"What comes next?" (Oliver)

Well, it has been a VERY long time since I have written. It seems that with facebook status reports, emails, texts, etc. pretty much everyone in the world who wants to know (and quite a few who don't) know the silly little details of our lives. However, I recently perused my old blogs and realized they capture something that a facebook status can't. So, we are busy, but I am going to attempt to blog a little.
In the next 24 hours, Matty and I will have a soccer practice for Zoey's soccer team, have team pics, have her first game, and pack all of us (including Nana) in to the very stuffed PT Cruiser and head for North Carolina, probably a little on the Clampett side, but I am really excited. There are complex feelings I have about going home again, but that has been written about ad naueseum, so I'll skip that. I will say that my primary excitement is showing off my beautiful family! I don't know about anyone else, but I find parenting to be just amazing. It is the most strenuous, crazy, fulfilling, funny, and rewarding thing I have ever done. Some days I feel like the world is crashing down under a pile of laundry, poopy diapers, and juice boxes. Other days, I feel we are the most awesome family in the world and there should be a reality show about how wonderful we are (God forbid!). Anyway, it is a rollercoaster.
That's all I have time for for now. Wish us luck!
P.s.--the title refers to Oliver's very funny comment as we videotaped him saying his ABC's. He kept stopping to say "What comes next?" It came across as very Zen and philosophical!

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

The wisdom of Annie Dillard is what I have been working on lately--the quote. Every day seems to rush by, like the wind in my ears. I sometimes catch a song, sometimes a siren, sometimes a baby crying, sometimes laughter. So, if I simply give over to each day, I will increase the odds of hearing something good instead of an empty whistle as I try to catch the wind.

This picture is of my dad, Zoey (3 years) and Ollie (almost 4 months) at the zoo. Zoey had been running around the playground, very independent. Ollie had just suffered the Chandler indignity of being changed pretty much anywhere. We had a good day.

It is such a conflicting part of my life that my parents and family live far away. I love my life, and I wouldn't want it to be different, but when we are together it is bittersweet. It is always fleeting--the wind again. But, I make the most of it.

Anyway, summer has been lovely. Lots of rain and storms, which I enjoy. Others have hated the tempermental weather, but I love it. Summer school has been a trial, but interesting as well. I know I will definitely transfer to a high school position when I get a chance.

Vacation in a few short days. I can hardly wait to walk in my old spots in new shoes :)
Amber

"There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's."

I contemplated complaining about the weather, and I remembered. It may have been hot today, but at least it isn't snowing--not that I really mind that. Better put: at least it isn't snowing, I'm 7 months pregnant trying to get a Christmas picture in our backyard.

Things are going well enough with summer school, though I am troubled by the whole concept. I can't believe that 5 and 1/2 weeks can replace the entire school year. It doesn't really sink in until you are there doing it with them. If the logic follows, couldn't I just get paid for the whole year by teaching these 5 and 1/2 weeks?! Most of the kids are ok. Mainly, life is in their way, not school.

Well, the kiddos are asleep early, Matty is at work. That means a book is calling my name! I'm reading the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon. I think I'm going to propose it for the next bookclub book. We are reading Interred with their Bones for August 8th. I love our bookclub. I'm a little dorky, but it feels so cool to chat books and life with friends. It kind of makes me feel like I'm in a novel myself--which isn't a bad thing!

Goodnight.
Amber

"Let's have a pajama day..." --Zoey

Pajama day officially began about eight months in to my pregnancy with Ollie. I just decided that I couldn't get dressed, and if I was going to be in my pajamas all day, then Zoey could keep me company. We made a game of it--we had breakfast for every meal of the day (never really a bad thing). Now, whenever Zoey is tired, she'll suggest a pajama day. It means that we aren't going to leave the house, that we can lounge all day watching tv if we want, that we can read books under blankets--in essence, it means a family day, since we won't be seeing anyone else.

After a very fun 4th of July with the REFRESH crew from church, we were ready to chill today. The get together last night was at the Andersons. Matty, as usual, cooked up some awesome food. He discovered an interesting game called "bucket jam" that is sort of a weird frisbee game. I felt so happy and connected with our group last night. There were kids everywhere--pretty much everyone has at least two. Somehow when there are that many it is easier to watch them. Zoey and the other kids went on the slip and slide that we got for Amber and Brenna for their birthday. By the time the night was over the kids all had blue lips and were shivering, but very happy. Megan made this scary-good s'mores ice cream that was amazing. I'm going to make it one day for my team at school. So good.

Matty played golf today, leaving us to our pajama day. It was a nice break from the chaos of taking two kids on the road. . . going to watch a movie with Matty now.
Amber

"Let God's promises shine on your problems. " ~Corrie Ten Boom

Here are my kiddos, ready to go, as usual. Last night we went to the BPO at the Botanical Gardens. It was awesome. Zoey brought Leo (a Little Einsteins character who is a conductor) and the two of them stood off to the side and conducted for about half the production. Then she joined Ollie who was already conked out on the picnic blanket. It was a really sweet night with my little buddies.
We met Matty at Fran Ceils for ice cream. He had stayed back to work on the transition from office to playroom.

I chose this quote because I am so excited by a book by Dr. Joyce Meyers called The Power of Simple Prayer. I was listening to it on dvd but am not really in the car long enough at a time to get in to it. So, I checked it out of the library to read. It is interesting and revolutionizing my prayer life. I've always been weary of the line in the Bible that says "pray without ceasing." This book talks about how to do that. Over the course of this new way of praying, I have been more at peace than ever before. I've been struggling with a number of things--should I do department chair? how do I handle my parents not meeting Ollie yet? should I let Zoey (and soon Ollie) sleep with us indefinitely? how can I be more present during the tedious parts of parenting? should we stay put or try to get money together to move? will Matty's freelance career be THE career for him or should he stay in school? I can't say that I have all the answers now, but I am at peace with all of these things right now. Obviously it is impossible to express spirtual matters in a blog of all places, but I am blessed by this book and wanted to pass it on.

On other exciting notes--Ollie giggled yesterday and is getting ready to roll over. Zoey is the light of my life, as always. We are all looking forward to fireworks tonight after Matty's softball game. Happy 4th of July!

Amber

"But if you want facts, Indy, I've none to give you. At my age, I'm prepared to take a few things on faith. "

So, I have the greatest husband in the world (in case you didn't already think so). Yesterday, at the end of a crazy weekend, he told me we had some errands to do--get the kids ready, etc. I thought we were going to Target; instead, he dropped me off at the 6:20 showing of Indiana Jones. His directions were to eat popcorn and enjoy the break. Did I ever! I loved the new movie, having grown up on Indiana Jones movies. It was like a mini-vacation.

Matty is a wonderful dad, but also an amazing husband. I feel tremendously blessed by our life. So many times people complain about their spouses, kids, etc. I wanted to take a minute to brag. This is my perfect little family--all mini-Matt's.
Amber

"Do no try to get the jar off my head, because it hurts when you pull. Please simply sit next to me and hold my hand, and the jar will soon come off "

The famous wisdom of Winnie the Pooh...this is Zoey with her friends from church. She's really in to holding hands right now--which is just too cute. I love it. On the left is Kaitlyn, also three, and on the right is Alyssa, five.

We went to see a little program about birds at the library today. It was cute. Zoey raised her hand to ask a question--a good one, I might add! I feel like she is all grown up. She's going to break my heart.

Ollie is a cutie, but is having major gas problems which makes him super fussy. I'm going to get some medicine for him today. I hate to see the little guy in pain.

We are going to Famous Dave's for a late lunch/early dinner. I can't wait for sweet tea :)
Amber