Neltner’s Farm
carving pumpkins
Fort Thomas Pumpkin Walk
preschool Halloween party
Halloween gifts from Grandma and Paw Paw in Baltimore
Halloween!
“Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” —Steve Almond
kara
Friends
During a week in which I wasn’t feeling very well Angel, Zoey and Mya came over to take Sophie to the park. It was so kind of them, and Sophie loved getting out of the house. When they left, I watched Angel pushing a double stroller carrying Sophie on her back. And when they came back, Zoey and Sophie were sitting together, so happy. (Thank you, Angel.)
“Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.” —Virginia Woolf
OLOG Library Project Benefit Concert
Sophie and I will be attending this Sunday—I hope you can, too! All the money raised will help go toward a new library and books for children in Belmopan, Belize. For more information about the OLOG Library Project, go here. (And thanks to my friend Tari for the ticket design. Check out her work here!)
“Libraries: The medicine chest of the soul.” —Library at Thebes, inscription over the door
A Lullaby for Sam
Samuel David Sickmiller was born at 12:37am October 26, 2011. He weighed 8 lbs., 4 oz. and had a head full of black hair. He was born out of love and will remain forever loved, by family and friends.
“Samuel David, forever loved infant son of Mark and Jennifer Sickmiller, lost his life suddenly Oct. 26, 2011. Samuel is the cherished grandson of David R. and Terri Mueller, John and the late Nancy Sickmiller; the great grandson of Gloria T. Mueller and Marjorie Sickmiller; the nephew of Angie and Mark Armbruster, Adam and Danielle Sickmiller, Billy and Michelle Tegge, and Shaun and Amanda Reisenberg. Services were held privately for the family. ‘Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.’ —Emily Dickinson”
Sam’s dad, our good friend Mark, wrote a lullaby while our good friend Jen, Sam’s mom, was pregnant. Mark and Jen told me about it. At first, I couldn’t bring myself to listen to it, so sad I was for Jen, Mark and Sam. (Which, in retrospect, seems ridiculous when recognizing the strength Jen possessed to go through labor, knowing the outcome, and recognizing the strength both Mark and Jen have had to wake up in the morning to care for their beautiful golden retrievers, to eat, to put socks on, to breathe. They are two of the strongest people I know.)
A few days later, at around 3am, I woke suddenly from a hard sleep to one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. Andy, who was having trouble sleeping that night, was listening to it. Even never having heard it before I knew immediately that it was Sam’s lullaby. It is beautiful. And it is a most fitting tribute to wonderful Baby Sam.
I asked Jen and Mark if I could share it. They said yes. I wish the whole world could hear it. Because to listen to it is to listen to love.
You may listen to it here.
I can’t think of a more fitting quote than to end this post with the one Jen and Mark chose for Sam’s obituary. It holds such great truth. Sam, you are loved. By many.
“Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” —Emily Dickinson
Sophie, While Eating Pomegranate Seeds
Sophie: “Look at me!”
Me: “What?”
Sophie: “I have a seed stuck in my nose!”
Me: “What?! Take it out! It could get stuck!”
Sophie: “No it won’t.”
To prove this, she then takes it out. And eats it.
“Children are a great comfort in your old age—and they help you reach it faster, too.” —Lionel Kauffman
Sophie’s Tree
This is Sophie’s tree. We love it because, from the front porch, it blocks the view of the gas station across the street. And it’s a late bloomer, providing lovely little white flowers in June.
Sophie loves it because the branches are perfect for climbing. I had a tree like that when I was girl, in my front yard. It is one of my strongest memories from childhood—sitting on the same branch, almost every day, shaking the branches above me as if they were puppets. I had names for them. I made up stories about them. I spent many hours up in that tree. It must be in my blood. And Sophie’s blood. For my mom recently said she spent hours in a tree too, as a child, reading books. Homeowners who would like to add new trees in their yard may consider hiring a tree planting expert.
I sometimes miss those parts of childhood, the parts in which it is perfectly normal and acceptable to sit in a tree for no other reason than to sit in a tree. One summer evening, at our old house, before children, I decided on a whim to climb one of the evergreens in our backyard. Climbing up was easy. Climbing down, not so much. I was stuck—high up stuck. I sat in that tree for a long time thinking surely Andy would come out looking for me. But I guess it never occurred to him that his 20something wife might decide on a whim to climb an evergreen tree in our backyard and get herself stuck. So I had to yell. Thankfully Andy heard me yelling and not a neighbor. He helped me down. Yes, the love of trees runs deep in this family. Of course, when trees become too large, damaged, or unsafe near homes, professional services like tree removal Mernda can help homeowners manage their landscapes safely while still appreciating the beauty trees bring to a yard. We hire a professional landscaper to help us with smart seasonal yard prep for changing Texas weather.
Trees can enhance a home’s curb appeal but if there are rotten or dying trees in your yard, they may no longer be beneficial. In this case, an emergency tree removal service may be required.
On this particular day it was so windy, up in Sophie’s tree.
I love the look of wonderment. I miss that.
