A Sweet & Sticky Summer Starter

Ah...the sweet sounds of summer. No, not the sound of waves at my feet or children splashing in a pool...not the sound of kids playing in the yard...

It's the sound of the ice cream truck coming down the street.

(WARNING! Personal soap box moment coming)...And it's playing "Turkey in the Straw." Really? Does every ice cream truck in the nation buy their soundtrack from the same music box on steroids? I'll give it one thing...you can be inside, at the back of the house, and hear him coming from two blocks away. There's no mistaking that sound...or the one that follows it: "MOOOOOMMMMM! The ice cream man is coming. PUH-LEEZE???" Hand it to those ice cream guys--they really know how to snag a child's attention.


Luckily, we live at the end of a long cul-de-sac so we can hear him coming and then we can capture him at our end of the road as he turns around...or we can chase him down the street if we didn't hear him coming fast enough.

We've heard him this year, but I've been too Grinchy to give in to $2 ice creams when I have a freezer full of perfectly good and tasty freezer pops, 100 for $3.99, thank you very much. But with Rebekah home on school intersession this week, a treat was in order. So the picture to the left was the scene two afternoons ago.

I had dragged her all over creation that day, so when she asked if she could buy an ice cream that afternoon, I felt a special treat was most definitely in order.

So she pulled up a chair and waited patiently for the ice cream truck. And waited. And waited. And for those of you who know Rebekah, this was a feat. But she picked a cushy chair.














When I finally complained that we were cooling the outside too (after taking several priceless photos, mind you), she moved her vigil outside.

But guess what? Our street wasn't on the agenda that day. Sad, sad Rebekah.

So today, she and some friends were playing with the hose in the backyard, and they heard their favorite summer tune...yep, the tinkling sounds of "Turkey in the Straw" wafting on the gentle breeze. They came screaming through the back door, Rebekah yelling at me to grab my money, all of them trying feverishly to unlock the front door...but their hands were covered in leftover sunscreen goo and the doorknob quickly became too slippery to open. I thought Rebekah was going to have a heart attack. After wiping the residue off the knob, Lindsay and I barely got the door open before they exploded out the front door. Of course, by now the truck was headed back up the street. Barefoot and dressed in swimming suits, they blazed up the road. I grabbed my wallet--and my change jar since I didn't have much cash, and we chased him up the road. I think he must have seen our little parade coming in his rear view mirror because he pulled over near the end of the street.

Probably scared the little guy to death. But I'll bet he's used to it.
Mission accomplished. A round of treats for the little squirts, and order was restored. I wish I'd had my camera to capture the chase scene. But I did get it in time to record the smiles and sticky faces of some of the successful hunters.

Ahh, the first expensive, pink and blue, bubble-gum flavored ice cream of the season.

Welcome, summer!













Parting question: Would someone please tell me why "Turkey in the Straw" is the American Idol winner of ice cream truck karoke machines? If you have a decent answer for this, I'll send you a buck to buy your own bubble-gum flavored concoction. Drippy popsicle stick included.

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday, Colin!

It sounds so cliche, but it fits so perfectly...

Where has the time gone? When did my 7 pound 6 ounce boy become a 6'1" man?

This is the "legal" birthday he's waited for for so long...time to drive on his own...time to date...

Wait! Did I just say that? He's not that old! (Rather, I'm not that old, am I?)

He wants to wait to get his driver's license for 15 more days...the braces come off on March 17 and there's no way he's taking that famous photo with them on. Somehow I thought he'd be more anxious for it, but who can blame him? Plus, that permit he's been carrying gives him access to a car anyway...as long as we're with him.

And the dating? I'm so not pushing that one, but he's definitely a ladies' man so I don't think it will be too long. I asked him after school if he had a date yet. His answer? "Not yet. I'm working on it!" I think it's going to be a best friend he's had for years who's moving soon. Safe and simple.

(But still, keep working on it, buddy. We can soooo wait for that day!)

The birthday was rather quiet and unassuming for such a milestone... early morning Seminary, then school and basketball practice as usual. Then it was off to dinner with family, including grandparents, aunt, and cousin, at Olive Garden, his choice. We'll have a bigger party later, but for now we simply celebrated this rite of passage.

