responded, "yes, please" when he had to answer resucitative questions in the event of emergency. The first time John was in a life and death situation, he didn't know it. This time he did. The "I love you's" that we shared held a very different quality that night and John woke with a smile the next morning just to know that he was, indeed, waking up...still alive. These past few days John has experienced pain at a level I can't even begin to understand.

Today he's feeling better - the pain in his chest is nearly gone. He'll be on blood thinners for at least the next 6 months but he can live with that (pun intended). His new discharge date is tentatively set for next Monday, November 9. 5 weeks after he checked in. He's been on 4 floors of the hospital, progressively moving up to his current 8th floor room. He says that's as high as he wants to go there. The rest of he work he'll do from our one-story house. Coming home seems to have a different meaning to all of us now.

ROAR!!

Bella got a haircut. Eliana says she's now funny and "squishy."
It makes me laugh all day long....

Thanks Dad & Cherlyn!!

Miracle

I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself, but it's time to put it out there in the universe. A big, ole "Thank You" for the miracle that is John and his amazing recovery.

The tubes are out and just this morning his doctors got together to talk about when he might get to come home. He's alert, talkative, sensitive, loving, funny....all the things that make John, well, John.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for your amazing prayers, kind thoughts and words, and love. We got ourselves a true miracle. We got ourselves our John back.

Lowest Common Denominator

I've always just called it "ugly" but as I've grown into the person you see today, I've started to call it "the lowest common denominator."

Ugly only refers to the behavior that I find to be classless, tasteless, ignorant, selfish or just plain mean but the idea of the lowest common denominator classifies a person or persons who routinely engage in ugly behavior and then blames everyone else for the impact this has on their own life.

Let's look at an ambiguous case study: you have negative relationships with family members, friends, co-workers, and authority figures like employers. You have problems keeping a job, a house, and commitments to others. You have legal problems, financial problems, issues with violence....the list can go on and on and on. And yet, you can't see that the only thing that is the same in each and every one of these problems is you. That's the common denominator. You.

I've had too much exposure to the lowest common denominator as of late. It's interesting how you can think of someone as a friend and then the lowest common denominator comes out fighting. I believe that a person shows you over and over who they are but unless you, yourself, are coming from a negative place, it's hard to see the bad and ugly in others. And then, when you're down yourself, it all becomes surprisingly clear.

I don't waste time on the negative. I'm not good at it. It can trap me for minutes, maybe hours. But soon enough I'm off again with something better, something truer. I just hope that our "lowest common denominator" can do the same. But I'm not expecting to "shine sh*t," as JR put it this past weekend. I'm not that talented. ;)

A Party!

Eliana likes Candy Corn. And costumes. And cup cakes. And parties. Parker likes everything, he's just that kind of guy. So this weekend's Velez Halloween Party Spectacular was a huge success. Like anything, it was full of crazy stress and big laughs, ups and downs, and family and friends. It was great.

Ellie-belle was a kitty cat and Parker was a mouse....a mouse that never put on his costume because it was 8,000 degrees and Mr. Mousy was made out of super-thick felt. Aunt Wendy, Uncle Chris, and cousin Cole were great hosts and put together just about the cutest kids Halloween party I've every seen. Okay, so it was also the first kids Halloween party I've ever seen, but that shouldn't cheapen it. Hehe.

The food was great and very creative. Can you say "Lumber-jack finger hot dogs?" Exactly. And the games kept everyone entertained for the full three hours.

Eliana did have a full-blown melt-down on the way home, but we forgave her. It's been a rough two weeks in our family and we'll let her slide this once. Everyone has been so great to us....so supportive and loving and encouraging. I'm amazed by every single one of our silver lining moments:

• Dan & Alisha, and cousin Rylee, coming home,
• My parents as they deal with all "the business"...and all of us,
• Barbara for ALL of the child care so I can be at the hospital,
• Derrick for holding me while I cry and laughing with me when I'm ready,
• Wendy for the love and surprise house cleaning,
• All of our friends for the out-pouring of love and help and food and....everything,
• Eliana & Parker for being so patient with mommy,
• And John...for choosing to FIGHT and LIVE.
  

I love you all. You make my life a party.

Half-Birthday

Happy (late) Half-Birthday, Mr. Parker Pie.

