He's 11 now.

He picked his favorite breakfast casserole, with bacon AND sausage, to have for breakfast that morning.  He said he wanted to sleep in since it was his birthday (and he is my son!), but instead he was awake at 6am because he was too excited to keep sleeping.  He got the two books he wanted, the video game he dropped 135 hints about wanting.  As a joke, we bought him a bathrobe, because he's actually been wanting one for a long time, but never really wants to put it on any list.  So I finally just got it for him.  He thought it was funny, and proceeded to wear it the rest of the morning, and later that night.  To his great shock and amazement, we gave him a cell phone.  An actual working cell phone, part of our family package.  He wasn't expecting it, wouldn't have even dreamed of wishing for it.  But without a home line, we actually kind of needed him to have it.

And somehow he's the same as he's always been, but also changing into who he's going to ultimately be.

He's smart, and good and kind.  He reads like crazy.  But can spend just as much time conquering a video game.  He loves being home.  Hates going shopping.  He like playing basketball, but probably won't be our next generation runner.

Quite simply, I don't know what I would do without him.

On the agenda:

• The morning party

• After school cake and ice cream

•  Followed up with family fun at Frankie's in Raleigh where we played a family game of laser tag, and other various activities.

 The human spider web, which was the unexpected favorite activity of the night!

• Followed up with dinner at Chili's, per his request, where he was sufficiently embarrassed by the waitressing staff singing to him! 

And now he's 11.  Another year comes and goes.  Another year passing by faster than the one before.  Forcing me to realize that these kids are only kids for a blink of an eye.  I hope we made his day special.  I hope he knows how special he is to all of us. I hope he knows that I think the world of him, and I'm so proud of the way he's growing up.

I got older.

I turned 33 a week ago.  And here's the full birthday recap...

After 12+ years of marriage, I am by definition an Earnest, which means my birthday was first celebrated at about 7am.  I'm getting used to such early morning festivities, and I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  Darin helped everyone give me lovely little gifts.  He's talented like that.  I think his favorite gift to me was my new UNC track jacket.  He's sort of old school, and digs it when his girlfriend wears his college sweatshirt.  It's a fancy track jacket so I'm proud to wear it. 

Later that day, my mom flew into town.  She had been in Virginia visiting my brother, but being so close she decided to spend the day with me for my birthday.  Her very presence elevated the day from being ordinary to being special.  She treated us to lunch at 411 West on Franklin Street, a place we'd been anxious to try.  Then she came with me to browse through my favorite little shop at the University Mall.  Sadly this is the only picture of us, as we were trying out these vintage French side chairs.  They were darling. 

When the kids got home from school, we had to have my "cake" which Darin had driven up to Raleigh the day before to pick out for me.  I think I've mentioned my quest to find the best cupcakes in North Carolina?  If I haven't, I have now.  I'm trying to find the best cupcakes in NC.  These dozen were tasty and probably beat out Sugarlands.  But oh boy was I sick by the end of my sampling!

Later that night, my mom took the kids out to dinner, etc. and excused Darin and I to go out for a night on the town. 

The next morning Darin excused me to drive back up to Virginia with my mom for a fun family weekend gathering honoring my newest niece Mi Na's baby blessing (I know I've mentioned my love of Mi Na before!).   

awesome that my eyes are closed!

The weekend was full of laughs, as would be expected.  And maybe a few tears when a bit of wedding planning stress was thrown in the mix.  But nothing that a few dumplings and chocolate cake couldn't make better.  On Saturday night I shared a bunk bed with my brother Zack.  And on Sunday night I shared a queen bed with my little sister Rachel.  I found my sleeping arrangements to be one of the most entertaining parts of the trip.  So great to see everyone, and lovely to have a little break from being called "mom". 

The saddest thing I got for my birthday??? A stress fracture in my right foot, with a projected 4-6 week recovery period!  You heard me right, I'm off my foot, in terms of running, for the next 4-6 weeks.  You'll understand me when I say I did not take the news lightly.  I was on track for my come-back marathon in December.  I guess the come-back marathon might be in early spring.  Darn it!  Darn it to heck!!!

To wrap up a splendid birthday week, Mi Na and family came to our house the next weekend (as in they left today).  

 

Especially cute photo because Jane wore this outfit when she was about Mi Na's age!  To say Mi Na is loved at our house, is about the biggest understandment of this blog post.  She's a celebrity here.  I didn't get to hold her nearly enough because Steve and Ie Li came to let me and Darin go off to a beach front hotel on Pleasure Island, NC.  

To say that I am lucky is the second biggest understatement on this blog tonight, stress fracture and all.  What I discovered during my birthday this year, is that I am still wildly in love with Darin.  Not in the same way that I was when I was 20.  Because I'm not that girl anymore.  But in a new marinated-by-life sort of way that is richer and deeper.  Looking forward to another spectacular year of life, new gray hairs,  squinty eye wrinkles and all!  Bring it on. 

A Sunday Walk

Our neighborhood is built around about 110 acres of forest.  It rained nearly non-stop last week.  That's okay because we really needed it.  Before it rained, it had been 90 degrees for about a month.  Now, everything is cooled off and perfect.  Darin found a trail really close to our house on his Friday run. 

