Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember all those spilled cups of water; all of you, it happens often. I went to wipe up the table, & this puddle so perfectly captured the reflection of the pussywillows on the table.  

Remember your boots, Ella; the ones you HAVE to wear, which is beneficial since you spend a lot of time in mud puddles, but not so good when you kick them off to run barefoot in 40 degree weather. Perhaps that's why your runny nose won't go away. 

Remember your forts- under the table and in the living room. You even slept in your living room one; we had strict orders to leave it up that day and night, for a slumber party. 

Remember one of our Easter art projects- using potatoes to make egg prints. Covey, you got a little carried away with the paint. Actually, you all did.

Remember your 'babies,' Ella. The ones you so happily love and reject; there's not a lot of middle ground for them. 

Remember your love for olives, Ella. You walk to the pantry daily, shouting 'olives! olives!'

Remember Ry's first baseball practice, Cove; we played catch for awhile then headed back to the truck. I asked you where you put your mitt, and your directions lead me here. 

Remember your 2nd birthday party Ella- your cake, your flowers, your friends and family. It was a beautiful day. 

Remember your obsession, Ella, with dumping out games all over the floor.

Remember how much you love your collections, Cove; you were so proud of those bullet shells you collected from the beach. Remember the collection you created at Ry's soccer practice, Cove; finding all sorts of (not-so-safe) objects behind the bleachers. 

Remember that red rocking chair- the one Ry got for his first birthday; the one Ella now sits in regularly. 

Remember when we dyed Easter eggs, Ry; you were so anxious and excited for the process. It was your first year dying real eggs. 

Remember that giant green duck egg, and how beautifully it held its green color; and all the other eggs you dyed turned out so vibrant.

Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember all the bananas you ate, Ella; you'd shout 'nana! nana!', then always follow-up with the sweetest sounding thank you.

Remember that day we went to Holiday Beach, where we got pussywillows to keep on the table. Always a first sign of Spring.

Remember that day all you kids played dress-up with your friends; you, Ella, were particularly fond of this coonskin hat for two days.

Remember when you, Rylee, decided this was your ninja symbol that needed to grace our table; it looks more like a ying-yang symbol to me, but not sure you know what that is just yet.

Remember all the dreamcatchers we collected, Covey, to help keep your bad dreams away. Sometimes they worked. 

Remember daylight savings time; when we gained that hour of daylight in the evening, when your room glows like this. When you boys argue it's not nightime because it's still light. You have a good case, you two, but you (usually) don't win.

Remember that winter, Covey, you always refused to wear coats, except this one. The blue fleece that was more of a thick long sleeve shirt, and completely inadequate for our winter days.

Remember that day, Ella, you spilt 2,700 beads on the floor; I think we may have accounted for 2,695 beads (let's pretend there aren't any hiding anywhere...)

Remember that day I was picking 2,700 beads off the floor and found this, as well; apparently, we were not winning with crafts today.

Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember the day we made Valentine's for your class, Ry, & yours, Covey. You both were so particular on which classmates got which color heart. Your thoughtfulness warmed my heart.

Remember the finished product; we all thought they turned out pretty cool.

Remember those dry erase crayons, Ella; you'd grab them at any chance & often color all over the dry erase board. As soon as I turn my back, you'd go for the pictures or walls.

Remember that day we made cookies, Covey, you called them the Everydough Everything Cookies because we added lots of extra treats to them. They were so good. 

Remember that scooter; Ry's scooter, but you're always on it Covey, you  much prefer scooting (is that a word?) to walking.

Remember those heart glasses, Ella, you loved wearing them.

Remember our growth chart on the wall, the one you've so artistically decorated, Ella.

Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember the microscope you got for your 7th birthday, Ry; both you boys loved it. That day we found a dead fly, you both were quick to rip off his wing & stick it under the scope...eager little scientists.

Remember that day we walked to Holiday Beach, us five & your cousin Myla. It was so refreshing to be outside, you guys all running around & soaking up that sweet salty air. 

