Months in Photos

April 4, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett2 Comments

I gave up on my 365 project because I can’t remember on which days I took certain pictures.And I would hate to lie to myself.Instead I discovered A Month in Photos over atsimple as that
And of course, I’m already behind.But here’s February and Marchso now I’m all caught up.

In Februarywe celebrated Amelia’s 2nd birthday with a Pooh partyand my 32nd with birthday brownieswe did some acts of love and ate fondue for Valentine’s Joshua started a new job so he got a cake, toowe made a banner out of birthday cardsand ate popsicles on the porchBelle had a tonsillectomyand two ER visitsone for stitches in her chinFor such a short month, we sure were busy!

I can’t believe March is overand spring is here and soon we’ll be a family of six.We’ve been enjoying springKayden taught Amelia to shoot some hoopsBelle turned six and had a Hello Kitty party at the park despite the rainLeah Kate turned one and we celebrated with the BarksdalesI shopped the consignment saleand thank goodness, otherwise they’d be nakedJoshua planted the garden with lots of helpwell, sort of help anywaywe’ve already had an Easter celebration at churchand are trying out crazy hats because it’s already hot!
Maybe our April collage will feature a sweet baby boy….

amelia · favorite things · joshua

Favorite Spring Things

March 30, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett5 Comments

We’re reveling in spring around here. Except it’s 80 degrees and climbing so spring feels a bit summer like, except in the mornings when it’s still below 50 and my girls are shivering in their short sleeves and flip-flops.

That’s why they wear funny hats.

Okay, not really. Really they just like to pose for pictures.

Sometimes.

Amelia’s really into hide and seek right now. As in, I’ll hide my face from you and you can’t see that I’m eating a Lalaloopsy toy. Again.

Gus’s name is long. I don’t love it. But I love all the people we’ve named him for, except I never met Joshua’s grandfather’s father (who was Augustus). I do love Harmon (Joshua’s grandfather) and he’s excited to have a Gus again. I love my grandaddy too. He’s the Deforrest and he told me not to saddle this child with that name. Ah, well. Maybe he’ll be a big-shot lawyer who needs four names. Or a missionary in Africa who is glad Gus is easy to say and spell.

Aunt Calley made this banner by the way. Isn’t she creative?

She also had a bike accident with Amelia who’s had a rough boo-boo week. And in Calley’s defense she was injured worse.

Amelia also hung out with Mimi yesterday and somehow sliced her heel open. It’s worse than the minor arm scrapes from biking.

But don’t worry, she’ll still tell you what to do and how to do it. Sassafrass of a two year old.

Have I mentioned she loves men? We are in T-R-O-U-B-L-E. This is my friend Tiff’s husband, Daniel. He’s one of those great dads who sits in the little chairs during the preschool puppet show so that Amelia and his own girl, Violet, will behave.

‘Course Amelia’s got a pretty good daddy, too.

He helped her get crafty during the preschool Easter celebration Wednesday night.

This is my favorite Friday picture.

Have a blessed weekend and a beautiful Friday!

joshua · thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

February 2, 2012September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett1 Comment

Do you know how thankful I am for Julia?

She gets to be at the top of this list because sometimes I need a kick in rear to remember to be thankful for all I have been given. And, Julia, next time you’re home I’ll have you over for from-scratch chicken pot pie.

The rest of the list…

Yesterday Joshua emptied the dishwasher before he left for work. Then he did it again this morning. Do you know how much more motivated I am to load the dishwasher before three in the afternoon if it’s been unloaded for me already? Pretty motivated since it’s 8:56 and that chore is already out of the way.

This week I’m incredibly grateful for the new opportunity we’ve been given with Joshua’s job change. He’ll be working much closer to home with more flexible hours which means we’ll get much more time as a family. And that’s worth more than any salary.

Head on over to Black Tag Diaries and link up your Thankful Thursday post.

Christmas · joshua · reflections

Sacrifice

December 22, 2011September 30, 2015 Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

If you really had to give up something, a true sacrifice, what would it be?

I honestly don’t know. Giving up my job didn’t feel like a sacrifice for me. It felt like relief. And we may struggle, but there’s food on my table, clothes in my kids’ drawers and in the hamper, gas in my car. We may not have everything we want, but we have everything we need.

I think, in some ways, my husband is the one who sacrificed. He’s working at a job that’s not our ideal because someone had to have a paycheck. He drives 90 minutes everyday when I know he’d rather be home with us. He misses soccer games and play practice and Wednesday Night Supper and library afternoons and bike rides and cookie making.

He never complains.

I couldn’t think of a single gift to get him this Christmas. He doesn’t need anything. Except maybe some new socks. But I think, maybe, he just needs my support. My encouragement. My gratitude. I’m sure he’d rather have that than my grouchiness or frustration or lack of faith.

Merry Christmas, Joshua. You remind me everyday what unconditional love truly is.

family · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · joshua · madelynne

Porcupine Eggs

October 24, 2011 Lindsey P. Brackett3 Comments

You know what a porcupine egg is, don’t you?

On a fall walk last week, the girls picked some up and their daddy told them these little prickly balls (ours were green) were porcupine eggs.

They believed him.

At first it was cute and we played along. Well, he did. I just giggled in the front seat while they talked all about their porcupine eggs all the way home and Joshua told them they would hatch after they turned brown and split open.

Then we got home. And they made a house for their eggs out of a recycled Pampers box and some leaves.

And then they had to check on their “babies” every hour until they went to bed.

I warned him they would cry when he broke the news.

On Saturday, they forgot about the eggs for awhile when we went apple picking, but as soon as we got home they had to show their eggs to Mimi and Grandpa and tell them what they were going to name their porcupine babies. Then, on Sunday, the eggs began to turn brown.

“Daddy! They’re hatching!”

So he had to tell them. It wasn’t too bad, he said. Annabelle shrugged and ran off. Madelynne had tears until Joshua explained that when the egg hatched, all the little seedlings inside would grown a great big sweetgum tree. Then she lit up.

“Annabelle!” she shrieked running into the backyard. “Daddy said we’re going to grow a GUM tree!”

Joshua just said he hopes we move before he has to fess up to that one.