Lauren Daigle

 i've posted a few Lauren Daigle songs over the years...Rescue, You Say Trust In You, Hold On To Me...they are gems.

well, on this one particular night near the end of May, Jeff and i were finally off to a much anticipated concert.  the Kaleidoscope tour was coming to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena (almost sold out!) and we had two tickets and some pretty great seats.  this had been my Christmas present the previous December (thanks Jeffrey!).  Hannah had willingly offered to watch her littlest brother (thanks Hannah!), so all pieces were in place for a fun evening away.

it was sooo fun!!  also uplifting and inspiring.  and i don't go to many concerts (yet!) but i imagine those are the best kind...i love Lauren's testimony, i love her presentation and willingness to be set apart.  i love how she uses her ridiculously talented voice to reach so many.  i love her platform for child sponsorship too~ that evening along over 450 kids were sponsored!  whoa!

shine on Lauren!  and thanks Jeff for always being my favourite date! ;)

brothers

 Layla caught this picture, and i love it. sometimes these two have their moments, but not on this occasion.  baseball practice on the front lawn.  AJ has had so many years of baseball, he could teach Cree a thing or two... 

love seeing harmony and togetherness...

when they ran

 way to go Layla!  she's often overheard trying to drag her brothers out for a run!  on this night she succeeded, and it was a beauty night for it, that's for sure!

way to go you three!  love the healthy choice!

prepping for school

 around here there has been much conversation about "big boy" school....Cree knows it's coming, and we discuss all facets of school regularly.  riding the bus, recess, getting to learn a new language (French!), graduating from pre-school and starting JK in September...these topics are cycled through almost daily.  maybe that's why it's filtering down into his play....

and last week Cree got to visit his new school for a "mini camp"...two hours each morning to get the feel for how things will be in September.  the first few days may have taken a year off my life.  it drained me.  and him.  think tantrums, and lots of them...but besides that he got through it like a champ, and i also survived.  i also know him pretty well, and i could see the inner struggle with "i need to be brave" and "i want to cling to what i know and feel secure in"...he wrestled hard with all those big emotions.  in the pictures below he was staying so strong, and then seconds later melted into a puddle of tears.

overall it was a big win, and he'll get to visit again in August for another week.  all good prep for this dear boy of ours.  

i don't look forward to leaving the safe and secure walls of his preschool.  it's short and sweet and predictable...i love how simple and innocent it is.  still, we know the reality is that he will soon be off to more learning and growing and becoming, and that's just the cycle of life...praying his heart will be ready, and mine too...

his favourite thing

Cree has a slight obsession with Grandpa's motorized vehicles.  the lawnmower, the push mower, the wagon attachment, and especially his three wheeler, aka "grandpa's tractor"...it is all a bit much, but actually totally sweet too!  he wants to be a part of any of the yard work if it involves these machines.  he can be busy in the house and drop everything instantly if he hears that "tractor" turn on.  and it's pretty loud too.  so this happens often.  

we know this won't last, so we all (especially my gracious father) try to embrace these days and all the chatter and excitement and not so subtly disguised requests...usually they go something like this.  Cree spots grandpa appearing outside, anywhere in the yard, and he's at the patio door hollering out "hey Grandpa, nice day out there today isn't it?" followed by "need any help?"  or "hey Grandpa, it doesn't look too wet for your tractor today!"  or "are you going to be doing some work later?  need my help?" 

it's fleeting.  it's something i want to soak up.  his excitement for these little things, his desire to work and do all the real jobs~ well, i can't imagine it will last.  

so for today, grateful for my dad who indulges him, and for Cree's curious 

love of all these things...