We went to visit dear friends, who I miss terribly.  We had the time of our lives!!!  You’ll probably recognize all of these kids from past blog posts…only they are so much bigger – growing more and more lovely each day.

Between our two families, we had 7 kids, four ages 3 years and under.  The week was beautiful chaos.  And we all loved every minute of it.  Here we are at the lake!

I never thought I would say this, but Ohio was good for my soul .

So right now, photographing Luke & his childhood means photographing him with a truck.

So here’s Luke with his Tonka Tow Truck.  I love these pictures.  I love that he is wearing his monster pajama shirt and his “Car’s” undies (as we call them around here!)  I love that he hardly notices I have the camera out because he loves this tow truck SO much.  I love his chunky legs and his huge hands.  I love that in one image I can see everything Luke was at 2 1/2 years old.  These pictures make me happy

Luke, thanks for being 2 and a half forever on my blog

Just a week in a half ago we celebrated with Lucy her FIRST DAY OF 4 YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL!  And I have to be honest, we’ve had a quite a bumpy road in getting here this year.  For a while, it looked like I was going to contiune photography but also take on teaching at the Community College.  The kids were going to go with me there to a preschool they had on campus.  But we had a few bumps in the road and my well laid plans weren’t so well laid after all.  Immediately we called NorthCreek Academy and Preschool to see if we could get Lucy back on the wait list…we did…they did…and God provided a spot for her!

We are so thankful for NorthCreek Preschool.  Her teachers are phenomenal and Lucy actually cried – big huge tears – last Friday when we were at Sea Ranch and she discovered that she would miss a day of school.  That’s quite a testament to the fun she has learning there!

Lucy started out the morning wanting to make special “treats” for her teachers.  She worked really  hard on them, but when she got to school, didn’t want to give them away .

I never want to forget how sweet this little clip looked in her hair .

Lucy, you make me smile!!!

Just for fun…here’s last years first day of school picture:

Lucy was relieved to learn that she would be in the same class room as last year, room 101.  AND that every Friday Mrs. Byde – her teacher from last year – would be working in her class.  After learning these things, going to school wasn’t a problem at all.

And here’s infamous Room 101!

Here’s Lucy saying “I love you daddy and Luke!”

Lucy we are so proud of you and excited to be a part of all of the adventures that come with learning about the world.  You are a gift.

This year our neighbors Kyle and Sarah organized our neighborhoods very first 4th of July parade!  They have a big fancy name for it – and maybe they’ll leave it for you in the comment section because I forgot it – and together we had more fun then I think was had on these streets in a while.  Just check out the pictures:

We had plenty of kids:

Plenty of vehicles (4 legged and otherwise)

Plenty of music

Plenty of smiles!

And plenty of good ole’ American FUN!

We’ve been saying that next year we are going to have a ferris wheel and need police escorts!  Alright, maybe just a pancake breakfast.  Or maybe just the same thing over again.  I’ll tell you what, I’m counting down already!  Thanks Kyle & Sarah.  That was the best!

Next was present time!

Polly, Chris’s Aunt, brought Lucy a tea set that was Diane’s.  It’s a Little Red Ridding Hood tea set, and Lucy thinks it’s about the best thing in the world.

Then came my favorite part of the day.  Since Luke’s birthday in February, I had been plotting to get the kids bikes.  We held off on buying one in February (when it’s still cold and rainy and have only one for the kids to fight over) and thought we would buy 2 in April/May, when they could each have their own and ride them in the warm sun.  Saturday afternoon we set off to Target.  On the way home we phoned Chris’s parents to tell them about our purchase.  Chris’s dad offered to put them together for Chris, but Chris decided that he wanted to put the bikes together himself.  At 1:30am on Sunday morning when the Big Wheels were finally both assembled Chris decided that the next time his dad offers he’s just going to take him up on it.  Whew!  If only Ikea manufactured Big Wheels!  Needless to say, he did a great job…we kept them hidden for a big surprise:

This next picture is one of my favorites!  I can hear the sheet go WWHHHHOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHH!

And then, Luke’s face lit up with a grin that – I’m serious – was still on his face when he fell asleep.  He was giggling….and SO excited to have his very own Big Wheel.

These were too striking!  I had to  leave them big

As you can see Lucy was excited too.  Later that evening, Chris and I played with the kids and their Big Wheels outside.  The light was amazing and so we started snapping away.  Lucy was intent on strapping her baby safely on the back of her new bike.  It was so much fun to watch.

It was a fantastic day!  Thank you to all who came and helped so much!  It meant a lot to me.

Sara

When we asked Lucy what she wanted for her birthday she said that she wanted to go to Disneyland for a month will all of her friends.  We talked her down to 4 days with just the four of us, and she seems pleased with that as well .  Besides having annual passes that will expire in the fall, we look for any and every excuse to drive down the park.  It really is our favorite place, and some of the happiest times we’ve had with the kids.

Here’s three iPhone pictures we took at the park – one taken last October on the “L” of the CALIFORNIA sign right in front of the gate to California adventure and the two other taken with Tigger and Pooh during our trip in January.  I pulled them up to remind myself in the midst of all this last minute packing and cleaning that everything will get packed and we will arrive, and we will have the time of our lives.  If I am technologically able, I’ll try to post from the park!  Otherwise, be my friend on facebook (Sara Goetz) and we’ll be uploading our mobile pictures .

Enjoy!  We will for sure…

I hesitated for a minute and replied, “When it’s good, it’s REALLy good.  When it’s hard, it’s REALLY hard.”

“Yeah,” she said.  ”I’m still getting used to it.”

“Oh!” I said.  ”Do you have two?”  She motioned to the stroller.

“How old?”

