June in review, which is impressive because its still June.

Let's talk for a moment about the evolution of the Tooth Fairy at our house over the last 14 years.  The TF was super excited the first time that a Scharman child ever lost a tooth - even though it came as a result of a child falling on her cousins head and knocking it out (or rather killing it to a dark bruise, we opted for an extraction and toothless smile for a couple of years until it would have fallen out on its own - it was a front middle tooth, cuter gone, than black in my opinion.) And let's face it, Haley has never lost teeth easily.  She has what we affectionately refer to as "shark mouth" where her new teeth come in on another row before she loses her baby tooth.  It usually results in a "home extraction", very bloody and a few more tears as a result of it. Plus, when Haley and Abby started losing teeth I still had energy and cared about how cute things were.  The Tooth Fairy wrote teeny tiny notes scrolled around money and tied up with a cute tiny flower and ribbon.  There were even itty bitty foot prints across her note and maybe some glitter if she was feeling festive.  A couple of weeks ago Hazel lost one of those prized front teeth and all she got was a direct deposit slip indicating that the Tooth Fairy was out of cash and so she put the money directly into her Scharman Bank Account.  I'm not sure that it carried the same effect as glitter.  But Hazel was a good sport and may have shared with more people than I care for, that the TF didn't have any money over the weekend. Direct deposit is so 2015 anyway, right?  I should have just skipped the direct deposit and told her it was invested into her college fund.  She knows who the TF really is though and gave us plenty of opportunities to follow through with parental promises of a decade ago when we were still fresh and into that kind of thing.
Oh the woes of being a younger child.  We will make up for it someday when the older kids are in college or married off and we have more money to spoil the little ones.  Except that we will be paying for college out of our own pockets since they were born in the age of young parenthood - thanks for nothing Tooth Fairy of yesteryear. 
Who needs money and glitter when you have this toothless smile every day?

June 1st marked 15 big ones for Clark and me.  I really just can't fathom it.  Fifteen years seems like such a long time but then I remember that I am closing in on 40 and suddenly time seems very relative.  And it would HAVE to be 15 whole years to fit in everything that we have experienced since we have been married.  Each different phase has seemed like a thousand lifetimes all squished together - when I think of all the places we've lived, the people we've known and the things we have gotten to do and see - I am grateful for each and every one.  And I truly look forward to 15 more, and then some.
I realize again and again, what a perfect match Clark is for me.  We are opposites in so many ways but I have found such value and gratitude in how he supplements my weaknesses and short comings.  He fills in all those gaps where I lack, and allows me opportunities to grow in areas where I otherwise would be complacently stagnant the rest of my life without him.  He is fun to be around and such a strength to our family.  I love to be with him.  We have fun and accomplish so much.  We have all the important stuff in common and the goals that we had before we got married, are still our goals.  He's given me some pretty awesome kids to boot.  My life would be so completely different without him and I really am grateful every day.

For the first time ever in his professional career, he has time off to spend with his family, at a much more flexible pace than we ever have experienced in the Navy.  He typically has every other Friday off - many times it is spent getting things done so that Saturday can be our fun day but I love taking the opportunity to spend that Friday off going to breakfast or lunch and just hanging out, running errands together or doing whatever.  A couple of weeks ago we took Jonah to the zoo, just the two of us.  I honestly can't even remember where all the girls were, but it was just the three of us (it must have been before school was officially out.)  Remember all that talk about how my fun, Mom energy has gone out the window and the poor little kids suffer so? Every once in a while we do something fun with the little, just like we used to before life got busy juggling so many different ages.
I love watching Clark with his boy.  He has a special relationship with his daughters, but his son is something completely different and I love that he gets to experience that. 

Every once in a while I have a moment - I wish I could just tuck it away in my brain and remember exactly how it made me felt but all too often it is so fleeting, and my retention just ain't what it used to be.  So I take a picture, and it helps me remember the peace that my family brings to my soul.

