The Pearsons Four are in St. Louis! Matthew and Peter unloaded our belongings in Princeton and flew back to St. Louis, where the kids and I met them (and Melanie and Grayson and Lillian) the following day. The Pearson-Maynor reunion has been a great one. Our (collective) four children are playing hard and the grown ups are making plans for our next reunion.
We're encouraged and we're enjoying our vacation. If I don't blog for a week or so, it is because we're busy making memories to share. Next stop (in about 5 days) is Memphis.
By the way, the picture posted here is from our last trip to the Lou in 2007. We took the kids to the St. Louis City Museum, which is the BEST (and most wild) kiddo museum I know of. This pic shows Matthew, Abby (then 5) and Lillian (4) traversing a steel mesh tunnel suspended MANY stories above the ground. Not your average museum activity, hey?
June 25, 2009
June 24, 2009
Southern California Fun
I'll let the pictures do the talking! Click on this pic to get to my flickr photos
June 17, 2009
Nine Years and counting
Today is our 9th wedding anniversary! I do wish I could spend it with Matthew, but he is busy driving everything we own across the country. Nine years SOUNDS like a long time to me. That's not a boast; it's a testimony to what having a firm foundation can do for two very fallible, broken people. We are not the same people we were nine years ago, and I can say with confidence that we love who we are becoming together. We also love each other more now than we did nine years ago. More than ever, I feel like I have a real partner in this life. We have lots to figure out about how to love, forgive, encourage, and challenge each other; but we've also figured a lot out along the way these past 9 years. I love that when things are strained between us, we can't go for long without having to sit on the couch and work it out--or at least identify it and begin the process of making it right. That gives me hope--not that things will always be happy and lovely (one needs no more than a few months of marriage to figure that out), but that no matter what we face or who is being selfish or mean or resentful or ridiculous, we have ways of getting at the roots not just the symptoms.
Nine years of an intact marriage does not happen in a bubble nor does it just happen. It is celebrated and fostered and mended over and over with the help of faithful friends who keep pointing us back to the grace we need and the grace we need to give. We're learning how to be FOR the other, when things are going swimmingly and when we're mad as hornets at each other.
I just got to talk to Matty, who crossed the state line into Missouri while on the phone! Boy, I miss him. I am so excited about our new life and adventure in Princeton! Happy Anniversary, baby! Love you!!!!
By the way, if you ask Noah where he is moving, he will grin and say: Jersey!
Nine years of an intact marriage does not happen in a bubble nor does it just happen. It is celebrated and fostered and mended over and over with the help of faithful friends who keep pointing us back to the grace we need and the grace we need to give. We're learning how to be FOR the other, when things are going swimmingly and when we're mad as hornets at each other.
I just got to talk to Matty, who crossed the state line into Missouri while on the phone! Boy, I miss him. I am so excited about our new life and adventure in Princeton! Happy Anniversary, baby! Love you!!!!
By the way, if you ask Noah where he is moving, he will grin and say: Jersey!
June 15, 2009
off we go
This is where our stories take a bit of a split path. The kiddos and I are in San Diego at my mom's house, while Matthew finishes up the dirty, heavy, yucky work of packing a moving truck and cleaning the apartment before driving cross country.
The kids and I arrived safely in SoCal and we've been playing with cousin Alec (and his fun toys) since. We have plans to go to Disneyland on Thursday, visit Mimi and Mia, hold puppies, clobber Aunt Andi, and go to the beach.
Matthew, on the other hand, has a far less vacation-like plan: yesterday he loaded the truck with help from Sean, Alison, Bron, Jeremy, Matt C., and Stan G. (there may have been others too?). Bron and Jeremy provided a delicious meal, a bed, and ibuprofen. Today Matthew is cleaning and planning to hit the road with my dad. I'll let y'all know of his progress as I get reports.
The kids and I arrived safely in SoCal and we've been playing with cousin Alec (and his fun toys) since. We have plans to go to Disneyland on Thursday, visit Mimi and Mia, hold puppies, clobber Aunt Andi, and go to the beach.
