Pictures in December

I didn't even try to do a 12 on the 12th this month. In fact, I don't think I even had 12 pictures to post on the 12th. So this is what's been going on here:

The Santa hats were discovered * We got "elfed" * Lana at the kindergarten Thanksgiving party * Our Thankful Tree * Pigtails are the CUTEST! * Clearly, I'm not a professional photographer. (Although I am looking forward to seeing the "real" photos * Sweet Nora * Crafting with ladies and daughters *

12 on the 13th!

Hey! Only one day behind!

Our first 4-H meeting * Rock Climbing at the Family Fun Night at Lana's school * Lana the Wallybird * The cutest jack-o-lantern ever, spotted while trick-or-treating * And now you shall be rewarded with a delicious, happy Nora * I was cold, rained-upon, tired, and sore, but that 10K got ran, dangit * Sweet notes from my sweetie * A family picture sneak peak * Two tired loves *Lana prepping for the "fly paper" bounce house at the Family Fun Night * The cutest lunch I've ever had * Queen Elsa and adorable Olaf *

Year Seven of Happily Ever After

Seven years ago Dan and I said, "I do" when we were supposed to, had a party with friends and family, then jetted off to Hawaii. 

Happily Ever After, right? 

Absolutely. And then real life happened, and we learned that Happily Ever After comes in fits and bursts. Happily Ever After has tears and disappointments, and it has heart-bursting joys and miracles. Happily Ever After has never been messier than it was this, our seventh year of marriage. 

First off, I crashed the car.

Yeah, totaled it, actually. I was driving to work with Lana in the backseat and I hit and icy patch and couldn't get the car under control. We ended up upside down in a ditch. We went to the hospital via ambulance. It was scary and awful and I don't recommend it to anyone. But we were fine. Some stitches and soreness, and time monitoring 37-week-in-utero Baby, but we were fine. 

 Then, three weeks later, on the day after Christmas, we became a family of four!

Nora Johanna, our 8 lb. 12 oz. bundle of JOY.

A few weeks later, (because Dan's little pick-up was feeling left-out, I guess) Dan slid off the road into the neighbor's fence.

Baby snuggles helped us all feel better.

Then the Seahawks won the SuperBowl and all seemed right in the world.

We ate too many cupcakes.

And enjoyed some steaks.

Dan kept the driveway plowed through the winter (with help from his valiant assistant).

Then Spring came and we (as tradition dictates) fished at Henry's Lake.

But not before blowing a tire and doing some body damage on the interstate. (Auto issues definitely was a theme of year 7, wasn't it?)

The garden grew and we ate (and ate, and ate) from its bounty.

Lana turned five.

And we again realized that they really do grow so quickly, don't they?

Our sweet cherub, Nora, somehow contracted Whooping Cough.

And we all dutifully took our antibiotics to get this bug out of our house.

(Don't even get Dan or I started on Whooping Cough. Nora is still, four months later, dealing with some of the fall-out from this disease. Trying to get a baby to keep still for puffs from an inhaler isn't fun. And it's really not fun that the baby even needs the inhaler to begin with.)

We went on a week's vacation to McCall, Idaho with my side of the family.

And came back to canning that needed to be done and a garden to tend.

Dan helped with the wheat harvest.

And Lana started Kindergarten.

And while we could have done without all the lows, (crashing cars, and Whooping Cough come to mind) the highs make it all worth it.

This whole Happily-Ever-After Thing isn't always happy, but it is always joyful. By sticking together through the mess, and by meeting challenges together, we're getting through it and doing our best to enjoy the ride. 

Happy Anniversary Dan! Let's make year eight even better, okay?

12 on the 12th (close!)

(Only one day late! That's a win in my book!)

