Singing School & New Starts

This summer has felt unusually busy to me. I'm not exactly sure why, but it feels like I am always on the go or on the road and not at home. So, blogging has gone to the way side. Last week, Karsyn and I went to Singing School - always a great time to freshen up on my harmony writing, I, IV, and V chords, etc... Singing School is a special time for me, not only because I get to spend time with my family who also goes, but because I spend a week with godly people who are also there to praise the Lord with all their heart. I have finally made it to the Advanced Harmony class, otherwise known as "practical" song writing, and find myself in awe of our teacher and some of the other students in the class (both young and old). Some people in this world have a gift for poetry and music... putting it down on paper and making a melody and harmony that speaks to and lifts your heart and soul. I am grateful to them! Can you imagine worshiping God without some of the awesome songs we sing? Singing School is also a time when I get to sing songs written by people at camp & there are some pretty amazing songs! We should incorporate them into our congregational singing too!

Also this week, Karsyn had some firsts. She is 6 months old now and weighs in at a whopping 14 pounds! She is a petite little thing and it is so cute to watch her move around like she's "big stuff." Really, she thinks she's just as big as the other kids around! At 6 months, one week I put the official "crawl" sticker on the calendar. She is still pretty slow about it, but it is actual crawling. Mostly, she crawls to a piece of furniture to pull up. That's right, I said PULL UP! Less than a week after crawling, she is trying so hard to pull up on chairs, couches, people's legs. It's fun to watch and laugh at her little attempts, but at the same time... YIKES! Seth didn't crawl or pull up on things this early and it has kicked me into baby-proof mode! We have stairs that I'm sure she will think are great fun if she ever finds them, also decorative things down low, now need to be moved to higher ground... aaahhhh! I've posted some pictures of her fun adventures during singing school... she loved to play on the floor during group singing, especially when her new little friend, Adam, was there... they just loved each other!

If I can figure out how to post a video, I'll show everyone the cuteness of her pulling up! :O)

Tagged. . . TWICE!

I must admit, I have been putting this blog off for a while. I don't really know why. . . maybe it's the avoiding "forwards" thing, or maybe it's the unknown answers to questions. Who knows! Anyway, I have been tagged twice now and figure it's time to step up and get it over with. So, here goes. . .

First memory. . . racing the boys in preschool and actually beating them!

First real kiss. . . Joey at church camp, age 15. Enough said.

First love. . . basketball. By the time I was 13, that's all I could think about. That and boys *wink*.

First concert. . . Accappella and I still love them.

First thing you think in the morning. . . That depends on what the first thing I hear is. (A) If it's Karsyn, then "not yet - I need more sleep - shh, maybe she's doze back off." That never happens by the way. (B) If it's Seth's sweet little steps sneaking up the stairs, "Go watch some cartoons downstairs Seth. Mommy will be down in a minute." (C) If I wake up on my own (no alarm), then I think, "Where am I and how long have I been sleeping?" That rarely happens to mommies for those of you without kids!

First pet. . . my dog, Chip

First book you remember loving. . . probably Anne of Green Gables. Wouldn't it be lovely to live next to the Lake of Shining Waters and have a bosom friend like Diana Berry? And do I even need to mention the dreamy Gilbert Blythe?

First question you'll ask in heaven. . . Hmmm... I just can't think of one... I feel like once I'm there and start singing and praising I will never stop.

First thing you think of when you hear the word vacation. . . Can we afford that?

First best friend. . . I moved lots as a kid, so a few names come to mind, but as far as as a REAL BEST FRIEND. . . Annie and I will always be kindred spirits!

Last time you dressed up. . . Does my wedding count? No really, other than church, I can't think of the last time I was really dressed up *so sad*.

Last thing you ate. . . Ghirardelli chocolate and a cup of coffee.

Last CD you bought. . . Jack Johnson

Last good book you read. . . Little Myth Marker, by Robert Asprin (clever mythical comedy my little bro recommended). I am looking forward to reading the new Harry Potter book though - coming out in late July for those of you not into HP.

Last time you cried. . . earlier tonight when Seth left for his long month away. He is gone to his biological father's for the entire month of July *tear in eye*.

Last time you told someone you loved them. . . again, when Seth left a couple of hours ago.

