Twelve years of Andante

Twelve years ago today, we welcomed our second born. Our dear Andante has always been "the 2nd child" - forever blessed with an older, doting sister. And he is a treasure.














We did work hard to train her to take over the household duties to free me up (yes, you can laugh, but anything we did, she also liked to do, like the dishes, and mowing the lawn as you can see below.)  She really was helpful too! 


























He was born on his due date - after a "false start".... and like our first born, he liked middle of the night deliveries (1:13 AM I think - she was 1:18 AM). So we had a "practice run" on the 9th with dear Patience - dropping her for the night with friends - and then picking her up, only to do it again the next day for real. That said however, we arrived after dinner on July 10th, I was not in labor, but they decided that it was "time," so they opted for the same procedure that helped move things along w/Patience.  They broke my water and waited to see what happened.  Let's just say that he was born less than five hours later.


























Going home a couple days later was interesting.  As with all our children, the relationship with the car seat was love/hate.  Generally hate - then fall asleep and you can see the effect of the drive home.  














We love all our kids, but the first two were special.  First there was our long-awaited and much cherished first born (gotta love the forced smile) and then "our boy".  There were some concerns we could even have children, and here we were with two fairly close together!  We didn't have any ultrasounds with these two children, so we had names for both genders picked out each time.  I admit to really wanting a boy the 2nd time.  I had a girl (my joy and delight!).  I just longed for a son.  When they told me "it's a boy!" I cried for happiness.  There has always been a special bond there.  She was my Christmas present, he was my birthday present.  And to have one of each is as my host mom put it in her congratulatory letter "La Choix du Roi!" (The choice of the king)






 From day one, he has been our beloved "Gift of God" (Matthew) and our stable and steady "Rock" (Alan - after his uncle, at whose wedding Papa Bear and I met).  He is our slow and steady child, with a personality like a wide flowing river, meandering along, easy-going, focussed, eager, and happy too.  He has a big smile.  I love it.  And I have loved every one of these special years God has given me to be his mom.

Happy 12th birthday, dear "Andante"!

Field trips and friends

The end of the school year brought many fun times at school and at home.

Vivace's class went to the local cemetary to replace the flags for veterans before Memorial Day.









Soon after that, his class had a "double" field trip.  First, they stocked the pond with fish.  Then, several days later, they went back to go fishing!  What fun he had.  He even learned how to cast!

































































One special Saturday in early June, long time friends came to town for "Girls on the Run" and called us. It was a surprise visit and we ate lunch at the park while our kids were playing baseball!









































Andante's team came in 2nd place after the playoffs.  It was a satisfying season with many fun games and lots learned.  He did make the 10/11 All-Star team so we've got more baseball in our future.









Constance enjoyed some very fun events during the year in her class. Her teacher did quarterly readers auctions. Kids would earn play money for reading on days when it wasn't "required" for homework, and then they could use that to bid on stuff at the auctions. It gave them incentive to read on their own, and gave them real practice on saving, spending, counting money, and the like. It was my privilege to help out with these each time (a "job" I loved doing!) and these were taken at the final auction of the year, including a shot of everyone with their items. Most of these items were donated to the cause over the years, and it is fun for us personally to see some of our "hand-me-downs" become treasures for others!




Finally, a picture of our new "tennis" buff - this was an end-of-the-year class picnic discovery. Who knew? After being begged and cajoled for a week, we've signed Vivace up for tennis camp this summer so he can actually learn to hit the ball on occasion.

Father's Day

Just a journal of sorts for this special day.  It began at 1:30 am w/me waking up to check on Patience - her bloods sugars were high when we went to bed so I had to follow up on a correction.  Roughly an hour later,  Vivace came in and woke us up because he was having a hard time sleeping - so Papa Bear tried to help him settle by inviting him into our bed for a time.  That didn't last long so they moved into his bed (a double).  About an hour later, Dante woke up.  He caught whatever has been going around the schools and the family (102 fever, sore throat, nausea, headache - at least four of us have had it now) and he got it bad.  It was time to medicate him some more (he was burning up).  So I did.  About 20 minutes later he vomitted it all up (into a bowl, but while on the ladder trying to come down from his bunk to the bathroom).  Needless to say, Vivace and Papa Bear were not asleep either.  I took care of Dante and remedicated him (he felt much better now) and tucked him back into bed with a clean bowl, and Papa Bear worked to try to resettle Vivace.  The sun was about to come up but we all fortunately got some small amount of sleep before Patience treated a low blood sugar at about 6:30 ....  Happy Father's Day honey.....

So after we watered the gardens, fed the kids, and half of us went to church to serve in the nursery, we gave Papa a few gifts (fancy cookies and a bottle of super glue with a cool applicator top and some nicely decorated fishing lures - no he doesn't fish but they were cute and a special gift from Vivace), and gave him the afternoon to nap.  I put away all the winter stuff, (finally - it took much of the afternoon but it's done), helped Patience with her summer math packet (which she finished - ready for the fall and algebra - she is so glad to have that done and off her plate right away), and Papa Bear got a few of his miscellaneous "to-dos" done - which is very satisfying.  We made a nice dinner, burned some sticks in the back yard (playing with fire - very fun), and relaxed.  All in all very productive.  Hopefully Dante's fever will break tomorrow (it was still pretty bad all day today) and we can get to the pool.  Glad Papa Bear got some rest and enjoyed his day.  Taking care of the kids as we did last night, and referreeing fights and sorting out lego disputes and discussing budget/financial stuff with me (among his accomplishments of the day) is really what being a parent and a Daddy is about, so we recognize the special father my beloved is and all he does for us.  Thank you Papa Bear.  Hope that tonight you can sleep in your own bed all night without interruption!

Parades and Cookouts

Our town's annual Memorial Day Parade, held the Saturday morning prior to Memorial Day, is always one of our favorite family affairs. We do visit with many friends as well!. We enjoy the flags, the candy, the cars, the firetrucks and the bands. It's a terrific time for all.

In the evening, we lit the fire pit and cooked hot dogs and marshmallows over the flames (and burned up our scrap branches etc too - double duty dinner and yard clean up!). The kids enjoyed sparklers as well.

Take me out to the ball games....

We're not sure where May went.  We think it might relate to spending multiple nights a week juggling multiple games sometimes on the same evening.  And we (parents and siblings) missed plenty of each others' games out of necessity.  Patience is done w/softball and has her Team Pizza Party this afternoon.  We're quite proud of her adjustment to the differences after playing baseball for several years.  Making the team was not at all a given - she squeaked onto the team if we understand right.  Dante's team is leading going into the playoffs.  The other two have had some rainouts but overall have had fun and learned a lot.  Constance didn't feel like playing one night earlier this week (she was exhausted and it was raining), but we explained that there are times you need to play even when you don't want to, because you're part of the team, and she pulled it together and played well.  Again, we were proud.  We like to play and have seen the usual opportunities for growth in both skill and character.  The season won't be done for another week or so, but there's no need to wait to share pictures of our four ball players, their teams, and a couple "action" shots as well as the rest of us spectating.