Matthew, on the other hand, has a far less vacation-like plan: yesterday he loaded the truck with help from Sean, Alison, Bron, Jeremy, Matt C., and Stan G. (there may have been others too?). Bron and Jeremy provided a delicious meal, a bed, and ibuprofen. Today Matthew is cleaning and planning to hit the road with my dad. I'll let y'all know of his progress as I get reports.
Dr. Matthew
It's official! Matthew graduated with his PhD on June 11th! Hearing his name called and seeing the degree of PhD conferred upon him was a life highlight for me, and I think for his Meemo too! hen we walked out of the pavilion to meet him, Matthew was standing at the top of a deep well of stairs. He looked like he was 100 feet tall, with his long blue gown, but the best part was his GIGANTIC grin and his white shades. I've never seen anyone look cooler. It was an awesome day!
We had a great BBQ party afterward with friends and family. This party would NOT have been possible without the efforts of Meemo, Bronwyn &Jeremy, and Kate& Mark. THANK YOU for your help!! I don't think I've seen Matthew as relaxed as he was after the ceremony, and he deserves to take a break! Boy this has been a busy season. More updates to come, but for now, three (thousand) cheers for Dr. Matthew Pearson! Hip hip Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!......
We had a great BBQ party afterward with friends and family. This party would NOT have been possible without the efforts of Meemo, Bronwyn &Jeremy, and Kate& Mark. THANK YOU for your help!! I don't think I've seen Matthew as relaxed as he was after the ceremony, and he deserves to take a break! Boy this has been a busy season. More updates to come, but for now, three (thousand) cheers for Dr. Matthew Pearson! Hip hip Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!......
June 8, 2009
the glad game (a rant and a resolution)
Any Pollyanna fans out there? Well, I do like that movie, and I'm thinking about the glad game: when you're unhappy, try to think of things that make you glad and be amazed at how it helps to cheer you up.
I need to play that game today. This morning Matty and I discovered that my (locked) bike-- along with the baby trailer connected to it and Noah's helmet to boot-- was stolen last night. I BOO HOOED BIG over this. These are my wheels! My way to get around with Bean head and to ride with Abby. I'm angry and hurt and SO frustrated at having this last week (so full of errands on campus and around town to be done) made much more challenging. I want to kick someone in the shin REALLY hard. And then kick the other one harder on Bean's behalf. He LOVES riding in the bike. What a huge bummer. Just yesterday Abby and I were talking about where we would ride in New Jersey. And really, what kind of jerk steals a bike clearly set up as a mommy bike and baby trailer and helmet?????????????? I don't get it!
Sigh. But I am still glad. I'm glad that my kiddos are safe and sound; that we're making good progress on packing; that Bronwyn is bringing me fresh cherries, picked by her own hands; that we're loved and will be missed by our friends in Davis; that this coming week brings family and friends together to celebrate big accomplishments. And I am VERY glad that Abby's bike was not stolen. Even though the combination of stolen bikes (Matthew's two months ago and mine last night) and other items (the baby trailer last night and several boxes of books last year) would add up to 6+ times the cost of her bike, I am glad she does not have to experience the feeling of violation so personally right now. I am GLAD GLAD GLAD for that!
OK. I am feeling a little better. It is just stuff after all, and it's not even that sentimental--just super practical and a symbol of what makes me feel most free and happy as a mom: bouncing around town with the kids and feeling the wind in our hair and hearing Bean giggle and say "weee. big!" when we go around big turns or down big hills. I am glad that the essential ingredients are still here for times like these--the kiddos are joyful, healthy and happy; the wind is still blowing, the sun still shining--There is SO much to be thankful for, and maybe the bike and the trailer will end up serving a purpose I can't anticipate. I hope, by some means, it ends up being used for good. Call me Pollyanna, if you like; I don't care anymore how foolish or naive I seem. I am happier if I can let these disappointments go. Acknowledge them, feel the anger (kick some inanimate objects around, cry, and talk it out with friends who can listen and not think I'm nuts for crying about a bike), then let it go and be glad and grateful to God for the countless blessings I have, which dwarf the inconveniences and injustices.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
I need to play that game today. This morning Matty and I discovered that my (locked) bike-- along with the baby trailer connected to it and Noah's helmet to boot-- was stolen last night. I BOO HOOED BIG over this. These are my wheels! My way to get around with Bean head and to ride with Abby. I'm angry and hurt and SO frustrated at having this last week (so full of errands on campus and around town to be done) made much more challenging. I want to kick someone in the shin REALLY hard. And then kick the other one harder on Bean's behalf. He LOVES riding in the bike. What a huge bummer. Just yesterday Abby and I were talking about where we would ride in New Jersey. And really, what kind of jerk steals a bike clearly set up as a mommy bike and baby trailer and helmet?????????????? I don't get it!
