Another post about the weather

Today is the next to last day of July, and I live in Nebraska. Yet, by some freak of nature, I took the kids to the zoo today and it was downright cool. I put socks on Meg for the first time in nearly two months. Ruth and Marianne both requested their jackets for parts of the morning.

It was a truly beautiful experience. It reminded me of living in Colorado. For the most part I love my life in my current home and wouldn't give it up for the world. But I do often wish I could transplant my Denver weather here.

Party time!

It's not that we're celebrating Sara and Jake and Elizabeth leaving, but they're move has made room, literally, for some changes in the house that are worth celebrating on their own. First and foremost, Meg is officially in her own room! I've never had a baby in my room for more than the first 9 or 10 weeks postpartum, so 10 months felt very long. I'd forgotten how large my bedroom was until I moved that crib and rocking chair out. Now there's all this floor space... I'm reminded that I wanted to get a comfy chair and ottoman to make myself a quiet reading space.

Meg is doing great with the change, sleeping like a champ last night and going down well tonight. I waited till after our recent trip to move her, but then did it as soon as we got home, because I thought the change might seem less dramatic to her now that she's slept in several different beds over the past couple weeks anyway. I doubt she noticed the change at all, really. She probably thinks it's temporary. Ha! No way!

Another happy change, though less directly affecting me, is that Nathaniel has set up Jake's old room as his office. He's worked from home several times over the summer, but it's hard for him to be efficient when he's at a desk in our bedroom. The girls pop in and out, no matter how many times I try to tell them "he's working!" Also, Meg still needed the room for her naps, so that meant times of the day when he had to be extra quiet so she could rest. The change to his having a specific office space is a very good thing for his ability to work from home.

We just got home yesterday from our trip to Colorado (for Nathaniel, Meg and myself - the other girls were with my mom and dad), and brought home only Marianne, Ruth, and Meg. The other kids are now officially living with my sister. They sign up for classes at their new school tomorrow and start school in just a few weeks. Please keep all of us, but especially Marci and her kids, in your prayers during this time of transition.

*****

On an unrelated note, we'll be heading to Montana in a little more than a week for George and Anna's wedding. While I was in Colorado I did some shopping for dresses for the girls to wear. It's not a super formal wedding, but still, I thought the Easter dresses I made for the girls were not as nice as I'd like for a wedding. I was super excited to find dresses at the Gap that I loved, and that came in three coordinated but different styles in the right sizes! It was fate.

For Marianne, mostly because it was the longest style and she needed that length for the largest "toddler" size to fit her, but also because I knew she'd love the ribbon straps:

For Ruth, because with her enviable bronze skin tone, she can pull off a black dress with this neckline better than most:

For Meg, because it has a layer of tulle to make the skirt a little puffy, which she'll hate when trying to crawl but was too cute to pass up:

The Gap sales clerk who stopped by to help me asked about the three dresses. When I explained that I like to coordinate my girls, but not make them identical, she looked honestly surprised and said, "That's such a good idea! I'll have to suggest that to other shoppers when they're looking for outfits for multiple kids! Thanks." Yeah, no problem. Glad to be a real free thinker, coming up with these crazy, trend-setting ideas.

Nine

Pottery or leather.

Those are the suggested gifts for a ninth anniversary.

I won't be getting Nathaniel either of those things (though with no regard to any list, I did take the kids have have them paint pottery coasters for him for Father's Day), but I am very happy to announce that we are celebrating our ninth anniversary today.

Nine years of marriage.

Nearly 14 years together.

Three beautiful daughters.

One dream come true.

I love you, Nathaniel!

Awesome farewell

Sara and Jake were surprised shocked tonight by a farewell extravaganza organized by a couple of the mothers of kids in their classes. It was a night pool party, and it was truly the best way I can imagine to see the kids off. Both the 6th and 8th grade classes were invited, and there were over 40 kids in attendance. Nathaniel and I managed a decent cover story to get the kids to the pool, so when we arrived, the giant "surprise" shout caught them way off guard. Good times!

Sara and Jake leave tomorrow for their summer visit with their paternal grandparents. From there they'll move in with their mom. As of tomorrow, our household will be home to only children ages six and under (we'll take Elizabeth down to Kansas in a couple weeks to join the rest of her family). No more teens or tweens. It doesn't seem even a little bit real yet. I'll let you know when/if it ever does.

Blessedly out of the ordinary

Last night in my living room:

Our friend and fellow ND alumnus, Fr. Stephen, stayed with us on his way through town. He's moving back to campus where he'll be the rector of Old College. Yesterday evening, he fulfilled his daily mass requirement by saying mass in our living room. We waited till the little kids were all in bed so we could more fully enjoy it. It was very moving to be right here, in my home, witnessing the consecration of the bread and wine, and receiving the body and blood of Christ. Wow.

It was also a little funny to have Fr. Stephen, whom I've known for years, saying mass in that intimate setting. There were a couple times I had to bite my tongue because I couldn't quit smiling in goofy way at how cool it was.

Thanks to Father and his friend, Ken, for including us on your roadtrip. It was a pleasure, and an honor, to host you. And I'm sure it's an experience unlike any Sara and Jake will have the opportunity to experience again soon. We were happy they could be included.

The evening also included much visiting and eating and merry-making apart from mass. But that's all more commonplace so requires less record.

Here you can have a flash back to the trip Nathaniel and I took to witness Fr. Stephen's ordination.