Running Chatter

“I feel like my insides are hyperventilating.” 

The words sound near crazy, I know, but they were mine.  In the middle of a napless day for Meadow and at the end of an extremely hectic week I picked up the phone and reached out to Katy who has been my sidekick most of life.  Despite the craziness of my words, Katy wasn’t phased. . . Oh, I completely understand that feeling, she said without a moments hesitation, I’ve been there.

What is it about hearing someone say ‘hey, don’t sweat it. . . I’ve felt that way, too’, that makes everything feel better?  I think it was just knowing that I wasn’t alone.  Knowing that someone has been there.  Hearing, in one way or another that someone “gets me” immediately calmed my insides. 

With that being said and so to not tip the scales of my sanity over into actual hyperventilation tonight, we’re keeping it simple. . .  

Running Chatter it is. . .

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1.  Rain

Ohio has been dry.  Very, very dry.  The grass is turning brown, flowers and trees are wilting, and creeks are drying up.  The other day Chad caught me taking a picture outside and he instructed. . .  go to a green spot.  We were contemplating a rain dance when, just in time, drops began to fall from the sky.

Time to play in the rain.  Bikes and scooters were immediately pulled out from the garage and away little ones scattered to experiences the fullness of the rainy evening.  Even Meadow joined in. . .

Apparently, though, Chanelle thought this was cruel and unusual punishment for a baby and she quickly came to the rescue. 

I think Meadow appreciated the gesture.

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2.  Rained Out

The night of the rain was also the night of Charlie and Chanelle’s last track meet.  We were 5 minutes away from the track when we got the call that the meet was canceled.  We called my in-laws to let them know and the suggestion was made. . . how about ice cream?

Meadow was in.  As were the rest of us.  We spent the evening in a quiet little cafe where ice cream was consumed, checkers played on a chess board and time slipped by unnoticed. 

I think these are the hallmark moments of summer.  The moments that we will all look back and say remember the night that track meet was canceled and we spent the evening in a cafe just talking, laughing, sharing stories, and playing chess-checkers? 

. . . Wasn’t that fun? 

It sure was.

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3.  Game On

The track meet was rescheduled for later in the week. . .

Track season is officially over.  More hardware was brought home. . .

I’m proud of them.  So proud.

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4.  VBS

Charlie and Chanelle participated in Bible School this week.  They were so enthusiastic about it and loved every second of it.  Today was the last day and I can’t imagine a better send off than the one they got. . .

A balloon launch!  Seriously, I wish I could see one of these on a weekly basis.  It is impossible to watch balloons disappear into a bright blue sky and not smile.

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5.  Books!

Charlie, Chanelle and I introduced Meadow to the library for the very first time. Seven months old and she’d yet to been to the library.  Shameful, I know.  She took to it quite well.

In fact, you’d think she owned the place. 

Once we got home girlfriend couldn’t wait to dive in. 

I think it only took her about an hour to get through all the books. . . 27 to be exact.

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6.  Ice Cream

The rules change a bit during the summertime.  For example, bedtime gets pushed back a little bit, sometimes little bodies get put to beds without baths, we find more time to be lazy, and shoes are optional.  One of my favorite rules changes, though, is the rule about ice cream.  During the summer, we find far more excuses to need ice cream.  Like the other day when we drove by a sign that displayed an ice cream cone.

Seemed like reason enough for me.

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7.  Sometimes, I don’t ask

Enough said.

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8.  Curious Meadow

We have found that our littlest misses nothing.  She prefers to have her eye, hands, attention wherever the action is.  She’s nearly seven months, but she acts like she’s at least eight and a half months old, for sure.

I think she’s going to be a talker.  Just today we had a five minute conversation.  Back and forth we went–she spoke, then I followed.  On and on it went.  Of course it was all in grunts.

She continues to be a Mama’s girl.  As much as her preference for me exhausts me on some days. . .

. . . I wouldn’t change it for anything.

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9.  Three

One. . .

Two. . .

Three. . .

There is something about three that just feels right. . .

. . . more on this later.

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While it seems slightly wrong to end a list on nine and not ten, I’m going to do it anyway.  Nine is a nice number, too.

Here’s to a happy weekend to each one of you!!

Chatter Out. . .