Summer Fun Continues

I'm really happy with how our summer is going so far. Monday-Thursday the kids start the day with a little bit of school work. It takes them about an hour to do it and then they have to read for at least 30 minutes. Baylie actually loves it. Jalen, not so much. I've also been trying to do at least one activity with them each day. Some days are more exciting than others. Some days we don't even get dressed. It's been great.

David and I actually have one of these in storage in Utah, only it's covered in shells rather than beads.

On Tuesday, we went to the downtown library. The kids LOOOVE that library. I wish it were closer so we could go there all the time. We went this time to hear an African drum group. The group is a family (mom, dad, brother and sister) called Healing Waters. They were great.

They were very upbeat and got the kids going. My kids were kind of shy and didn't repeat much during the program, but ever since the program, they have been singing "Funga alafia - ashe ashe" at the top of their lungs.

Their favorite part was getting to play some of the instruments.

Jalen really went to town on the drums.

On Wednesday we went swimming at the rec center. Always a fun time. They have summer camps going on, so it was crazy busy with kids. On Thursday, I drug the kids along with me while I got a haircut.

It turned out MUCH shorter than I expected, especially since my hair is naturally curly, which makes it even shorter. I like it a little better straightened and in a few weeks I think it will be perfect. (I don't know why my phone is taking such small pictures all of a sudden.)

Friday we went to the Children's Museum. We love to go there. I didn't used to go because it was too expensive, but then I learned that if you're on Medicaid, you can get in for $1. Wish I had known that four years ago! We go more often now. Baylie especially loves the veterinarian section because when she grows up she's going to be a "vegetarian."

Baylie espeically likes making little rockets that we then load in an air tunnel thing to see if they'll fly. I was quite proud of mine this time.

Baylie loading the tunnel.

Jalen liked driving the tractor.

Both kids love the outside water section. We do that last because after that they're so wet I don't dare let them back inside the museum.

The nice thing is that they're old enough now to entertain themselves and each other, so I'm able to read a book while they play. It was fun for them and relaxing for me.

Today they had tennis camp. My kids were the only ones that showed up. Jalen got kicked out after about 30 minutes because he wouldn't listen, but Baylie ended up with a two-hour private lesson. I love their tennis coach. I need to get a photo of them with him.

This afternoon we had a birthday party with water slides. It was a lot of fun and a great way to cool off.

I had to include a picture of these awesome Rice Krispie sushi rolls. They were so cute and really tasty.

We are all just trying to stay busy until we go to Utah. We can't wait!

Oh, Charleston

Today has been an emotionally charged day for me. Upon adopting Baylie, I was thrust into a racially charged world that I was completely unprepared to handle. I just wanted to be a mom. I didn't want to become a voice for equality or have to take sides in racial battles. I just wanted to keep living in my little bubble. I still do. Unfortunately, I can't. I am the white mother of two black children and that isn't a fact that can be swept under the rug. There is no such thing as color blindness. There is such a thing as white privilege, although it doesn't mean what many think it does. There are good people of all races. There are also racists of all races. After having spent seven years as the mother of black children, I still don't understand what it is like to grow up black in America. I still feel like I am navigating a tightrope when it comes to issues like race. I don't always see things from the "white" point of view. I don't always see things from the "black" point of view. I wish there were no such thing as either.

I love Charleston. It is such a cultural treasure. It is a wonderful city with so much personality. I first went there on a girls' trip with my mom and sister prior to getting married just over 13 years ago. I fell in love with it then and was so excited to move back to this part of the country with my family when David came to Columbia for his dissertation. It is one of the few southern cities that wasn't destroyed by Sherman during the Civil War.

The fact that Charleston has now been linked to two obviously racist killings is so sad to me. First there was the police officer that not only shot a black man, but was filmed trying to plant evidence on him to justify the killing. Now today's massacre of nine people in a church has completely ripped my heart out of my chest and I have been on the verge of tears all day.

On Monday, David and I went to a shooting range for our anniversary. The range was in Lexington, home to the shooter. In the lane next to us was a young man that was about the same age and actually looked somewhat like the killer. I don't think it was the same young man, but the fact that it could have been is too close for comfort.

This morning I read my son a children's book called Birmingham, 1963, about the four little girls that died in the church bombing there. When I heard about Charleston, I was hit by the similarity and by the fact that we are still dealing with these issues over 50 years later. I debated over whether or not to tell my children about what happened in Charleston, but decided that it is part of their history and they need to know about it. How do I explain to them that there are people in this world that would kill them because of the color of their skin? One of the survivors was a 5-year-old girl that pretended to be dead. My son is 5! I can't even wrap my mind around that.

There is so much hate in this world. There is so much evil. But I am convinced that despite today's events, there are many, many more good people than there are bad. I know the parents I associate with love their children and are doing their best to teach them to love others. I still have hope that my children and their friends can make a change in the world around them. Kindness begins at home. Today I feel overwhelmed. All I can do is hold my children close and pray for a better tomorrow.

