Let's Explore

DSC_1652, originally uploaded by 207 Living.

Not many people 'vacation' in Nebraska, we normally don't vacation there as much as visit. But this summer we tried something new with my family; we rented a mini-lodge (house) at Ponca State park in northeast NE and enjoyed an extra long weekend together.

The house was plenty large for our family that continues to grow....another grand-baby on the way...hopefully another sister-in-law someday, but I am not holding my breath. ;)

The weather was quite nice- cool enough that we could spend a lot of time outside and our trip was early enough in the season there were no bugs!!

We were all pleasantly surprised by the lovely woodlands shooting range in the park where we tried archery, tomahawks, pellet guns, shotguns, and riffles. I had never actually shot a gun, and tend to be against them in most settings, but I had a great time trying them out in a controlled environment where nothing was going to die because of my arrow/bullet. There was also horseback riding, bird watching, hiking, and a family 5K run that Uncle B won!

The 3 granddaughters had a great time exploring the park. If you click on the picture, you can spend some time exploring our pictures of our lovely Nebraska Vacation.

Fairies and Elves

 

The months leading up to Phoebe's 5th birthday I was planning a fairy themed party in my head, she wasn't really aware of this, and truth be told if she could pick a theme I am not sure it would be "fairy".  So, I also spent those months suggesting that a fairy party would be a great idea!  (who does that?)  I love the whimsy of fairies, that they are feminine and outdoorsy, that they are creative and caring- at least according to all the stories I have read of fairies.  Oh and they are also magical!  And it makes a great theme.

To start off the party the little fairies and elf decorated fairy houses under the tent on the patio.  Each child got also got a set of fairy wings and a fairy for their house.  It was a great start to the party.  I gathered some stickers, pebbles, moss, and flowers to glue on to the milk carton fairy houses.  (I was collecting milk cartons for a while specifically for this project.  The were cut almost in half, painted with gesso, and glued onto a cardboard base.)

 

When they were done decorating we had story time in the garden.  The mister read a few stories and poems from Come Follow Me to the Secret World of Elves and Fairies and Gnomes and Trolls.  It is an old book I found second hand that is full of beautiful illustrations and lovely words to encourage the imagination.  Once I found it I knew we would use it for the birthday party story time.

After story time we had lunch and after lunch all the fairies and elf got their fingers painted and tattoos put on.  Some of our neighbors helped out with this, which was really nice!  Then Phoebe opened her gifts, she got lots of lovely things from her little fairy friends.  It was a lovely time with some close friends, and the weather was perfect- actually a little chilly which is so odd for the end of May. 

 

Here is Phoebe's fairy house with a few left over fairies.  I bought some wood pegs; painted hair, eyes, and lips on then hot glued on the acorn tops and the felt clothes and wings.  It was a quick little project and everyone got to take home a fairy house and little fairy to live in it.  

Reflection

Last night we ate dinner together after the kids were in bed.  I realized that sometimes our last hour as a family of 4 is better spent playing together rather than trying to sit at the table together. 

Phoebe is Phive! (5)

We have been so busy celebrating our little girl, I haven't had time to write much about that.

We started the day with donuts and gifts and ended with Pizza and more gifts!  Phoebe and I did a little recording in the afternoon to see what her favorite things are now that she is 5.  You can listen to it here.

Our little girl is getting to be a big girl, 5, seems so substantial.  (I think I say that every year?)  And she is just as spunky and fun as ever.  Phoebe loves to help her dad with projects, she loves to learn new things, and she has a very kind heart.  In school her friends got to tell her what they love about her, and they all said they love how nice she is.  (she is extra nice there!)  We are also learning that Phoebe is a feeler, she feels things very intensely, which I love and struggle with!  I think we all will learn how to help her with her emotions as the years go on.

 

On Saturday Phoebe had a fairy birthday party (more of that to come later), here is a great shot of her surrounded by some of her best little buddies, I just Love it!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Counting

This little guy is 15 months today....but who's counting?  He is apparently!  Actually, the abacus gets used more as a spinning toy than a counting aid, but it is fun to see him sit and spin the beads- he really gets going.  This stage of life is so fun because he is becoming aware of the world around him, making connections between sounds and meaning, and figuring out a way to communicate to us.  Justus is quite the explorer, and loves to be outside.  We have had a beautiful spring here, so we can enjoy lots of time outside.  Though, J has proved to be a bit more clumsy than his big sister, this week alone he had a black eye, 2 scraps on his forehead, and a fat lip.  Yikes!  If I can keep him inside counting, his face will thank me for it! 

B....B....Bye

This little one is keeping us all on our toes, just as his big sister did!  We just got back from the park where he acted as if he was a big kid; climbing to the top of a play structure and going down the slide all by himself.  Then running up a hill and turning around to run back down as fast as his little legs could take him till he fell into a tumble along with a fit of giggles.  It is a joy to watch him go, go, go.  

Along with his physical development, his little brain is working over time.  Just yesterday he mastered "Bye" and today I heard him say "bah-bah-bee-bah-baby".  Baby was one of Phoebe's first words and I thought for sure 'ball' or 'book' would be Justus' since those seem to be his favorite things right now.  He loves kicking the ball, any ball, and to sit in a chair with a stack of books.  He is a sweet little one.

Just Joking

Lately, Phoebe has been intrigued with the idea of "Jokes", though she doesn't understand the concept of a joke.  (It is a hard concept, right?)  Here is her latest joke:

P: Why did the raindrop turn into a sunshine?

me: I don't know, why?

