new school

back in April i blogged about change...a school change was in the works for our four youngest, and we are finally on the other side of that much anticipated, frequently discussed change.  we are almost one month in at the new school, and i can honestly say~ all is well!  so happy to be able to write that....wow!  i don't want to over-spiritualize this post, really i don't....because i know all the cliche lines some might be thinking, like "kids are resilient", "kids change schools all the time", "kids adapt easier than adults often do", etc....often that is all very true.  even still, we have been sooooo incredibly cared for during this process by God's clear, undeniable orchestration of events.  on the day i went to register them for school, back in June, i spent about 45 minutes there filling out paperwork for each child, meeting with the secretary and principal and having some questions answered...i'll spare the details, but i did leave that day and sit in my minivan and find tears streaming down my face as i texted my dear husband....i believe the text said "God is so good!"  honestly, there were four different instances during that first visit that communicated to me without a doubt that God had gone ahead of me, working out details in ways that only He could, soothing my concerned mother's heart and showing me His great love for me and our kids.  sooo God....

 

 

here on the first day, excited and waiting for the bus...picture quality is rough, i know.  i'll probably regret that one day....add it to the list :)

 

 

Adam, passing time on his unicycle...because it is so easy and relaxing~ yah, not at all really!!!  this alone is worthy of its own blog post....the boy is so patient with certain things like making LEGO candy dispensing machines and safes that actually lock and learning to stay upright on this lethal contraption unicycle...he amazes me... 

at the moment of taking the last picture i was unable to see through my watery eyes...must have been those horrible allergies. :)  actually, it was deep love for my crew, and that feeling of sending my chicks off into new and unknown...they were ready.  they were set.    

 

so, we went into September feeling excited and overall just really looking forward to getting started.  all four have settled in so well.  in particular, Hudson is set up with resources that are extra suitable for his learning style and attention struggles.  he is seeing more success (so far...we'll take it!) and seems genuinely happy to come home with less homework and more time to play outside and run and be a boy....that is huge for both of us!!!  all the kids have friends they've met for the first time and some they knew from TCA and even a cousin in Layla's class!  she is really enjoying that...the teachers are very kind and seem really checked in already to the kids and their varied personalities and learning tendencies .  we are super thankful to see their sadness of saying goodbye to TCA be followed up with a wonderful transition that has left me utterly grateful.  and did i mention they ride the bus??? wow, that is pretty nice after twelve years of driving to and from school, five days a week...they hop on the bus bright and early and pile in the door at the end of the day with stories and information spilling out. it is good...so far Adam and Layla have both played on soccer teams with a tournament last week and are training now for cross country.  Hudson will be old enough to run this year too.  we are full speed ahead into the new school year and already it is feeling like we are in a routine and adjusted.  thanks for sticking with the details in this post...i know it will be cherished one day when we all look back. 

this made me smile

my sweet seven year old (just today! what??!! how is my baby seven????) shared a funny happening with me last week when he returned from school.  he was unloading his backpack and had a particular expression on his face.  the typical expression quickly alerted me that he had something to tell me, and it wasn't necessarily good.  so, i jumped right in...

 

me: "AJ, what's up?  you look like you have something to tell me...did something happen at school today?"

AJ: "yeah"  nodding his head slowly, his big eyes looked serious, as though whatever happened had been monumental, like "a visit to the principal" sort of stuff....

me: "what happened?"

AJ: barely above a whisper "i told B. that i liked her today and she said she is going to tell the teacher on me."

me: "oh, okay...well, what would make her want to tell the teacher?  were you doing anything else that would upset her?"  :) i've been at this long enough....it just didn't add up.

AJ: "well, actually i told her i didn't like her~ i loved her, and i was staring at her and following her at recess..."  there, it was out....i sensed his relief.

me: "uh-huh....that makes more sense now.  do you think you were creeping her out a bit with the stalking routine annoying her a little with all of those things?"

AJ: "yes, and she said she's going to tell the teacher on Monday!!" he wasn't happy about that one bit...

a sweet conversation ensued about crushes and nice, pretty girls and how to handle these feelings when you are six years old...i think he gets it now.  i kept my facial expression focused and serious, because clearly to him this was significant and real.  later, i thought about how precious it had been to hear a little of his heart and feelings...this boy tends to wear his heart on his sleeve and i was happy to catch a glimpse of it that day...

moves

right from day two of knowing our nineteen-month old son, Hudson, we knew he had moves.  i may have even blogged about this before, and if i did, forgive me.  the old memory isn't quite as sharp as a decade or two ago...i blame the kids for that...

