the baby pool.

Ruby got a baby pool for her birthday.  We blew it up the other day, and good thing we had a super fun afternoon splashing around, because by the next morning it was deflated to nothing.  I have yet to find a good, inflatable pool.  Sigh.

These four thought they were in hog heaven.  Something so simple, and they thought it was so marvelous.  I love that.

That right there is what they call a snot bubble.  Hilarious!
Totally didn't mean to snap a photo of it, but there it is!  Ha!

I *love* Charlie's face in this photo.

I was the cherry keeper.  They ate an entire container of these beauties.
Sweet summertime.

Fun in the sun!  We are loving it!

Our day with Lauren.

Our close family friends, the Weimer's, are celebrating their Lauren's 16th birthday this week.  Instead of one big sha-bang, Erin had the brilliant idea of 16 days of fun/surprises/celebrations for Lauren.  Yesterday, I had the privilege of hosting the birthday day.

The kids and I put our heads together and tried to be really intentional.  We love our Lauren, and we wanted her to feel really special.  We were all so excited, and the day did not disappoint.  It was fantastic.

After picking up our special guest, we headed to Panera.  Then, I gave her the option of five different crafts.  She is a super artsy girl who loves crafting.  I, am a wannabe.  I promised I would try.  :)  After picking out our project, we headed to Hobby Lobby to shop for supplies.  Next, we went to get Lauren her gift, a locket with charms inside of it.  She picked a paint pallet, cross, piece of luggage, cross, and flower.  All these things fit Lauren to a T.  We stopped at the junk store in town where she found an awesome deal for her new bedroom, then headed home to start our work.

With mod podge opened, wooden letters laid over paper, our scrap paper picked out, tunes on, and ambitious spirits, we started...and we came to a screeching halt about that quick.  We were rolling in laughter, frustrated beyond frustrated, and giggling over how ridiculous our "practice" looked.  After hours of working through it, we made a pretty awesome project.

Her parents and brothers came out for smoked meat and her favorite cake, and the day was complete.

Charlie and Lauren having their snack; a favorite dip of Lauren's.

Girls, girls, girls!  They adore Lauren.  I think she's pretty great too.

Ready to craft!  The girls painted canvases for their bedroom, and Lauren and I did mod podge over wooden letters.  I did the word "eat" for our kitchen, and Lauren did "crowned with joy" for her bedroom.

About to throw the stuff out the window!  But alas, the finished project is super cool.

Erin was so thoughtful to think of Maleah.  Our birthday girls!

We have had really great, monumental moments with the Weimer's.  And, we've seen them really struggle.  We feel so blessed to have real deal friends who let you in on it all.  My heart leaped with joy that I got to be a par at of Lauren's big week.  Seeing her so happy was the best gift of all.

Guilty.

Camp MusicMania

Awhile back, I was asked to teach at Camp MusicMania at UNI this summer.  I felt really honored, but really reluctant as I didn't feel qualified.  With lots of thought, I hesitantly, yet boldly, said "yes!"  I'm so glad I did.

As the camp approached, I got really nervous.  I filled in for another teacher half time with kids 4-9 grades (who wasn't done with her school year yet), and taught Creative Time for K-3 grades.  Creative Time was my deal, meaning I had to come up with my own activities or use that time however I wanted.  I was wondering why in the world I agreed to this!

But, the first morning of camp, all the energy had me flying high.  230 kids excited and eager to sing, dance, and learn was awesome.

After a glitch the first day with scheduling rooms, and in that, having to manage about 75 little kids in a teeny room, all went wonderfully.  And, much to my surprise, my favorite was the big kids!  I've learned a lot about my preferences and strengths this past year.  Who woulda known.

Maleah and Layla were able to attend as campers, and had a great time.  It was long for Layla, and reassured me that half time Kindergarten is superb.  Her favorite was art, and Maleah loved all the music.  Charlie and Ruby did awesome between grandmas and babysitters.  I was really anxious about being gone so much that week, but everyday Charlie wasn't ready for me to be back so soon. Thanks, buddy.

What I learned most is that my heart is at home.  While teaching for one week was so fun and something I hope to do again, I was tired.  And when I'm tired, my family gets the least of me.  I was done everyday by 2:30, but still getting supper on the table, doing everyday housework, and giving the kids' the attention they deserve of their mom was hard.  All good things, but even too many good things are bad.  I probably suffered the most, between exhaustion and guilt.  The kids all seemed to soar right along as if all was right in their world.  :)

I am so thankful for the experience at camp.  The program was wonderful!  The campers were delightful.  And I learned a lot that I'm excited to implement into the next year at TC.