I have to share the sweet but silly photos of him and his cousin Catherine that I took at dinner. They're more like brother and sister. Six weeks apart in age, same grade at the same school for years...I've loved watching this relationship grow with them. But trying to get them to pose for a serious shot? No way.

This is what I got when I said "Put your heads together."



This is what I got when I then said "Really, guys."

And so I never got that perfect shot. But this one will do!



Once again, happy birthday, Colin!
We love you!

Meeting Marianne

(drum roll please...)

Here at last is a picture of me with my birthmother, Marianne. For those of you new to my blog, we had never met before I took this trip to California. Spoken on the phone many times, but never physically connected. So here we are at last.

We didn't have pictures taken at the airport...we both had our cameras, but we were too busy hugging and crying to do it, and there was no one else there to take it without bugging someone we didn't know. Probably best, since our makeup was a mess and we could be a little more composed if we waited. This picture was taken on Tuesday by her friend Felicia, who's been one of her best friends since the beginning of my life.

I'll post tomorrow after I get home with all the fun details about this most excellent adventure, but I had to at least get a picture posted. It's been a very full few days, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, but I wouldn't change a thing. 

But before I go...

Those of you who know me well know this is a picture I've wanted to take for almost nine years now...ever since we left the shores of New Jersey. It seems almost rude to share it with those of you in ice-bound Arkansas, but I gotta do it.

Just me, walking barefoot into the Pacific Ocean. May I just say that this also caused me to shed a few tears this week.

(And for those of you who think I'm a Bad Momma, I would like to go on record as saying that I HAD NO IDEA WE WOULD HAVE 3 1/2 SNOW DAYS WHILE I WAS GONE! David's been quite the trooper filling in for me, and I'm glad he's been able to take a mini-vacation while I'm on a real one. Thanks, Hon! I love you! Need a break from the kids? Here's a little something I wrote just for you...)

Leaving on a jet plane...Palm Springs, here I come!

Many of you already know my news, but I had to get my nervous energy out and blog about it!

In just a few hours, I'll be on a plane to Palm Springs, California.

Just me. And about 1000 pictures.

I'm off to meet my birthmother, Marianne, for the first time.

Yes, you heard correctly.

We've spoken many times, and exchanged emails and pictures and gifts for the past four months, but we've never met in person. A few days ago, David cleared his travel schedule and made it possible for me to go.

It is time.

Monday morning at 11 AM Pacific Time, I'll get to give Marianne the biggest hug I possibly can. And hugs for my family. And hugs for my parents. They're excited for me, too.

What do you take? How do you sum up almost 41 years of life? I have no idea.
Here's my start:



Watch for pictures and info to come in the next day or two!

The blogger is back in the building...

Thanks to some major carpal tunnel issues, seasonal stress, kids-at-home overload, remodeling exhaustion, and just plain procrastination, very few posts have made it online recently...but that doesn't do any good! I've been writing them daily in my head as I'be been taking pictures for my latest major scrapbook undertaking: my knock-off version of Creating Keepsakes' Project 365. And if you read my post a while ago about my quirks, you may understand that I have to have things in order...and so when I missed one, the events I wanted to chronicle added up (note to self--gotta get over that!).

In case you missed them recently...

Check out the catchup posts about Rebekah's birthday in November, my sister's wedding in November, Lindsay's birthday in December, and our Christmas wishes, if you're feeling up to looking back a little. If not, please join us on our journey through 2009!

Christmas Wishes 2008

Happy Holidays!

It’s hard to believe another year has passed. Once again, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and the blessings we have been given. We’re so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the country and to enjoy freedom and security. Here’s a little taste of what we’ve been up to this past year…

David still flies the friendly skies several weeks a month with his job as a Senior Construction Manager at the Wal-Mart Home Office. In the last couple of years, he’s gotten to know parts of Michigan better than he ever thought he would! He tries to hunt and fish whenever he can, which isn’t as often as he’d like. David’s recently put his DIY skills to the test as we’re repurposing the garage…It was going to be a den for the family/design studio for Kristen, but he’s now dubbing it "The Craft Cave" after seeing the amount of scrapbooking and crafting supplies that are coming to the surface in their move across the house.

