The summer ends and school begins *insert groaning from crumbs*

Yes, school started last Thursday with not much commotion at all. Aside from the jitters of the first day everything ran smoothly like a well oiled machine. Reub was up and out the door to his senior year, yes folks you heard right. A SENIOR! It's hard to believe. He's grown up so much in these last few years. His wit and sarcasm are becoming more fine tuned, he has a girl friend, and shortly he will get his learner's permit. (Marty will be the driving instructor)

Sol was easy. 7th grade. Middle school. He didn't want anything to do with us. "I'll just walk, no really it's fine." And he did just that, easy peasy. It's only 3 blocks from the house, but still. This is a big year for him. No little brother at school with him, 8th graders, a locker, changing classes. He's ready though. He doesn't sweat it, just puts on his "cool" face and viola. He's good to go.

Woody had some apprehension, but we washed it away be meeting his teacher the day before school started. Then it was like old news, "oh yeah, I've been there a thousand times." Marty and I were able to walk him into class though, but then it was time to hit the playground. None of this waitin' around! He's really come so far... as Marty and I walked across the playground to leave we only looked back once and he wasn't looking at us. It was sad because he's growing up, but it felt good too, because he was brave and wanted to be there.

There is really something to be said for routine, I myself, function much better when the routine is in place. And we are getting back into that routine and it feels good. As much as I'll miss summer, I welcome fall.

One down, forever to go....

Yesterday was our one year anniversary. What a whirlwind of a year. It felt as if I'd just turned the corner to walk down the aisle to my Groom on a warm summer evening surrounded by friends and family. But really, it was 365 days later. And I am still madly in love, more so each day.

It's the good kind of whirlwind though, the kind where you are content in life and it just moves as it's supposed to. The kind where life happens and you follow it, bouncing along like a car on a dirt road, on a summer evening, knowing you are headed in the right direction, but not sure where you are exactly going.

I feel so blessed to be where I am. To be married to a man who takes me as I am, the good, and the bad. A man who takes the time to show me he cares, to make me feel adored, and loved. Who, without even knowing it, can take my breath away with a look, a smile, or even just the sound of his voice.

I am learning much about marriage. About the relationship it sustains and surrounds. Marty has taught me so much this last year about myself. I get excited for what our future holds, it's rich jewels we have yet to discover. But for now, I'll say thank you to my Husband for loving me the way only he knows how!

Happy Anniversary Love!


Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4 9:12

Moon Landing & Base Hits...

What a week! Tuesday Sarah and i had to be two places at once and somehow we pulled it off, well sort of. Julian had a function at his school called Night of the Notables and Solomon had his last baseball game of the season.




Here is Julian's costume... Night of the Notables is a project where each of the fourth graders pick a eminent person in U.S. history and do tons of research on that individual. i tried talking Julian into picking Johnny Cash, but he had better visions dancing in his head and chose Neil Armstrong. On the big night the kids go around to the parents and read off their index cards; all the facts they dug up on their character. Once they're done reading you are supposed to try and guess who they are...it was a lot of fun. Sarah slaved over the shirt, and had a almost disaster when the cat tried to escape the house while she was painting. The paint went everywhere and somehow we manged to salvage it. Nice going Peanut!





Solomon had his award ceremony on June 10th to celebrate the team's excellent year of baseball. The team made it to second place for the west-side division and fourth place over all. The picture above is of his coach Kevin Curry who brought each of the boys up and spoke to them about their year. Kevin said that the boys standing in front of him (Ethan, Bailey, Solomon, and Adam - who you can't see) were crucial to next years team. He also said that he is doing one more year of coaching because of those exact boys. WOW! you guys rule!


stay tuned for a big post on Reuben, who has been super busy with NJROTC!!!

Happy Birthday Solly!

Our little Sol turned 12 today, and he's cooler than ever! Just look at that face, it says "you talkin to me?" & "TCB Baby TCB"... this kid cracks me up. Solomon has one of the biggest hearts i know someone to possess.