Last really funny thing you did. . . yeah, I 'm not really such a funny person. More sarcastic and dry with my whiplashes. Funny to me, but not so funny to others I'm afraid. I did record Seth singing a silly WoW song, "Roflmao," and turned it into one of my ringtones. Again, funny to Drew and I, but not to many others (especially if you don't play WoW).

Last thing you watched on TV. . . I'm watching Music & Lyrics while I blog. . . so funny.


This is the point when I am suppose to tag someone else, but I don't really do the forward thing very well myself, so I feel a little guilty tagging someone else. . . Hmmm. . . Oh well, in the spirit of learning more about great friends, I tag. . . Annie, Sarah & Apryl. (Hey you girls, don't feel guilty if you don't do this - hehe!)

New Things!

It is always fun to see what Karsyn's reaction to new things, specifically foods, will be... below you can see that she LOVES fresh veggies and fruit. Both strawberries and broccoli are winners! She loves to sit on the counter in her bumbo (yes, I realize the dangers this may cause, but I always stay very close by) and watch me do dishes or cut up veggies. It was here that she was eyeing a broccoli stalk that I left by her bumbo. I checked for loose pieces that may come off and plucked any remaining leaves. When I thought it was "safe" I handed it to her... what a fun chew toy! It didn't go over as well as the strawberries, but she didn't complain either. :O)






Seth went to an outdoor water-fun birthday party recently and he fell in love with the slip & slide! He has been asking for one ever since. I finally gave in (after he was cooped up in the hospital for 4 days - guess I was feeling sorry for him). He LOVES to run and slip - on his knees - and splash into the end. He is not always successful at making it to the pool, but he is not discouraged. He just runs back and tries again. I have tried to explain to him that he is suppose to slip on his tummy, but he just doesn't think that sounds right, and in his strong-willed little head, "on the knees" is the only way to slip & slide!

Sweet Siblings

I just love to see my kids loving on each other. Karsyn adores Seth and literally lights up when she sees him. He is almost always sweet to her. He lets her reach out and touch him on the face and she loves for him to give her hugs. . . she grabs hold of his head and just grins as big as she can (sometimes dripping drool into Seth's hair - but we won't tell him that *wink, wink*). Karsyn wakes up in the morning grinning and happy to see me. Seth is my sleeper though and he lays in bed as long as possible. He can't help but smile and wake up when I lay Karsyn on the bed next to him though. "Come here little sweetie," he will say to her. And then he will proceed to sing our little good morning song to her. I am sure they will be great friends as they grow through the years. God has truly blessed us with sweet little siblings!

San Antonio

Recently, Drew had work in San Antonio. What FUN! We joined him and while he worked during the day, the kids and I played and had fun! I love the Riverwalk... great place to people watch. Plus, the lights and music and of course good mexican food make it all the more enjoyable. We also took in some Ben & Jerry's (for those of you who have not tried the new Cinnamon Bun flavor - YUM!) as we walked along the river. It was good family fun!

We went to the zoo (a long 5 hour expedition... I always forget how big it is and how much time it takes to get through it - well, if you're zoo lovers like us anyway) and had fun gazing at animals, taking pictures, taking breaks, and eating snacks. Apryl and Tess joined us for the fun outing, so this was the first time at the zoo for both Tess and Karsyn.



Crazy habits. . . always have to take a picture of a flamingo / schwalla!




Feeding nectar to the parrots was incredible. God's beautifully colorful creatures would land right on you to take a sip of the yummies in your cup. Be careful though, they might try to take a nibble of you too! Karsyn did get a kick out of them though. She would try to pet at them wildly (probably looked like an out of control swat to the parrot) and then just giggle away. It was so cute!




My crazy little sister poses like the drama queen she is. . .

We also loved the Jaguar. It was very active... pacing back and forth through it's cage. It's paws were huge... would hate to run into it on a dark jungle night!

Tess and Karsyn enjoyed the zoo so much! Check them out having fun.... ZZZZZZZ!

We also made time to visit the Alamo. Seth really enjoyed it and wanted me to read every sign we passed (even the really long ones). I think we will really enjoy TX history!

Karsyn, again fully enjoys her Alamo experience. . . ZZZZZ!