Ross

A quick break from gushing over my girls to gush over someone who doesn't get the spotlight near enough.  I could say many things about how hard Ross works and how kind his demeanor remains in the midst of chaos, but I have a specific story to tell that is a testament to his character.  

Sometimes, at the end of the month, I realize that we haven't tithed and we don't have any money to spare.  I know this is backwards and that we should give our first fruits and I will just go ahead and expose us now.  And by us, I really mean me since I am in charge of all our finances.  I could easily write that check FIRST, but often, I do not.  I say that I will when we make more money or have hospital bills paid off or any other ridiculous excuse.

Residents can moonlight in their second and third year for extra money that is above the salary the hospital pays them.  Moonlighting is a hard call because we need the extra money, but definitely do not want Ross away from us more.  Two weeks ago Ross took a moonlighting job and I was counting the moments until that check came in.  And there it was, $800 staring me in the face.  I started thinking about paying off this bill or helping with that one and maybe sneaking in a few new outfits for the girls and set the check aside with some of my notes. 

The next day Ross said he needed to talk to me and he picked up the check and said, "I would like to give this all to the church."  EXCUSE ME?  Ummmm maybe the next check.....  Do you know how much we need this?  All that work for nothing?  A million thoughts went through my head, but I knew he was right.  I listened as he explained his conviction and was so proud of him for leading us in the right direction. 

I tell this story not to brag at how great Ross is or for you to think of how selfish I am (especially not the latter).  I tell this story so that my girls can read this someday and know how important it is to have a man leading the household with integrity.  So they will know how important it is to have someone gently call you out when your behavior is not in line with the commandments we are given to follow.  No, Ross isn't perfect, and many times I am quick to point that out to him.  I'm ridiculously far from perfect and considered sprinting away with that check clenched between my hands. 

However, on that evening, I felt such a peace knowing that the money was going where it needed to.  I threw away the list where I had divvied up all the amounts and thanked my husband for his faith and quiet strength that continues to lead our family. 

Preschool 2012

 Here is my sweet baby looking SO grown up at her meet the teacher night.

 

It was a great night and her teacher was so sweet.  Amelia was pretty shy when we got there, but she started playing (by herself) after a little encouraging.  She eventually played with a few people and seemed comfortable by the time we left.  Ross was working, so I had Elise to watch too and let's just say she was NOT shy.  That evening Amelia cried at bedtime because she said she would be nervous when I left on the first day.  I reassured her and we prayed for her to be brave.

Amelia was VERY excited on the first day, thank goodness. Here she is looking as adorable as ever. 

Here she is last August!

 She did a little jumping and dancing outside, of course.

 She went in with NO tears.  We talked incessantly all the way there about how much fun it would be and how awesome that she had a cubby and on and on and on.  I was elated that there were no tears!!  They have a one way window where you can spy and I just lingered there for five or so minutes to make sure she was okay.  My sweet girl!

Day Two

Love this dress!

Amelia Backstory:  Event though I loved Amelia's preschool last year, I was unhappy with the fact that Amelia had a very hard time during naptime.  I dreaded noon all day when I dropped her off and I just hoped she didn't get in too much trouble for not napping.  She never falls asleep until around 1:30 and most days just wouldn't nap and all and then would be cranky that evening.  PLUS, the school didn't have an academic curriculum (which I knew going in, but was not as happy with this year).  I told Ross that I just wished I had gone with my gut and researched other preschools, but I knew I had waited too late. 

Lisa is in Sunday School with me and literally two weeks before we were to start, she said she got a job at this preschool that added a new three year old class.  She was saving Amelia a spot if I wanted.  We talked curriculum and field trips and structure and I just knew this was the fit I was looking for.  She is done at 11:30 and it makes me so happy to pick her up and eat with her and snuggle her in for a nap at our own house.  She has table time and letter time and other structured centers and I just feel so blessed that the Lord opened this up.  Amelia handled switching schools way better than I thought.  I dreaded telling her because she just loved her old school.  Thankfully, she was easy to convince that this new place was a great switch. 

Elise Backstory:  I still rock Elise for nap and I still hold her.  Yes, I know she is going to be two soon.  All summer I had a pit in my stomach thinking of sending her to school away from me for hours.  The reasons that we were sending her just didn't hold up and Ross just helped me decide to keep her with me.  I immediately felt relieved and my tiniest baby is still home with me.