Corn Maze with the family * Matching SISTER t-shirts * Hours and hours spent with my peeler/corer/slicer * Smiling Nora * Lana and the fort she and cousins built together * T-bones are the best! * In that bin is a dead coyote thawing, in my pantry. Yes, you read that right. If you want to know more, message me * Sweet sissie snuggles * Lana rocked the school pictures * Milking a "cow" * Jars and jars of canned goodness * Nora "helping" during fruit picking *

12 on the 12th

Happy baby in the swing * Lana lost tooth #2 * Harvest girls * Pile-o-pets * Waterslide at the church picnic * Harvest * Fields of Gold * My running partners * Visiting Daddy in the fields * Don't touch Nora's bacon * Quick visit with Grandma Sue and Bill * Back-to-school haircut *

Throwback Thursday: First Day of School Pictures

Okay, show of hands. How many of you parents made sure to take First Day of School Pictures of your kids this year? How many of you had your Facebook feeds full of these pictures?
Yeah, me too. And yeah, my pic of Lana-eating-a-chocolate-donut-before-school posted to your news feed last Wednesday morning around 8:30.

But guess what? These pictures are nothing new. I give you the evidence below:

The three Freston kids. Me, Jen, and Kasey. Circa late August, 1991. I'm heading to 7th grade, Jen's a 4th grader, and cute little Kasey is just starting out in kindergarten. Our mom made us pose for a picture in the front yard before we walked across the road to school. And with all that fluffy hair, a bad pair of glasses, and enough hope and enthusiasm to last the school year, we smiled and let her take that picture. Because just like today, First Day of School Pictures were just what you did

A Letter to My Daughter's Kindergarten Teacher

Dear Teacher,

First off, THANK YOU! You choose to teach and encourage little kindergartners, all day, every day. That is no small task and I am grateful for you. The Kleenex and play-dough we will be sending is a pitiful excuse for a thank-you gift for all you're about to do for us.

My daughter, Lana Jean, will be joining you this year. She's the tall girl, with the white-blonde hair and glasses. She's the one so excited she can hardly keep her skin on. She's the one with dirt on her cheek (already? c'mon kid!) and bruises on her shins. She's the one bouncing on her toes and likely singing a made-up song. Lana has grand dreams and aspirations for you and her class. Despite not knowing you, she thinks you are the nicest and smartest person ever. She's certain that with your patient instruction she'll learn everything from reading chapter books to building rocket ships and candy factories. She just knows you'll teach the whole class the best songs (complete with hand motions, oh how Lana loves her some hand motions) and new and exciting games. You've been everything this little girl has been looking forward to for the past year.

I tell you all this not just as a warning (although it kind of is. I imagine a room full of 25 kids this excited and strung out on high expectations might be cause for alarm), but also as part of a request. See, Lana's Daddy and I really, really like her. We enjoy all that sparkle and spunk. We get the biggest laughs out of her innovative schemes and ideas. We do our best self-reflection after a good talk with our girl, and even though we're now sharing her with you, we don't want to lose any of that. Please, Teacher, please, try to get Lana. Please get that she genuinely thinks everything is the BEST! Everyday is the best day and every friend is her best friend! Every new task needs greeted with outlandish excitement, because, it too, is THE BEST! Please understand all that curiosity and enthusiasm isn't poor behavior or acting out- it's simply her big personality and zest for everything.

This isn't to say Lana deserves special treatment or should be exempt from the rules. Not at all. There are no Special Snowflakes here. (And we, as her parents, aren't exempt either. We WILL be initialing reading forms, reviewing math facts, and signing up to bring treats to the class party.) Just please be gentle with our girl. She wants so very much to please you and be all you want her to be. She is a little girl who feels deeply, loves fiercely, wounds easily, but forgives fully. Your words and actions will become the ones she trusts and strives to emulate. It's your encouragement she'll thrive on. You have so much power; you have our Lana Jean. Please understand how huge this is. (And please also understand that I know that you probably already know all of this and deal with weepy and sentimental parents like me all the time. Thank you for not telling me to suck it up!)

Again, thank you. And get ready, Lana is over-the-moon excited to meet you!

Sincerely,
Shelle Lenssen
(One of about 50 moms you'll meet this year who probably penned a remarkably similar letter.)

Blessed Sunday (Father's Day, Nora's Dedication, and Lana's Birthday. Whew!)

Sunday, June 15th was a busy one for us. We had out-of-town family visiting and decided to cram as much awesomeness into one day as possible.