Sigh. But I am still glad. I'm glad that my kiddos are safe and sound; that we're making good progress on packing; that Bronwyn is bringing me fresh cherries, picked by her own hands; that we're loved and will be missed by our friends in Davis; that this coming week brings family and friends together to celebrate big accomplishments. And I am VERY glad that Abby's bike was not stolen. Even though the combination of stolen bikes (Matthew's two months ago and mine last night) and other items (the baby trailer last night and several boxes of books last year) would add up to 6+ times the cost of her bike, I am glad she does not have to experience the feeling of violation so personally right now. I am GLAD GLAD GLAD for that!
OK. I am feeling a little better. It is just stuff after all, and it's not even that sentimental--just super practical and a symbol of what makes me feel most free and happy as a mom: bouncing around town with the kids and feeling the wind in our hair and hearing Bean giggle and say "weee. big!" when we go around big turns or down big hills. I am glad that the essential ingredients are still here for times like these--the kiddos are joyful, healthy and happy; the wind is still blowing, the sun still shining--There is SO much to be thankful for, and maybe the bike and the trailer will end up serving a purpose I can't anticipate. I hope, by some means, it ends up being used for good. Call me Pollyanna, if you like; I don't care anymore how foolish or naive I seem. I am happier if I can let these disappointments go. Acknowledge them, feel the anger (kick some inanimate objects around, cry, and talk it out with friends who can listen and not think I'm nuts for crying about a bike), then let it go and be glad and grateful to God for the countless blessings I have, which dwarf the inconveniences and injustices.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
May 24, 2009
We're THAT family
We were up before 7 am this morning, not really by choice but because Noah was up. So we decided to try out a new diner in town before we leave Davis. It was an experience. The food was fine; WE were in fine form. It has happened. We are officially that family--you know the one with the loud kid who makes a colossal mess? The family you half stare at, half pray for (and half roll your eyes at while muttering under your breath: "They should teach their kid how to behave or just stay home."). Minutes after we sat down (in the back of the restaurant's 2nd room--the one they reserve for overflow and families with small children), we asked for them to adjust the temperature because we were freezing. Then Noah began his dog and pony show. The floor was soon covered with crayons and tiny bits of paper pulled from the plastic straws. Then the straws followed, bent and now contaminated by the floor. Next came the jelly. We were trying to preserve the half and half for our coffee, so Noah got to open and eat some smuckers jelly, which ended up on his lap before we could change our minds. We didn't really think he would be able to open the little container, but we were wrong. Breakfast arrived and the jelly was joined by apple sauce, milk, syrup, and sausage. Noah was happy as a clam, making pig faces at us, laughing at himself, talking in another language about the bear decor and the fine weather we were having. I wouldn't have cared that he was making such a mess except that TWICE he pulled the plastic bendy straw out of his milk cup and flung milk all over me. The first time was a shock, the second time less funny. On top of all this, his nose was running, he had kicked off a shoe, he was practicing eating with a knife, he was desperate to stir my coffee for me, and he was DONE sitting in this high chair. This whole time, Abby was contentedly doing a word puzzle and coloring the kid menu with expert precision and flare. She ate without making even a tiny mess, and she used her best manners as she sipped her milk and asked politely for the syrup. Is it possible these two children are related?
Thankfully, we were done eating. I left the waitress a 30% tip. We drove home and upon our arrival, I noticed that my hair was stiff from dried milk. It's a quarter to 10 now and I am thinking of offering Abby the car if she will watch her brother so I can take a nap.
