Thanks for the reminder, Erilyn!

Erilyn's really into piggy back rides these days. She rides on my back on her way to take a nap, on our way out to the car, up to the breakfast table, out to get the mail...you get the idea. A few days ago, I was giving her a piggy back ride home from getting the mail and I could feel her clutching at my shirt, seemingly trying to find a good holding on spot. She'd never really done this before, so at first I thought she was scared and wanted to get down, but when I looked back, she had a huge smile on her face and she wrinkled her nose at me (which is an endearing sign of pleasure). For some reason it struck me how totally trusting she was of me, and how she believed unquestioningly in my love for her and in my ability to take care of her. As we continued to walk home, and I could feel her little hands grasping onto different spots on my shirt, I felt poignantly the truth of the fact that there is a God I can reach out to, that He loves me unconditionally, and that if I trust in Him, I can feel His loving care every minute of every day of my life, in times of joy as well as uncertainty.

Children are certainly powerful teachers!

I'm free! Free at last!

"My daughter has entered the skirt and dresses phase, where pants and shorts are regularly and vehemently shunned for twirly-girly-ness, preferably PINK twirly-girly-ness. One day, all of her suitable “princess” wardrobe pieces were in the wash and jeans just wouldn’t do. I quickly whipped up a pink skirt for her while she sobbed on the floor next to me bemoaning her mean mother who decided to clean her clothes." (From the blog Balancing Everything)

If I had read this a few years ago, I'd be hurriedly cutting out some fabric, frantic that I hadn't already thought of making a skirt (regardless of the fact that I didn't have a little girl yet), and lambasting myself for being so lazy/uncreative. Now that I'm so much more mature, and wise, and experienced, I just laugh. Did anyone else wonder why she didn't just do the laundry?!

Admittedly, I'm not a sewer. Don't get me wrong, I can sew a skirt if I have to. I'm not too shabby at blankets and pillowcases. But I would never have thought, in the event of running out of clean girly clothes, "Hmm...oh well, I'll just sew some." My mind just wouldn't even go there. I'm so glad I've gotten to the point where I'm comfortable saying, "That's just not me. And that's okay." How liberating!

What's up with my camera?

I must have had something on my camera lense thinga-ma-jigger because some of the pics are not so hot...anywho! This one is of me and the kiddos (with Kirk taking the picture...obviously) on our second leg of our Great Family Party. Our last day before Anthon started kindergarten. It was a fun day...and a bit sad for me. We had a blast swimming, though! And I finally swam the whole length of the pool underwater...not a huge accomplishment since the pool is small, but good for me.




Here's my boy! First day of school. He wasn't nervous a bit. When we got to his classroom he walked right in, put his stuff away, and sat down. I cried, of course, but he had a great day. When I picked him up that afternoon, I told him I'd missed him all day and that all day long I was thinking "I wonder what Anthon is doing...I wonder if he's having a good day...etc" and then I asked him if he'd missed me and he said, "Mom! I didn't even have time to think aboutchya!" Good? I guess. Later that week I asked him what kinds of things he learned about that day and his response was, "Uhmm, pretty much nothing." Which, based on the stuff he brings home, is pretty much true. I guess they have to cover the bases for those who've never been taught anything, but I think Anthon gets bored a bit. He still likes it, so that's good. And I'm getting used to having him gone...and the resulting VERY quiet house. Erilyn and I love meeing him for lunch once a week, and having "Walking Wednesdays" with him.


This is Erilyn, "ready to go." She has little high heels on, my bracelet, and a purse, and she went out to the car saying, "I ready, Mommy. Go!" She didn't like me telling her we didn't have anywhere to go, so I send her up to get her shopping cart so we could pretend to go to the store.














Here she is getting her bear ready for bed. He's wearing a diaper, her nightgown, and she's asking me to help her read him a story so he can go to bed. And she did all this wearing heels...that's my girl!