P: Because it was a sunshine drop of rain.

me: (puzzled)

P: (burst into laughter)

I vaguely remember telling jokes when I was young, and I am sure they were about as funny as this one of Phoebe's.  There is probably some sort of humor development happening now that encourages our 4.75 year old to think that putting together a random grouping of questions and answers is a joke.  The funniest part is that she thinks she is funny.  So, we laugh at her as she giggles about her 'joke'.    One of my favorite parts of the joke telling is when she is done giggling she often asks, "Was that a joke?"  

No, no it wasn't. 

I see you

"Do you see me?"  I wonder, is that the same as,"Do you love me?" or "Am I important?"  It is so hard NOT to see this little one.  She is bright, charismatic, and energetic.  She makes sure you see her.  You cannot miss her.  I cannot miss her.  But she still (we all) yearns for the answer to those questions to be "YES!" Emphatically, Yes!  P and I struggle in the day to day, but I love her with my whole being.  And I hope that she knows that beyond my frustration or correcting of her, my heart is full of love for her.  

He is Risen Indeed!

Celebration, originally uploaded by 207 Living.

We had a beautiful weekend celebrating life, the risen life of our Lord. Once again, we went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night hosted by our church-- where we start in the darkness of Holy Saturday and into the Light of Easter morning. Then on Easter day we had brunch with dear friends, followed by Easter service. And then a surprise feast at our house; a number of neighbors came over with food and we pulled together a 14 person feast followed by a fire pit fire on the back patio. A lovely day together with friends, basking in the life that Christ offers.

Today is Friday

In our home we started lent with one rock, and we went through lent one rock at a time. Now, the Stone is rolled over the grave and we wait. As Watchman Nee says, "We would like to have death and resurrection put together within one hour of each other. ...we cannot bear to wait." This is so true. But we must sit in the darkness today, tomorrow, until Sunday. Today is Friday. 

We follow Lent to follow Him

A time of sacrifice and prayer

We give up something we desire

That His example we might share.

-Excerpt from a Lenten poem by Elena dal Friuli

 If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

-Edward Shillito

Maundy Thursday

^"3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13: 3-5

Tonight we weren't able to make it to church for the Maundy Thursday service so we held our own at home.  Phoebe has been soaking up so much of the Passion story over lent that I have been hoping to encourage that with as much physical-ness as I can.  Tonight after saying the Vespers Office from Phyllis Tickle's, The Divine Hours, we washed one another's feet and served communion to each other.  It was a lovely service and a great way to help us all remember what we are heading into over the next few days.

^"1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
² My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.^[b]"Psalm 22:1-2

finding your voice

- Shel Silverstein

Naps

Today he took 2 naps, but his rhythm seems to be shifting.  Could be already be dropping a nap at 13 months?  It is inevitable, our quiet sleepy mornings will soon be filled with play....only to rush home for that sacred afternoon nap.  At least the afternoon nap isn't going anywhere for a while!

Snow Days

Baking with Auntie, originally uploaded by 207 Living.

Our trip to KC was all about Snow....we were hoping for a warm spring weekend, but it was a weekend full of snow....which meant hot cocoa, baking, and sledding. So Fun!

The Library

We Love the Library! The one that we like to go to is in Shaw. We can't walk there, but parking is always a breeze. It is the perfect after-nap-activity because we can get there, pick out our books, hang out for a bit, check out and get home in about an hour. Phoebe loves new books, and we love when we have new words to read to her. Though, her taste in literature isn't always the same as ours, we can always agree on Mo Willems! Last time I was there I found out they have 'kits', which are books with a cd of the book being read aloud; this will expand our horizons giving Phoebe a new activity at home.  And something about this library attracts some awesome librarians; engaging, young, high energy, and quite trendy.  (makes me giggle a bit to see a tattooed, hipster reading to and singing with a room full of babies)

Story time with a little egg shaker music.

Love running into friends at the Library

J picking his own books

Reading

Jay-walking

Justus has been working at walking for a few weeks now.  In the last week he has gotten quite proficient.  His first steps were on Inauguration day while we were watching the parade (on TV), I think he was inspired watching the President and First Lady walk down Pennsylvania Ave. 

Here he is toddling around the house just last week. 

jwalking from Dawn Luecke on Vimeo.

red, pink and everything in between

 

P and I just finished looking through her Valentines. All shades of pink and red surround me here at the table and I am struck by the sweet kindness her classmates have shown one another today. A class made up of 7 boys and 3 girls and still her valentine bag was full of red and pink and lots of "I Love you"s. How lovely it is that 4 and 5 year olds can embrace this sharing of love so easily and tenderly.

Ashes to Ashes

Joel 2:12-17

¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³ Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.
¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent
    and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion,
    declare a holy fast,
    call a sacred assembly.
¹⁶ Gather the people,
    consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
    weep between the portico and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
    a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Eleven-teen

The learning that is happening in this house is so pure it brings this momma such *joy*. When I hear P say, "A starts with Apple," I just smile because she has no clue that it is the other way around; she doesn't quite get it but she gets it enough to be confident in what she says.  Another one of my favorites is when she counts past 10 on to 11, 12, and 13, somehow eleventeen fits in those upper teens.  That word just makes me giggle, where did she learn it?  Somewhere in her little mind.  It is pure joy to see such pure learning!

Crown

He donned a crown for his big day. King for the day. Justus certainly reigns as a prince in this house, we all wait on him hand and foot, some because he needs it and some because we just can't stand not to.