who needs a fancy dinner?

today my mom watched the kids (thanks mom!) while ben and i escaped on a much needed date day.

enter the national whitewater center in charlotte.   we did rock walls, zip lines and high ropes courses through the tree canopy.

we were geared up in harnesses all day so these are the only shots from my camera.

if you look closely you can see people on one of the zip lines. 

in the distance is part of a ropes course.   there were other courses in the trees with obstacles leading to zip lines that were also fun to conquer.  

we made some good good memories today.   

summer: day 1

hallie had her last day of preschool.

kinsley had her last day of kindergarten.  

it rained all day which was fine.  we get along great with arts and crafts.  

kinsley has been checking her frog hole multiple times a day.  

her theory that it comes out when it rains was proven correct.  

she was giddy.  

the release.  followed by an hour of playing in the pouring rain.  

a good start to summer.   

a beautiful goodbye

this converstion happened on february 23rd.  it was the week caroline was going through MRI's and testing.  it was a heavy week for kinsley for another reason too.

after she got off the bus we sat on our porch.  she sat on a chair and i knelt in front of her holding her hands.  it will always be etched on my heart.

me:  "sweetie, i have some really sad news to tell you."

kinsley: (in a paniked shaky voice) "is caroline okay, mommy?"

me:  (deep breath while realizing kinsley felt the weight of caroline's health)  "no, kins.  caroline is fine.  it's joey.  he died today, sweetie."

kinsley:  (a physical jolt.  eyes welled up immediately)  "is it because we didn't pray enough?"

me:  "oh, no honey.  god heard our prayers.  he loves joey and had a different plan for him than we prayed for."

kinsley:  "is he better now?"

me:  "he has a new body.  he has perfect joy."  the conversation continued that day and continues on.

i am in kinsley's class enough to hear his name woven into countless conversations.  he impacted his friends in a mighty way and i am completely honored to have known him.

today was the last day of kindergarten.  joey's classmates each wrote him a note and drew him a picture which they attached to balloons.  it was a beautiful tribute.

bird watching

who needs tv when there are tiny, brightly colored birds to watch at our bird feeder.

the best part is that every single time she sees a bird she excitedly yells, "mama!  mama!"  as if she has just witnessed the most spectacular thing ever.