The next time you see a family with a rambunctious child, have pity. If you are rich, buy their breakfast for them. If not, and if you can't help but roll your eyes, just don't do it till they leave; it isn't easy containing wildness the likes of our son.
Thankfully, we were done eating. I left the waitress a 30% tip. We drove home and upon our arrival, I noticed that my hair was stiff from dried milk. It's a quarter to 10 now and I am thinking of offering Abby the car if she will watch her brother so I can take a nap.
The next time you see a family with a rambunctious child, have pity. If you are rich, buy their breakfast for them. If not, and if you can't help but roll your eyes, just don't do it till they leave; it isn't easy containing wildness the likes of our son.
May 19, 2009
wise words from daddy
This afternoon after school, Abby was talking about ways to earn money:
A: I know! I could have a lemonade stand after school!
M: You can make a lot more money selling lemonade if you put a little vodka in it.
A: I know! I could have a lemonade stand after school!
M: You can make a lot more money selling lemonade if you put a little vodka in it.
May 11, 2009
mixed feelings
Our time in Davis is short. We're here for only one more month, and I can tell that the reality is starting to set in. We're feeling sad about leaving dear friends and familiar joys. Abby is more sensitive than usual (and she's usually sensitive!); each night this week has brought some tears and heavy thoughts about life, God, change, even fears about dying. This is not an uncommon thing for seven year olds to experience (so I read), and I vaguely remember a couple of phases of heightened awareness of my mortality--around ages 7, 12, and 30. I'm sure there are more to come, and I am glad to be able to relate to Abby when this happens. The hardest thing, though, is knowing that these thoughts are part of being human. (We hope) They will ultimately lead to a new respect and thankfulness for each day we have to experience and a deeper sense of how precious we are to each other and to God, but when Abby sobs and expresses her disappointment at the crappiness of death, it just breaks my heart. Last night she was especially upset over the death of Matty's mom and brother. She was indignant over God taking his mom away on his birthday (this, a strong emotion after celebrating mother's day and Matty not having his mother). Abby is realizing that there are no guarantees about any of our lives, and she is trying to make sense of something that hardly makes sense to any of us.
There is no coincidence that all of this comes up at a time when we are changing practically everything. For a family not at all used to moving, this is a time of great upheaval--in good ways and in tough ways. And this doesn't even begin to deal with the grown ups in the picture or the little guy, who is coming in to his own these days. He will probably adjust the most easily out of all of us, and maybe we can take some cues from his ability to express so purely his frustration and his excitement.
On my heart is the sweetest, sad and resonant wish from a parent to a child, beautifully expressed in Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, "Little Brown Baby": "Come to you' pallet now--go to yo' res'; / Wisht you could allus know ease an' cleah skies; / Wisht you could stay jes' a chile on my breas'-- / Little brown baby wif spa'klin eyes!"
I do often wish my kiddos could always know ease and clear skies--that they could somehow be spared the harshness of this world. But then I know just a little of the beauty and winsomeness that comes with suffering, and I wouldn't rob my precious ones of the full measure of love and wide-eyed adventure (good and bad) that this life offers. Sometimes we just need to sob and kick our feet and hurt about the sad things. And then smile and giggle about the happy things. And then keep on living and knowing that we will cry and laugh and cry and laugh--a lot. So, that's where we are--we're all kind of wild-eyed and raw and sad and glad. I'm finally figuring out that no amount of planning will make moving away any more graceful. We're gonna do the ugly cry and we're gonna wake up one day soon in Princeton and smile at the thought that we are home again.
There is no coincidence that all of this comes up at a time when we are changing practically everything. For a family not at all used to moving, this is a time of great upheaval--in good ways and in tough ways. And this doesn't even begin to deal with the grown ups in the picture or the little guy, who is coming in to his own these days. He will probably adjust the most easily out of all of us, and maybe we can take some cues from his ability to express so purely his frustration and his excitement.
