State of Obvious

Dear Charlotte, Carly was baptized on Saturday.  After some stress and movie trouble and programs printed wrong twice in a row, it went off without a hitch.  Carly wore a lovely white dress which you made and she positively glowed.  I've never been hugged so tight by the starfish child as when she came to me out of the font. When I took you to the airport, a most odious task I always dread because it means you are leaving, you thanked me for letting you participate in Carly's baptism and life in general.  It caught me off guard, I'm sure you noticed.  Because, I can't image it any other way.  If anything, I wish I had you more.  More tickling and laughing and comforting and loving.  Because you give all that you have so freely.  Because you make way and make time and make efforts beyond what's minimally required by ties of "family".  Because I cannot remember a time in my life where I have not admired you.  Although perhaps you ...

Married life is not what I expected.  Oh, there are some things that seem "normal" - you know, the kids, houses, dogs, jobs, worries, and all that.  But, I don't think anything can prepare you for what it is like to share your life if you're all in.  Because, if you are all in, you have to surrender.  Control, mostly.  You are no longer the only thing that matters. In the last sixteen years, we have: Moved four times. Welcomed two children. Had 3 dogs and 4 cats. Visited the Grand Canyon. Gone swimming in the Great Lakes and Pacific Ocean. Bought a house. Owned or leased 8 different cars (holy smokes!). Earned a master's degree and bachelor's degree between us. Had 10 different jobs between us. Stayed in really bad motels, slightly better hotels, and really nice hotels on various occasions. Been through: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, New York, Pennsylva...

August is a busy month in the T house.  Carly's birthday comes first (as noted), followed quickly by Josh, followed even more quickly by our wedding anniversary.  Quick fact: Joshua came home from the hospital on our first anniversary.  Fourteen other quick and dirty facts about my firstborn: Photo by DeAnn Payne thesipproject.blogspot.com -  He loves Godzilla. -  And Bigfoot. -  His long standing nickname is Chibby.  He earned it by naming his toys "Chibby" when he was playing pretend.  At one point, he requested that we stop calling him Chibby and start calling him Shredder instead.  That didn't really work out. -  Other nicknames include, but are not limited to: Chibnasty, Chibster, Joshy Boy, Joshy Boshy, Joshuweta, Joshy, and Bug-a-boo (though that last one is rather antiquated these days, sigh). -  Josh has a secret and special nickname assigned by his Aunt Charlotte which I shall not reveal. -  Josh love...

On this very night eight years ago, my little Carly was preparing her descent into the crazy world below.  Here are eight beautiful things about my miracle child. 1.  She's happy, so so happy.  In fact, she spent a good twenty minutes this afternoon just singing "I'm happy! Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy!  I'm so happy!"  It makes me believe that even though I do a lot of things wrong, I'm getting the important things right. 2.  She's crazy.  Cray-cray.  Flipping, jumping, screaming, off her rocker in the very best possible way. 3.  She's snugly.  Super snugly lately, so much so that she seems to be on top of me wherever I go.  Which is mostly fantastic, but occasionally smothering.  (But, mostly fantastic.) 4.  She's funny.  This afternoon she asked "Why do people have arms on their hair?"  Which was supposed to be "Why do people have arm hair."   5.  She tries really hard to ...