Jonah drew it

In tonight's installment of Jonah Drew It: Blueberry the parakeet. 

P.S. Mays/McQueen readers: please don't show Kiera. It's a gift for her and Jonah wants it to be a surprise. 

why I will never be a hurdler

When I was running track in high school, the 300m hurdles race was hard to fill. The sprinters/hurdlers didn't want to run that far and the distance runners couldn't jump hurdles. (Or in some cases, the distance runners were already running 3 races. We weren't super-human, after all.) During practice one day, I decided to try my hand at jumping hurdles. I was a decent 800m runner, so I figured 300m hurdles wouldn't be too far of a stretch. I jumped over exactly one hurdle. In the air over the hurdle, I was filled with panic like I had never felt before. I was sure I was going to fall to my death. Sure, I'd seen hurdlers kick down hurdles they can't clear or even trip and fall with no long-term damage. But the fear and stomach-dropping sensation was not one I cared to repeat or fight to control.

Just now, Caroline decided to see if she could jump over me where I was lying on the floor. She made it, though just barely. But as she leaped (in her best 3-year-old way) across my midsection, I felt that same panic again. Hurdling sports are clearly not for me.

This man.

Tomorrow is his birthday. Today is Father's Day. And yet, he made me breakfast while I hurried to finish preparing a talk for church. Then he spent church wrestling children while I completed my obligations there. Then he spent a large chunk of the afternoon talking to a grumpy seven-year-old about respectful behavior.

I'd say he didn't get much of a Father's Day, but as I write this, it's become apparent that today he spent the day taking care of his family. He does that because he takes his job as the dad very seriously.

...but not too seriously, of course.

Happy Father's Day to my sweetheart and to our awesome dads.

Dear Dad,

Mom moved this weekend. I'm sure you know. In fact, she and I both felt a tangible sense of your approval or what you would have said or thought or something. Maybe it was gratitude for the wonderful way you've provided for her, or maybe you were really there. I don't know how these things work. I'd ask you if you were here. I am so grateful for the wonderful childhood you provided me. As I was cleaning the basement yesterday, I was filled with memories and joy. That was a good home.

I missed you today. I miss you every day, but especially today. Are you chatting with your dad today? Your grandpa? Are you and Eric celebrating today? Is there Father's Day in heaven? I'd like to think so, or at least that you felt that we were missing you. Teri mentioned that she wished there were visiting hours in heaven. I'd like that. Then again, maybe it would be hard to leave.

Happy Father's Day, Dad

.

my eyes get full of water

It's been a day. I was going to say a rough day, but that's only true of parts of the day. Other parts have been wonderful. Therefore, it's been a day: a long, exhausting, full day.

At one point in the day, when I sat at the table and sniffed back tears (for no other reason that it had been a long day in which I had managed to keep from crying at times when it would have been much less acceptable), Caroline imparted this gem of wisdom:

"Sometimes when I get sad, my eyes get full of water and it makes me cry."

Apparently, there was quite a bit of eye filling going on today. After she and I shared this moment, she cried about the following: not being allowed to eat a cracker that someone else was eating, no one playing Frozen with her, and having to get her hair combed.

Never fear, Caroline-lovers. She's quite happy right now. How do I know? I know because I just caught sight of her jumping gleefully on her bed (in the dark...an hour after she was put to bed).

the only time packing is fun...

...is with help.

"my third name is North Carolina"

So most people who read this blog already know: we're moving to North Carolina. Josh has accepted an amazing job at Gaston College in Dallas, NC. He's thrilled with the opportunity. We are excited, nervous, curious, and a little anxious. The kids are looking forward to a tree house and I'm happy to be headed back to the South. Will we like NC as much as we like AL? We don't know yet! We're hoping.

The title of the post comes from the fact that when Josh interviewed in NC, it was very confusing for Caroline. Sometimes I call her Carolina and she's started responding with either, "I'm not North Carolina! I'm Caroline!" or "well, my first name is Caroline and my second name is Mays and my third name is North Carolina." Now we just need our niece Charlotte to come visit us and we'll have a Charlotte and a Carolina (almost).

Here's to new adventures!

happy birthday, Miriam!

Many pictures (one from each month) to celebrate Miriam celebrating her first birthday this week are below. Some of our favorites things about her are how silly she is, the way she greets her siblings in the morning (with a heartfelt HI!), her leg kicks when she's excited (especially when it's time to get out of the car), and her overall happy personality. Although when I look back at the pictures I feel like she was born just a few weeks ago, I can't remember what it was like to not know her personality. I imagine I'll feel the same way in a few years when she's talking our ears off.

Her favorite thing to eat changes regularly, but I can almost always get her to eat scrambled eggs, applesauce, and avocado. She has still yet to consume berries (other than strawberries) by choice. I think she views them as some sort of poisonous thing we keep trying to trick her into eating.

June, 2014:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

January:

February:

  March:

April:

May:

June, 2015: