100 POSTS!

This is Number 100! In just 17 months, I've managed to capture practically every nuance of Life With The Marshes.

We've changed jobs; moved to a new state; moved twice in that state; sold a house; bought a house; started and finished Kindergarten and preschool; welcomed a new little baby; dedicated that baby; joined a church; traveled to Washington DC; visited DisneyWorld; taken weekend road trips to Pickwick Lake, Maquoketa Caves and Jackson, MS; taken business trips to DC and Iowa; sold a car; bought a car; welcomed aunts and uncles and grandparents from near and far; played; tried new foods; worked in a garden; played in pools and sprinklers; said goodbye to a dog; lost teeth; learned to read; learned to speak French and sign language; read books; seen movies; hosted and went to birthday parties; prayed for people; laughed; cried; and, most importantly, we've blogged about it all!

All the previous entries are saved on the front page of the blog, so go back and read about us. Then start your own blog so we can read about you!

Happy 100th Post Day!

Pomp and Circumstance

It's the end of the school year, so our calendar has been chock full of programs and events to signal the end of another successful year/session/grade. First, the girls sang in the Missions Program at church on Wednesday night. They'd been learning about children all over the world, sang "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish, and talked about various country flags. Next came Molly's Bridgin Ceremony for girl scouts. She earned the rainbow patch and is proudly proceeding to Brownies next year. Four days later, it was time for Rebecca's preschool program. She had been diligently practicing for weeks and I have to say, it was just adorable. She was right out in front, sang and danced on cue. It's pretty much the same circle time they do each morning, so the wonderful aspect of it was that they just sang like we weren't there, so they didn't seem nervous. Afterward, the obligatory face painting awaited, along with cake and a balloon-shaping clown. Three days after that was Molly's Kindergarten graduation. She had a few lines she had been assigned to say with a classmate ("She's really quiet, Mom, so since I am a loud-mouth, the teacher said I should say it with her."). There were lots of songs, and a few more lines I didn't know she had. I asked her about this, and she said, "Well, I just had to read those off the back of the card, so I didn't need to bring them home to practice." Duh! She can read! Now we head into summer activities--t-ball, tumbling, swimming lessons, Zoo Camp, July summer camp, theater week and fairy ballet week. Pictures coming soon!

Burma in Crisis

Not that crisis is new to the people of Burma ("Myanmar"), but the recent cyclone is a true tragedy on many levels. Many of you have asked about my sister Meredith, who works on the border between Thailand and Burma in a refugee camp. She is on staff at the Mae Tao Clinic. While her area was spared the brunt of the cyclone damage (it was a tropical storm by the time it reached her area), they are in a good location to offer much-needed assistance to folks in the Irrawaddy Delta, when and if the ruling military junta will allow help to come in. Her clinic has many supplies, but they always can use financial help to continue their work. If refugees from the storm (and refugees from the brutal regime's violent ruling tactics) can make it to Mae Sot, they will receive top-quality health care and living assistance. See the link on my blog for info about the Mae Tao Clinic.

Meredith has emailed me some truly horrific images, the likes of which the US media either doesn't have or is choosing not to run. I won't put them on the blog, because I know a lot of y'all have young children, and these pictures are just too graphic for little eyes. Frankly, they're too graphic for my eyes. Suffice it to say, the junta's decision to delay aid to the people speaks volumes about their ability to "govern" and their self-serving motives. Hopefully, the world community is taking note and will put more pressure on the countries that prop up this vile regime (China especially), to bring about change. Unfortunately, that is exactly why the Burmese government is refusing aid--they do not want the revolutionary change that has historically occured after natural disasters of this magnitude (Indonesia, Turkey, Sri Lanka). But you do have to wonder: how do they sleep at night?

Keep praying.

Elementary School Fests

In keeping with my earlier posts about fairs and fests, here are a few pics from the Spring Carnival at Molly's school, as well as her Kindergarten Field Day. The sun has been shining, the sky has been blue, and temps have been moderate. I am confident that the brutal heat of summer is just around the corner, but for now we are spending LOTS of time in the Springtime outdoors!

cousin Annsley fed her shirt sleeve string to the goat at the carnival!


uncle peter/daddy with the big girl cousins--Caroline, Hallie, Molly & Rebecca


fancy hair by sweet-n-sassy


didn't let those fancy 'do's keep 'em from inflatable obstacle courses


Nana and Pa were in town for a little visit with 6 of 7 granddaughters


At her Field Day, Molly is ready for the water balloon toss...



...and after two throws, she's all wet!



flipper-fin relay



Sarah and Molly and Zachary after the post-games popsicle snack ("my favorite part," says Molly)

Happy Mother's Day!