Remember when our chickens started laying eggs, shortly before Christmas.  Their production increased little by little & before long, we had a dozen eggs. Ry, you're always so excited about those eggs & have told us a few times, "it's like they're giving us a gift!" 

Remember your 7th birthday, Ry, filled with parties, friends, family, cakes, cupcakes, lots of snacks, sushi & presents, along with seven polka-dotted balloons.

Remember that scooter you got for your birthday, from Nanny & Papa. You were so excited- you proclaimed,  'it's just I wanted!'

Remember all those lollipops that littered the house, post-birthday party. Ella, you thought they surely must all be for you- & then we'd find piles of opened lollipops. It was sticky. 

Remember that Skylander sticker book you got, Ry; you've looked at every single day for the past month. The stickers cover your desk, telling us exactly who these Skylander's are (but really, I still have no clue). 

Remember that day I came home from grocery shopping with all that yogurt, all three of you dug into it quicker than I could put it away...by the time you started your third one, Covey, you'd had enough. I'm not sure how many half-eaten yogurts I consumed. 

Remember how you always wanted to be in the bathrooms with your brothers, Ella...& then while Covey sat on the toilet, you quickly emptied the q-tips.

Remember that unicorn I got you Ella, to spray paint for a decoration in your someday room. Instead it's been sitting in the hallway as your necklace holder, & every time you see it you shout 'Nay!!!!!!' so excitedly!

Remember your dream catcher, Covey, you desperately wanted it; we all hoped it'd help with your bad dreams. At this point, I'd say results are 50/50. 

Remember that day we went to the beach for lunch; Covey, you & I found 'treasures' & decided to make faces out of them. You were so excited about it, & so determined to have happy faces on them.

Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember our advent calendar, the one we pulled out a couple days late, but still enjoyed for (almost) all 24 days before Christmas.

Remember our tree, the one you boys took turns placing the star on top of (technically a snowflake), & all the lights & snowflakes you helped hang on it.

Remember the day we got twister, how twisted up you three got with one another, resulting in deep belly laughs.

Remember your camera, Ry, that you loved to tote around with you, & then one day we found it sitting on the birdhouse. We weren't sure how long it sat in the weather, but we were certain it was no longer functioning. 

Remember when our Elf on the Shelf didn't return. Instead, we were visited by this sweet little Elf of Kindness.

Kids Were Here

'If you must look back,do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present... gratefully.' -Maya Angelou

Remember that year you become thoroughly obsessed with legos, Ry; it was the year you were six...& we found them everywhere, under our feet, on the table, in the windowsills...

Remember that day in November, you wanted to ski so bad, Covey. You put the skis on & walked all around the yard with them, but it was days before our first snow. You really didn't care. 

Remember that day we hosted a baby shower, Ella. We had just finished cleaning up, when you slid that red chair over to climb on the white chairs, & within seconds the popcorn bowl was spilled out everywhere. 

Remember that day I was making dinner, & thought it was awfully quiet...& then I found the stack of crackers & opened tub of strawberry cream cheese on my bed. 

Remember when we moved a desk into your room; you boys were so excited about it. So excited, you decided to cut up your Waldo book & make a collage. I loved your creativity, but was admittedly sad about the state of the book. Perhaps you were inspired by my encouragement of cutting up magazines. 

Remember that year you were a vampire for Halloween, Ry; & then we found teeth around the yard & the house for weeks after.

Remember all that artwork you all three love to do- the ninjas, the self-portraits, the turkeys, the camera, the walls....

Remember that cactus kit Papa brought you back from Arizona- you boys were so excited to set it up & you did, all by yourselves. 

Remember stepping up to the height wall, Ella, always eager to be measured like your brothers; & wow, have you grown since the last time we measured you (it may have been a few too many months since the last time). 

Remember those smiley faces you liked to draw, Ry, the ones that ended up on one of our pillows. 

& all over the back of your bedroom door.