Traveling Mercies

Hi Friends!!

Bale, Lea, Mack. . . . it appears that the blog link that I have is broken. The blog that shows up only has entries from my last post on May 10. This can't be right. . .

Not much has happened over here since May. Sike. I am literally going through the "moments" feature in my phone's photo stream to make sure that I capture all the major hits. It has been a hectic, long, wonderful Summer and Fall. SBE and I went through a span of 6 weeks or so where we were away from NYC every weekend. All the events were incredibly fun and we would definitely do it again but it was a bit crazy trying to do all of that traveling and stay on top of things at work and make sure that Pax was well cared for.

I included a list of all the things that I could remember from my head and from my "moments" album on my phone. We did quite a bit of exploring! One of my favorite of the "New York Activities" was the long hike around Lake Awosting and the carrier roads of Minnewaska State Park. It was great to get out of the city and get outdoors a bit. Pax had a ball running wherever he wanted without a leash and swimming in whatever body of water he could find (even if it was cold). I am starting to appreciate the plethora of outdoor activities and other scenery to be done/seen outside of Manhattan. It is pretty amazing that with just a 2 hour drive, we can be in the woods. Part of the reason that I love that hike is because we tried hard to find campgrounds nearby so that we could spend the night under the stars and use our new tent. The only campground available. . . Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Full of long-time RV residents, family reunions, and large groups of kids. It was so awful it was hilarious. Pax slept at our feet most of the night but eventually gorilla crawled his way up to the top of our sleeping bag and snuggled in.

Some of my clients at AppNexus are based in Tel Aviv. In June, after just 6 weeks at my new gig, I got to travel to Tel Aviv for client meetings and then tourist for a day in Jerusalem. What an amazing experience. Truth be told (and all the blog readers know) I was a nervous wreck. And actual wreck. I couldn't think long enough to make any substantial decisions and was terrified that my clients and coworkers would find out that I knew absolutely nothing about advertising technology. But after a first few meetings shadowing my colleagues and some pep talks via FaceTime from SBE and my parents, things settled down and I was able to enjoy the experience: amazing food, good company, intellectual stimulus, cultural differences, and spiritual awakening. I might not ever get an experience like that again. The stress and anxiety wasn't really worth it - but I learned so much about myself, and my co-workers, and truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit

As always, I love when my people come up north to hang out. We were lucky enough to get a lot of visitors these last 6 months! It's both a good reason to keep soft clothes on and just enjoy each other's company (LDL and LTD) or venture out and find new places to eat, new NYC things to explore (LTD, RBD2, RBD3). SBE and I were told that our pull out couch is fabulously comfortable so if you've been looking for a reason to visit, that info might help.

These past 6 months also included mine and Spencer's one year wedding anniversary as well as my 34th birthday. Both were incredible. We celebrated our anniversary with a early dinner at Capitol Grille. Just happens to be the NYC counterpart to the Orlando restaurant where SBE asked my dad for my hand in marriage. SBE thinks of things like that when he plans. Because it was the early bird special, we had practically the whole place to ourselves and a attentive, but not too attentive server who thought we were cute and kept bringing us more drinks to try (on the house). We followed dinner up with a trip to Radio City Music Hall to see Grace Potter in concert. She did not disappoint. I loved every single minute of it - but especially that one moment when she came up to the Mezzanine level and I got to hold her hand. Seriously. I completely blew my cover as a fan girl. It was amazing.

That's all for now - mainly because I didn't want to write a novel. I'll leave you with my list of events and trips for the last few months and a collection of pictures.


New York Activities
Women's National Team Summer Send-Off Series at Red Bull Stadium
New Kids on the Block / Nelly / TLC Concert at Madison Square Garden
Minnewaska State Park - 13 mile hike & Jellystone Camping
Wave Hill Gardens - The Bronx
US Open Tennis Championships - Flushing, Queens
REI Camping and Rock Climbing - New Paltz, NY
Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island
Grace Potter Magical Midnight Tour - Radio City Music Hall
Brandi Carlyle - Radio City Music Hall
The Revivalists - Irving Theater
Hamilton the Musical

Travels
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel - Work
4th of July Celebration at St. Georges Island, FL with Daltons, Loflins, Youngs, Lewellyns
Bend, Oregon with the Elliotts and Wilcox's - hiked South Sister
Caroline and Ted's Wedding in Bozeman, MT
Bonny and David's Wedding in Bend, OR


Visitors
LTD and LDL -
RBD 3 - May and November
LTD and RBD2 - September

Hooray for Hamilton

Another quick trip to NYC. Glory got some QT with her cousin Pax and we all spent too much time in the Dead Rabbits again. This visit was significant because of the following banter that occurred between SBE and me while planning:

SBE: Want to see another show while you're here this time?