The Waiting

One of my favorite friends, Penny, calls it my "Irish Temper." It's in my blood. The inability to know what to do with anger and frustration. I, personally, choose to internalize while my face gets crazy red. I don't know exactly how John handles it, the frustration, but I'm sure the "Irish Temper" runs through his veins, too. And it's hard to look in those eyes and see it when we're just so glad he can open them in the first place.

John is doing so well. And yet, I'm not sure if he knows it. I can't blame him. He's in rough shape. But he's here. And he's getting a little better everyday.

But the frustration with where he is, his jaw being wired shut, the tubes and the wires, the long days and nights, the nurses and the doctors and the tests.....and us. I know he's frustrated if not just flat-out angry. We try to do the best by him. We try to keep those away who don't need to see him. We try to visit as often as possible all the while trying to let him rest. We try.

But we love him unconditionally. And I'll let him be frustrated because with it comes appreciation for little things like holding his hand, wiping his brow and reading his books aloud. And we wait....for the frustration to subside....for now.

My Mom's Words

My sweet baby brother John was in a very serious car crash on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 3. He was placed in a medically-induced coma to prevent further damage to his brain. He has broken all of the bones in his face, but amazingly, he has not suffered any other serious internal damage. We are praying for his recovery while an amazing team of doctors and nurses care night and day for our "smudge" and attempt to bring him back to us.

These are my mom's words:

Dear All,

Our deepest thanks to everyone for the outpouring of love and prayers for John. We know, absolutely, that the power of these prayers are working in John...yesterday we felt despair and today we feel hope.

We met with the team of neurosurgeons today and got their impressions of this morning's MRI scans. John did receive, what they're referring to as diffused injury to his brain. Each "lesion" kind of like an abrasion may have the capacity to heal to some degree. They, of course, can't offer with any certainty how much healing or how long the healing will require. They acknowledge John's age and general good health and strength in this process and they talked to us about "when" and not "if" John regains consciousness and ability. That was true joy to hear.

Though we've not gotten to witness these things ourselves, they tell us that, when they turned the respirator down, John almost breathed entirely on his own for some period of time today. He responded to pain. He responded to light. Though we know John has a long road ahead of him, these little things begin to rebuild hope in all of us. We're going to be making the mental shift from sprint into marathon as John's re-entry into our world will take weeks and months. But we believe we get to have him back.

John also had reconstructive surgery this afternoon to have his jaw put back together - a couple of plates and a bunch of wires later, he looks much more like the John we know. He had a big day with all of this and we told him goodnight at 5:00.

Also, the Red Cross approved an emergency leave for Dan to come home and he began his journey from the most remote parts of Afghanistan yesterday in order to come home to see his brother. Though he got delayed due to closed air space, he continued on and will be home tomorrow. Veronica, Dan and John together have some amazing sibling love and energy and I know that will aid in John's healing as well.

We ask that you continue to hold John in your prayers as he begins the long road of recovery.

Thank you.

Judy and Jim

Smudge

And then something can happen, just like that....
and it breaks your heart.

Totally High

As a ridiculously generous 5th Anniversary gift our parents, Barbie & Frankie, gave us a trip to go indoor skydiving!! It was crazy fun!! I was unreasonably nervous, but ended up loving it. Derrick was a rock. Literally. He tried to bend the wind to his will. It kind of worked.....

We both had tons-o-fun.
Thanks for the great weekend, Mom & Dad!

My Married Life: The First Rule About Fart Club Is Don't Talk About Fart Club

Love this!! Derrick & I have a similar lecture for those wanting to know the secrets of our wedded bliss! Hehe.

My Married Life: The First Rule About Fart Club Is Don't Talk About Fart Club

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Mr. Big Stuff

Parker is just getting so big. He's our little tank.

Eliana took her sweet time with everything...rolling over, sitting up, talking, walking. But Parker is a busy, busy little man. He rolled over at four months (sleeping on his belly every night now as he thinks he's all grown up). He's finishing whole bowls of rice cereal and we're quite excited to move on to more interesting delights. He's cooing and oohing all over the place. He's also mastering those things called hands so he might just stop punching himself in the face! Hooray!

He will also jump in your lap for HOURS if you let him. He's getting his volleyball legs, I think.

He's a sweet, sweet little man.
And he's starting to look just like his good-looking daddy.....

Welcome Baby

Rylee Isabel Sepsey
Wednesday, Sept. 16th, 2009
7 lbs. 3 oz.