Not much sneaks by you when you are around son. You always know if me or someone else is having a bad day, you always put yourself last when it comes to most everything, and you truly care about peoples feelings. You would have never of thought that when you were a baby though...from being breech before birth, to throwing things like rocks and forks, and don't forget those countless hours your grandmother (Jamie) spent rocking Mr. Colic in that rocking chair for hours on end. But there is more...

You always have a tone in your voice that is so soft and caring. You are the nurturing type, and i love your patience with animals and how sweet you can be. You have such a great sense of humor too!

Happy Birthday son, you make me so very happy and proud to be your father!


-dad

Happy Birthday Julian - 10 years old today!!!

Our sweet Handsome, cute and cuddly Big-Boy Julian A.K.A: Woody, has now joined the higher ranks of double digits. He's such an amazing boy! If you want to know anything about Halo, ask Julian...if you want to know how to harass a cat, ask Julian...if you want to see thee BEST dimples in the world, just ask him what a "Pish Dance" is! 10 years ago today, you made my heart race, and my eyes well with tears as i first laid my eyes on you. You had the softest cry as you took in your breath and exhaled with your first sounds... Thank you for being so wonderful son! -dad

John Spalding 1975-2008

it's taken time like a slow dripping faucet, to let this all sink in. it presses on my heart now and again that such a beautiful person is now gone from our midst and no matter what, that email will never reach you, that phone call will just ring, and your voice is gone from our ears.

it would never take anyone long to fall in love with John's personality. he made everyone feel as though you've been friends all your lives, and watched your eyes when you spoke to him like he was genuinely interested in what you were saying. he was a brilliant man, period.

John and i met sometime in early 1997 at the Hiawatha House (a hodge-podge of artists and musicians all living under one roof) and quickly became close. John replaced guitarist John Himmelberger and contributed half an albums worth of material for Ninety Pound Wuss' second full length album Where Meager Die of Self Intrest. we traveled all over the country, played shows of all sorts and talked and laughed and ate.

John was diagnosed with cancer and was succumb to countless bouts of treatmeant that would prove unsuccesful. John lost the battle November 23rd 2008 making him the third person close to me to meet our Savior in the month of November. what the heck is up with the month of eleven?

well, i think writing about you and the reminiscence of all the good times we shared is a step forward in this unthinkable loss. i think about you often friend, and know that you are in Loveland (John's term for Heaven) for all of eternity.

God bless you,
-marty

http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2008/11/24/lovelands-the-beautiful-truth-weve-already-stuck-our-heads-up-and-now-its-time-to-swim/

What does the smell of bacon do for you?

Wednesday night I made breakfast for dinner. Marty and Julian had left before dinner to pick up Solomon from baseball practice.

I began frying bacon after they left. Upon their return, Julian, who came in first yelled from the living room,

"It smells glorious in here!"

Yes. GLORIOUS. Those were his exact words. Heh.

He's my foodie in the making. Yep!

The little black and white

This is the usual face from Lou as I cook dinner. He wait patiently for any morsel to hit the ground. It's partially my fault... seriously, how do you resist that face? But, I do have to say when we brought him home he knew where the goods were. The kitchen was were you could always find him. We joke that he is a cat-dog because he loves scraps.

He has the softest belly fur EVER. And he's not afraid to show it off. The above picture is pretty normal around the house. Belly exposed waiting for some attention.

He loves warm laundry. If he's sleeping on our bed and I bring warm laundry from the dryer in it takes about 2 seconds and he's in it. Curled back up for a nap. It makes it hard to fold laundry because, dang it, he's so cute and who'd want to disturb such cuteness!

It's 2009, and I have nothing to say for myself

The post of shame. Things have been happening.... we've been busy. The Crumbs have too, but sadly I can't seem to post. Maybe it's because we've been busy? No, not at all. It's just I keep putting it off.

Marty is wonderful... he faithfully takes the camera everywhere so we can get great pictures to blog, but alas, I can't seem to sit down and get the show going.... *head-desk*

I WILL get this blog updated. I will, I will, I will!