RBDIII: Sure, any new shows getting talked about?

SBE: There's one about American History. I think it focuses on the life of Alexander Hamilton.

RBDIII: No thanks, not a big fan of his.

SBE: Apparently it's narrated by Aaron Burr.

RBDIII: I'm in!

And that's the story of how SBE, FTDE, my roommate CDH and I saw Hamilton in about its second week. Better lucky than good!

Pax wondering who let the rambunctious puppy in

Glory posing on a hike on the northern part of the island

End of an Era

The Navy in their infinite wisdom has chosen to "de-commission" the squadron that I drill with as a Navy Reservist, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT FOUR. I first joined the Red Wolf den in 2007 as an active duty augment to the reserve squadron, and deployed multiple times to Iraq providing support to special operations forces there. I returned to the squadron in 2012 when I transitioned from active component to reserve component.

An incredible amount of effort was expended to try and save the Navy from itself and keep the squadron, but in the end we again are "penny-wise and pound foolish."

The silver lining is that we know how to throw a good party...

Memories of a long period of service

The last picture of the evening fit for publication

I also got to join with my Commanding Officer (and friend and former wingman) to fly the last HH-60H helicopter from HSC-84 in Norfolk to deliver to HSC-85 in San Diego, CA. A bit of foreshadowing here, but I couldn't have figured the significance of that event back in 2015!

Shenandoahs

Rockies

Back in San Diego Bay

New York Newlyweds

In May I took the train from DC to NYC to catch up with not-so-newlyweds SBE and FTDE. It was my first time seeing the World Trade Center memorial and museum, which was really incredible. We also took in a Yankee game, my first at their new stadium, and we indoctrianted SBE into the family obsession with Les Miserables at the revival show. I think my favorite part was a loooong night at the Dead Rabbit's courtesy of bro-in-law SBE. And thanks also for the incredible weather!

World Trade Center Memorial

World Trade Center Memorial and Museum

View of the harbor from their apartment

Glorious weather for a glorious trip

It's been too long. . .

For mom, on Mother's Day:

After LDL's post, I opened up my own book of love letters and browsed a few before having to put them away because it got a little misty in the apartment. The running theme was my adventurous spirit and tenacious attitude, gifted to me and supported by my most amazing mother. So mom, since all you wanted was a blog update for mother's day, here you go.

Inside the Woolworth Building Lobby

Since it's been 6 months since the wedding and the last major blog from me I'll probably skip over a lot of things. It was winter. A long, freezing, hard winter. While I was thrilled and ecstatic to be Spencer's wife and starting a new life together in New York City, I was also grieving the loss of proximity to my most faithful and trusted companions (and the sunshine and warmth). I struggled to find my way in a new city, felt vulnerable trying to find new friends, new grocery store, new church, new hobbies, a new gym, and a new career. I felt alone in a crowded city. And cold, I was really, really cold. But I was and am also really very happy. Spencer and I started developing our own partnership and learning more about each other and our dreams for our family. NYC, while freezing, also began to show me the vast world of opportunity available for those of us who live here. Short story to the long winter: I was missing Orlando, the Dalton/Loflin clan, and the incredible community we established there. But at the very same time I felt secure, and loved, and welcomed to a new adventure, excited to see what God has in store for me. Also, just as an aside for those who think that I complained to much about how cold it was, the NYTimes ran an article that described Winter 2015 as the coldest, harshest Winter in 80 something years. Welcome to the Big Apple, right?

