September 2023

September was filled with schoolwork, one last swim party, birthday celebrations, and lots of (HOT!) football games!

Titus woke up early one morning and found a Bible to read by Dave.

Labor Day break!  Games of Connect Four

Dishes (always!)

Dave finished our bathroom over Labor Day weekend! (The mirror was hung after this picture.)

It is so beautiful!

We hosted a big Labor Day swim party!

We also went to 3 services on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.  The morning started off with the fire alarms going off in the Children's Building!  Josiah made a note of the truck number on his sermon notes, along with the note "false alarm."  

Titus loves to dress up - hats, shoes, glasses!

We moved Titus to his bed!  (This only lasted a few weeks.  As of now, he's back in his crib.)

Picture day at CDA!

School pictures - looking so grown up!

A hot football game at McKinney Christian Academy

After the game, we went to the new Portillo's location in Grandscape!  It was a fun family night!

a hot morning at the park - both Tex and Titus were worn out!

Friday art class

playing football together

my favorite notes to find on schoolwork!

Football game at Grace Prep

working hard on algebra

One evening Josiah and I walked to Pop and Mom-o's new house!

Rinn band students were in the school newsletter!

Football game at Covenant in Dallas

Not sure who is in charge here, ha!

25th Anniversary Carnival at CDa

both Isaac (pep band) and Emma (cheering) on the field

While we were at the CDA carnival, Pop and Josiah went to Daniel's rodeo. 

My parents hosted a lovely birthday lunch for me after church.  The meal was filled with all my favorite foods - tater tot casserole, chocolate cake, and apple crisp.  It was such a special time together!  We've celebrated many happy birthdays at my parent's home!

Birthday gifts! 

Dave and the kids bought me a new coffee mug, baking dishes, and a fall scented candle.

FaceTiming with Mom-o - Titus is always concerned with pushing the "red button" :)

Josiah gave Titus his Mickey blanket, and he sleeps with it nearly every night.  He is very interested in my  stuffed Mickey and Minnie that Grandpa Ken gave me from Disneyland in 1986.  Titus made the association that the stuffed Mickey is the same character as the Mickey on the blanket.  He says "Mickey!" and "Minnie!"  

cheering at the Homecoming Game

Thoughts on Parenting Shared at Angela's baby shower

In July, I had the great joy of helping with my friend Angela's baby shower, and I was also part of a panel that shared answers to a variety of parenting questions during the shower.  I wanted to record what I shared to be able to look back on in the future.  

Question: What is a Bible verse that encourages you as a mom?

Isaiah 40:11, "He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young."

As a believer, you are never alone.  When you are tired or overwhelmed, remember that the Lord is tenderly and gently leading you as you lead your children.

Question:  What is one practical way we prioritized our marriage?

One practical way we prioritized marriage was to have couch time (not a term we made up!) after dinner.  We'd sit on the couch and catch up after supper while our kids played or read nearby.  Your kids seeing you do this is key - don't send them upstairs or outside to play.  They need to see you prioritize your marriage and find great security in that.  

Another way we have prioritized our marriage is by having a weekend or night alone.  Even one night alone together is very rejuvenating! This doesn't need to be expensive, either.  Some of our favorite getaways are when we come back to our (empty, quiet!) house after taking the kids to grandparents.  Be creative to make this happen - ask friends/swap babysitting.  This is highly beneficial for your marriage and parenting to have time alone.

Question:  What is one tip you have for surviving the newborn phase?

One tip I have for surviving the newborn phase is to get outside!  Going on a walk with baby in a carrier or in the stroller is always refreshing to me - it still is!  Breathe deeply, look at God's creation, and I find this most refreshing when I put my phone away or leave it at home.  Getting outside will help both you and baby.  (As a mom with older kids, I find this is just as true.  Getting outside together and walking, biking, or playing at the park still brings us all joy! Sometimes during a challenging school day, a quick walk to Indian Creek and back home -- just 10 minutes or so -- helps us tremendously!) 

Advice I once heard from a mom was "get your baby outside or in water (bath or even swimming!)" when he is fussy and you know he's fed/clean/diaper changed and don't know what else to do!

Question:  What is one thing you're glad you did with your children?

One thing I'm glad I did (and still do!) is read aloud.  Before you think your baby can understand, read aloud - some of my favorite memories with each of my children involve books we've loved.  As they've grown, this activity has remained important and just recently we were all so gripped with a book we were deep into that my kids took turn reading it aloud while we were driving on errands in the car.  Reading aloud and the characters we all love become a part of your family culture and bind you together with this shared experience.  

Countryside Fair through the Years

2017

2018

2019

2020 - no fair - the entire fair was going to be outdoors (Covid era), and due to rain/cold, it was cancelled

2021

2022

2023

2024

Countryside Fair 2023

It was a very rainy night at the Countryside Fair, but the rain didn't hold back the crowds or fun!  

This is one of our favorite nights of the year!  

Titus was able to play the games this year!  He was a bit hesitant (or overwhelmed!), but he loved all the throwing games!  Throw the duckies, throw the bees, throw the balls!  

Emma had fun on a hayride with friends during a break in the rain!

Both Arturo's family and our neighbors came, which was a fun surprise!  We took a short break for some chili in the gym and enjoyed catching up with friends.   Titus and I sat in the bleachers for awhile while he ate ice cream, while Dave did more of the bigger games upstairs with the kids.  We also found a few treats to buy at the bake sale!

It was especially sweet to have Titus and Emma wear the same pterodactyl costumes that Josiah and Isaac wore in 2017, which was our first year at the Countryside Fair!

Emma's family presentation

Emma Victoria did her 5th grade "family history presentation” on her great-great-grandma Emma Victoria (Nelson) Swenson (1891-1950).  This was an end-of-quarter exam grade for her history that the 5th graders do each year as part of their history curriculum studying Ellis Island and immigration.  Emma's teacher, Mr. Ea, opened the time together by having everyone recite the pledge and sing the doxology.  We also did a reader's theater together about immigrants from all different countries coming to America.  Emma and Cannabry did one of the reader's theater lines together, changing the line from singular to plural, and their sweet voices in unison were precious!  This was a very special time together in Emma's class!  

Hi, I'm Emma Victoria, and if you're wondering, I have the same name as my great-great-grandma.  If I was still alive, I would be 132 years old.  I was born in 1891 in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, near Laura Ingalls Wilder.  My parents immigrated from Sweden to Minnesota because they liked the lakes and climate.  We lived on a farm.  I played piano and violin by ear with no lessons.  I was a maid helping with new babies, and that's where I met my husband, Swen Swenson.  My name was Emma Victoria Nelson before I was married.  Swen Swenson came from Sweden a year before The Titanic sunk.  I had four girls and one son.  I was an excellent baker and cook, and I earned my family money.   

And, I'm going to tell you a story about a green crayon and gravy.

The pastor was coming over for lunch one Sunday afternoon, and the kids were riled up, so I told them to sit down and color.  One kid threw a green crayon into the air, and it landed in the gravy.  The gravy was so hot that it turned green immediately.  We didn't have time to make more, so we served green gravy!

I made angel food cakes, and I sold it for $3 for a birthday cake and $7-10 for a wedding cake, and I will be passing out the recipe and a piece of cake later.  And that is the end of my presentation.