tiny footprints in the sand

We got back home from the beach very late Saturday night after driving all day.  We were so tired that night we just put the kids in bed and didn't even unload the car. I am slowly coming out of my beach induced trance. Maybe someday I'll unpack our suitcases...maybe.You know you had a good day at the beach when you drop two armloads of floaties and snacks and towels, shake the sand out of places it should never be, and you're tan and tired.  That was how we felt everyday, but it was a good tired...a relaxed tired. 

I am starting to go through the photos I took and I am realizing it's going to take several posts to document the trip.  I was determined to do a better job of taking more pictures this time. 

On our last day at the beach, I ended up taking a bunch of pics of Annabelle because the boys were way out in the waves and THIS, our last day at the beach, was the day she finally decided to put her toes in the sand.  Before, this day, whenever we'd try to put her down she would lift her feet, keeping them from making contact with the sand.  She wanted us to carry her, and hold her.  She would sit in her little purple folding chair and reach down with a little shovel in her hand and try to play in the sand without letting it touch any part of her. But this day was different. 

It was almost like she knew this was our last day at the beach, her last chance to do the thing she was working up the nerve to do.  I was walking behind Annabelle and my mom aS we crossed the bridge over the dunes. Annabelle paused for a second when she spotted the sand, considering her choices.  She could do more of the same and insist on being carried through the scary stuff, OR she could stand tall and confident and experience the grittiness as she walked through it.  She made up her mind and quickened her stride.  She held her Gigi's hand down the steps and then let go and walked on her own through the sand.  She chose to do something that challenged her, overcame her fears and siezed the day.  Then she ventured out to where the waves slowly glide up on the wet sand. She got in a little farther and a wave knocked her down. She cried. The salt water stung her eyes. I picked her up to comfort her but soon she wanted to stand on her own. Then she walked into the water again but this time when the waves knocked her down she laughed knowing she could handle it.


Today's hurdle was sand and waves, but many more challenges await. There will be skinned knees, and feeling left out, and break-ups, but a strong, confident, I-can-tackle-anything attitude will emerge. Because a person's character is shaped by erosion.  Just like how over time sand and water slowly shape the Grand Canyon, hurt feelings and broken hearts and disappointment shape us into beautiful, interesting, people.  I'm with Annabelle, I want to experience life's challenges. Because the sand and waves might be even more fun than being carried and because challenges are followed closely by perseverence, adventure, victory, and confidence.

Turning into a 7 year old

Barrett turned into a seven year old on our trip to the beach.  We were all there to watch him turn another year older.  The morning started off with a picture of the birthday boy first thing in the morning...well, as early as I could get my behind out of bed after an exhausting day at the beach and staying up way too late playing Spades with the grown ups!  Needless to say, by that time, Barrett was already up and out on the back porch with Gigi and Grandma while they enjoyed their coffee. 
Barrett was excited about opening his birthday presents, but he couldn't do that until he completed his Birthday Missions.  Birthday Missions are fun/silly things you do on your birthday before you can become a year older.  He was a little nervous about his missions, but the lure of presents awaiting him gave him the push he needed.  So we gobbled up breakfast and headed to the pool to do his 3 Missions.  There were other people at the pool and at first they all watched without trying to stare, the way you would if a person walked into a room with 2 heads.  But by the end they were with us in celebrating our Awesome Boy and wishing him a happy day. 

After he completed his missions, Barrett opened his presents, and then we hit the beach for boogie boarding and floating in the waves.  That night we went out to dinner at family friendly Piano Bar.  While there was a Piano, the act that night was a man who sang and played guitar.  Even better.  We were seated right next to him and made many requests.  Our first request was to play a song for Barrett on his birthday, Sweet Child o' Mine.  He later led everyone in the restaurant in singing Happy Birthday to Barrett. We had strawberry cake with strawberry icing and danced to Sweet Home Alabama.  It was a good day.

Barrett's first picture as a seven year old.
Barrett was feeling a little bashful when we were singing Happy Birthday to him.