we were driving the crazy streets of Haiti, with my sweet little man on my lap, wrapped around me as i held him tight.  no carseats in Haiti~ and while i was thrilled to finally be holding him, it was a bit unnerving considering how nutty the traffic was.  think crowds of people on each side of the road, animals and giant trucks everywhere, going every which way, loudly and forcefully.  Hudson was a little under the weather at the time, with a low-grade fever and rattly chest cough that was later diagnosed as pneumonia ...so, there Hudson sat, quiet and still and soaking up the love of his mama...until we turned a corner and passed a vehicle that had loud music blaring from its open windows.  well, the deep bass sounds caught the attention of our Haitian Sensation, and he immediately started dancing to the pulsating beat, forward and back, forward and back.  i noticed it right away, and many times after in those early weeks.  one day we caught Hudson in Hannah's room, in front of her CD player.  he'd managed to turn it on and was grooving to her CD, all on his own.  happy and content to be moving.  he had rhythm (more than our entire crew combined) and loved to dance. 

fast forward to today.  apparently when i leave to pick up a kid somewhere or run an errand, the kids will often have spontaneous dance parties.  i'm not sure why i must leave for this to happen, because i think i'd be okay with it while here, however, something about mom being gone makes it a little more wild, loud and free, i'm sure...sadly, that's probably true.  i get that, i guess...so, recently Hudson's big sister recorded a small snippet of a dance party or two.  they made their way here because this is soooo the essence of Hudson.  so Haitian, charismatic, energetic, fun, and just a joy to watch....we all love to watch him dance.  it is always different, always unique and always hysterically funny...

 

what a nut!!  never dull with him, ne-ver dull....

 

 

 

OBA's

huge congratulations to Hudson and his Wrangler baseball teammates!!!  two weeks ago they competed at the OBA's in the final, end of season provincial championship tournament.  the small town boys took home the trophy in a spectacular display of endurance, teamwork, perseverance, skill and good sportsmanship.  the weekend was intense with several games being complete nailbiters.  my own stomach was in knots...and to think i was once sure that baseball was horrendously boring to watch and never wished to see my kids play it....how wrong was i???  (thankfully, my dear mother never gave up in her desire to see a ball player in the family...) the tournament record for the Wranglers was 5-1, with the final championship game going right down to the last hit, at two-outs, and bases loaded for the opponents, they were down by one run when the "star-of-the-game" player, Hudson's partner out field, made a tricky catch in left centre field to end the game...

 

 

Hudson had his own moments of sheer greatness that were a delight to watch.  he showed a consistent solid attitude that whole weekend, and we loved loved loved seeing this....he also had several clutch hits that brought in RBI's to tie the game or move the Wranglers ahead more than once.  during these moments i wondered if i'd lose my voice from cheering so wildly.  so much fun!!!

 

seeing his white teeth grinning back at the fans in the stands from first base made my heart sing...plus, his solid arm out in centre field was dependable to get the ball back in to second base fast and accurately.  he has improved so much since last year.  still, as i said to his coaches and i know i've said here before, this is all so much more than the game of baseball for our son.  Hudson continues to grow and mature steadily, and baseball for sure has played a part in that process~ and it's still just the beautiful game of ball he sooooo loves...

 

after the hard fought battle to the end, with the golden glove trophy in the hands of the Wrangler team, there was a long trip home to recap the highlights of the weekend.  all eight of us had a fun time capping off our summer on this weekend away.  summer and baseball~ i already miss both...

once home, the celebrating continued with a traditional nighttime firetruck parade through the streets, followed by boys and coaches on the back of pick-up trucks, complete with police escorts.  lots of sirens, flashing lights, and honking horns.  the boys loved it all....i had to laugh because all season we've been harping on the fact that it isn't all about winning, it's learning to lose well~ with grace and class, to have a positive attitude and display good sportsmanship, etc, etc....but with two other fall parades scheduled for the winning Wranglers (aka OBA champions :)) i can't help but wonder if the "but winning sure is fun!!" mantra is overshadowing the message we worked so hard on....i guess next year will be the true test of that...

so, we close the chapter on baseball 2014.  next year it's real-life pitchers, and no more pitching machine.  it's base stealing, bunting, etc...for now, we feel beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to see our kids (AJ too) enjoy this great game.  in this great country.  with such limitless possibilities before them...

now playing

two words.  Rend Collective. great band and great song...thanks to Joelle for introducing me to them and their sound.  while at camp all summer she said this song was one staff and campers played often.  she knows the particular sound i love and knew this would be on repeat for me, and it has been!!  turns out this band has lots of other great songs i enjoy too.  i might just need to locate a concert, i heard they are touring soon.

 

so, here it is.....this is My Lighthouse.  i'll always tie this to Summer 2014.  i love the lyrics most...i'm so very thankful God is my beacon of light and hope and truth during all of life's storms...Amen....