a weekend of tributes

Friday:
the arrival of the Isenhours!


a fiesta to celebrate another year of wonderful Mimi!


Saturday:
a memorial service to celebrate 97 years of wonderful Grandma Erma!
a pizza party to celebrate another years of wonderful Granny!

Sunday:
a wedding shower to celebrate Anne and Max!


Sunday night I went to bed at 9pm.

It's not often that four strong, beautiful women each hit a milestone on the same weekend. Now that's something to celebrate!

All good things...

as they say, must come to an end.

I was lucky enough to call Erma Spencer Hoops my Grandmother.

To many, she was a friend...a mentor...a teacher...or perhaps a stubborn thorn in a few sides, arguing that every child deserves a warm meal, a good pair of shoes and a solid education. She was a champion for literacy and a warrior for possibility. Her creativity and verbal acuity were unmatched.

Cindy and I spent a great deal of time with Grandma when we were children; not because we had to, but because we wanted to. She wasn't the rosy cheeked, apron-clad grandma that some kids had. As a child of the depression, her love was not spoken, but shown. She corrected my grammar at least weekly through middle school, but when I got it right, her nod of approval was the reward. We weren't sitting in her lap eating freshly baked cookies and watching movies. We were learning, listening, stretching our minds and creating.

When a family member dies, it's easy to get caught up in the personal effects that the deceased has left behind. I would argue that the more important thing is what's been left within us. I sat down to draw with Ella today in my art room, and Grandma's influence could not have been more obvious if she'd been sitting across from us at the table. I scanned the room and reflected upon the many stacks of paper and inkpots and shiny stickers and paper doilies. Markers and alphabet practice sheets. Scissors and paintbrushes and pipe cleaners. The scent of rubber cement. It finally occurred to me: I had recreated her magical closet that contained all of these things during my childhood. It had been my wonderland.

Along with these things in her home came a lesson:
ANY reality is on the paper in front of you. All you need to do is imagine it, and it's yours to behold.

And that, my friends, is the lesson she left me. At times, it has paid my bills and at times it has set me free.

Tonight before I fall asleep, I will give thanks one more time for the gifts she bestowed upon all of us. Her inspiration is with me through every day of my design career, and will shine through my babes as they practice cursive and cut out paper hearts for their Mimi.

Summer Parties

Something has gotten into my brother. The guy who used to sleep in on weekends and make a 12 pack disappear in minutes is now running a small organic farm and throwing beautiful parties with white catering tents, live music, hayrides, and a cooler station. Most women realize that this "something" is named Chris, the one wearing the purple cowgirl boots in the photo above.

These two have created something quite amazing at their place, and threw a "Kline Hoedown" to kindly share the likes of it with a couple hundred of their favorite folks. Derek and I left the kids with my mom and took off for an evening of fun.




We love the Gray family...so much so that Ella named her favorite doll after their daughter. They invited us to a family cookout over the fourth of July weekend. Fireworks, a big cooler, a busy grill, sprinklers and bubbles made for tons of fun for Derek and me, and two very happy, sleepy kids.




Lastly, Derek and I have made an effort to start doing some things that we used to do when it was just the two of us. Music was huge part of our life, our home, our gatherings, and our road trips.

Once Ella was born, I immersed myself in nursery rhymes and songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider. I finally shifted up to Disney soundtracks...big leap there. I nearly burst into tears of joy when Nick Jr. started playing animated shorts with Bob Marley songs.

Poor Carson has not been given the same luxury. When he rides in the car, he is either subjected to Ella's current preference (which usually involves "Baby You're a Firework" or some other top 40 pop hit) or my folksy chillout music.

Derek, on the other hand, has been eagerly waiting for my return now that the kids are out of toddler stage. BK (before kids), we spent many a weekend on blankets at live venues, where he and the guys would listen to great bands while my girlfriends, sisters and I twirled barefoot in the sun, like modern-day hippies in blonde braids and skirts. I decided this summer we'd see some shows, and we are doing just that. My most sincere gratitude goes to our parents, who have each offered us a few hours of freedom to be kids again.

Six and Two. Can it be True?

How did this happen?

These tiny babes, who seemed to be infants only a blink ago...are now 6 and 2 years old.

Both with June birthdays, we spent the the entire month celebrating with family and friends, reminding us exactly how blessed these kids are to be surrounded by angels on earth:

Dinner with Mimi and Papa on each birthday

A family cookout at Grandma and Grandpa's



A caterpillar made of cupcakes, made with love by Granny


A gaggle of 6 year olds in a pink-frosted, candy-coated celebration...(photos to come, once I get them from Aunt Andrea!)



The highlight: A dance party featuring Ella on the "mic" and her BFF Aiden, who rocked some sweet moves to a Miley Cyrus tune.
Yes, I have it in my car.
And I know the words.
and no, it is not lost on me that I have become the kind of person that I used to make fun of.

The Kline Camp Trip

What happens when 30 Germans converge on Natural Springs Resort?
Suntan lotion and lightning bugs,
sandcastles and sleeping bags,
homemade ice cream...and lots of hearty meals involving sausage. :)

The kids had a blast and so did we. It was great to see everyone and to spend a weekend with very limited cell phone reception. We were truly unplugged for the first time in way too long.


The best way to become a kid again...is to have them. At least that's my excuse for catching lightning bugs after dark, doing flips into the lake, and racing golf carts. Life is way to short to stare at a screen and live by the rules.

The LION KING!!

Something about the Lion King struck a chord with Ella as a toddler; she was singing "I just can't wait to be king" before she could speak full sentences. We watched it on youtube. We downloaded the songs for her. We described a "someday" trip to New York to see it on broadway. And finally...finally...it came to Dayton!

Mimi was kind enough to treat all the grandkids to the show, and Ella spent the entire time (literally) on the edge of her seat.

Celebrating Zoe

After the monsoon season we just had, summer is finally here...and we are diving in head-first. We went camping with a group of people we adore, and celebrated Zoe's 8th birthday.


The scent of sunblock and campfires filled the air. The soundtrack? Splashes, crickets, late night giggles and the click of tiny flashlights.


I woke up the next morning and took a moment to glance over at Zoe and Ella, still asleep. My heart was filled with gratitude that this smart, beautiful babe—whose life has been turned upside down recently—found joy with all of us as we surrounded her with warmth and light.