On my heart is the sweetest, sad and resonant wish from a parent to a child, beautifully expressed in Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem, "Little Brown Baby": "Come to you' pallet now--go to yo' res'; / Wisht you could allus know ease an' cleah skies; / Wisht you could stay jes' a chile on my breas'-- / Little brown baby wif spa'klin eyes!"
I do often wish my kiddos could always know ease and clear skies--that they could somehow be spared the harshness of this world. But then I know just a little of the beauty and winsomeness that comes with suffering, and I wouldn't rob my precious ones of the full measure of love and wide-eyed adventure (good and bad) that this life offers. Sometimes we just need to sob and kick our feet and hurt about the sad things. And then smile and giggle about the happy things. And then keep on living and knowing that we will cry and laugh and cry and laugh--a lot. So, that's where we are--we're all kind of wild-eyed and raw and sad and glad. I'm finally figuring out that no amount of planning will make moving away any more graceful. We're gonna do the ugly cry and we're gonna wake up one day soon in Princeton and smile at the thought that we are home again.
May 10, 2009
happy mother's day!
We've had a wonderful day today (and it is only 4:00!). Matty and the kiddos made DELICIOUS pancakes with fresh strawberries, raspberries, and whipped cream to top them. Those were accompanied by a latte, bacon, and eggs. Yummmmm. It was a feast!
I napped off my pancakes while Noah napped; then we all took to our bikes and rode all over the arboretum and campus for nearly two hours. Now we're home and planning what we're going to grill tonight for dinner. Oh, and last night's dinner is worth a mention! M took me and Noah (Abby was at a b-day party) out for an awesome sushi/sashimi/nigiri dinner. Raw Ahi tuna is possibly my favorite food in the world at the moment. I'd have it for dinner again tonight if I could!
I hope all the moms out there are having as great a day. Most of all, I hope you all get to enjoy your kids, even if they are whining or saying "no" to absolutely everything you say to them.
I napped off my pancakes while Noah napped; then we all took to our bikes and rode all over the arboretum and campus for nearly two hours. Now we're home and planning what we're going to grill tonight for dinner. Oh, and last night's dinner is worth a mention! M took me and Noah (Abby was at a b-day party) out for an awesome sushi/sashimi/nigiri dinner. Raw Ahi tuna is possibly my favorite food in the world at the moment. I'd have it for dinner again tonight if I could!
I hope all the moms out there are having as great a day. Most of all, I hope you all get to enjoy your kids, even if they are whining or saying "no" to absolutely everything you say to them.
April 29, 2009
housing
Matty is a champion husband! He found us a wonderful condo super close to downtown Princeton. We will have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and an awesome loft space! This means we will have room for guests!! We are thrilled about having a place to call home when we arrive in early July.
April 24, 2009
Edenic, isn't it?
Matthew is home from a trip to Princeton to search for housing. It was a beautiful, frustrating, fun, lonely, fast trip, full of DELICIOUS FOOD and amazing sights--but we're still not sure where we will live. He searched all day for three days and put in one application for a condo near work (which is across the street from the university). We're waiting to hear back about that. If we get it, we will be glad to have an address and something of a plan. If we don't get it, we'll keep searching and hope something works out before July.
In the meantime, we are excited at how pretty the area is. Check out the other pics Matty took! It will make you want to come for a visit!!!
In the meantime, we are excited at how pretty the area is. Check out the other pics Matty took! It will make you want to come for a visit!!!
April 19, 2009
Picnic Day!
Guest post by Matthew:
Today we took the kids to Picnic Day while G's mom was in town visiting. While the girls were watching the wiener dog races, Noah and I went to the exhibit at the campus fire department, which included a medivac helicopter on the lawn. The little guy was in hog heaven. He got to sit in the driver's seat of a bunch of fire trucks, from a vintage 1929 ladder truck to a modern rescue truck. But the highlight, of course, was the chopper. He got to sit in the cockpit and see it up close, and he was happy to let me snap a few photos of him next to it. In this picture he's crouching down because he copies me when I crouch down to take his picture. He had a blast watching it take off a few minutes after this was taken. We sat on the curb just a few feet away as it took off, and as the prop wash blew his hair back, I think his ears were touching behind his head, but he had on the biggest grin I've ever seen (which may have been the wind too, but he sure seemed excited). It was a fun day, but we're exhausted, and I leave at 6am to go look for a place to live in Princeton. Wish me luck!