Zoo School

 This summer, Amelia got to participate in two Z.E.B.R.A. classes (Zoo Education Broadens the Realization of Animals) and she was so excited to head to our first one.  The teacher was a PRECIOUS volunteer who did a fabulous job with the kids and Amelia loved her.  The first animal that she brought out was a Monte the python and this was Amelia's reaction when she realized what it was.

 She also saw a tenric which is a little guy that looks like a hedgehog.  He was adorable and I got to pet him!  All the animals we saw and learned about in our first session were from Madagascar.  Amelia even petted a hissing cockroach.  YUCK!!

Marble painting box

Painting her tenrec

With her teacher Mrs. Sleight

The next session we learned about animal coverings:  fur, feathers, and scales.  Amelia loved the turtle that she brought out for us to see. 

 

 

But her and I both had a definite favorite and it was this little owl.  How cute is he?

 

Hard at work

Painting with a feather

 It was so much fun to spend time with Amelia and I actually loved the classes too.  Mom came up and watched Elise one day and Dad came up and watched her the next session and I was so grateful.  The girls like to be away from each other less and less and miss each other when they are separated.  But, I still like to soak up my time with them separately every once in a while.  The list for the fall Z.E.B.R.A. classes is out and I'm wanting to sign us up for some more!

August Vacation: Day Eight, Nine, and Ten

Our vacation didn't fizzle out the last few days, but the fun exploded!  Lynna surprised Amelia with a visit all the way from Kansas.  These two are such an interesting little friendship.  Amelia was two when the moved, yet she has a lifelong bond with Lynna and you would think they had been friends from birth to age 13.  They send each other letters and packages and talk about each other all the time.  It really is a sight to see.  We didn't tell Amelia until Saturday morning that she was meeting her best friend for breakfast.  She was ELATED.  Here they are meeting up in the parking lot.

Breakfast at Martha's, where they talked each others ears off

 We went to the Farm Park and there was a little festival going on that we had no clue about.  The bouncy house, face painting, and balloon animals were all a little extra fun to our already awesome day.

 Most people in line were getting these beautiful full face butterflies.  My sweetie pie steps up and declares she wants a whale.  The man asked her again to make sure, and drew this whale on her face.  She said it was exactly what she wanted.  Still cracks me up.

Lynna picked a whale so they would match

 We then went to Bass Pro to look around at the animals and fish and have a little lunch.

We headed home for a nap and got ready to meet the Wolfe's for dinner at Ocean Zen.  Those two hours away from Lynna were almost too much for the Bee.

 After dinner, we headed back to swim in the indoor pool at their motel and the fun continued!

Elise and Evan

 I went home to put Elise to bed and let Amelia stay at the motel to watch a movie with Lynna.  Then, I went back and got her and she was already SO worried about Lynna leaving the next day.  After church, they came to play at our house and eat lunch with us.

 Unfortunately, the time came for them to leave and Amelia was just heartbroken.  I was too, honestly.  I loved spending the weekend with them and have really missed Casiee's friendship.  After I had comforted Amelia for almost thirty minutes, I resigned to taking a few pictures to document the heartbroken fit.

Bless her heart, she is just like me.  She finally pulled it together and is already talking about the next time she can see Lynna.  We are so grateful that they surprised us with another trip to Springfield!

August Vacation: Day Seven

 We went to Silver Dollar City on Friday with Amy, Bryan, Will, and Walker.  It has been so hot that we haven't really gone since early in June.  This was one of the nicest days we have had in a while and we were up and at it early to get some fun in. 

These two were SO happy to have their Daddy home all week

I was super happy myself!

Waiting on our friends

 Amelia hadn't lost any of her daredevil prowess.  She wanted to ride EVERYTHING.  Fast, high, spinny, she doesn't care and wants to ride it.  Elise, still, not so much.  She got on the frog with Walker, because she loves him, but then cried the whole ride.  Perhaps her and I will just snack and people watch while Amelia and Ross ride from here on out, haha. 

 One of Elise's favorite things of all time at SDC is this orange sand.  She could play here for hours and thinks the entire trip is worth this, right here. 

Roller Coaster screams

 The weather was beautiful, the company was fabulous, (we also ran into the Hahn's and all rode some things together), and this was, according to Amelia, "The best day of my life."