These are a Few of My Favorites

I have come to accept that the only chance I have to blog on more of a regular basis (than every nine months) is to a) steal other people's blogging material, b) post things that I am asked to (ie video of grandchildren doing cute things), or c) simply tell the details of each day's events (I would rather swallow gasoline). So...the last two things I have posted have been by request. Today, I will steal blogging material from a few of my friends and post my favorite pictures of 2008.

#1 A Valentines' picture of Gigi...the sweetness of her face in this picture just gets me.


#2 I don't know if it is the fresh spring colors of the dresses, the oversized flowers and bow in their hair, or the poses that make these my Easter favorites.




#3 It's the eyes, the chubby cheeks full of birthday cake, those colors again, and the fact that I can't believe how fast her first year went...


#4 Payton's Kindergarten Graduation...a monumental year for her, whereby she completed her first official year of schooling and GREW so much...academically, personally, relationally, and physically


#5 Sweet baby chubs in a swimming suit was more than I could take. Her thighs were...well explosive. :)



#6 This picture has Gigi written all over it...the girl's excitement for things (in this case fireworks) makes life richer.


#7 I stepped out in July...with a "fast" hair style that was...livin' on the edge? and maybe trying too hard?...As Bill put it, "With that hairdo and your 'AE' garb, you may as well go back to high school."


#8 I love these birthday pictures...notice Audrey's excitement and expressions as Payton opened her gifts.





#9 Obviously I am well aware that the chances of Jackson and Payton actually marrying one day are slim...but one can hope...and sing "One Boy and One Girl" in her head while she watches them walk through a field together, right?


#10 Watching Josh on the ranch in La Veta with his girls is sweet like nothing else...the girls were in this machine cutting hay with him for four hours! one afternoon this past summer.




#11 While wondering naked between the playroom where Payton and Audrey were playing Barbies and family room, Reese climbed up on the ottoman...at which point I was able to see that she had a Barbie shoe stuck between her 'cheeks'. It is a terrible picture because I had little time to get the camera ready and because I was laughing hysterically while taking it.


#12 favorite Halloween pics...



#13 sweet cousin pics...




#14 the 'tornado' that caused quite a commotion in the neighborhood this fall


#15 favorite Disney picture from our trip in October...

a changed heart and an amateur attempt at poetry

I was given the opportunity to share a devotional at a friend's baby shower tonight.  She just had her second girl...a perfect chance for me to share what I love about having girls.  Anyway, I was asked to post the poem I wrote for the conclusion...so here it is.  Man...with two recent posts I should be good until at least March.

Though having all girls was not at first my first choice, 

God has graciously given me many reasons to rejoice.

There is something divine about having all girls...

From play rooms with kitchens, dress-up and dolls

to dreaming of days arm-in-arm at the malls.

I love that with Daddy they build fence and mow,

and to the park with pink ball gloves and bats they all go.

I love having the excuse to buy adorable clothes

knowing each one will wear them as the other girls grows.

I love being at Disneyland and standing in only one line,

as the princesses are all that we have to find.

I love when they all dance and play house and color.

It would have to be more balanced if they had a brother.

Of course there is emotion and drama to spare

and extra time spent every morning on hair.

But with those come in-home slumber parties of three

with nightgowns, nail polish, and small cups of tea

and giggles and squeals and lots of affection

coordinating Christmas dresses and a great purse collection!

I love that one day they will all have each other

to stand beside at their weddings and watch each become mothers.

I love having all girls...I truly do.

and to God who chose this for me, I simply say, "Thank you."

Honestly...and by the way, how do you rotate videos?

So this is why...

Exhibit A:  Reese fell down the stairs last week...every single one of them.  Payton came running out of her room when I ran down to pick her up.  In the aftermath, when we were discussing what had happened, Payton said she saw Reese fall.  Then she put her hand to her heart with tears in her eyes and said, "That was the worst feeling!"

Exhibit B:  Payton rode her bike with Audrey down to Lilly's house the other day.  Jackson was at a birthday party, so she came back 10 minutes later...in tears.  My first assumption was that her feelings were hurt because either Lilly and Audrey did not want to play with her or Jackson wasn't available to play.  While I was trying to figure out why she was crying, she kept saying, "I feel so bad for Audrey."  After she settled down, and we talked more about it, we concluded that Payton was hurting for Audrey because she thought Audrey did not want her to leave Lilly's and that Audrey was in tears when she said, "goodbye" to Payton.

Exhibit C:  Payton took a major digger on her bike today, and scraped up her knee and elbow pretty bad.  While I was in the process of comforting her and doctoring her wounds, Audrey dumped the contents of her purse out on the kitchen floor (all fifty items).  Sifting through barrettes, fruit snack wrappers, head bands, old cell phones, and expired credit cards, she said, "Is there anything in here that will make Payton feel better?" 

Exhibit D:  While bathing Payton tonight to try and get her wounds clean, she was screaming at the top of her lungs because it hurt so bad to get them wet.  I was trying to clean her knee and comfort her at the same time.  I turned around to see Audrey sitting on the stool crying while she watched it all happen.

So this is why...you have more than one child.  Why you don't panic that they fight more than they play in this stage.  Why you encourage them to be connected, stick together, and look out for each other.  Why you look for opportunities to point out how much each of them actually does love the other.  Why you remind them that friends will come and go in their lives, but sisters will be there always.  Why you know they will more than likely one day turn to each other even before they turn to you.  Why they will probably have the most childhood memories of the times with each other. Why you can look into the future and see them standing up at each other's weddings and holding each other's babies.  Why you know with complete assurance that even if they have been at each other's throats all day long, when the rubber meets the road, they will have "each other's backs."  There is a bond between siblings that is true, deep, complex...and sweet as all get out.  