Today we took the kids to Picnic Day while G's mom was in town visiting. While the girls were watching the wiener dog races, Noah and I went to the exhibit at the campus fire department, which included a medivac helicopter on the lawn. The little guy was in hog heaven. He got to sit in the driver's seat of a bunch of fire trucks, from a vintage 1929 ladder truck to a modern rescue truck. But the highlight, of course, was the chopper. He got to sit in the cockpit and see it up close, and he was happy to let me snap a few photos of him next to it. In this picture he's crouching down because he copies me when I crouch down to take his picture. He had a blast watching it take off a few minutes after this was taken. We sat on the curb just a few feet away as it took off, and as the prop wash blew his hair back, I think his ears were touching behind his head, but he had on the biggest grin I've ever seen (which may have been the wind too, but he sure seemed excited). It was a fun day, but we're exhausted, and I leave at 6am to go look for a place to live in Princeton. Wish me luck!
April 11, 2009
Happy Birthday BEAN!
He is sleeping at the moment--nap time following an awesome outing with daddy to the Farmer's Market (and, more importantly, the "mee-go"). Abby and mommy got the presents and the apartment all set for his small party. The bus theme is made more delightful after Matthew had Noah's face painted at the market!! Noah is thrilled about the bus, and will point it out to anyone who notices!
I'll write again after we party it up with the TWO YEAR OLD!!
I'll write again after we party it up with the TWO YEAR OLD!!
April 7, 2009
abby's diamond quilt (top)
I've finally finished sewing the tops of two quilts I started a year ago! This one is Abby's "diamond quilt," which will fit a queen sized bed, no problem. She loves it and I'm looking forward to quilting it for her so that she can finally use it!!
Next, if you check out my flickr pictures, you'll see the top of the "Bananas" quilt Melanie and I started last spring break! That one too needs a backing and then quilting (and it will fit a queen or maybe a king), but I figure I'll need something to do in the cold east coast winter time!
I LOVE both of these quilts! YAHOO!
Next, if you check out my flickr pictures, you'll see the top of the "Bananas" quilt Melanie and I started last spring break! That one too needs a backing and then quilting (and it will fit a queen or maybe a king), but I figure I'll need something to do in the cold east coast winter time!
I LOVE both of these quilts! YAHOO!
coffee bean
he likes to mix the sugar and cream into the coffee... problem is, he also likes to drink the coffee.
eeeew.
eeeew.
April 1, 2009
news!
We have job news, at last! Matthew has taken a wonderful job with a firm in Princeton, NJ. The firm is run by its founders, two renowned Princeton economics professors. The work will be exciting and we are all looking forward to a big move to an entirely new place! Abby is most excited about living an hour from NYC; we plan to take her to see the statue of Liberty before the summer is over. She comments often on the height of telephone poles and buildings, saying--the buildings in New York are WAY higher than that, right? I cannot wait to see her face when she sees just how tall they are! If we can convince her to do it, I think a trip to the top of the empire state building might be in order.
As for me, I am SO proud of Matthew! I think this will be great for him. I'm also very thankful that God has carried us through months of waiting and stress.
My plan when we get to NJ is to stay at home and to help make the transition a smooth one. I also hope to have some time to soul search and decide on my own academic direction. As it stands, I can finish my work from wherever we go--I'm done with everything but the dissertation, and I'm pretty sure Princeton's library will have the books I need to finish the job!
Maybe Matthew will make a guest blog appearance and fill you in more, but here's the bottom line:
*we have a great job in a super cool city!!!!!!
*Matthew graduates (and walks in the ceremony) on June 11th here in Davis. Anyone wanting to be here for that is welcome to come! We will have a Memphis style BBQ to celebrate this huge accomplishment. Our apartment will be filled to capacity, so make lodging arrangements :)
*We will move on or before June 30th with stops through St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, DC, and finally "home" to Princeton--that feels so strange to say!
