Clayton and Dad campout

Clayton and Ben took a camping trip this past weekend with the Boy Scouts. They had to canoe and kayak into their camping spot, which was "totally awesome" according to Clayton.

They spent the next day canoeing down river about 6 miles and had a wonderful day. It was a great Dad/Clayton weekend.

Jamison PreK graduation

Jamison finished Pre-K this week and they had a fun graduation ceremony. Isn't he just so handsome?!

I don't know if you can be an archeaologist if you can't say "archeaologist" (it's a mouthful-try it!)...but he'd do just about anything to be just like his dad.

Emmys 4th grade graduation

It's been a big week around here- a lot of "lasts".

Last mornings to drag the kids out bed, last days of school (finally), and for Emmy, last days of Elementary school.

In our district the 5th graders go to the middle school so they have a big graduation and moving up ceremony for the 4th graders. I've been dying just a little that my little girl will be starting middle school- but it's been so exciting and fun for her. Following the graduation ceremony all the 4th graders follow their new principal in a procession line down the halls of the elementary school into the middle school for the official "moving up". It was a great thing to watch the excitement on Emmy's face and she looked so grown-up and beautiful. It's moments like these that the growing up seems to have happened overnight.

Congrats Emmalyn-we love you!

Jamison's 5th Birthday

Happy 5th Jamison!

We had a fun day celebrating Jamison. He was most excited about this awesome squirt gun that he wanted SO bad. (I love that this was so entertaining to him.)

What we love about Jamison....

• his absolutely contagious laugh
• his mischievious side (except when we don't)
• he wants to be just like his older brother
• self-appointed body guard and translator for Lincoln
• loves a good book and a belly rub
• meticulous colorer- and when he draws he always has to have complete symmetry (we've got some cool Jamison art)
• his first love is candy, followed closely by his 2nd and 3rd loves-candy, candy, and more candy! (He was totally excited about the candy on his birthday cake- which incidentally was a complete disaster- but he was thrilled cause of the licorice! Whew.)
• there is nothing small, quiet, or timid about Jamison! Cha-Cha-Cha!!

Emmy goes to Battle

Last weekend Emmy competed in the Battle of the Books! It sounds much more fierce than it was but she and her team put up a great "fight". Emmy and her teammates-the Rockin' Readers :)- each had to read 20 books and then go through rounds of questions while competing with other teams. Asking Emmy to read is like asking me if I'd like a piece of chocolate. No convincing needed. In fact I'm usually chasing her out of a book to go to bed, so she had the time of her life preparing. There was some stiff competition but they had a great time and are already planning for next year. Way to go girls! You were awesome!

Childrens Chorus

Just a few pictures of the kids final Children's Chorus concert. Emmy, Clayton, and I have had a really great time together and I'm so glad we made this work. They've grown so much and I'm so glad we got to do this together. Great job on your solo Emmy- love you!

Change

I like change.
I do.
Change and I are friends.
Changes make me feel like I'm moving toward something--"growing", "becoming"...all good things.

And lately I've been feeling like a change was in the wings- a little restless. With the budget crisis in New York and Ben's job getting increasingly unstable we've been looking around for other possible jobs/avenues. Several of our friends have recently made a big move or career switch- sounds exciting right? And possible. And even on a much smaller scale, little changes we could make. Like a new fence. A swingset. Finish painting the rooms in the house. Hey- how about a haircut! Those were the changes that I had my mind wrapped around.

Well a change has come (as most of you know by now). And its defenitely NOT what I had in mind.
But the words of my favorite hymn have been coursing through my mind; today especially. They have given me cause to reflect and find peace.
"I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene-one step enough for me."

This change is terrifying, overwhelming, intimidating, and great all at the same time. Ben will do wonderfully. I know that with certainty. And we have both felt the amazing peace and resolution that comes from knowing that this change is right and part of a plan much larger than our ability to even understand. So, we go forth and do our best to do what is asked of us. And pray to "grow" and "become" what we should.