Mom & baby are doing well.
Congrats little brother. You're now a big Papa.

Pictures to come!

A New Era

I was reading something in Psychology Today (mental note: order subscription to Psychology Today...good stuff) about some Evangelical minister who says that the main religion of modern America is consumerism. Hmmmmm.....

I can't disagree.

I grew up in the mountains when little mountain towns were still just that. I remember going to the store maybe once a week, but it was probably more like twice a month? Now, as a stay-at-home-mom, much like my own mom (but not as crafty and organized) I end up at the store at least four time a week. I never have what I need, I always need one more thing for dinner or something for the kids. We hardly eat out, we're not involved in crazy expensive hobbies or sports, I like to shop but almost everything I buy is on sale....so I think I justify. At some point, too much stuff is exactly that.

I don't really need so much junk!! It actually makes my life more difficult. So, I'm entering into a new era. For the coming fall and winter months I'm putting myself on a shopping hiatus. I've read blogs and articles about people who do this so I know it's possible. Ha! I'm not going crazy. We'll still need stuff. But I'm not buying so much stuff. I think I can do it.....

Siblings

I can't say, "I had Parker so Eliana could have a sibling," because that's just not true. I love Parker and his little budding personality just for him. And, conveniently, now we get to have two wonderful kiddos who get to be siblings. I love brothers and sisters. I think they're the best thing in this whole wide world.

I adore my brothers. We laugh, we cry, we share stories of all the terrible things we did to each other.....They are some of the very few people on this planet who know exactly where I come from. I love that. I need that. I want my kids to have that.

And so....Eliana will have Parker and Parker will have Eliana. They seem to really love each other most days, as though they know they are a gift to each other. Maybe, in a few years, she'll even stop the imaginary school bus for him so he can get on safely. Hehe.

On Holiday

(Seal Rock, Oregon)

Who needs a beautiful sunset on the water, beautiful state parks, great (cheap & drinkable) wine, wonderful food (two words: oyster stew) and a big, happy family? Well, I do. And that's exactly what we got on our first big adventure of a family (of four) vacation. Complete with airplane rides and tide pools and fresh-caught seafood and, of course, long walks on the beach, which was right outside the door.

Papa & Mama Pope, along with Aunt Emma, where wonderful hosts as they put the whole trip together for us. All we had to do was show up. The showing up part, however, was the most stressful part of the trip....two babies on an airplane....but it was over quickly and actually went amazingly well. Parker slept the entire way home and Eliana hardly kicked the seat in front of her at all. Emphasis on hardly.

The beach was incredible and the Oregon Coast is just one of the most beautiful, relaxing, wonderful places in this great country. We loved the time with our "Washington Popes" and all the little mini adventures and memories we made along the way. (Like catching a crab with a rake.....)

A perfect first trip to kick off all off all the others to come.

Happy Anniversary

Anniversary, originally uploaded by roncadiamond.

Big Girl Bed!

Eliana graduated to a big girl bed this week!!
She's feeling very grown up with her new found freedom and handmade giraffe bedding.

Good job, Bug!! We are so proud of you!!

Be Accountable

How a person deals with stress & anger might be the quickest, clearest, cleanest insight into one's soul. I think so anyway. But because I think this I find it very hard to be a parent some days. Being a parent is stressful. No, actually, being a person is stressful, being a parent is about five grades above that.

Today was one of those days that I had the chance to sit and think about how I act when my kids drive me crazy. I can be calm. Super calm. Crazy calm. And then...I snap. (Ask mom, husband, and former room mates about this. It's true.)

But I hate to "snap" in front of my kids. It's not okay. I know it happens and it will happen again, but that doesn't make it okay. Last week I "accidentally" broke one of my favorite platters while trying to do the dishes amongst the screaming. Today, I flipped out and yelled at Ellie. Some people would think this is terrible, but mind you, a lot of people would say they do the same thing everyday. I don't want to be one of those people. I don't want my kids to see me as that kind of person. So I put myself in a timeout and I thought about it. And I decided that I have to be accountable....just like I teach Ellie and will one day teach Parker.

So...today I yelled. I'm not proud, but I did it. And I'm sorry. And tomorrow I'll try to be a better parent and a better person with a purer soul. But I'm sure it's not the last time I'm gonna yell. I've got too many years of parenthood ahead of me.

Parker Pie

Parker Pie, originally uploaded by roncadiamond.
Our little man is getting big.

