I've (still, always) got a little catching up to do

As in, I haven't written a blog post since spring. I'm not sure why--I think that once the dissertation was submitted, I was just burned out on writing much of anything for awhile! Also, it seems that the realities of having four kids (and, you know, several jobs) has set in. There are always, always, always so many things to do and so many needs to meet. I'm not complaining, it's just true. So. Here we are, at the end of July, with few updates these past months. Let's try to hit the highlights.

Spring was fairly uneventful, as I remember. We just kept plugging away at school, and counting down the days to spring break (when all of a sudden time seemed to pass in double time). Uneventful except when I GRADUATED! I can remember a time when, several years in, I quit the program (in my mind) for about the 300th time. I was driving. An image flashed in my head that was basically this picture, though Eddie wasn't even a twinkle in our eyes at the time:

Without fail, seeing this picture makes me think of the verse, "if I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all wisdom and all knowledge...but have not love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2) I actually don't have the gift of prophesy and I can't fathom all knowledge, but I do have love! And a little crazy.

Anyway, the little vision kept me going for another day, which turned into weeks, months, and then years, and finally the day arrived! Graduation was quite surreal, but the parties and celebrations were very fun. There was a bounce house.

We also celebrated Easter in there, and Annie's graduation from kindergarten--I still can't quite believe she'll be a first grader next year.

"O is twisted alley-oop!"

Of course, I suppose I should mention we got a puppy, Bolt. Hmm, what can I say about that? ... Let's go with, it is not the worst thing that ever happened to me.

Nellie, age 8 (!)

How do you feel about being eight?  

Happy, but...happy. Because I get money by babysitting, and it means only two years before I can stay home by myself! [Not so sure about that.]

What kinds of things do eight-year-olds do?   
Babysit! Talk differently. Like, learn different languages.

Do you have a favorite birthday present?
I like all of them, but I really like the gift cards I got, and the money, and the Ever After High Books. I'm talking to you, Grandma Lisa! 

What are you most excited about in the next year?
Learning cursive! [Singsong voice] I like cursive, I want cursive!

Who is your best friend?    
Avery Hartzler. [Annie: Are you sure not anyone else?]

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Everyone who I know. If I know them. Well, in other words, everyone, if I know them. But then again, I like meeting new people, and playing with them, and being friends with them. I especially like playing with my cousins and my siblings.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Reading, sewing, hide-and-seeking, drawing, writing, watching...like bird watching and babysitting and that stuff.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Well that's a hard question, but I want to be a math teacher, and then I want to be a clothes designer. Like I want to earn money by sewing clothes. Like I'll have a little shop and put up signs everywhere so people will come if they have holes in their clothes. 

Why do you want to be a teacher and a seamstress?
Well, I like helping people in my own special way. I really like sewing at this particular moment. This day, and this year. 

What’s your favorite song?   
Well, any song that doesn't have any bad words in it. I really don't like any funeral songs, because they're all sad, and they're about dead people. Well, I like funeral songs that are about God.

Favorite movie?   
The Minion movie, but basically, any movie that doesn't have any bad words in it. [Have you seen movies with bad words in them? N: Yeah. Like "Oh my ___" and "I hate that" and "stupid."]

Favorite book?   

The same thing as the last question. Right now, Ever After High books, and pretty much any chapter books.

Favorite color?   
Green-blue.

Favorite place to be?

Usually home, but if it's someplace like a hotel--that's my favorite place to be. Or Aunt Pam's, or any place you can swim.

What are your favorite things to do?  Let me guess--swim?
Swim, read, sew, draw. I really like to draw. I like to knit, but I've only knit one thing, and it kind of turned into a disaster.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
Um, well, like I said, I really like to sew and I hope that can make good abilities out of me. I like to sew and knit, then I can give them away to people who don't have enough clothes. And if I get rich someday, I can give them money.

Annie, age 6

How do you feel about being six?  

Good.

What kinds of things do six-year-olds do?   
This one's really funny--watch TV!

What do they watch on TV?
[Giggling] Phineas and Ferb?

What are you most excited about in the next year?
First grade!

What are you excited about for first grade?
Girl Scouts!

Who is your best friend?    
Hmm. Robynne. Nellie. And my baby brother, Eddie. Eddie's one of my best, favorite babies. Mama. [In the background, DJ's yelling, "what, NOT ME?" Annie said he's one of her "suffocating friends." Poor guy.] 

Who are your favorite people to play with?
Mommy, Eddie, and Nellie! Sometimes DJ.

What kinds of things are you good at?

[Laughing uncontrollably] Watching TV! Working on puzzles. Helping people. Cooking. [Nellie: I have three things. One, sewing. Two, reading. Three, doctoring.]

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A doctor. Wait. First a teacher, then a doctor.

Why do you want to be a teacher?
Because I want to follow my mom's footsteps and work at MSU. I might even go to it for school someday.

What’s your favorite song?   
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

What's your favorite food?
Fudge brownie goldfish.

Favorite movie?   
The Minion Movie!

Favorite book?   

Harold and the Purple Crayon. 

Favorite color?   
Purple!

Favorite place to be?

Heaven. But I've never been there before. [How about your favorite place that you have been?] School.

What are your favorite things to do?   
Watch TV. Play on the iPad.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?   
That I'm jealous of my sister. Because she has diving rings!