A few weeks ago one of my cousins got married, and it was such a lovely reception in the backyard of his childhood home. The pictures I snapped from the day were sort of random, I realized later (i.e.: no pictures of bride + groom, no pictures of brandon + I, either. No pictures of the ceremony.) Maybe that had something to do with how insane it was to keep up with our two kiddos running wild and nurse/feed the baby, as well as try to snag some dinner (and cake!). Yep.. this season of parenting is awesome, and we love it, but it is busy. My dad grilled meat for the reception, so that’s him there in the chef’s hat, slaving away over the grill. 🙂 And the kids LIVED to climb up in that treehouse in the yard, lower and raise the basket, yelling commands at any passersby to put something in their basket, which they would promptly pull up. We were super thankful + delighted that they had gluten-free cake, as it was the first gathering our little Phoebe has been to where she realized there would be yummy treats she couldn’t have. We had prepped her ahead of time that there would probably be cake and she wouldn’t be able to have it, but that I had packed some gluten-free Oreos for her. She was a bit glum, cake-lover that she is. When we brought her piece to her, she ran with it back to the cake table and double-checked with the servers that this cake was “free gluten” and she could have it. Then she sat by the tree and devoured it. Sometimes its the little things like this that mean a lot when you’re navigating a transition! Anyway, we were super happy to celebrate my cousin + his new bride, and wish them a lifetime of celebration!
Also, on the way home, we drove by this old house where I spent my early growing up years a few streets over from my Aunt + Uncles house. I sort of creepily snapped a photo from the car as we drove by. Lots of special memories wrapped up in this place.. the time I called 911 because my sister wouldn’t let my Molly (American girl) doll play with her Samantha. The time I swallowed a ring in the night while playing a “guess where i’m hiding it” game with my sister when we were supposed to be sleeping. (Guess it wasn’t a bright idea to hide it in my mouth and try to talk.) Lots of tree-climbing. The little play house my dad built for us in the backyard. Swinging on the swingset + singing my heart out. Playing with my BFF Wynne a block or so away. The old lady who lived behind Wynnes house, who we would randomly drop in to visit (unannounced). She had a lot of birds and fed us stale cookies. Riding the bus home and walking down to the house. The crazy rotting squirrel carcass we found in the front yard that was our first intro to maggots. Riding bikes up and down our long street with no shirt on the whole way, like my older brother, but having a vague feeling that maybe a girl shouldn’t be doing that? The best place for trick-or-treating. The neighbor boys laughing at our early bedtime. I guess it’s weird what you remember about a place. Anyway, it was sweet to show it to the kids and to see it again.
everything He gives 