I guess knew this...I too have someone...a blonde-haired boy who has always had my back and I his.  I remember jumping on the back of an older kid who was sitting on my brother and hitting him at the park near our house.  I beat that big kid with my shoes with everything in me until he stopped.  I remember crying myself to sleep at night in high school because he was in such an awkward and lonely stage.  I remember flying out to Arkansas for his birthday his freshman year in college because he was so homesick, and I couldn't stand the thought of him hurting like that.  

I remember him taking on my punishment with me as a little girl just so I wasn't alone.  I remember his anger when I was hurt by a boyfriend.  I remember him crying on the phone with me in college because I was struggling so much with confidence.  He was thousands of miles away and yet right there.  I remember time after time walking away from a conversation with him and thinking, "He is my biggest fan."  So much has changed, and yet nothing really has. That bond is still true, deep, complex, and sweet as all get out.

Praise you Lord that I have the connection with my brother to look to...despite the knock down drag out fights we have had...we have a bond that is unlike any other.  Help me to remember these windows in my girls' lives when they show such tenderness for each other and take heart. I pray that they continue to grow in their love for each other and that their hearts will always be soft towards one another.  That they will always know that someone has their back...  and thank you for giving me Bill.  I sure love him...despite the fact that he slapped me in the face when I beat him at a card game...in college.

Much to Say

The Top 10 most Exciting Things that Have Happened to the Brgochs in the past Two Months:

1. We moved!  

We are now full-time residents of Parker, CO...We LOVE our new home, the neighborhood, our neighbors, living close to friends, and being across the street from the elementary school Payton will attend in September.  

My favorite things about the house you ask? the windows (I am a natural light junky), that the girls have a playroom on the main level, the breakfast bar we sit at ALL the time, the privacy of the dining room, the pantry large enough to accommodate an average sized elephant, the extra space for bikes, strollers, push carts, flower pots, the lawn mower, mice (can't even talk about it), the sizes of the bedrooms, and how well the floor plan works for entertaining and ministry. We praise God because there is a fullness of joy in the assurance that despite any misgiving we had about the house, for this season, we are right where we are supposed to be.

2. Reese turned one...and is walking...and 'talking', and...drinking beer (I believe the can says expiration 2004...how pray tell did it make the move?).

To see those thighs walking...let me tell you it makes my heart smile.  She is operating on a 10-15 word vocabulary...our favorite is "pitty" which is what she says when she puts my necklaces and her sisters' headbands on.

3. Payton graduated from kindergarten.

With a little pomp and circumstance and a lot of rejoicing about how much she has grown in one year, Paytes is officially ready for first grade...I cannot say the same for myself, but I have a few months...to prepare and...to well, prepare.

4. Audrey has become a fashion diva (much growth from the days of being a nudist).

This is an entire blog in itself...let me just say that someday her new fashion line of mismatched, worn-for-a-week straight, hanging-off-the shoulder because it is too big or riding- the-waves because they are too short clothing line will make us all very wealthy, partly on account of its originality but mostly on account that the model wearing it could not be more breathtakingly beautiful.

5. Keege is here to stay (did I say top ten exciting things?)

No for reals, I have to say when given the opportunity to give him to a loving home, I totally caved and could not imagine not having the little dude around.  This proves a) the bonding that took place before Payton was born was for life (or until I cannot take it anymore and can conjure a great story to put the girls [and myself] at ease), b) I am all talk, c) he is lucky he's cute, and d) I need to stop complaining.

6. Josh and I ran the Bolder Boulder.

I use the term "ran" lightly, at least for me...I believe I walked it almost as fast when I was seven months pregnant with Payton, BUT I did not stop to walk even once...slowing only twice to take a picture with Elvis who was sweating more than I was and to grab a cupcake at mile four which tasted great in theory but was quickly discarded. Nicole, who 'ran' beside me, sweat a little too, despite that the hour-long jaunt was the usual for her daily routine.  What was not usual was that we shaved a good two miles off what she usually accomplishes in the same time frame.  Unfortunately I cannot say it has spurred me on to a seven-day workout regime...or even a two day one if I am honest.  My day of being in the best shape of my life is coming...I just know it.'

7. I do not plan to quit my day job.  

For those of you who walk in our new home, you will notice that there are curtains hanging in the windows that I have 'sewn.'  I advise you to admire them from a distance and refrain from encouraging me to go into business...I don't have the time...nor the talent frankly.  The curtains (well most of them), however, are hanging...at least for now.  The ones yet to be done...I make no promises.

8. I found a lamp at a garage sale for $5 that I will be on a high about for the next year...or more.  Hopefully the lady who sold it to me never reads this blog because I tell you I would have payed $25-40 for it.

9. I saved the lives of four small pots of flowers destined for the garbage...okay, so I stole them once I heard they were going to be thrown away...but the Lowe's lady said she wasn't looking...and I did offer to pay for them.

10.  Josh took a much needed day off, and we all went to the zoo...first time as a fam of five.

 

I see a pattern here

Nothing like a relaxing Saturday morning with the fam. Big breakfast, baby actually gets a morning nap in her crib, Audrey washes the dishes for over an hour, peeling off one layer of clothing at a time as it gets drenched to end standing at the sink in the buff, Payton and I play crazy eights...she hurts me when I win...I hurt her when she wins...oh wait, Josh reads the six newspapers that have been collecting on the driveway all week...aahhh.

Peekaboo

The girls and I spent a great deal of time playing hopscotch on the driveway this afternoon...loved it.

and couldn't get enough of thinking "It's actually kind of hot!"

Anyway, I just couldn't resist...

a closer view...

and another one