Life Memory #2

How cute are they?

Guess what Annika went and did? That’s right, she decided it was time to start ballet. I did my best to not influence this decision. She could do anything, soccer? softball? art class? no....this girl chose Ballet. After 8 months of her persistent asking we found a cute little studio that would work perfect for her first experience. She just had her first show last weekend and I could not be more excited. Growing up in ballet I know the influence it can have on your image. I know firsthand how you can find your worth in your size or abilities and while so much good came from growing up in ballet there are things I also wanted to protect my sweet girls from. This studio well they teach ballet as part of their ministry work. They Dance for God! Adorable, right? I was not sure if Annika really understood until she was talking with Kali the night of her show. She said, " Kali, tonight I am going to Dance for God and worship Him and you can come and watch me if you want to!" And while we still doted on how cute she looked in her costume and how beautiful she is we also got to have conversations on what a gift the abilities she was given are and how happy we are to see her make others happy. My goodness this little ballerina is so amazing, inside and out. 

Here is Annika at her first class:)

Annika with Tegan! There are such sweet buddies!

Good Advice

The other day I was driving in the car with a sweet friend and she gave me some good advice! She said "do not worry about catching up, just move forward". Seriously I have wise friends, So WISE. I am here to tell you that there is no way to catch up at this point, I am a little too far gone. We are talking blog posts here, although if you were concluding that I was just to far gone mentally also I am sure you are not alone in your findings. That being said I do feel the need to at least give a few photo updates on some life adventures and milestones that I do not want to forget.

First, we will start with our amazing journey with the Tour de Cure. What a blessing the entire experience was. For David there was hours on hours spent on training. He rode with some incredible men who taught him not only a lot about cycling but also a lot about life. Jacob and I.....well we did train a little. He took a couple trail rides with his Dad and one just him and I. Our ride together on the trail just days before the race was by far one of my sweetest times with Jacob. That says a lot too because lets face it, Jacob and I have too many sweet memories together to even count. But on this ride I realized that this little boy, he thinks a lot! And while he does not always talk about it or articulate it to us, there is a lot happening in his heart and mind. When we started out on this ride he opened that heart right up and so much sweet goodness spilled out that I could not contain the tears ( I did not let him see them). He started by saying he was grateful for his diabetes. Uhmmm, "really sweetie, why?" "Well, because we get to ride together Mom, just you and me, and I like this time with you!" "Oh goodness Jacob, I love this time with you also and we really should do this more often." " Ya, that is a good idea Mom". There was a moment of silence and then. "Mom......I am also grateful because I think God is going to use me". "I think you are right, buddy." "I think he gave me diabetes for a reason"." "He has blessed us with so many people to ride with and support us that I think He might help us really find a cure". "Well Jacob anything is possible where God is concerned and I think you are absolutely right." There was more talk and more kind well thought through words. He contemplates life a lot apparently. I think as I Mom one of my greatest mistakes is not giving them enough credit. These treasures, they are incredible thinkers and really often have a perspective on life that humbles me beyond belief. Remembering how to celebrate and find joy in diabetes will be a great skill for all of us especially on those days when the anxiety and worries of it seem to over power. For Jacob to be able to find this perspective at seven is a true gift God has given him. Man are we blessed!



This treasure, this one right here! The reason our family and so many friends who we concider family chose to get on their bikes and ride 10, 30, 50 or 100 miles, and why so many chose to support the ADA with generous donations! Just before the race we remembered to test and praise God we did because he was low. He got some juice and he and I were off for our 10 miles ride. He did AMAZING.



This a good part of Team Jacob, well these are the men who rode 100 MILES. Jacob rode down to meet them and ride in with them and seriously the kid could not have been more excited. He rode his ten miles earlier in the day and I will not lie Jacob is convinced he could ride the 100 mile. I tell him aim high sweetie but maybe we should wait a few years. This team though, increadible! What an amazing group of people coming together to ride for a cure. We are so grateful to everyone who supported us through this. We saw God at every turn and we could not be more grateful for the experience.



Some of his biggest fans, although we are so blessed to have MANY! Apparently David and Kali got a silly face memo that the rest did not receive. It is rather fitting for our fmaily though so I would not change a thing. I adore these people.

July-Remember I am suppose to be catching up:)

Celebrating Summer with family!

Of course we spent sometime practicing coordination skills, I mean who wouldn't?

Oh the beautiful way this Grandma loves.....she loves deep, she loves lots and they love back. It really is a site to see and one of my greatest joys.

Grandpa too....He bonds with these babies and he never lets go! I never really thought about how others loving my kids would effect me, but it does!

Oh Silly Daddy, this man can always make this family laugh....ALWAYS!

Just because!

3 Gifts at 3

I thought this seemed oh so fun and while it might not happen every day this month, it is happening today! I am sure these three treasures could be what I am so grateful for on most days but the truth is, joy was seeping out of my heart for them today. So today at three I captured this picture. This picture of their mismatched clothes, next to the vacuum that has been out for a couple of days, with a sippy cup that would not be set down, in the perfect chaos that is our home and our lives and oh how grace has to live here with us in every moment. These three are such amazing gifts and I am so honored that God chose me to be with them for whatever time he allows.

I am grateful that……

Today Annika took great initiative to help with chores, meals and school. She blessed my socks off with her sweetness today. Seriously the only place to take this is into gratitude for the sweet precious little girl she is!

Today Jacob was extremely persistent with school. He read lots, wrote lots and complained little. He made my mama heart so proud and this perseverance of his continued well into the evening.

Today Kali took her Tae kwon do skills (I do use this loosely) to a whole new level. Jacob, Annika and I were laughing so hard we could have wet our pants. I am so grateful she wants nothing more than to do what she sees her brother and sister doing. She is a crack up and a 17 month old throwing a kick and yelling keeeah is about the cutest thing in the world.

Our little Parrot

This girl has brought a new level of Crazy to the Darr house. Some might have thought we were crazy enough but alas there is always room for growth in that area. Check out her cuteness. She is in the parrot phase and we love it……LOVE IT. O.K. so maybe this was taken like a month and a half ago….you know right after Annika turned FIVE!!! In this sweet video Kali is about 15 ½ months. Please do not gasp but, in just two days she will be 17 MONTHS!!!!! 17 MONTHS!! She is well on her way to holding her ground in this house. She has a lot to say and let’s just say she has the volume to overpower the rest of us. She makes us laugh, she makes us giddy, she makes us excited and she has made our family complete.

JUNE- Where else would we be?

The best way to spend the month of JUNE is at the beach, see.......

The fun they have together is priceless!

Oh, I kind of miss those baby teeth:) Wait till you see him now:)

YUM!

She is a Daddy's Girl

Yep, still fun

I love all her roles.

Fun with the wind

Chillin in the car steat! (the one I covered just for her)

I love the way they love eachother!