I awoke Sunday morning to the sweet "dadadada-babababa" of my youngest daughter, followed soon thereafter by Rebecca's little voice, "Happy Mudders Day!" and then Molly's louder, "Don't get out of bed yet!" They all disappeared briefly, with Daddy clearly in the lead, and returned with breakfast in bed--yogurt, a banana and some strawberries, with milk. (I'm not much of a hot breakfast gal.) We all got ready for church and made it on time (yay us!) for the breakfast being served for the families of babies being dedicated. As we ate more fruit and the kids stuffed their faces with donuts and mini-quiche, we waited for our turn with the photographer. Then it was time for the service, when Amelia was presented to the congregation, along with 8 other kids ages 2 and under. My parents were there and they joined us for lunch afterwards, then back to our house for a little visit.



Peter and the girls gave me a porch swing and some hanging ferns for the front porch, Rebecca presented me with a potting set for daisies, Molly gave me gardening gloves and seeds, and we spent the afternoon doing lawn work and planting flowers. Weather was perfect, I got to spend time with my own awesome mommy and I got to feel extra-special in the eyes of my little ones.


The day before Mother's Day, Molly and Rebecca and I went to "High Tea with Mommy and Me" at the Children's Museum. We sipped tea and lemonade from fancy porcelain cups, enjoyed finger sandwiches and fruit and tiny pastries, watched some young girls dance for us, and heard all about the origins of Mother's Day from one of the local TV station personalities. We got roses and rings and feather boas and then got to play in the museum afterwards!



Thanks, Mom, for being a great one, and thanks, Peter and girls, for making my weekend so memorable! Hope all you moms out there had as much fun as I did!

The Seven Month Itch

Tomorrow, Amelia will be 7 months old. Every day brings new "firsts." She is sitting up well; rolling over every which way; grabbing everything, especially paper; lovin' her feet; and recently said her first word: "Da-da." I am not jealous or anything, but I do want to point out that the other two kids said "Ma-ma" first. Here is our beautiful red-headed baby, all sittin' up and stuff.

If it's on a stick, I wanna eat it.

Break out the Pepcid--it's FAIR season! The fests and fairs of summer are in full swing. Moon bounces, pony rides, shaken-up lemonade, wobbly rides, midway games, various foods on sticks--it's finally here in all its glory.

Our first "fest" of the season was Earth Fest at Lichterman Nature Center. To be fair, this one wasn't typical. It was held in honor of Earth Day and while we did experience face painting--an old favorite--we spent the majority of our time on a guided Tree Hike. There's this amazing, dense 65-acre forest right in the middle of the city of Memphis. It's really one of our best kept secrets. Instead of vendors trying to pedal cheap silver jewelry or Hannah Montana posters, there were booths for various local non-profits and government agencies devoted to clean water, recycling and celebrating birds & rivers. Rebecca found caterpillars on the trails and didn't hesitate to scoop one up. And we met Jacob, whose dad was the guide on our hike.

(the caterpillar queen--hey, wasn't that a billy ocean song? note the face painting)


(on the Tree Hike)


(with our new friend Jacob)

The very next weekend brought another sunny, breezy day, and there were plenty food-on-a-stick options to please any palate. Just to the east of our beloved Lakeland is a town called Arlington. They have a nice "fest" called Arlington in April, where local artisans and business-owners and churches can display information. Rebecca wasn't feeling well and Peter was out of town, so my mom joined Molly, sleepy Amelia and me for moon bounces, train rides, Fiddlesticks, pony rides and dogs jumping through hoops. I bought some pieces of pottery from a local guy (I'm a sucker for the local artist), and I discovered that I am a terrible mother, because the tiny big of leg that was exposed between Amelia's jeans and her shoes got so sunburned. I didn't think to put sunscreen there. Bad mommy!

(molly and granna enjoy skewered food--a fiddlestick)


(the exposed flesh--I was taking a picture of the shoes--pre-sunburn)

A few memories of fairs from recent years: the Durham Fair in Connecticut is by far my favorite fair, and Peter and I went every year when we lived in CT. From our early married days (10 years ago!), I remember that the state fair in Jackson, MS, was fun, too--love the Chicken on a Stick from Penn's. The irony, of course, is that one can buy this delicacy any time of year at Penn's restaurant in Pearl, but somehow, it tastes so much better mixed with hot Mississippi summertime sweat. And, of course, the MidSouth Fair holds so many memories from my childhood. It's different now, but still wouldn't miss it (except last year, when I was about 6 days from what turned out to be Amelia's delivery date...). Next weekend is the Beale Street Music Fest, where Peter and I went on our very first date 17 years ago. That's more than half my life for those who are counting!

Do you have memories of fairs and fests?