sew cute.

atlee has been learning to sew and embroider each wednesday at the home of mrs. cox...she has made an assortment of lovely items- a few dresses, a few pillows- and a few other sweet things. last monday night she had the opportunity to walk the stage at the annual fashion review and model her newest creation. beckett (notice that i did not write- avalon) sat patiently throught the entire show and was greatly rewarded with cookies and punch when it was over.

my friend krista wrote a post on her blog about mrs. cox- you can read it here

warren waters.

a few years ago a precious person moved into our little backhouse on calmont avenue-her name was lauren waters. at the time, beckett was a baby and atlee was 2- lauren took such a special interest in our family. atlee would spend hours each week looking out the back windows to see miss lauren walk into our backyard- she would then beg to go for a visit, at first i was a bit hesitant, not wanting lauren to feel obligated to entertain our child- but seeing how excited atlee got, i just couldn't say no. one evening lauren's friend was babysitting atlee and beckett-and the event we were attending went much longer than we expected and "we'll be home @ 10:30" turned into "we won't be home until after midnight". lauren's friend had to leave so laurn offered to fill in- i still remember walking into atlee's room that night when we got home...there was our 2 year old, wide awake (at 12:30am!) and laurn patiently curled up next to her in her bed with a big stack of books- they were reading, talking about God, and having a grand time...lauren wasn't annoyed, weary or bored.

atlee turned three, beckett learned to talk and lauren continued to leave foot prints in our lives and hearts. atlee would disappear for an hour or more at miss lauren's invitation to her place. she would usually come home wearing makeup and taking about a new place on miss lauren's big map that the two of them had been discussing...lauren took time to teach atlee about the world- especially places that need to hear the message of Jesus.

soon miss "warren" (as beckett would call her) fell in love with andy gage. he is wise, genuine, loyal and gentle- a very well suited match for lovely lauren. it was a joy to watch lauren and andy marry and build a life together...and now, the journey they are walking together is leading them to denver. they are part of a team of people planting a church (www.parkchurchdenver.org) in the city...and we will miss them deeply!! just a few weeks ago lauren picked up atlee and took her to a butterfly exhibit at the botanical gardens- i watched them walk the path from our front door to miss laurens car- peace, trust and joy filled me- and then a tinge of sadness, knowing that our days of living in the same place are drawing to a close---and keenly aware of the empty space that will be left.

parenting advice

here is a little tip for all of you.

find a sweet friend and then send your child to her home for some monumental event (like a sleepover), then- and here's the important part: put her blog on your blog so that you have the memories saved with no work whatsoever on your part.

and, that is exactly what i am doing right now.

six.

dearest atlee nickole,

are you really six? i can still vividly picture that beautiful sunday morning that dr. mcalpine handed you to me. the room was dim, daylight was just beginning to break...you were covered in all that had encompassed you the past 37 weeks- and your eyes, they were so big and beautiful...i remember thinking that you looked a bit stunned those first few minutes- but then, it seemed to me, that you felt at home in my arms...you were the most precious thing i had ever held- and held you we did...if you weren't in my arms, you were usually in dads. your little room was directly three steps from ours (in our spacious 800 sf apartment), but that seemed like too far to me...most nights you slept snuggled between daddy and i or in your bouncy seat next to our bed. we never had a "game plan" so to speak...when other babies had consistent naps and bed times- yours changed with my mood- and your disposition. most of the time you were so content that daddy and i would keep you up until we went to bed. when i compare your babyhood to that of your brother and sister, yours had the least structure, the least predictability, the least order- now, how is it that you delight in routine, you thrill at having everything "in its place", and you have your own little patterns that you repeat with diligence?

you seem so big to me- you tower over beckett and avalon, you can read, you can write, you dress yourself, you embroider and you can chop cherry tomatoes for bruschetta and make guacamole, and the most daunting of all is the way i can no longer carry you in my arms with ease (which says as much of your stature as it does of my lack of muscle!) however, each time i pick you up at school i marvel at how tiny you still are...in the sea of upper elementary, middle school and high school kids you still look small- and i really like that.

a few nights ago, i laid with you in bed, i was feeling especially sensitive to all of the pressure you must feel at the oldest child- all the conscious and unconscious expectations i have of you. as we laid there i told you how proud i am of you and how much you have changed in six years...you quietly took my words in and then beamed beautifully when i said "atlee, you are getting big, but you are so little- and you will always be my baby no matter how big you get- always"
"even when i grow up?"
"even then, especially then".
love,
mom

proverbs 31:10

each wednesday atlee takes sewing lessons...one component of the class is scripture memory- this was her verse for today...i thought she did a smashing job...and i look forward to watching her recite the entire poem by the end of the year...one extra bonus- in helping her memorize- i'm forced to memorize too!

first day

this is atlee on her first day of kindergarten! when she got home she reported "i didn't think i was going to like it...but i loved it!"

losing teeth

imagine our surprise a few weeks ago when our precious atlee discovered her first loose tooth...ironically, the tooth loose in her mouth was in the exact spot that avalon was growing her first tooth. for weeks atlee wiggled the tooth until last night at the dinner table she attempted to turn it in a circle (it was that loose) and it popped right out into her hand. jeff and i exchanged a glance...that somehow communicated "wow, she is getting big...a remaining tiny piece of her babyhood now gone" and then we went on to celebrate the moment. the tooth was passed around, everyone inspecting it...we began to speculate what the tooth fairy would bring...and soon the dishes were left on the table and atlee and beckett dashed upstairs to take a bath. the next half hour was a blur, somehow teeth got brushed, the baby got a bottle, bodies got washed, stories got told, good night kisses were given, and re-given and everyone got tucked into bed. jeff and i found ourselves back in the kitchen reflecting on the events of the day and getting caught up on life. jeff was washing dishes, i was wiping the table when i asked "where is the tooth?" "right by my glass, on the table" jeff said as he turned his head around. and, it was at that moment that we relized the tooth was gone. now, take a moment a reflect...what color would you consider a tooth? white? - not really, more like- tiny bits of salmon mixed with pasta and onions satued in butter- which is exactly what we had for dinner! how convenient!! we searched the trash...no luck...we searched the garbage disposal- nothing. so now...the tooth exists only in a picture- and that's okay...and lucky for us, the tooth next to the empty spot is wiggling too.