secret garden

We've been planning, gathering ideas, and secretly working on this garden for almost a year. Clara LOVES gardens and gardening. I thought it would be delightful to transform a corner of our yard into her own little garden. As I looked for ideas, I thought it would be adorable to incorporate a miniature garden into her child-size garden. It has been so much fun working on these things. Elijah put in tons of time building the arbor, cutting wood for the path, digging, moving rocks, building benches. Kuddos to an amazing hubby and daddy to help bring the vision to life. Clara has already rearranged flower pots and has lots of ideas of her own. It will be a joy to help her make the space her own.

Clara Joelle, you have grown and matured so much this past year! You are becoming a little lady with lots of spunk, a tender heart, and an eye for beauty. We love you and cherish the gift that you are. Happy 5th Birthday!

Her miniature  "Tangled" garden..housed in a birdcage

do you see the yellow braid in the back? That would be Rapunzel's hair...let out of her tower. Clara is loving Tangled and all things Rapunzel. It was a fun challenge to include it in her tiny garden. Thank you, dollar store, for selling little lighthouses!!!

Always nice to have an orthodontist for a dad. He contributed wire bending tools so I could fashion a candelabra and a little arbor. Oh, and don't you think every tree should have a candelabra in it? :-)

"Wrapped" and ready. We waited until she was tucked in bed and then scrambled to get everything planted and in place before the darkness took over on her birthday eve. I was pleased to see that it had actually turned out ok when we saw it in the light of morning! ;-)

Here's the excited Birthday girl.

There are sweet truths tucked into her garden...like this one. Praying this will be a sweet place for her to enjoy and grow in her love for a creative and garden-loving God.

Happy Birthday, Clara!

Emerson's First Musical

EJ has had a fantastic first grade year. A high school teacher and fellow homeschooling parent at our church had the vision to begin a homeschool enrichment charter school that meets every Friday and offers an amazing assortment of classes. I had five pages of class descriptions to read through with EJ and he let me know what he was most interested in. This past spring semester he took a phys. ed. class, piano lessons, an art class (his favorite), a human body hands-on science class, musical theater, and spanish. On the last day of school, the musical theater class performed their play, "The Emperor's New Clothes". There were about 40 1st through 6th graders and they did a fantastic job. His teacher, Mrs. Seibert, often leads the children's programs at our church and coordinates the VBS music crew. She did an amazing job working with these kids each week.

This was EJ's first taste of the stage and he seemed to enjoy it. He practiced the music a lot at home over the past three months and never complained. We are so proud of him for his hard work and effort. Being in first grade, he was one of the youngest kids in the play. He was a "townsperson" and had one speaking part, a small chorus part, as well as being in the large chorus. In all, he memorized 6 songs with choreography.

I have one little clip of the song where he had his speaking part. It's less than two minutes. He's the only boy in the chorus line. ;-)

waiting for the show to start

He got an origami $5 frog from Gramma Jo and Papa.

His bouquet of paper flowers with dollar leaves. You were a fantastic "townsperson", E.J. We are so proud of you!

First Birthday

Where did those twelve months go? Truly, as I look back and think through the last 365 days, on one hand, I can hardly believe how quickly it went...and on the other, I can hardly believe how much life and change and growth has transpired. Oliver went from being a struggling infant in the NICU...prayed for by those we may never meet this side of heaven...to a busy, healthy, inquisitive, and delightful one-year-old. God is good - no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. We thank Him every day for breathing life into our baby boy and letting us enjoy him this year.

Here is a link to his birth story if you missed it:
Oliver's Birth Story Link

Oliver loves to play peek-a-boo, can get into almost anything, can dismantle almost anything (His favorite right now is dismantling the pack-n-play instead of sleeping in it.), waves, says "hi", waited to say "mama" until the day after turning one, rubs his ear to fall asleep, drinks more milk than a baby cow, has 4 teeth, loves to fly in his jumper and in our backyard swing, tries to sing along, makes us laugh every day, and has a smile for anyone who will look in his big blue eyes. He doesn't like cake, pancakes, applesauce, peas, or most baby food...or oatmeal...well, maybe I should just say, he does like bananas, strawberries, sweet potatoes and MEAT. Just give the boy his meat and he's a happy man. He's been expensive since the day he was born!

