Epenthesis

Wow!  That's a big word!  You may be asking, what in the world does epenthesis mean and why Caroline, do you care.  Well in the world of speech language pathology it is a phonological process that persists after the age of 3.  You see this phonological process when your child adds a sound between two consonants.  How about that for jargon!

Now, lets take off my hat of SLP and tell you why I care.  My precious Walker is 3 1/2, and he still exhibits the phonological process of epenthesis.  I love listening to his sweet voice say "Piggaly Wiggaly" and I want to remember it.  For some reason, we've been talking about the way he says Piggly Wiggly often as of late.  Probably because I think it is so darn cute.  As we've talked I've wondered how much longer he would say it this way.  I'll be sad to see it go, and I just might always call the Pig the Piggaly Wiggaly.

Based on my most recent continuing education reading, I might get to wait until he is 8 for it to disappear entirely.  I can hardly imagine Walker as an eight year old, and I'm sure by then he won't be saying Piggaly Wiggaly.  But I might be just to remember a simpler time.

Up Up and Away

Life is a whirlwind...

and leaves me feeling like this most of the time.

Last week, all week, I was on an emotional roller coaster.  I felt like I got one piece of tragic, heartbreaking news after another.  None of the events are my stories to share yet they had my stomach in knots and my heart in my throat for most of the week.  Each event left me praying a little longer and a little harder while also reaching out to hug each of my babies and my husband a little longer and a little harder.  It was a week that made the ordinary post dinner events moments to cherish and remember fondly.

 

 

Really, how can you not smile with those adorable faces in your house?  May they always love each other!

Friday was my birthday.  I took my little ones to the zoo.

We made ice cream and shared it with neighbors.

And then on Saturday we left for Mobile.  We saw family.  We saw friends.  We played with cousins.  We played with friends.  We drove a lot.  And the only pictures I took were when I was with the kiddos by myself at Pt. Clear.  I wish someone had been with me to share those precious moments but then again if someone had been with me they probably wouldn't have been so special.  Thank goodness for my camera!

While we were gallivanting around LA, and yes of course I mean of the Lower Alabama variety, Frank has been hiking/camping/backpacking in the Wind River Range of Wyoming.  Here are some of the sights he enjoyed.

Makes you want to go, doesn't it?

My love, we will be glad to welcome you home tomorrow.

 

No Idea

You have no idea what these pictures mean to me ~

 

 

 ..or how they will always elicit tears in my eyes and rolling down my cheeks.

I love my babies, and I love that they have spent some time here at my special place...

playing on this beach ~

listening to these waves ~

 hanging out by this tree ~

They will never have the memories that I hold close to my heart nor will they know the solace those waves provide but hopefully they will grasp how much I love it here.

Too Tired

I'm too tired for many words but want to share this ~

 

There may be more tomorrow if I can get my act together.

The Beginning

Yesterday marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life ~ in our life.  I've dubbed it the beginning of forever, but that is a story for later.  This little one went to school for the first time.  With each of my children they have started preschool/mother's day out when they were one.  They have gone one day for each of their years.  Therefore, Betsy will be in school on Wednesdays this year. Why Wednesday?  Oh I don't know.  It's hump day.  It's a good mid-week activity.  Really it is because I have several meetings that happen on Wednesday.  I've never been a regular attendee at any of them because for the past seven years I've had a child on my hip.  

Betsy did great!  We dropped Walker off in his classroom, and she wanted to stay in there. 

She even tried to climb into the chair next to him, but she was easily persuaded to leave him.  As we walked down the hall to her room she grabbed her arm and turned her head the way she does when she isn't happy or is unsure of a situation.  Her little lips poked out and her face got red as if she was going to cry.  Instead she just kept walking.  She walked right into her class turned to give me a hug and kept going.  No tears!  No fussing!  No resistance!  Wow!  I'm not sure if any of my children have ever done that.

I love that these two are together just like I love that my big two are together at Crestline.  After a rough summer with Walker, he has been delightful since big school started.  Maybe he just needed a bit more attention or maybe I needed to remember he is only 3.  We've talked a lot about his being the big brother to Betsy.  He is certainly rising to the occasion. 

Tuesday was his first day.  He too did great.  Of all of my children, Walker has been the most resistant to going to school.  He has always given me the most tears at drop-off.  Not this year.  He walked into the classroom, hung his backpack on his chair and his raincoat on a hook and started to work.  But then the sweet boy got up to give Betsy and me one last hug. 

It looks like it could be a good year for everyone!

 

So, you ask what did you do with that four hours?  Well, I came home intending to clean out Betsy's closet and get my Bargain Carousel stuff together, and I did for about an hour.  But then I cleaned myself up and went downtown for a lunch date with my wonderful husband.  We went to a place I have wanted to try but have never had a good opportunity.  What a treat!

Week One

What a week!  As a teacher I remember the first week of school being exhausting.  In fact, that memory is so vivid I try to remember to take dinner to our good teacher friend on the first night of school each year.  I want her to be able to come home and be with her three children who have grown accustomed to a summer routine and not have to think about what's for supper.

Until this year I'm not sure if I realized how exhausting the first week of school is for a mama.  Maybe it is because I now have four children.  Maybe it's because I have two at the elementary school, and this week they got out an hour apart.  Maybe it's because...well who cares why let's just say we all feel like this:

It has been a fantastic week.  Stephen loves kindergarten and the ladies. 

Mary Frances isn't sure about second grade.  But I hope she will like it.  Time will tell.

And I've loved having just my babies. 

I think one in particular has loved having a bit more undivided attention. 

However, he is delighted when 2:00 arrives and he has his brother meets us on the playground until his sister gets out at 3:00.  They are glad to have each other again. 

My babies and I have had fun together.  We've done things I used to do a lot ~ when I had only two children.   The fact is it is just easier to transport two children because they fit in the double stroller and I have two hands ~ one for each of theirs.  Also, my lap fits two better than more.  That means that we've done things that these little ones haven't done too often.  We've gone on pajama walks and stopped to watch the excavator add dirt to a giant pile.  We're not as hurried, and it isn't as hectic around here.  Yes my kitchen and laundry room continue to be a full time job, but I've tried not to let it get to me.  I've been intentional about spending time with Walker and Betsy.  I finally got some pictures taken of them. 

Betsy got her first pair of tennis shoes. 

We've even done some new things - things I haven't done before.  We went to the new children's section of the art museum and went hiking at the Botanical Gardens. 

We've hung out at home ~ read, had tea parties, built train tracks and had a play date.