7th Grade

Brinley is one month into 7th grade. 

As a part of student orientation she had the chance to decorate her locker.

She had carefully selected several

  inspirational quotes along with family pictures to tape up inside.

We are so proud of our first born.

She is strong and resilient.

She is not afraid to swim against the tide when choosing the right. 

She is a peacemaker. 

She finds those who need a friend and reaches out.

She sticks up against those who can be unkind to other students.

She is confident in her choice to be modest, 

to refrain from using crude language, 

to value human interaction over the cyberspace world that so many in her 

school are so often emerged in. 

This world is not an easy one to be growing up in 

and middle school can be a tough time.

We are encouraged as we see Brinley's character continue to develop

through her middle school experiences.

First Day

Reese started pre-school in the second week of September.

She loves it!

She goes to the same pre-school as she did last year, but this year she gets to go three mornings a week instead of two because she is SO BIG now!

Prior to this "First Day" picture photo we had our family pictures taken.

 Reese was apparently quite observant of big sister Aspen who, 

during family pictures,

 whipped out all sorts of hip thrusting poses. 

We love this 3.5 year old girl.

 She has quite the sense of humor for a wee one and makes us all laugh often.

I've recently been wishing we could freeze her in time and 

keep her just as she is forever. 

Family

We took a few pictures in our house before going outside. 

Above is one of them.

And that's a wrap.

Sweet Sisters

Brinley

Avery

Aspen

Reese AKA Spitfire

Family Pics. 2015

After a two year hiatus, 

we thought it was high time for family pictures to happen again!

I may be partial, but I think we've got 

some lovely young ladies in our family.

We LOVE these precious children.

And as they've heard time and again, 

beauty on the outside means nothing 

unless it's matched with even an even more beautiful person on the inside.

And I can testify that these girls outer shine is just a representation of the 

beautiful spirits housed within.

Change of Plans

The other morning I set out for a nice long run with
Reese in the baby jogger.

As soon as I'd walked for a bit and was ready to start running
 Reese begged me to get out of the baby jogger and walk.

"Okay, but just for a few minutes and then you need to get back in."

Her footwear of choice that morning were Aspen's high healed
dress shoes that happened to be 3-4 sizes too big. 

My footwear of choice were running shoes, because I was going running.

She walked in the gravel, then walked/balanced along on the new gutter concrete,

 she even paused for a brief down dog stretch at one point.

Soon it was time for Mommy to run.

"Okay Reese, time to get back into the baby jogger."

"Mommy, I am a big girl and I do not need to sit in the

 baby jogger because I can walk just as fast as you."

That was when I had a choice to make. 

I had not been able to get out for a run in quite a while.

 I really wanted to run. 

The weather was perfect, not too hot or muggy and

 I had all the energy I needed to run...

but Reese is three, she is my last child that will ever be three and that morning

 Reese just wanted to walk alongside her Mommy.

So we walked and walked and walked at a slow and steady three-year-old 

(with high heals) pace...

and walking became okay, in fact, walking became wonderful.

I watched this precious little part of me 

as determined as she could be, to walk, not ride, with Mommy.

Soon enough she wanted to be in charge of pushing the jogger, but because she cannot see over the handle, the jogger ended up off the path every several steps.

On the path off the path on the path off the path...water break.

Push the jogger hard, run to catch up to the jogger, fall down, skin knee, repeat.

The longer I watched her the more beautiful this change of plans
felt to my content mother heart.

Life is short. 

Childhood is short. 

I'm thankful for the "change in plans" that motherhood consistently offers and requires.

 Many of those moments provide beautiful lessons and that mold and shape my character in a way that no other life experience could. 

And sure enough, several days later I was able to go for an early morning run,

and the sky was breathtaking,

and my heart was smiling...

because I made the choice to change my plans several days prior...

and to let my three-year-old walk beside me.

I took these pictures with my cell phone. 

This is all right around where I live!

I have a lovely life. 

Raising four determined, spit-fire girls is trying, no doubt...

it's hard and I cry and sometimes I just want to be a kid again myself,

but it's also beautiful and priceless 

and has changed me in ways I could have never imagined.

Baby Taggart Fox

After we moved in our new house I met Melanie,

and shortly thereafter Melanie was elated to find out that she was expecting 

baby #3 after many years of trying. 

(This is how Reese helped to prepare for the luncheon.)

How I have grown to love Melanie. 

She is a brilliant, talented, beautiful, strong and fun-loving friend!

Early in her pregnancy we found out that baby boy had a 

bonus chromosome 

and would be born with Down Syndrome. 

Melanie was A TROOPER through a very long pregnancy 

and all of us that love her so much just had to 

celebrate this special baby and Mama, 

 FINALLY she gave in to my somewhat ongoing asking/begging/forcing

 her to let me organize a celebration luncheon/baby shower. 

It was lovely, she was lovely.

I had many helpers, which was nice because Cody was out of town.

Brinley felt special to have finally aged in to the 

"you can be a part of the event" time of life.

Here is Mel, not thrilled about me snapping pics. 

Please take note how awesome she looked exactly 

TWO weeks before giving birth!

Guests help to stencil numbers on onesies so that Taggart can have his picture taken 

each month wearing the corresponding numbered onsie.

One thing is clear, Mark and Melanie have an army of people who love them and 

loved this little boy before he was even born! 

And finally, the beach beauty just ONE FULL DAY prior to delivery.

 Kim, you are just as beautiful. 

After so many months of waiting to meet baby, 

Taggart Fox 

made his way into the world on 

May 31st around 11:30pm.

Melanie did a great job and this beautiful boy is now surrounded by 

such loving parents, siblings, family and friends.

We are so happy he is here!