Happy First Birthday, Oliver!

the dimple...those eyes...

A little bit of Silly. And don't you love his tie and shorts? Gramma Jo made those.

blowing a kiss

 

Here is his first year slide show. If you want to pretend you were at his party: grab a bag of popcorn, turn down the lights, and pretend you're watching it with a room full of awesome people!

 

Or the youtube link: 

Oliver's First Year Slideshow

The Birthday Party!

I think I may have subconsciously chosen a circus theme because there are lots of days where I feel like I manage one...or TRY. There always seems to be at least one ring in shambles. But so far...no one has fallen from the tightrope and no tigers have escaped. I do think the elephants stampede through my house once a day and the clowns take their roles too seriously.

Oliver's cake (he wasn't impressed)

cupcakes for his many friends

This is for you, David & Melinda!

We invited our discipleship team and the 26 kids they represent to help us celebrate Oliver. Yay for the best friends ever! It was these friends that delivered meal after meal to our house while Oliver was in the NICU and who would come pick up our big kids and take them on adventures to lighten the load for my precious mom-in-law who was holding down the fort that week last year.

We set up activities for the kids. Coloring animal masks, bingo, basketball, disc golf, and a bounce house!

This is Oliver's beautiful Grammy (Elijah's mom). She arrived in CO from CA just hours before I went into labor. She spent the whole week caring for the older 3 while Oliver was in the NICU. We were so happy to have them here a year later to celebrate his Birthday!

MEAT

The grandparents! Thank you, Grammy and Gramma Jo for helping me set up the party!

sweet big sis

skeptical

really skeptical. Why are there 45 people singing to me?

and then they chanted...Eat the cake! Eat the cake! Oh, and see the pretty lady in the back with the camera and pink strap? She came early and worked SO hard to help me get his party set up, and she came with favorite coffee drinks in hand! Truly blessed!

you're kidding...right?

doesn't taste like meat

the only bite

Clara adores her bro

ready for the circus act

If you lasted through this loooong post...you must be a grandparent! ;-) 

And a note to some DEAR friends that may feel sad about not joining in Oliver's celebration. We THANK YOU for loving our family and pouring into our lives. So many of you have loved us with prayer, meals, and encouraging conversations. When I planned his party our resources determined that we needed to "keep it small" by including our church discipleship team and family.

WE LOVE YOU!

Worship Dance

Clara began her second semester of worship dance in February. She asks me every day if it's Friday. This class is very important to her and has really helped her gain confidence. During the hour-long class they have a devotional time and time to pray. They stretch and learn ballet skills with short little rhymes and pretend play. At the end of each class they have a short free dance time where the teacher encourages them to really forget about everyone else in the room and dance only for Jesus. The hearts of these teachers are so precious and I love how they interact with the girls, encouraging them to trust Jesus and love and worship Him in their dancing.

Clara and her best friend, Abby

Matilda was thrilled to be old enough to take the class as well this spring. She's been dancing through every day of her life. Tilly believes she is a princess ballerina and if there is music, there is a dancing Tilly. She dances with all her heart and not a care in the world about where she is or who might be watching...though she certainly enjoys an audience. She was the youngest in the class but she gave it her all and loved every second.

Tilly practicing a step with her teacher, Breanne.

This past Friday was the spring recital. Each class performed a choreographed dance to a worship song. Seeing the older girls and the teachers dance was beautiful. Each dance told a story of grace and new life both powerful and moving.

ready to wait for her turn

excited

"Jesus is the Rock"

"since Jesus Christ came in..."

"...and cleansed my heart from sin...I'm inright, outright, upright, downright, happy all the time." Elijah and I chuckled when we learned that this would be her recital song. We both think it's not accurate to say that when we become followers of Jesus we should or will be "happy all the time". But then, we can certainly "be joyful always".  ;-)

flowers for the dancers

Gramma Jo and Papa were able to attend. Gramma Jo also made this fantastic cake and they blessed each of the girls with a sweet rose.

I'm pretty sure they felt extra special and I love that they both danced with all their heart for the One they are learning to love.

Little goof...after a slice of cake and a scoop of ice cream...2 hours past her bedtime!

Love the light in her eyes.