I needed to find some acorns for a craft project I have in mind, so we recruited the off-spring for a Sunday afternoon walk through the woods.

 In the end, I think George took finding the most acorns seriously.  At one point he seriously worried I was going to cause a squirrel famine by trying to collect all the acorns out of the woods. 

I'm pretty sure Henry collected the fewest acrons, not caring the least bit about my idea for a new craft project.

And when we got home, I made spaghetti for dinner.  But Henry and George hate spaghetti.  So I made them spaghetti tacos.  If you have kids who watch iCarly, then you pretty much know that that made me the coolest mom in the world, for about five minutes!  Until they realized that spaghetti tacos don't really make spaghetti taste any better.  But it's fun to try new things, right?! 


If you're in the mood for some of my recent Craig's List "before" and "after" shots, you'll want to head on over to Made on Maple where I'm talking all about that. 

The Weekend.

We drove out to Maple View Farm on Saturday for some mid-afternoon ice cream.  It was somewhat dreamy.  While dining on ice cream, I discovered that I could sign the children up for a series of farm lessons, on the farm!  My children, may or may not soon find themselves in farm class. 

Henry's about to turn 11, and sometimes I feel like I'm about to cry about that.  Except that he's so helpful and great, so then it just makes me proud.


I'm going to do it.  I'm going to run a marathon before the end of 2010.  I just mapped it out after I came back from my 9-mile run on Saturday.  It won't be my best training ever, but it's possible, and that's all I need right now.  It's been three years, and I need to do it again.  It's time.  On my run, I was trying to aquaint myself with the Avett Brothers, because Darin really wants to take me to their concert for my birthday.  Sometimes I act like I'm not listening to Darin.  And sometimes I don't want him to have better ideas than me.  I'm really mature like that.  You should be jealous.  I'll happily go to the Avett Brother concert with him on my birhtday, it will be beautiful.  Here was my favorite song on Saturday, the title alone is worth something, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise".  I love a title that can't quite decide what it wants to be.  That is totally my kind of title.  The lyrics were haunting and lovely, and when accompanied by the talented musicians it's enough to bring a tear to your eye.  Poetry set to music.  That, and it made me want to sign up for piano lessons again:

"When nothing is old, deserved or expected
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected
If you're loved by someone you're never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.

There was a dream
One day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt
So I'll scream till I die or until the last of those bad thoughts are finally out"

-The Avett Brothers

I and Love and You (album)

Nothing to say.

Somehow, I just don't feel like there is much to say these days.  I do believe it was Darin who said to me the other day, "Do you somehow feel like the girls going to school was somewhat anti-climatic?"

And I think I agree.  They just trot off to school each and every morning with nary a backwards glance.  They come home at the end of the day all full of exuberance over their activities and lunches, and recess adventures.  And I suppose that means that I've done my job well.  I've gotten my birds to the edge of the nest, all ready to fly when I pushed them out.  Because they really seem to be soaring.

And if you don't mind indulging me for just a moment, I do think these girls are rather easy on the eyes too...

In other news, George is teaching himself to skateboard, and needs more afterschool activities.  It seems I will not get to bank on his vivid imagination to carry us through this back-to-school season.  He seems to have worn himself out of entertaining himself at home through this summer, and he's ready for some Karate, or drawing lessons, or even, I think he'd be happy to even start piano again!  That's when you know he's totally bored.  Poor George, on my list this week, get him another activity.  Scouts on Wednesday is simply not enough to look forward to.

Henry is busy being Henry.  Reading, getting his homework done on the bus ride home to free up his afternoon schedule with more time to do "whatever".  His new 5th grade friends seem to ask him as a first introductory question one-to-another, "do you have a Facebook account".  I have had to hurdle my fear of letting him have any Facebook friends not in our family.  I feel like we are in uncharted waters here, and I will readily admit my fears of inadequacy.  "Please keep him safe, please keep him safe" is a constant prayer in my heart.  Is it too much to ask?

I have finished the Hunger Game trilogy in about two weeks.  All three books.  That was kind of a lot of Hunger Game drama to ingest in such a short period of time.  But I obviously must have found it entertaining that I went ahead and "read" (www.audible.com) all three.

I accepted the call at church to serve as Primary President for the second time in my life, thus far.  How many more times will I be shocked by this calling?  I should have seen it coming, but really?  How could I?  Today was my first day "on the job", and yeah, it's going to keep me busy.  This is by far the largest primary we've ever experienced.

This was also our first full week of all four kids at school, as well as Darin.  But Darin doesn't have classes on Thursday or Friday, so Thursday we were out to breakfast at Elmo's, and Friday we were out to lunch at the Indian buffet at Mint.  We followed both meals up with random in town wandering, a bit of shopping, and visiting a few antique shops.  I've threatened him a few times with couples tennis lessons, but if he'll keep taking me to breakfast and antique stores, I'll hold off on signing us up for the tennis lessons.

We may have overindulged though, as it's nearing 1am and he's still plugging away at the dining room table realizing he should have been doing homework on those days off.  Oops!  I guess I might just have to sign up for tennis lessons alone.