Kristen is always found volunteering at church or the three different schools the kids attend, or hanging out at the scrapbook store where she teaches classes. She’s starting her own business designing scrapbooks for others and selling scrapbooking kits; "Urban Butterfly" should take full flight in the first part of the new year. Our family expanded a little this year in the most surprising way…her birthmother Marianne recently found her after years of searching. They are looking forward to a reunion in the upcoming weeks. What a blessing it has been to be able to personally thank her for the ultimate gift of life.

Colin, 15 and 6’ 1" tall, keeps us constantly moving…with high school cross country, track, and basketball, (he plays on both the sophomore and JV teams) and his traveling lacrosse team, there’s always a sporting event we can watch. He’s a little sad that he took a year off from football after several years on the field…and his high school just won the state title without him! He got his drivers’ permit a few months ago and is anxiously awaiting the Sweet 16 in March that will allow him to drive himself freely around town. Funny thing, he hasn’t really mentioned dating much, and the fact that the magical upcoming birthday opens that door, too…though with all the girls that follow him around, we’re sure it’s not far behind.

Lindsay turned 11 this month, and she is growing up faster than we’re ready for her to! She’s quite the musician, still taking piano lessons, and now singing in both the middle school’s choir and the Bentonville Children’s Choir. She also plays lacrosse and has turned into quite the athlete! She’s become a whiz on the computer and a babysitter extraordinaire. She has a bold imagination and is not afraid to try anything, and we love her courageous spirit.

Rebekah turned 8 last month and she’s anxiously awaiting her upcoming baptism. She’s also growing so fast—Kristen’s bound to be the shortest person in the family in the not-so-distant future! Bekah is definitely the trivia princess at our house, with a genius brain that remembers everything she learns. She takes piano lessons, and she also sings in the Bentonville Children’s Choir. She loves the second grade and is interested in everything—especially space, which is her latest love. She’s determined to be an astronaut when she grows up, and we’re sure she can do anything she puts her mind to.

We hope you are all happy, safe, and well this holiday season. This year, more than ever, we’re taking time to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas and to give thanks for our savior Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. May you find peace and joy in the coming year.

Love,
The Blacks

Happy Birthday, Lindsay!

Time for birthday fun again at our home...

Lindsay has turned 11!

Really? My little baby girl is this old?

We celebrated the night with our family that lives close by and her favorite dinner: fried chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, garlic bread, corn, and pink lemonade. And Mom's famous Texas fudge cake for dessert. Yum. Good choices, babe!

Funny how the gifts are getting more grown up--no toys for this tween! She racked in a new pair of pierced earrings so we can try this process again (don't let the holes close up this time!), trendy new boots, a gorgeous sweater and necklace, a couple of books, and some cold hard cash so she can buy the perfect little trinkets for herself...hey, these are cool gifts that I wouldn't mind having myself! What happened to the Barbies and the coloring books?

Lulu, when did you get to be such a young lady? Sometimes looking at you takes my breath away. You've grown up so fast--we can see the woman you'll become in your face and your mannerisms, in the way you speak and the profound thoughts you have. You're a gorgeous girl, and we're excited to continue to watch you learn and grow as you reach your potential. Never lose sight of your infinite worth.

But just when I get really sentimental, you walk by with a stuffed animal in your arms, with your hair all up in weird barrettes from a styling session with your sister. Or I catch you playing with every Littlest Pet Shop piece we have as you and Rebekah create a city. Or I find you in a blanket fort, or up in the branches of a tree, or bringing in the latest creepy crawly from the yard. You're not completely out of your childhood yet. And I'm glad--I'm not ready for this stage to pass quite yet!

It's going to be quite a year with you! We love you!

(And just for the record, don't forget that this is the year we learned that if you put candles in the hot fudge cake right after it comes out of the oven, the hot fudge actually causes them to melt into the cake. And they shrink fast. And it doesn't taste good. Who would have thought? This mistake will not be repeated!)