Friends

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of these girls actually with me! These two gorgeous girls, Marnie and Jolynne, are two of my best friends...we grew up together. If either of you have any pictures with me, or of me or my kids from our trip, please send them to me!


Thanks for taking us camping, Marn! We had a blast.














We loved hanging out with you, Joe!












Miss you both tons already...

Camping at Fort Steele--Lake Trip

Anthon in true form--helping to build a sandcastle




















The finished product (which you can barely see underneath the posing boys...uhm...egos anyone?!)










Erilyn trying to feed the dolphin...which is plastic. I didn't have the nerve to tell her. She was pretty insistent, though. If you look closely, you can see that she's pushing the food into it's nose










Erilyn doin her part to help build the sandcastle

Camping at Fort Steele

True blue Anthon















The girls
















Erilyn loves horses! I can't blame her...they are pretty cool
















So cute!

More creek

Kirk and Brad contemplating the jump...they both did the deed

















I love this picture. I love the kid, too!

At the creek...at the reunion

Don't even think about taking that noodle away from Erilyn. You will regret it.













Trevor and Spence being chickens about jumping off the bridge. Bri lookin' hot in the background!













My brother Doug who couldn't be shown up by his little sister (me) who jumped off the rocks before he did. Love you, Bro!

More reunion...

Anthon sat at this table and did craft after craft for literally hours. Blew. My. Mind.













Kirk playing volleyball--I give him a hard time, but he's actually better than I give him credit for. Love you babe!




You can see the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies (behind me) in the background. They're the most beautiful mountains on earth.

Fun Family Fires at the Schramm Family Reunion!

Kinsey being helpful...Kirk looking studly













Erilyn, Natalie, and Anthon. Don't blame me that Erilyn's not wearing a jacket...I tried.












The one's who started it all...love you Mom and Dad!
And Brad lookin' hot in the background...love you too, Brad!

My (other) baby...Kati

I miss you babe!

Anthon and Erilyn waiting in the shade for another turn on the horses. And my ol' buddy, George. Isn't he beautiful?!











Anthon goes solo! He loved it. Especially going fast...well, as fast I could run while leading Poco.

Did I ever really wonder where Anthon gets it from? It seems pretty obvious...

More hangin' out

Grandma's a pretty good storyteller! She had a pretty captive audience. I'm so grateful she and my dad were both so happy to spend time with Anthon and Erilyn and that they got to know each other pretty well. We will always cherish memories with Grandma and Grandpa!










Daddy finally joined us! He surprised us by making the drive four hours faster than we were expecting and I literally screamed when I saw him. Three weeks apart is much too long!










Here's Erilyn charming her cousins Kemeron and Kaden. She and Anthon both loved hanging out with you guys! And the really surprising thing was that Erilyn was never scared of either of them. Right from the start, she liked you both!










Here's Erilyn and Ashley (thanks for taking her with you Ashley!) on Poco. She couldn't get enough of the horses...like mother like daughter, I guess:)

Hangin' Out at Grandma and Grandpa's

My kids loved Grandma and Grandpa's house. They're still talking about it. There were so many fun things for them to do! And when I finally got used to the idea that it was safe to let them play outside without me, and without a fence, we were all much happier.


This was the best idea ever. Kudos to whoever thought of it. The trampoline right next to the pool! Anthon loved it. This is him making the jump, trying to splash Brandon--his hero! Brandon was such a good friend to Anthon the whole time we were there. He always made Anthon feel welcome (even though he's 7 or 8 years older) and Anthon absolutely idolizes him. Good choice, Anthon! Brandon is a fantastic kiddo!



Erilyn never quite made the jump into the pool, but boy, does she love the trampoline. That'll be our first purchase after we buy our own house. Definitely.

















Here's Anthon with a new buddy, Levi. Just hangin' out.













Dad and I going out for a bike ride. I LOVE Barnwell evenings. They are so cool and fresh. You can't help but spend them outside, otherwise you're insane. Seriously.