More end of the year stuff - Abby and her 6th grade graduation.  I am going to be totally honest here: it was the single most painful thing I think I have ever sat through in my life.  She was adorable and it was all great and exciting that she is moving up to the junior high but good grief, the program was two hours sitting in a cafeteria table seat and listening to them tediously read off every name and every single ordinary thing that had been done by each during the year.  I am all for celebrating kids and being validating and blah blah blah, but oh, my, goodness, I can't handle the need to recognize every single student for doing what they should be doing in school - mainly showing up and actually doing work.  I can do all that for my own kids at home, in a program, throw me a musical number or something of noteworthy recognition besides my kid read for 10 minutes this semester.  Things have just gotten a little out of control with the end of year obligatory stuff.

On that note, I'm all for end of year parties.  They don't do much for the last couple of weeks of school so the end of the year party is certainly a highlight.  Though I learned early on that if I am not actually signed up to help with something specific, don't go! I have never been in a school where so many parents come to just watch their kids' parties/field days/etc.  Programs I understand, but coming to stand on the side of the room and watch my kid eat a snack and do a craft without doing a darn thing myself is downright annoying-especially when it requires me to park a mile away.  Do I sound ranty?  There was a lot of unnecessary "activities" to wrap up the school year.  Take me back to one room school houses that ended the year with a picnic.  Bam.  Good job kids.  See you next year.

It means that Jonah and I don't get to sit on the front porch and watch for the bus anymore.  I'll tell you, I really do enjoy watching him run down the walk to greet them getting off the bus.  And I think they rather like it too.

Eighth grade graduation - now that's more of thing.  It's a right of passage - childhood behind, high school straight ahead.  AND the program was less than an hour.  I can totally get behind that.
High school.  I'm not quite sure I'm ready to talk about that just yet.

This is how they all felt about the last day of school:
The feeling was mutual.

As my kids have gotten older I have grown quite accustomed to running errands by myself.  It is so much easier, and quite often the only alone time I get.  I paid my dues with little kids - taking a gaggle of them wherever I went.  I fully embrace the powers that be that allow them to help out and ease some of the weight of that as they have grown more responsible.  But the fact of the matter is, they like to be with me and Clark and so this summer I decided that I don't go anywhere alone (most of the time.) When I need to run an errand I bring them along.
It is just fine most of the time - I am well seasoned at blocking out the constant requests for things, and no one throws tantrums anymore.  Another perk of this phase of life.

The other day Abby was having a conversation with Clark and Haley picked up my phone and snapped this candid.  It both amuses and exhausts me.  This is a very common conversation in our house - some pleading, begging or explanation being made while Clark or I  remain neutral until closing remarks can be made.  Not the first, and certainly not the last.

Hazel started piano lessons this summer.  She was so excited that she talked about it non stop for weeks leading up to it, and then practiced about four times a day for the first couple of weeks.  The practicing has regulated a little but her enthusiasm is the same.  I have another daughter with a knack and love of music.  I really really love it.

The dog.  He hides under our bed.  We even bought sliding storage things to block 90% of it but he has found a way to still wriggle his way under there on occasion.

And Jonah.  He has become a tornado - a nonstop cyclone of talking, running and touching.  He doesn't walk anywhere, he runs.  He is busy busy busy.  And besides occasionally squeezing toothpaste all over or jamming things in the toilet, he is a good boy.  He LOVES to read books and will still snuggle the moment its time to go to bed.  He is my tender mercy at the end of the day.  I think it confuses Clark that even at the end of a crazy day, I will turn down his offer to put the boy to bed because it's those quiet, calm moments right before bed with him that patch those holes in my soul, or fill my bucket back up after a day of being stretched, tried and worn as a mother.  He still embodies all that snuggly kid love that I know they all possess, but is still raw and unconditional in his little three year old body.  He goes from crazy to calm in a single moment and it is an answer to this mother's prayer - a simple reminder at the end of my day that I still love what I do, that even though it is challenging beyond all get out, it is rewarding and fulfilling.

This is just a little reminder that I am growing a baby - I am one week shy of half way there.  It's going by way too fast.  But that's an entirely different post, forthcoming.