First up, Father's Day. Technically, our little family celebrated Father's Day a week early. Lana colored Dan a picture and I made some of his favorite foods and he got a little bit spoiled. Dan really is a great Daddy to his two girls and loves them both dearly.

That morning was also Nora's baby dedication at church. Pastor Terry officiated at our wedding nearly seven years ago, so it was neat to have him dedicate our baby and pray for her.

(Yes, that is Lana waving to the audience from the stage. Pastor Terry rightly stated, "Some of you may not know Dan and Shelle, but probably all of you know Lana. She is a little girl with a BIG personality." She was quite cute, but let's hope Lana doesn't always try to outshine her little sister.)

Lana loved sitting by Grandma Carol and Cousin Cody.

After church, it was time for Lana's birthday party. The rain decided to hold off, but it was a bit chilly, so sweatshirts were the costume of choice.

Lana had a great time with all her cousins and some friends joined us as well. I can't hardly believe my little girl is 5 now. She's growing and learning more everyday and is so excited for kindergarten.

Palouse River Duathlon

Last year I competed in the Palouse River Duathlon 11 weeks pregnant with sweet Nora. She was my running partner and biking buddy and I was so proud of myself for getting through the race. This year, however, it was quite freeing to run "alone" and let someone else take care of the baby for a few hours. (Plus, I think Nora is quite a bit cuter outside the womb, don't you?)

I was also thrilled to be participating with my awesome sisters-in-law, Angela and Lyndsey. Angela has done this race before and is an old pro, but this was Lyndsey's first time. She agreed that the hills are crazy-tough! (We live on the Palouse, we don't joke about the hills.) Having these two for extra encouragement was sure awesome.

For a Saturday morning in June, it was COLD! (Don't we all look frozen? Why I didn't grab a long-sleeved shirt, I don't know.) I think it was a whopping 42 degrees at the beginning of the race and it rained off and on the entire time. After the first running leg, I didn't feel shivering-cold anymore, but was never very comfortable.

I spent more time this year working on biking up steep gravel hills than I did working on running, so imagine my surprise when I discovered my running time was considerably faster than last year's, and my biking time was about the same. Overall, I was 5 minutes faster than last year. Let's see if I can improve another 5 minutes next year. 

 

Sometime during the biking leg of the race I got splashed with grease or oil or something and had a very attractive black streak on the right side of my neck and jawline. It makes me look tough, doesn't it? I'm sure all the other competitors were sooooo intimidated : )

Lana was my enthusiastic cheerleader and met me with hugs at the end of the race. Nora was hungry and met me with cries for food. Both were appreciated.

 

12 on the 12th (Whew! I made it!)

Campfire Coziness * Dinner from the Pasture and Garden * Farmer Love in Town * Saying Goodbye to a Great Friend * Lana Lost her First Tooth * Hiking with My Man and My Baby * Canning is Cool * 4 Generations of Lovely Ladies * Silly New BFFs * Playing at the Beach in McCall, Idaho * Lana's Black-eyed Susans * Nora has lots of Toys but Prefers the tag to Big Sister's Chair *

Memorial Weekend Tradition: Henry's Lake

We always look forward to spending Memorial Weekend at Grandpa Cy's Cabin on Henry's Lake, Idaho. And this year, despite auto accidents, illnesses, work stuff, and the concerns associated with traveling with a baby, we were able to continue the tradition. 

This is what we love about Henry's Lake:

It's really quite lovely and picturesque, isn't it? 

We love the quiet and calm, the fishing and family, the mountain and lake.

This is what we don't love:

Yep, a little over halfway to our destination, a tire blows and we're derailed for a few hours. (Let's just add this to our year of auto-related NOT-funness. I think we can be done now.)

But we eventually made our way to the cabin, where it was as lovely and peaceful as we hoped it would be. Lana and Nora were instantly loved on and spoiled.

Lana took advantage of "Camp Grandma" and painted rocks with Grandma Janet and went out on hikes and rides on the Maverick.