And that's it. It all feels so ordinary and normal, and simultaneously so foreign and bewildering.  How have we gotten here?

I think sometimes of what my dad told me once, about his dream to go to Harvard Law School, which he did.  I forget how old he was when he first formulated his dream, but from that point on, he was pretty singular in his focus to achieve it.  But then he told me how strange it felt once he found himself at Harvard Law School thinking, "well, this is it, this is the end of my dream, I haven't really gone beyond this point".  I had a similar dream about my life, for as long as I can remember, to grow up and make a family.  I think I was pretty singular in my focus to achieve it as well.  All of my actions and choices had my ultimate dream in mind.  And sometimes I have that same sort of thought, "well, I'm here, so now what?!"  There is a constant struggle to make sure we don't just put ourselves into auto-pilot, because everything is good enough.  To stay engaged, to stay focused to push the dream out further and beyond to the next point, so that I keep pushing forward with the same sort of focus and determination as I did to get to this point.  And maybe if I'm brave enough I could even have the audacity to dream for just a little bit more...

So those are my thoughts on this Sunday night when I feel like I've got nothing to say.

There they all go.

This was the moment when I almost started crying.  But I choked back the lump in my throat and hurried up the hill to catch up with them instead.  I've been waiting for this day for 11 years, no sense in crying about it now that it's here. 

Look at them, so ready and eager.  They shopped for and picked out their entire outfits and accessories.  Right down to the ridiculous Sketcher Twinkle Toes that they only wanted because they've seen commercials for them no less than 150 times over the summer.  They were assigned different classroom teachers, but they share lunchtime and recess.  They told me that they sat close enough to each other from two different tables to still be able to talk to each other.  That made me smile.

I don't really know how it all happened so fast.  But I'm happy for them.  And really, the only way I could let them go is because they have their protective and sweet older brothers to load them on the bus and help them get back home safely at the end of the day. 

This was Darin's second day of school, so he got to be in the picture with the "school kids". 

Of course we followed the bus, and made sure everyone got to the right classrooms.

And that was it.  We said our goodbyes, and they each faced their first day at school.  Darin took me out to breakfast, but then he had to be on campus all day long too.  It was quite possibly the quietest day of my entire life.  It was a strange mixture of sadness and posibility.  Who knows what lies ahead for me...I thought of the kids all day long, always wondering what they were doing and how they were feeling.

Imagine my great relief when they finally came home that afternoon to hear that everyone was happy.  Everyone is going to be fine.

The girls wanted to go to the pool, and since it will be closing in just a week or two, everyone was happy to go for a swim:

 

That's our house, just over the fence from the diving board.  Not too bad!

It's been a lovely summer, one for the record books.  And I'm optimistic that the school year can be just as great.   

We took a trip.

Back towards the end of June, my newest niece Mina was born.  We now only live about 4-5 hours away from each other.  It was high time we went to meet her.  You wouldn't believe how much I got to hold Mina.  I think she really loves me.  But I am terribly depressed that I don't have a single excellent shot of Mina on my camera!  This is the best thing that I've got:

I think this is an excellent picture that helps give you a glimpse of the fun people we got to hang out with on our trip to D.C.  But it doesn't really show you Mina.  So I'll just have to steal a picture of her:

Isn't she perfect?!  So I held her as often as I could, and my kids tried to hold her all the rest of the time.  It was grand. 

We also tried to be good D.C. tourist.  This was the first time we took our kids to the Nation's Capital.  You really can't do it all in just a few days.  Especially not in the heat of August.  But we had tons of fun people to tour with, and that made this trip unique.  The fact that we missed getting to the top of the Washington Monument, and missed the tour of my childhood in Kensington, just means that we'll be back sooner rather than later. 

Seeing the "real" C3-P0 almost made up for the fact that Darth Vader is in the Smithsonian Storage unit! 

Seeing the ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, with Grandma Dorothy was especially special. 

And the "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" was almost more excitement than my ladies and I could handle!  You've never seen a group of girls more excited to look at old ball gowns. 

But hanging out with cousins, even if we made them look at the National Archives with us (or Boring Archives if you asked the 5 and under crowd!), was really what this trip was all about.

Pretty sure it was Uncle Steve who suggested we go to Mt. Vernon on Sunday afternoon.  It was perhaps the most impressive museum of our entire trip.  We all agreed that we could have stayed there for many more hours, but as it was, they were shooing us out as they were trying to shut it down. 

(do not be fooled, CZ has on like 5 inch heels in this photo!)

All in all, it was a fabulous trip.  Mostly I'm so glad we saw so much family and helped the kids establish those ever important childhood cousin/aunt and uncle memories.  As per usual I get home and realize how uncomprehensive my photos are, but let's hope the memories live on!  

Me and my brother with our kids.  Weren't we just kids ourselves?!

In case you hadn't heard, these kids are growing up darn fast!  

Stay tuned, the first day of school is Wednesday.  Although we have purchased all the school supplies and supplied most of the kids with first day of school outfits, I hardly feel prepared at all for what is about to hit us...