“To the great tree-loving fraternity we belong. We love trees with universal and unfeigned love, and all things that do grow under them or around them—the whole leaf and root tribe.” —Henry Ward Beecher
A Perfect(?) Fall Afternoon
I have been purposefully neglectful about updating my blog. As much as I love my children I haven’t felt much like writing about them upon learning the loss two dear friends of mine have endured. I know it’s cliché to talk about hearts aching but that’s exactly what mine has been doing all week—no parent should outlive their child.
And this is what I struggle with: Why am I allowed a perfect fall afternoon with my three beautiful children while others must suffer so much? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why must there be tragedy, suffering and loss? How is it possible—and right—that while something beautiful is happening something tragic is as well? At any given second someone, somewhere is experiencing the most profound happiness. And at any given second someone, somewhere, is experiencing the most unimaginable sorrow. Why must this be so?
I suppose the answer is something along the lines of better appreciating happiness because sadness exists. And yet, my heart is so heavy. Life can be so unfair, so fantastic, so beautiful, so unkind. I have a difficult time accepting this, understanding this. And so I try to focus on the good—the perfect, sunny, blue-sky, falling leaves, pinwheel-perfect autumn days. The kind meant for falling into a leaf pile and chalking on the sidewalk and finding snake skin and collecting beautiful leaves and fighting your brother for a turn on the rocking chair and throwing your beautiful leaves in the air. And yet. And yet. And yet. Sometimes, some days, it’s too hard. The world’s sadness haunts me.
“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” —Kahlil Gibran
Owen’s Helmet
Lately Owen has been getting a lot of bumps and bruises on his head. Sophie has taken notice of this and, as such, likes to make sure he’s well-protected.
“The cardinal virtue of a teacher (is) to protect the pupil from his own influence.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tom’s 30th Birthday
Early October Sophie and I joined my mom and dad for a trip to North Carolina to help celebrate my brother-in-law Tom’s 30th birthday. Because they already had a full house we stayed in a hotel, which Sophie loved. She had so much fun running the long hallway to our room, admiring the swirly carpet. She was ecstatic about sharing a bed with me, without having to plead. She loved that there wasn’t a footboard on our bed and that she was able to slide down off the end of the mattress and onto the floor over and over and over. And oh, the breakfast buffet. She discovered Fruit Loops—I don’t think she realized cereal could be so colorful or full of sugar.
She was great on the drive. We left late Friday afternoon and got to the hotel very late Friday night (or, morning, rather).
The next day we went directly over to Katy and Tom’s house, and Sophie was instantly put to work icing cupcakes.
The task had an added benefit, which she was quite happy with.
And then Colleen woke up from her morning nap. Sophie and Colleen sat on my mom’s laugh and just smiled and giggled and smiled and giggled. Oh for the chance for them to do that every weekend with each other …
my dad and Colleen
Tom’s sister Christine made lovely party decorations.
There were several children for Sophie to play with at the party—these two were practically inseparable.
Happy birthday, Tom!
Katy with Colleen and Max—see, Katy, you’re so good with two! 🙂
Everything was beautiful. This is Katy and Tom’s garage. It was spotless and filled with tables, chairs, mums, football on TV—a perfect party.
I love this picture.
We spent a lot of time in the hammock.
Nini and Colleen
Pop Pop and Colleen
Sophie made Tom a birthday card.
Tom’s sister Christine and Colleen
Tom’s family bought Tom Legos (which he loves) and graciously gave a kit to each of the children. Sophie loved her little boat and loved helping Tom with the other kits.
Sophie and Alex
Tom’s mom and a sleeping Colleen
Once darkness fell there was fire and we roasted marshmallows—a first for Sophie. This is one of my most favorite things to do and although she was exhausted and pretty much at her breaking point, I loved introducing her to this well-loved life treat.
beautiful Katy and beautiful Colleen
Saturday night Sophie woke up suddenly, coughing like a seal. Yes, croup. So she was unable to see Katy, Tom and Colleen Sunday morning, before our drive home. Sophie and I stayed in the hotel room and colored while my parents had breakfast with them and Tom’s family, and then my parents took Sophie to a park so I could say goodbye to Katy, Tom and Colleen.
The leaves were beautiful on the drive home.
“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!” —Albert Einstein
Tall Tales from Preschool 3
A couple weeks ago, when I asked Sophie about her day, she told me about a man who visited that day, and that he “laid on his back to paint.”
Me: “A grownup or a classmate?”
Sophie: “A man! A grownup.”
Me: “And he was in your classroom?”
Sophie: “Yes. And he laid on his back and painted, just like this.”
(She showed me.)
Me: “What did he paint?”
Sophie: “I don’t know. I’m tired of talking.”
Me: “But he was there? You saw him?”
Sophie: “Yes!”
I thought about this mysterious man for a few minutes, not remembering seeing anything on the school calendar about an artist visiting that week. And then, I remembered something else: Each month the children in Sophie’s class learn about an author, composer and artist. This month’s artist? Michelangelo.
Someday I hope to stand with Sophie in the Sistine Chapel, and tell her this story.
“A beautiful thing never gives so much pain as does failing to hear and see it.” —Michelangelo