We also did a little sight-seeing in Yellowstone National Park. The bison were plentiful and the babies are so cute. We also saw a mountain goat, elk, deer, and a bear.

Dan and I decided that Lana should go fishing on this trip. Other years she had been too little or the weather was bad, but this year turned out to be just perfect. She was so excited and I really wanted her to love it. I wanted her to feel the rush of reeling in a fish and the fun of fighting to get it to the boat. I wanted her to feel confident and able to do challenging things. I wanted this to be a positive memory she could recall when she's a sullen teenager and mad at me. (Okay, so maybe I was putting a but too much pressure on a measly fish, but I really, REALLY wanted her to love this.)

And love it, she did.

That smile says it all. Lana fished the first day on "Daddy's Team" and helped Dan reel in fish and held them and poked them, but on the second day she caught this one all by herself. (Cousin Cody held the rod to keep the tip up and Dan did the netting, but for a then-4-year old, that's pretty close to "all by myself.") We all cheered and she was thrilled. Rock stars don't get as much paparazzi attention as Lana did after she caught that fish.

If Baby Nora hadn't been napping, we might have grabbed her for this picture and you would have received it as our Christmas card later this year.

Oh, and please don't think Nora was neglected. She certainly got her share of the attention. It just came in the form of tickles and snuggles. Nora won't remember it, but her first trip to the cabin was great for her too.

Thank you again Grandpa Cy, Grandma Janet, Cabin, Henry's Lake, and Stunning Mountain Views!

Thoughts on Being a Horrible Blogger

Yes, I know. I'm a horrible, awful blogger.

I've been posting once a month, and not even on the day I committed to. And all those posts have been a smattering of pictures with brief and incomplete captions. Bad blogger, bad blogger.

I'm supposed to be filling this space with stories of our lives, nostalgia of days gone by, the now-stalgia of today, the occasional recipe, funny story, and parenting fail. Obviously, I have done none of that.

Despite my lackadaisical approach (read: LAZY) I haven't heard one complaint. That tells me one of two things. Either A) My dear readers internally sympathize with my feeling-frazzled-all-the-time-and-when-oh-when-will-I-get-all-my-ducks-in-a-row current status, or B) No one but me reads this little old thing anyway, thus no one has had anything to not read to complain about. Regardless of the answer, I need to write here for me. Yup, Me, Myself, and I need this outlet.

Writing has been a very good thing for me. It forces me to focus my thoughts enough to put out, and helps me filter the noise from the music. My mind has to go quiet and I have to sit down for a few minutes to get out what I'm thinking. It's a great way for me to relax, and not something I should shelve any longer. Writing on this blog has the added benefit of serving as a family history repository. I know that the trivial and trite right now will one day be the good stuff I miss, and I don't want to forget it.

So I've outlined out a plan. For the next couple of weeks I'll get caught up on our life events, then move on to Winco stories and hilarious conversations with my 5-year old, and hopefully keep the momentum going and write more regularly. (Seriously, in the few minutes I've been typing this post, I think I've actually been more relaxed than I have been in a long time. Writing truly is good for me.)

12 on the 12th(ish)

I'm only 2 days late, and really, this blog would be completely neglected if I had to be on time.

 

1. Whooping cough sucks. 2. Sparklers are fun! 3. I have about 100 of these blondie selfies on my phone right now. 4. Sprinklers are the best thing for a hot day. 5. The Crimson Spoon cookbook is quickly becoming my favorite. 6. Photoshoot with Auntie Angela. 7.Cougar Kids Camp is where it's at! 8. My adorable running coaches. 9. Of course Nora's favorite lovey is Sissy's dolly. 10. Princess Lana waiting for the 4th of July parade to start. 11. Let the Canning Begin! 12. Yes, my house really does look like that some days.

12 on the......Whatever, we're 10 Days Late

Nora's Dedication Day * Toe painting instead of finger painting * Birthday awesome-ness * Garden-fresh radishes * Matching shirts and sister loves * Jumping Nora * Fishing * Duathlon * Sweet potatoes and confusion * Chubby baby makes me smile * Tire and truck issues do not make me smile * Some days you just need an umbrella.