SO cheer with me for Matty P. for landing an incredible job in the worst economy! He is my rock star! Hip hip HOORAY!!!!!!!! Hip hip HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, go MATTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for me, I am SO proud of Matthew! I think this will be great for him. I'm also very thankful that God has carried us through months of waiting and stress.
My plan when we get to NJ is to stay at home and to help make the transition a smooth one. I also hope to have some time to soul search and decide on my own academic direction. As it stands, I can finish my work from wherever we go--I'm done with everything but the dissertation, and I'm pretty sure Princeton's library will have the books I need to finish the job!
Maybe Matthew will make a guest blog appearance and fill you in more, but here's the bottom line:
*we have a great job in a super cool city!!!!!!
*Matthew graduates (and walks in the ceremony) on June 11th here in Davis. Anyone wanting to be here for that is welcome to come! We will have a Memphis style BBQ to celebrate this huge accomplishment. Our apartment will be filled to capacity, so make lodging arrangements :)
*We will move on or before June 30th with stops through St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, DC, and finally "home" to Princeton--that feels so strange to say!
SO cheer with me for Matty P. for landing an incredible job in the worst economy! He is my rock star! Hip hip HOORAY!!!!!!!! Hip hip HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, go MATTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 23, 2009
friends
The Maynors came to Davis for a visit! The last time they were here was 3 years ago, when Grayson (turning 4) was a year younger than Noah is now! This trip was "supposed to be" a great time to celebrate our new job, to finish the quilts we started last year in St. Louis, and to be out and about as much as possible... But it was better than that, in ways we wouldn't have chosen or expected. We're still waiting to figure out the job situation; Noah and Lillian had fevers almost the whole time; Bean's nose ran (and ran and ran and ran); the daddys worked on fixing cars; and the fabric was looked at longingly from time to time...
What DID happen, and what we wouldn't give up for the "perfect" vacation: we loved each other in a very real life kind of way. We ordered more take out, took more naps, and prayed together in our weakness. It felt good to be loved for the mess we are :)
There was ladybug catching, car patching, smoothie chugging, laundry lugging, mess making, cookie baking, chair swirling, hair curling, singing, hugging, laughing, loving, bathing, reading, dancing, cheering, little-boy-spat interfering, merry-go-rounding, fire-truck sounding, tooting, hooting, wii-game rooting, pizza, thai food, striped noodles, coffee, pancakes, dishes? OODLES! Happy hellos, sad goodbyes, and hopes to do this all again, these are the things that make us LIVE, these, the things that make us friends.
Favorite quotes from the weekend:
Grayson: Noah, what did you do?
Noah: oot ! (Noah's word for "toot") *now imagine them repeating this conversation more than 100 times in 4 days.
Abby (talking about Matthew and Peter): Those two are great together!
We miss you guys already.
What DID happen, and what we wouldn't give up for the "perfect" vacation: we loved each other in a very real life kind of way. We ordered more take out, took more naps, and prayed together in our weakness. It felt good to be loved for the mess we are :)
There was ladybug catching, car patching, smoothie chugging, laundry lugging, mess making, cookie baking, chair swirling, hair curling, singing, hugging, laughing, loving, bathing, reading, dancing, cheering, little-boy-spat interfering, merry-go-rounding, fire-truck sounding, tooting, hooting, wii-game rooting, pizza, thai food, striped noodles, coffee, pancakes, dishes? OODLES! Happy hellos, sad goodbyes, and hopes to do this all again, these are the things that make us LIVE, these, the things that make us friends.
Favorite quotes from the weekend:
Grayson: Noah, what did you do?
Noah: oot ! (Noah's word for "toot") *now imagine them repeating this conversation more than 100 times in 4 days.
Abby (talking about Matthew and Peter): Those two are great together!
We miss you guys already.
March 17, 2009
Greener than a Green Thing's Green Bits
I get that saying from Bronwyn--my most wordish friend. You can have fun with it: "Noah, your feet are stinkier than a stinky thing's stinky bits" (etc.) Abbs had a great time greening up for school today. There was NO way she was going to get pinched.
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