After dragging my feet, I am so glad I said, "yes!"

Ruby is ONE!

Woofta!  I'm behind on here again.  I could say we are busy, that I forget, it's not priority, or that the computer is in the basement and I never get down here.  All of the above are true.

There's a lot to catch up on, but the most important thing that happened in the last couple weeks?!

Our baby turned ONE!

It seems like she was just born, yet like she has been here forever.  She is our Rubsies, our little jewel, our Joy Joy, our baby, and we absolutely adore her.  She is busy, feisty, and into everything, just as a one-year-old should be (and can I say a one-year-old is exhausting?!).  She brings a lot of life into our day, and for that we are ever so grateful!

The minute I met her, I loved her to pieces.  As a mom, it is indescribable how fiercely you love someone you literally just laid eyes on.  The connection is so deep and the love so intense.  Being a mom is such a gift, one I never want to take for granted.  So, even with an exhausting one-year-old, she is ours.  And she is one.  And that is worth so much.  We love our Ruby Joy.

I will never forget when the kids first saw their baby sister.  Seeing the big kids is such an emotional time for me.  It's bittersweet, until they make it completely sweet.  They instantly loved every little bit of her being, too.

And lastly, seeing my love with his babies makes me fall in love with him over and over and over again.  The birth of Ruby was very untimely.  And, I'm not going to lie, it was hard between Dallas and I.  But, we are a team, and I couldn't' have chosen a better companion in life to raise these little rascals with then my main man.

I vividly remember sitting on the bed the night she was born with all four kids and Dallas.  We were oohing and aahing over Ruby, and I was overcome with peace.  I remember feeling overwhelming thankful, and looking at the kids like 'this is my family.'  It was such a good feeling, a feeling of relief, and a feeling of confidence.  With emotion welling deep inside me, I remember thanking the Lord and thinking this is us.

Happy birthday, Ruby!  You are our precious, beautiful jewel.

Sam's Club

Dallas is still in his insanely busy busy season.  He hasn't been home for any meals, so the kids and I just make do nearly every day.  Last night as Dallas crawled into bed and I was half asleep, he asked, "Marissa?  Can you please go shopping tomorrow and get some food?"  I died laughing.  He noticed making do is hardly even getting the job done these days.

So, this morning I took a BIG trip to Sam's Club.  As in, two carts trip.  Like, $600 trip.  Couldn't see over my cart trip.  Yes, it was big.

We only go to Sam's two to three times a year, but when we do we stock up.  Thankfully we have the largest deep freezer you've ever seen (we joke the house was built around it), so it allows me to buy enough frozen fruit and waffles to last awhile.

One lady said to me, "I've never seen a cart so full."  Thanks for stating the obvious, Ma'am.  I responded, "I'll be glad I don't have to spend my summer at the grocery store."  Also obvious.

On the way home, I told Dallas that the first one to make the statement, "There's nothing to eat!" will starve for the day and then some.

I love Sam's.  Buying in bulk is therapeutic.  The end.

One year ago...

One year ago I was two days out from being induced to *finally* meet our little girl.  Dallas still didn't have all his crops planted, everybody who was due around me or after me was having their babies, and I had gone in for [too many] false alarms.  It was quite the time.

The week of the kids' first birthdays I always get so sentimental, or emotional, whatever you like to call it.  They change so much that first year.  One year ago, I was the only one who knew my baby's patterns, how her rump felt and her elbow stuck out, and when she was awake or sleeping.  Now, so many people get the joy of knowing her.  It's awesome.  But so was a year ago, even in the misery of being huge and uncomfortable, when it was just me and her.

I remember this week a year ago, savoring every last minute with the "big kids."  We went to parks, on walks, out for ice cream, out to eat, to the grocery store; everything we could possibly squeeze in while it was still "easy," and "just us."  Funny how quickly the "us" changes.  I had the anticipation and excitement of meeting our girl, but also the guilt of changing the lives of the others' so drastically.  My wise husband reminded me that a sibling is the best gift we could ever give them.  And so, I enjoyed the last two days with them, happily.

I was looking through photos of Ruby's birth day and the day after today.  It's amazing.

Oh, Ruby Joy.  I can't believe you will be ONE in two days.  Everybody says how fast it goes.  And I say, it's true.

Summer Time!

I love summer.  We are not even a week in, and already it's been marvelous.

These are the days.