He's a lover, not a fighter.

Oh, and he's also an eater....

My Mama "It" List

So....I like stuff as much as the next guy. But I don't like having too much stuff. I would rather have one really great "thing" as opposed to 10 mediocre ones. But that's pretty obvious, isn't it? It's really just a matter of knowing what the really great things are in advance so you don't have to keep trying, and through that, acquiring.

So here's my "It" list of the (baby) stuff I love.

1.) Britax Car Seats. Flat out best baby product, ever.

2.) Hotslings. I feel like I'm only at like 80% proficiency in using it, and I still like it. Easier/more practical than the Baby Bjorn. (And cuter. Is that so wrong?)

3.) Converse Toddler Shoes. Just so cute!!

4.) Carter's Footie-Jammies. You cannot wash them too much. They last forever and are great for our cold winter nights.

5.) Bumpkins Bibs. Just awesome. Easy to clean, easy to pack. Good for catching everything.

Storytime

A friend of mine told me I was crazy for packing up the family SUV at 4 in the morning and taking the kiddos, mom and grandma on a Kansas road trip. Ok, lots of people told me I was crazy. But I remember doing the exact same thing when I was a kid. Packing up the car, waking up at 8 a.m. already half-way to our destination and changing out of my jammies at a highway truck stop. It's exciting and totally worth it in the end. I'm still recovering, but I'm sure it will feel worth it in a few more days. I'm sure of it.

We drove out to Wichita, KS for my great-aunt Margie's 90th Birthday. We got time with family and friends, went to church, and had adventures. (Who needs gasoline, anyway?) But my favorite part of the whole trip was sitting with Margie as she told me the ins and the outs, the ups and the downs of 90 years on this planet. It was beautiful and sad and funny and touching. She shared openly and honestly with a greater sense of self-reflection than most people ever acquire. We cried when the story was sad and at the end of every "era" she asked if I wanted her to go on. It was a special little moment that made me hug Parker closer as I realized my children wouldn't have made it if I'd been born when Margie was, they would have been too small and weak. It made me grateful for the good fortune and true blessings that have fallen on Derrick and myself. It made me love my mom. Even more than usual.

It made me wonder what my story will be in 2070.
I hope it's as good as Margie's.

Love Letters

Life is in the little things. Ellie is talking more and more everyday and I'm beside myself to learn what goes on in that little head. She stayed home with Dad while Parker and I went to Aspen for the weekend for my Aunt Robi's 50th birthday. She had SO much fun at Cole's 5th birthday party, it was obviously the right decision to have her stay and enjoy her much adored older cousin, but it was hard to leave her.

And when I put her to bed on the night I came back she spent five minutes talking about the party, her day with daddy, grandma's dog...and how mommy "went bye." She was scared that I'd leave again and gave me the biggest, longest hug. She's a sweet girl with a sweet heart and I've remembered that hug all week....especially when she's driving me crazy. She doesn't have all of her words yet, and most are still pretty sketchy, but she gives really good hugs and makes me feel like she might actually love me back.

It reminds me of something I read, a piece of advice, suggesting that you keep a list of the top five things you want to write down before you die. Might be your life story, a love letter to your spouse, a thank you to your parents....but I fell in love with the idea of keeping a journal for each of the kids. More than a cheesy, pre-fabricated baby book, but a real journal full of real memories that they can have when they are grown. If you know me you probably know that I don't really do any one thing well; I do lots and lots of things with average ability. But I can write, and that's something I'm going to give to my babies. Now I just have to get started.

More adventures to come as we road trip to Kansas this weekend. We'll be missing Derrick all the way there and all the way back.

Papa Pope

So we talked to "Papa Jack" last night and got the update on his ankle surgery. Derrick said he is doing well due to lots of pain medication and some good caretakers. Thanks Carol & Emma!!

Wishing you a quick recovery, JP! We love you!

Summer Field Trip

We braved the crowds for today's "Free Day" at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. It was exciting! And crowded! Eliana liked the pterodactyls, or "old quackies" as she called them.
What a great Monday-Funday!

Eliana protesting having her picture taken with me.
Oh, special moments caught on film.

Ashleigh and Dominic

Proof that Parker takes part in our adventures, too.
(Here, he burps. Amazing!!)
He's three months. No cute stories on his museum enjoyment.
He slept. But he sure is cute!