June 2017

June is a super busy month for our family, and it's definitely Robert's busiest month of work.  I have been very thankful that this summer it seems easier to survive without Robert.  We absolutely missed him.  Our days aren't as fun and full when he's gone, and Sarah was definitely off emotionally, but the days seemed to pass faster than they did last summer when he was gone.  Sarah is a ton of fun to be around!

The first week of June was Serve Springfield.  This is a local mission trip where about ten different student ministries team up to do service projects and evangelism in town.  Robert was able to come home at night to sleep, but he usually got home around 9:00 or 10:00pm and left for the day around 7:00 or 7:30am.  I tried to plan extra special things to do with Sarah that week.  That included:

Baking brownies

A zoo trip with friends

Joining Robert and the students for dinner

Painting pottery with my mom

Play date with Waverly

Cleaning Memaw's bird bath

Riding her tricycle

Swimming with friends

The next week was Vacation Bible School.  Sarah had some late nights up two hours later than usual, so she was a bit off.  Robert and I were with 5th and 6th graders.  They were uhh...not lacking in energy. :)  Sarah had a great time and enjoyed being bumped up to be with the 2-3 year olds.  She even got to perform some of her songs on Sunday morning which I didn't know was happening.  Cuteness overload!

During all of this we managed to sneak in a very last minute and awesome lunch with our dear friends Jason and Andrea from NC.  They happened to be in Missouri for a wedding an hour away from us.  We hadn't seen them in 2 1/2 years, but being around them again was so effortless.  Sarah loved them, and our time together was sweet but too short!

We celebrated Father's Day in Bolivar with my family.  Jim, Dad, and Robert got to golf together, and we all ate lunch together.

The third week of June Robert was at Camp Revo.  Sarah had tons of fun with friends and family, but she had kind of gotten to her emotional breaking point.  She said lots of sweet and heartbreaking things like, "When can I see Daddy?"  "I want to hold Daddy's hand," "Go to church to see Daddy."  I spent one night hanging out with her for about two hours.  She just wanted Mommy and Daddy to be with her.  Thankfully, this week had plenty of fun moments as well:

Walking in the creek at the park in Bolivar

Mittens is extra snuggly with me when Robert is gone :)

Swinging with Opal

Camp always occurs during Robert's birthday

The students made sure Robert's birthday was memorable!

Our first jalapenos!

 When Robert got home we celebrated his birthday and shot off some fireworks with my family.

Sarah really liked them and kept saying, "More," "Again!"

Lots of swimming this month

I had been teasing Robert for weeks that I would potty train Sarah while he was at camp like it was no big deal.  Well, it happened!  We'd had out a potty for months.  Sarah had the words for it, "Pee, poo, potty, diaper, wipe, flush, wash."  She could tell us right when she needed a new diaper.  I felt like she was there mentally but just not ready physically.  She couldn't sit still on the potty.  I knew that one day she would decide she was ready.  That day happened at the start of camp!  She just started peeing in the potty like it was old hat.  She's really good at telling me when she needs to go pee pee, so it's really nice that I don't have to ask her and take her a million times.  She gets two Cookie Crisp Cereal pieces for peeing.  Sarah's pediatrician recommended this.  It's a treat but smaller and healthier than real cookies.  She likes her Minnie Mouse little potty but loves the princess potty ring that goes on the big potty.  She feels so proud using Mommy and Daddy's potty.  She loves her Minnie Mouse big girl undies.  She pretty much has the peeing down.  Now we just need to work on #2.  It'll happen.  For now we're so excited for this big progress!

Last August we got Serina a gift certificate for family photos, and this month we finally got around to taking them.  Ashley Huwa did such a great job!  We also got to celebrate Robert's birthday again with his family while we were in KC.  And we got to learn that Bethany and Jason are going to be having another baby in February!

Robert is finishing up June but having an all night student lock-in tonight.  I know he'll be very tired when he gets home tomorrow morning.  Two days until vacation!!!