Abby turned 12, which is a big deal.  For us, it's almost a coming of age thing.  You leave primary at church and join the young women - a perfectly blessed organization that allows girls the support, guidance and unity that is so valuable through the next phase of their lives.  I am constantly reminded what a miracle these youth are - to be growing up surrounded by what they are, constantly constantly surrounded by an entitled, anything goes mentality on morals and standards- and to be pure, driven and so strongly motivated by truth and goodness!  As an adult they strengthen and inspire me.  They remind me that the adversary really has no power and that there is more goodness and beauty in the world than there is filth.
Turning 12 also means that Abby is able to go participate in the temple.  This brings me and Clark such joy and peace into our lives, we are truly grateful that we now have two daughters who can invite those blessings as well.  Yet another way to be strengthened and fortified against all the yuck out there.

My Megan-in-law and I spend a lot of time together - we are very much,  in the same season of life.  We juggle kids that span in ages and have so much in common, it is both convenient and easy to do it with one another's help.  We decided to take all the kids to the zoo last week.  We are in the same place as far as naps and whatnot so the scheduling works out just right.  And can I just tell you how much I love and adore our entourage?! It requires us to count to 11 lots and lots!! And it takes so long to count to 11 that we pretty much spend most of our time doing it.  It's a lot of people to keep track of but they are good and helpful and well behaved, for the most part :)

I often think that Clark and I are not finished with our adventures and that we would love the opportunity to live some spans elsewhere but for the time being there is no place that we would rather be than this support system of family and friends (even amidst the oppressive heat of another Houston summer!)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April showers, May showers, June showers...it just keeps going.  It rained at least once a day for at least six weeks.  Then we had a week break and now a hurricane is skirting Houston.  I love the rain.  And I love a good Texas thunderstorm but good heavens, some years it just doesn't know when to quit.

 I love that we finally have a swingset in the backyard.  We lost the trampoline to a tragic accident last year when Clark and Mike decided to jump at the same time.  Springs were flying at 75 mph.  I also love that its right outside the kitchen window where I can see little Jonah Pants having fun.  Too bad the only level spot in the yard was the concrete slab.  I feel like he should wear a helmet when he goes out to play.  Funny side story - Jonah was running around naked one afternoon (a somewhat half hearted attempt at a potty training exercise) when he suddenly came in crying and holding his behind while saying "hot, hot, hot".  Yeah, naked sliding in Houston during Spring or Summer months is not wise.

I'm currently with the 16-18 year old girls at church.  This isn't all of them but let me tell you how much I love what I get to do.  I love working with ALL of the Young Women at church but I have really enjoyed being with these incredible girls that are standing on the edge of the jumping off point.  I pray for them.  I worry about them.  I am inspired by them.

Working with the young women and now having two myself makes it even more special to be witness to my Mo's calling right now.  She recently visited the East coast for some training and ran into some of my most favorite people both in northern and southern Virginia.  I'm glad Laurie made her selfie - it was a treat to imagine them getting to listen my my wonderful Mother.

We went to the pool and niece Love licked a snow cone off the ground.  It was precious and hilarious and awesome because she was also in a swimsuit.  Her thighs.  My goodness her thighs.

And sometimes Jonah puts things on his head that make me laugh.

Abby went and turned 12.  I love watching these girls.  It makes me sad that I don't get to snuggle their adorable tiny little selves anymore but they are so amazing and beautiful - I am enjoying watching where their talents take them.

Our garden improves just a little each year.  This year Clark indulged my whining and with the help of our friends The Hubs, built me two garden boxes.  Jonah won't stay out of them.  They were doing fairly well but between the birds, squirrels, dog and whiffle ball wielding two-year old, not much has made it as far as we were hoping.  I'm thinking next year we just need to go ahead and greenhouse the whole backyard.  But it was satisfying to get more than last year at least.

Including peaches! Our peach tree gave us one, measly, rotten peach last year.  This year we got dozens and they were delicious! Next year we will know even more and hopefully the harvest will be even better.