“27 months and 3 months.”

And then it all came back to me.  27 and 3 months.  Just like Lucy and Luke.  I looked again and I saw it in her eyes.  I saw what was in my eyes when Luke was just 3 months old – the fog, the frustration, the wondering what in the world my life had turned into.  The wondering if I knew that this is what life would have been like if I would have signed up for it.  I saw how hard she was trying to hold it altogether because she loved those little ones so much.  I saw it and I felt it.  I felt it the way you feel a baseball slide perfectly into your glove and sting your hands for just a minute because the force was so hard.  It was like looking at me 2 years ago. Was Lucy really that small?  She was just a baby herself!

“I remember.”  I said.  ”It’s really hard.  It’s been really hard for me for 2 years.  It’s really hard because you aren’t getting any sleep and you are all alone.  I remember.”

“We came to the park because everyone was screaming and I thought if I didn’t get out of the house, I was going to die.”

I smiled because I didn’t want to cry.  I can’t tell you how many days I did the same thing.

I told her,  ”I remember getting everyone in the car and driving and not even knowing where I was going – all I knew was that I had to get out and away.  I remember taking Lucy to Ross to play with the toys because I couldn’t stay in the house one more second and it was raining outside.  I remember driving to Costco for a hot dog – but not really intending to go there, just arriving there somehow.  I remember being half way to my mom’s house before I even called and asked if we could come.  I remember.  I’ve been there.  The house was such a depressing place for me.  I just had to get out.”

“I’m letting her run in the spray ground because I can’t figure out how to give her a bath, get them both fed, and them to bed all by myself.  My husband is working late tonight.  He doesn’t get how hard the nights are for me and how I am ALL ALONE all day long with these kids.”

“I know.  It’s a two person job you are doing all by yourself.  It gets better.  Some people say it takes 12 months, others 18.  It took me 2 years, but it gets better.”

And then Lucy had to go potty.  So our conversation ended.  Abruptly.

But do you know what I didn’t tell her – I didn’t tell her that these are the best years of her life.  Because they aren’t.  I didn’t tell her that someday she was going to miss all this, because she isn’t.  It get’s better.  and better.  and harder.  but better.  I know, because things are better for me.  I’m starting to think that I like this gig and these kids.  And I’m finally enjoying being at home with them.  Finally.  I like getting up in the morning (on most days…)

Today, when I saw her, I wanted to cry.  Because I’ve been there.  Right there – where she is – living in that space of feeling so out of control and frustrated.  And alone.  And tired.  And overwhelmed.  But I’m not anymore.  On Wednesday we are leaving for Disneyland – and I’m excited!  I’m happy!  I want to go!  I have 4 loads of laundry to fold, 4 more to do, a house to vacuums and dust, food and 2 toddlers to pack, business stuff to tie up and I’m not in a panic.  I can actually imagine finishing a little dress for Lucy before we leave.  And it sounds like fun.  Things are better.  And I am so grateful for that.  So incredibly grateful that Lucy and Luke are who they are, that I am their mommy, and that they are both 2 years older.

I think blog posts require a picture…so here’s one that is evidence of things getting better.  The kids are older and bigger.  They can both talk and, for the most part, sleep through the night.  (sometimes.)  That they can get in their car seats by themselves and sit at the table to eat.  Oh yeah, and we have grass.  Never underestimate the power of grass.  And colorful walls. But that’s another post.

Sara

All of that to say that now it’s time to break out a new to-do list.  And the first thing on it…print the 48″x48″ prints for the frames that will grace the orange wall.  Luke’s pictures = LOVE for both me and Chris.  Lucy….it was more of a struggle.  So I wanted to try again.  I used the same old technique (Lucy!  We’ll got to Dollar Daze if you let mommy take your picture!) and she was more than ready to comply.  I told her that she could pick her outfit (minus a “princess dress” but I would have to brush her hair.  That’s fair, right?)  And she was still going strong.  Wow…the stars must have been aligned…

So we got dressed and brushed hair.  But then I started to hit a wall: Lucy went straight into auto mode giving me all of her silly faces and her less than charming smiles.  3 (almost 4) is a rough picture age.  So I started to brainstorm all of the things that we’ve been laughing about lately.  And then I remembered our “April Fool’s Day Jokes”.  They go like this:

Lucy, Luke!  Come quick!!! There is a ______________ (animal) _________________ (verb) in

_________________________(room of the house).

Example:  Lucy, Luke!  Come quick!  There is a bear taking a shower in mommy and daddy’s bathroom!

You would not believe the way kids laugh at that.  It’s AMAZING!  And I have started to find them pretty amusing myself.

(On a side note I have to tell you that one time we were playing this game in the car – laughing so hard our stomaches hurt – when it was my turn.  I said, “Lucy, Luke!  Come quick!  There is a squirrel taking a nap in Lucy’s big girl bed!!!  I was expecting a roar of laughter when all of the sudden it was silent.  Like – pin drop silent.  Lucy then said, “Mommy, that’s not funny.”  I guess you just can’t joke about Lucy’s big girl bed.  It’s off limits.  Lesson learned.)

Here’s the one that got these smile:

Lucy, Luke!  Come quick!  There is a platypus wearing up shoes (high heeled princess dress up shoes) watching TV in the living room!

(Notice: No reference to Lucy’s big girl bed…) You have to admit, that is a pretty funny picture.  At least, Lucy thought so!  And she lit up…and I just held down the shutter.  Which one should we print?

Really!  Let us know which one you like!!!  We can’t decide!

Oh – and try out your own April Fool’s Day Jokes.  They are pretty funny, I have to admit.  (Just don’t joke about big girl beds and you’ll be fine.)

Take care!

Sara

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