Happy Birthday, Barrett

Dear Barrett,

            Happy Birthday!  It is not possible that you are turning 7 years old!  You really MUST stop getting older every single year! I was looking at some old pictures the other day and found one of you when you were about 3 and you had those adorable curls and big blue eyes (petting the baby ducks)…You may not have curls anymore, but you will always have amazing big blue eyes and you’ll always be adorable.  Adorable is not something you do or how you look, it is who you are inside and how you affect others without even trying.  When you are older, you may think being adorable is not a good thing.  It IS a good thing and don’t even try to fight it, because it’s in you and you cannot escape it.  You are adored and always will be. 

I adore your heart…your sensitivity, empathy for others, and the ability to love wholeheartedly.  Your love is so sweet it makes me cry happy tears.  I love the way you surprise me with loving hugs for no reason and help out without being asked.  You love Annabelle and Kyle so much too.  Sometimes I think Kyle is like a limb to you and you feel like something’s missing when he’s not around.  And Annabelle…you are so sweet with her.  You light up when she plays with you.  Your voice goes an octave higher when you talk to her and you excitedly tell me everything she is doing.  They both adore you, too.

I adore your passion and excitement. You are passionate about Legos and you are excited about baseball.  When you are passionate about something, you embrace it fully.  You are really getting into watching the Rangers on TV and you are constantly asking questions and updating us on every play.  You will soon be going to your first Rangers game at the Ballpark.  This year you chose to go to a baseball game with just me and Daddy instead of having a birthday party with friends.  You are so excited and you ask us about it almost daily.  I love that baseball is something you are into because it’s something you can enjoy for the rest of your life.  It’s bigger than baseball…It’s the anticipation, the ride to the ballpark and the conversation on the way, the hot dogs and sodas, the high fives, the crowd atmosphere, learning to win, and learning to lose, the distraction when life gets too real…it’s time spent together and a shared interest.  It’s something you never outgrow.

I adore your confidence and I admire you for having it.  Confidence is that indescribable sparkle that attracts people to you.  You have it.  You walk into places you’ve never been with your head held high and greet the people you meet.  Situations that make others nervous or scared don’t intimidate you. 

I adore your integrity…even when it’s difficult to tell the truth, you do. That speaks volumes about your character.  Nobody is perfect and everybody makes mistakes.  When you acknowledge your mistakes honestly, you can learn from them.  It’s also a very mature thing to do and makes you respectable.  Daddy and I really respect your honesty and maturity.  You are dependable and trustworthy and you make smart choices.  I cannot begin to explain how proud we are of you. 

When I look at you, I see a person who is smart, caring, happy, and honorable.  You are adored.  I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Mommy

Here's a list of some of you favorites right now:

Steak

Cheeseburgers

Star Wars

Legos

The Texas Rangers

Playing basketball and baseball

The song We Are Young by Fun.

Riding bikes around the neighborhood

pears

athletic shirts

Captain Underpants books

Scooby Doo

Phineas and Ferb

Family visit

Recently, my side of the family came for a visit.  We had family from 5 states here ranging in age from 2 to 86 years old.  We swam and played games and listened to music and sat around and talked until it was way too late.  It is always so good to see family. 

It was a big countdown every day waiting for our family to arrive!

After Pool Snack

We took the kids to the pool on Sunday afternoon to wear them out have some fun family time. We always bring snacks to the pool, but very often the kids don't want to sacrifice pool time for eating. This was one of those days. But we all know how hungry swimming makes a person. On the way back from the pool, I told the kids they needed to take off their wet swimsuits and hang them on the clothesline to dry with their towels, and when they did that, they could have a snack. So...that's what they did.
I guess I thought the "put dry clothes on" instruction was not necessary, but I was wrong.
(There is more to this picture but it is cropped for the internet...their snacks are covering the fiddly bits, but still.)

Fourth of July

We celebrated the Fourth of July with our good friends, the Colemans.  It was our first Independence Day in the new neighborhood and it did not disappoint.  We set up party tent on the lawn by the lake and got food from the food trucks.  The bigger kids bounced in bounce houses while Heather and I stayed under the tent with the little ones.  I got my exercise chasing Annabelle around as she tried out other little girls' folding chairs like Goldilocks.