Golfing

So, we have had to revoke back yard golfing privileges. Silas is getting too good. He hit one OVER our fence the other day, and I am scared for my window. We'll have to move the lessons to the golf course.

Bob The Builder

Silas is totally getting into singing lately. He has a great memory and I am always surprised to hear him singing the lyrics to a song that I thought he didn't care at all about. Here are two renditions of Bob The Builder...I will even sacrifice my own dignity to get him started.

Busting out the nick names

In the past I have been against nick names. I don't really know why, but I have even been so bold as to plainly hint to our extended family that we don't use nick names. We never did when I was a kid. Whatever our name was, that's what we called each other. I remember the naming process we went through with Silas Charles Bury, it was really hard to find a name we both agreed on. And, the name had such significance and meaning to me I didn't want anyone calling him anything different than what we had chosen...we chose it for a reason, to call him that! I guess another part of it is that my siblings and I don't have names that are easily shortened...Shadric (OK, bad one to start with, we call him Shad), Hessel, Sommer, Everett, Brenae, Vincent (OK, bad one to end with, we call him Vince a lot)*. But that doesn't stop some people (I have to just say that Jordan's family is the ultimate at nick names...I should make a list)**, they create nick names that are hardly (if at all) related to the name of the person. I just didn't get it. Until now.

For whatever reason, it is all making sense. Sometimes just a first name isn't enough to express the affection and emotion that a person stirs up inside of you. Maybe because Silas was a boy, we didn't do it as much with him, but our whole little family is on the nick name bus with Jewel!

Silas started it with calling her "Jewel-y". We all tried that for a while, but he is pretty possesive of it since it was his idea. He also calls her "Shooggy Baby" which is actually from Jordan's Dad who affectionately calls family members "Sugar" and has shortened it to (phonetically spelled) "Shooggy". I smile every time I hear him say that since I know it traveled from Pops, to Jordan, to Silas. Silas will also just announce at random times that she is a little princess, he says "that's what I call her, Princess".

Jordan has an array of options to draw from, "Ju Ju Bee" I think is the most frequently used. He also calls her "Shoogy" (the more I write this the more I feel like it isn't quite right...it's like saying sugar, but dropping the 'ar' and adding a 'y'). Jordan also has some names that will have to be short lived. They are too discriptive of her size and weight, not OK for a little girl (Rolly Polly, Chunky Monkey, Chubby Baby...just to name a few).

Surprisingly the affectionate names I use have nothing to do with her first name. Although to me, Jewel is an affectionate and perfectly fitting name for her, I also call her "Baby Doll" and "Lovey", and the one I get from my mom "Girly".

She has been really sick the last week. After two days of A LOT of crying (which is not like our little girl) I took her to urgent care and found out she had herpetic gingivostomatitis...which basically means she has little sores, like cold sores, all over her tongue and into her throat. This is brutal for an almost 8 month old baby who puts everything in her mouth. No nursing, no pacifier, no solid food...I was basically squirting milk from a bottle into her mouth and walking her all over the house until she would finally drift off for a short time. There isn't anything that can be done for her besides tylenol or motrin, and it lasts for several days. So, we feel very sad for her. The nick names have been used more than her regular name this week, there has been a lot of affection and emotion toward her...and I have to humbly retract my previous position...they are sometimes essential and always enjoyable.*OK, I have to be honest, we also call Brenae "B" a lot. And I do remember my mom sometimes calling me by my first two initials. If truth be told, I think Hessel was the only one who escaped totally nick name free, but I can't even be 100% positive about that.

**Jordan- Joby
Chris- Cribby
Mandy- Ders (or Dersy)
Abriel- Abbie- Abs
Brandon- B-digger
Ryan- Ry-Guy

Tulips

Oregon Spring

The Beach...again :)

A couple of weeks ago we woke up on a Sunday morning to find brilliant blue skies and warm sunshine. We could have gone to church, and community group, but we couldn't resist the sound of the ocean in our hearts. So we met Jesus in a different way. Our family desperately needed it. I feel like life requires to be broken up. A change in routine, new scenery, refreshment, and escape from the ordinary. That always happens to me at Cannon Beach. The drive brought long awaited conversation and connection with Jordan and I. Jewel was happy to watch the sun filtering through the trees as we drove, and we were all thankful for Psalty the Singing Song Book to help Silas enjoy the one hour trek.

We happened on a trail head that led us to the perfect picnic spot for lunch and wound us from open field to dense forest and gave us peaks at the cliffs dropping to the crashing waves. Jewel napped in the ergo while we walked. Jordan gave Silas critical hiking tips and wilderness information. He learned how to mark the trail when there is a fork in the road so that the way home is clear. He squished his boots into every muddy swamp along the path. He asked a thousand questions and although we answered each one I am sure we will hear them all again. I waiver between being immersed in the moment, feeling the warmth of Jewel up against me and the laughter of the boys, joining into the songs that are sung and the stories being told, and having this out of body experience where I can watch my whole family and just feel overwhelmed by God's goodness and love for me. This is what you gave me for my stay on earth, Lord? Amazing.




(quick shameless plug for my ergo...I hiked nearly 5 miles with 22 pounds strapped to me...I sold all my other carriers to get this puppy, and it was TOTALLY worth it. Love the Ergo)

Siblings

I know I am biased. I know everyone thinks their kids are the best. But I have some pretty convincing evidence. It's enough to persuade me :)