13 Years and Counting!

Monday was David and my 13th wedding anniversary. It seems kind of amazing. On the one hand, it seems like it has flown by, but on the other hand, we have been through so much together - some really tough things - that it seems like we have been together forever. I think my favorite thing about being with David is that it is just so natural and comfortable. I can truly just be myself and know that he always loves me unconditionally. There is great comfort and security in that.

David planned a day for us and even arranged for child care. It was all a surprise for me. He completely surprised me with a trip to a shooting range. I love to shoot, but have never mentioned that as a possible activity for us. I thought it was an awesome idea! Unfortunately, I showed up at the range without my ID and we couldn't shoot without it. We decided to improvise and change things around.

We went home for the ID and then headed to the movies, which was originally going to be our last stop. We watched Jurassic World in 3-D and the special effects were amazing. We both loved it. (I am officially a Chris Pratt fan and David and I are long-time fans of Bryce Dallas Howard.) I still remember the first time I saw the original Jurassic Park. It was mid blowing. This new one was also an exciting experience.

After the movie we headed back to the shooting range. I learned that David had never even touched a gun before. And he calls himself a Texan! I am a great shot with a rifle, but the range only had pistols. Pistols have too much of a kick and I am not very accurate with them. We opted for a revolver over a semi-automatic because I thought it would be slower and safer. 

David turned out to be a very good shot and I performed pitifully. It was a blast.

After shooting, we went to beautiful Irmo Park for a picnic prepared by David.

It was yummy and healthy. Lettuce wraps with chicken, olives, tomatoes, strawberries, black beans and parmesean as well as crackers and homemade hummus. (I made the hummus.)

They were very tasty!

It was about 104 degrees, but it was comfortable in the shade.

Once we finished dinner, we went and picked up the kids.

As is our tradition, we finished the evening by reading in our matrimonial journals. These are journals that David bought and present to me on our honeymoon. We write in them to each other throughout the year and then read them on our anniversary. It's a great history of our marriage. We took some time to read over past entries and remember some of the things we've experienced together. It's crazy how quickly things have passed.

I love this little family of mine and I'm glad that David is my partner through all the good, the bad and the ugly. Fortunately, it's mostly good and almost always fun.

Walkin' Through the Forest

Yesterday we headed to an under 10 tennis tournament. The kids' coach thought it would be good for them to see kids their age playing. I tried to find information about the tournament online, but there wasn't much. I did find something that said it was all day. We got there at about 11:00 a.m. only to find that it didn't start until 4:00 p.m. We didn't want to waste the drive, so we decided to head to Congaree National Forest, which wasn't far from where we were. It's one of our favorite places to visit.

We had to buy some bug spray from the ranger's station, but then we were set. The park is so beautiful and it's different every time we go. You never know what the water level will be and that impacts everything else. It was an awesome walk because we saw some animals we'd never seen in the wild before.

Hawk

Look for fairies.

Wild boar babies

And their daddy

The swamp always makes me think of the Swamp Fox and the Revolutionary War. I also think of the maroon groups of escaped slaves that hid out in the swamps where they couldn't be found. It amazes me to think that I'm walking where they may have walked.

It turned into an awesome day.

I Love Summer

I love summer. I love sleeping in. I love having Baylie back home all day. I love not having a schedule. I love days like today that are warm, but with a breeze that keeps it comfy. I try to find fun things for the kids to do, but I don't feel pressure to do something every day. Yesterday, the kids spent the entire day in their pajamas. They never even went outside! (It was a scorcher!) I do make my kids do school work Monday - Thursday. Baylie actually enjoys it. Jalen, not so much.

One of the coolest things in Columbia is the Marionette Theater. Today we went to the local library to see them put on Cinderella. It was awesome.

Cinderella, her stepmother and her stepsisters: Mylanta and Pepto.

Cinderella and her fairy godmother...

...and the godmother's "magic Juan."

Prince and the Duke

Dancing with the Prince

Cinderella and the Princess

After the library, we headed to the park to ride bikes. Then we went to Chick-fil-A to cash in the ice cream coupons the kids earned for their first week in the summer reading program. I didn't take any pictures.

Next we headed to USC to take some pictures for David's graduation announcement. It reminded me of how much I love that campus. It's so beautiful and it's been around almost as long as this country. I'm so glad David was able to go to school here.

Our lives are so crazy right now. We need to move in a month or so, but we don't know where to go. Do we go to Utah? Do we stay here? Should we have moved back into our home in Houston (set to close on June 26)? Regardless of where we go, no one will rent to us without proof of employment, so what if we don't have a job by the time we have to move out? We're trying to have faith that everything will work out, but as each day passes, it's a little bit harder.