Classic Hilton's

My day started at 5:30am - breakfast for Grayson. At six, I went by to wake Jenna up, only to find her bright eyed, bushy tailed, and headed for her shower. I practically force fed her a slice of toast with peanut butter (she took maybe  three bites) while we got hair and make up done. Groomsman Jason came by looking for his tie and socks (Jenna's response: We gave it to them 12 hours too soon!). Other than that minor snaffoo, the morning went on without a hitch.  Jenna exuded a calm excitement.  As Ron (the pastor) had said at the rehearsal, the details were all set.  Now was the time to relax and take it all in.  We met the bridesmaids at the church and found they had finished decorating the sanctuary, which was breathtaking!! Jenna and Brett picked Little Church in the Pines (in part) for its simple, natural beauty, but the little touches they added -- tin pails with yellow pom poms and navy ribbon, the communion elements -- really made it sparkle.  ...

It's difficult to put this last week into words. At least without grossly overusing adjectives like "beautiful", "wonderful", "awesome", "rockstar", etc.  But I will try. Here goes. We flew into Fresno on Sunday, did our shopping, visited with family, and settled into our cabin by Monday afternoon.  That evening (September 5th) we celebrated Mom and Dad's 30th anniversary with friends and food. Good times were had by all!  Tuesday we spent at Yosemite (see previous posts). Wednesday was the official start of "wedding week", complete with projects and crisis! Mom, Jenna, Aunt Suzanne, Brooklyn and I went into Oakhurst to get our nails done. Now I don't enjoy getting my hair or nails done unless I have a friend or relative to talk to. So who did they leave alone in the salon to make small talk with the mountain people while they went to Sky Ranch to check on details? ME!! To be fair, it was the good folks at Sierra Sky R...

More highlights from our adventures in Yosemite: Awestruck gazing at the mountains!   Grayson and Brookln beneath the mighty sequoia. Sassy Ms. Brooklyn models the latest in teepee bark. The path builders must have been momentarily distracted. Oops! Jaime: Who lives in the residential area of Yosemite? Dad: Mr. Beaver, Mr. Squirrel, and yes, Mr. Deer! Jenna and Brooklyn at the tree

Of course the landscape was spectacular, but truly (and I know this sounds sappy!) the best part of the day was the company... Grayson tells Bob Bob all about "it". Grayson was not super impressed by the view. The Hilton Four in front of Half Dome Mommy and Brooklyn climbing rocks. Jenna and Grayson gettin' tired!! Grayson studies the trees.

We had an incredible day hanging out at Yosemite. Brooklyn got a little sick driving the windy mountain roads into the valley, but she made it! We all tried to hold our breath going through the tunnel...if only we could have gone a little bit faster, I might have made it! We explored the museum, learning how the granite mountains were formed and how the park became the first to receive the National Park Grant thanks to Abraham Lincoln. We hiked to the Lower Falls and dipped our feet in the freezing river water. We topped the afternoon off with a visit to Fern Springs where we filled our bottles up with the best, most natural tasting water! See more highlights of the trip in parts 2 and 3. 

Week two has gone really well.  I feel like we're beginning to find a groove.  I've let go of some of my public school baggage. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say I've loosed my grip on some of my public school baggage! By far the most important lesson I am learning is how to talk to Brooklyn after she's been at school all day.  A couple of questions about key things are plenty to get the conversation started, but too much peppering and the story gets lost in her fertile imagination.  What's also neat is the stories that come out through her play.  In watching her pretend to be the teacher I can see Mrs. Pope come to life in my living room!  The day is still long and she is exhausted.  I spent this week getting into car line between 1:30 and 1:45. It's an hour wait for me (and Grayson), but it means she is among the first kids released, which she loves, and we're home by 2:30. I would love for dinner, clean up, bath, and bed time to not ...

Dear Brooklyn, I'm walking upstairs to go to bed, thinking about tomorrow and our plans for the day, and it hits me like a ton of bricks...tomorrow you are starting kindergarten at Blackwell Elementary.  I am thrilled for you and the adventures I know you will have. But I am in tears because you, my baby girl, are growing up into a big scary world where I cannot protect you.   So I turn to the Lord for comfort and wisdom and grace to get through this step which I know feels so much bigger to me than it will to you, and He leads me to one of my favorite passages, Psalm 139.  As I read it, I realize that tonight, it is not for me. It is for you.  You can't read yet (won't be able to say that next year!!) and while I would like to run upstairs and drill these words into your head, I think doing so would do more harm than good! So for now, I'll put it here and pray it for you. O Lord, you have searched Brooklyn, and you know her. You know when she sits and when ...