Let me just preface this next bit by recognizing that this year's Mother's Day was a once in a lifetime (hopefully not THAT rare) occurance - one that will be remembered with great fondness for years and years.  Clark hit it so far out of the ballpark, there really is nothing else to say.
We went to dinner with friends on Friday night down in the Galleria area.  We ate a delicious dinner and went out for ice cream (afterwhich, Clark's truck was a mere 30 seconds from being towed-he had to run to catch the guy taking his car away.) Then, without a word of explanation he drove me to a fancy shmancy hotel and kicked me out of the car.  He had packed my bag and arranged for a stay in an awesome hotel overnight, and a massage and facial the following day.  This was pure bliss.  I adore my family and all that good stuff about being a Mom but for goodness sakes, everyone needs a break occasionally! I was newly pregnant and exhausted so this was perfect.  I walked into my room and found a comfy robe and a beautiful vase of flowers waiting for me.  I settled in and watched what I wanted to watch and read and just relaxed.

I had an hour long facial-an hour!! of someone rubbing and cleaning my face.  And then a really good massage.  Nuff said.  It was so wonderful.  Father's Day is going to be LAME compared to that one.  I don't have the mental capacity right now to even remotely compare.
It was extremely thoughtful and amazing.

 And then back to real life.  I came home to a clean house and happy kids.  More stuff happened in April and May - apparently a Father Daughter activity that was super fun.  Every once in a while I have to steal Clark's phone to retrieve pictures that otherwise will never see the likes of social media - gasp!

Once May got rollin' the school year started coming to a close.  There were concerts, field days and school programs.

The girls Spring piano recital - I LOVE that my kids take piano.  I LOVE that they love it.  I LOVE their amazing teacher (that has been my piano teacher also for the last year.)  This is just one of those things that really love and appreciate as a mother.

This Spring their teacher had encouraged many of her students to do duets.  I got to play a duet of "I Am A Child of God" with Mia - I am thoroughly impressed with all these kids - I was absolutely nervous and we even messed up and had to pause and start again (I'm fairly certain it was my fault.) I have not participated in the recitals this year but don't tell my teacher its because I get too nervous.  I don't want to go and do something so hard that really is good for me in the end.

And Haley played a duet with a friend from church.  It was beautiful.  They all did amazing.

I mentioned the rain.  And rain.  And rain.  I love that my kids love to watch the rain as much as Clark and I do.  Sometimes the amount it rains at once is so incredible, it's mesmerizing.  And if there is Texas thunder than forget about it, nothing else can be done but sit outside and watch and listen.

I have a beef with our front loader - a beef that wasn't going to just go away and knowing that my husband doesn't have a whole lot of spare time on his hands these days, I did what any Navy wife does and took the whole dang thing apart to fix it.  I was worried there for a while and even though my brother in law stepped in and helped with a bit, I tried my hardest to have it be a woman only job, because sometimes that just what we do and it feels good.
So far so good.  No laundry room flooding as of yet and our clothes are even getting clean, imagine that.

Haley has been involved in dance at school for the last two years.  This year she got her cousin and good friend to audition with her for the end of year show.  They have to choreograph their own dance and audition about four months in advance.  I was so proud of them.  They worked hard and their dance was adorable and fun.  They danced to Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift, as the Charleston Champions of the 1920's.

Clark and I felt strongly about settling here in Houston to raise this family of ours.  I am so grateful for a church ward with such wonderful friends and examples! This group of kids from church is wonderful and supportive of each other - groups of them show up to every game, concert and event and the girls feel loved and included and supported.

Because of my "advanced maternal age" I had an early bloodtest - one of the results being the gender of the baby.  Haley and cousin Maddy begged to do a gender reveal so we let them go with me to buy balloons and stuff them in a box that we opened in front of cousins and Grandma and Grandpa.  I'm not sure too many were surprised to find out that Jonah will have a little brother, come November.
Holy cow, that's a BIG family!!  Oh, my heart swells.