Soaking up September ...

 

 

 

Answered Prayers

Our evening with Garth was a little taste of heaven on earth.  He played every old song we could have possibly wanted to hear, and in his second encore he sang George's "Amarillo by Morning."  Steve cried.  I thought Steve was going to cry.  Trisha came out and sang my favorites, too.  We danced and sang along until the lights came up and we were forced to leave.  I so didn't want it to end.

 Nosebleeds or bust!  Our seats were way up high, but the view was good and we didn't care anyway.

Garth had already done five or six shows before ours, and his voice was hoarse but he powered through. Since there wasn't a late show after ours on Sunday night, we got bonus songs!   My friend, who had much closer seats (sidebar: purchasing on Ticketmaster is such a crap-shoot), sent me this picture. 

It wasn't the front row experience I had back in high school, but it didn't need to be.  I had the best time with Steve and thousands of our closest friends, singing along with a guy whose music and performance I can only describe as a spiritual experience.  If Garth ever comes back, I'll be there.

neglect

I have been a neglectful blogger.  Nearly every morning recently I have said to myself, "Tonight I will update the blog."  Then tonight comes and I don't have the time or the energy or both.  Now I've finally found a little quiet time.  The girls are asleep, and Steve is headed that way, too, because he's running the Plano Balloon Festival 1/2 marathon tomorrow morning.  I'm sort of watching another terrible Cyclones game.

Since my last update on Emma's birthday, we've been busy.  My parents came to town for Labor Day weekend.  The weather was hot so we swam and hung around.  My mom and I got a nice lunch out together, and then she bought me a new bike!  Sara and I have enjoyed some rides to the park together.

Sara was thrilled to be chosen as her class's first Star Student and she spent a lot of time perfecting her poster.  She is loving 1st grade and her teacher.  It's so fun to listen to her read and watch her work on her math homework, even though she rarely wants my help.  In addition to starting school, Sara is also playing softball and soccer this fall.  Balancing the two sports has kept us all busy, but she's enjoying them and getting better with every practice.  Emma tolerates being a tag-along because the practice locations have playgrounds.  For my part, I try really hard not to be a crazy screamer on the sidelines.

Steve and I are going to see Garth tomorrow night!  As most of you know, I saw him my senior year of high school in Minneapolis and my friends and I were handed tickets to the front row.  Our view tomorrow night from the nosebleeds won't be quite the same, but I'm so excited nonetheless.  From what I hear, he plays all the good old stuff, so I'm looking forward to a great sing-along and a fun night out with my guy.  The last concert we went to was Neil Diamond in 2005 (6?).  We don't get out much.

I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but I'm really ready for fall, so today the girls and I put out all of our Halloween decorations.  Although we've had a few "cooler" days, it doesn't feel like fall here even though sometimes I think I can smell it in the air.  Football is on, Big Tex is going up at the fair, and the fall ale selection at the store has multiplied ... so I'm calling it fall.  (On her Star Student poster, Sara put fall as her favorite season ... my girl.) 

You would think after my 2+ weeks of blog neglect I'd have more to say.  But truly, we've just been busy.  And when we're not busy, we're just tired.  I know you know the feeling.  We're in that precious period where our kids (and careers, bills, etc.) are exhausting but wonderful (minus the bills), and the days seem to be over before they begin.  Well, my game is at the two-minute mark and the Cyclones actually just made a play.  So with a shred of hope, I'm going to sign off.  More later, friends.

My Baby

Emma is a believer in The Birthday Week as evidenced by the fact that she's been wearing this shirt since Sunday.  More power to her, right?

Emma is a threenager through and through.  Always has been, might very well always be.  I already know that she's going to be my girl who will try anything once, which both terrifies and thrills me.  Emma is all personality.  She's got a huge vocabulary, and talks with expression and hand gestures.  Even when we're trying hard not to, she makes us laugh.

Among the hearts she's won is her big sister's.  Although they fight like pros, Emma won't go to bed or leave in the morning without a hug from Sara.  And when Emma is sad, Sara is the first one to try to help her feel better.  Giving them each other will always be the highlight of my life.

 At three, Emma is small in stature but large in personality.  She loves music and probably has more rhythm than everyone else in our family combined.  She is sensitive to some sounds and smells, and recently has requested that all tags be removed from her clothes.  Her idiosyncrasies keep my wheels turning.  Emma loves to ride her trike, swim, and swing.  She prefers to wear two ponytails in her hair, likes to watch movies (requests include everything from "Cinderella" to "The Great Outdoors"), and snaps selfies like a serious champ.  She simultaneously drives me crazy and causes my heart to skip a beat.

Happy, happy 3rd Birthday to the Big Girl who will always be my Baby.