Views of One World Trade on a typical dog walk

Manhattan Views from Brooklyn Bridge

But the winter wasn't all bad. I tried my best to take advantage of not having to go into the office every day and made myself a tourist, experiencing an extended staycation. From January until May I job hunted, friend hunted, and adventure hunted. I explored with Pax, with Spencer, and alone. I walked historic streets, and developed a love of the Waffle truck across from the Brooklyn Bridge. I found respite from the city noise in museums, the Ford Foundation atrium, and in the middle of the Park. I took the train to Connecticut to find comfort in a forever friend. I made a nest of the apartment, ensuring proper Christmas decorations, a comfortable bed, and art work; learning to make a house a home. Family came to visit and were game for venturing out in the freezing wind or snow to find a new experience or snuggle up in blankets and just enjoy each others company. S and I began keeping a list of adventures to do separately and together, so we've managed to do quite a bit in the 6 months we've been married!

Real Citizenship: a NYPL card

So far, we have toured Grand Central Station and The Woolworth Building. We've seen Beautiful: The Carole King Story, Jersey Boys, You Can't Take It With You, Matilda, and The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Broadway. We've walked The Brooklyn Bridge many times to explore the waterfront, rock climb, and be foodies in a hipster neighborhood. We toured the island via air when S flew us down the Hudson River and back up the East River. We saw some of my favorite musicians Lake Street Dive at Terminal 5, as well as Galactic and The Revivalists at Best Buy Theater in Times Square. We've enjoyed early access to some of the new developments around the Financial District, namely the new Brookfield Place, and Pier A - an excellent place for beers and pretzels as you gaze across the river at the Statue of Liberty. We've had cocktails with a view at the Mandarin Hotel, with Barbara Walters at the Carlyle (with CMD), and with fellow winter warriors at the Dead Rabbit.

Bowery Mission Fundraiser at The Plaza

I've started a new job now in the world of advertising technology, working to keep internet content free. ;) It's a brand new industry for me but I am learning quite a bit and am thankful to be surrounded by very bright co-workers and people who are genuinely interested in the success of others. It is an answer to prayer. S and I are learning to adjust to our new routine. Pax has a dog walker again to make sure he gets exercise in the middle of the day. He is starting to show his age a bit, as he sleeps more often than he is awake. I continue to be impressed by his resiliency and loyalty as I move him around from city to city with me. I can tell he missed the commotion at 1127, especially when we get visitors. He hasn't forgotten how many people loved on him while we were in Orlando and greets with with much enthusiasm when they visit. I think the noise and crowds of the city overwhelm him occasionally - he loves to sleep under the table or at my feet. Pax and S have welcomed each other into their individual lives, which is really fun for me to watched. S throws the ball farther and for longer than I do usually so they've begun to cherish their evening play dates (especially when I was too cold to venture out at night).

Picking up some Georgia Peach Jam on our 3rd road trip to/from Florida

Spring / Summer is like new life in New York. People are coming out of hibernation so I know there are more adventures to come. I'm grateful for the incredible support I've gotten from LTD in the form of advice, ideas for excursions, and just generally a pillar of strength on which I constantly rely. Thanks for that mom. You really are a best.

SBE and Pax getting cozy

My Advent calendar 

The Christmas Spectacular at Rockefeller Center

Taking in the City Sights with CMD

For My Mom

I have been trying to get back into a routine, laundry, cleaning house, organizing, and in doing so have come across one of the most precious things in the world to me..."Lea's Lessons of Love".  These life lessons written by my mom from the time I was born to when I graduated from Vanderbilt.  I have relocated this gem of a journal to my bedside table and have stayed up way to late at night reading and rereading, learning about myself, my mom, and all the life lessons that go with mothering.  I'll be forever grateful.

Around Mother's Day, when I look at my kids, what I really want to know is, will they think of me as well as I think of my mom these days?  Am I as good to them as she is to me?  Will my little tribe be as close and as committed to each other as the one I grew up in? How did she get us all dressed and out the door with shoes on?? The shoes...I can never get the shoes on.   How did she do it?  How does she continue to do it?  And what in the world did I do to get such an incredible woman for a mother, and more importantly, the worlds best Yay Yay!  Seriously.  Does anyone love their mom any more than when watching her with your kids?  My little people think my mom is the JAM.  And she is!  Her world is their own private preschool, where lately they have been learning about monarch butterflies, gardening, & any kind of science experiement that comes along the way.  Like bridge, Peter wants to learn Bridge from Yay Yay.  

So, to say thanks to my mom..I'm doing what she asked me to do.  I'm blogging, and writing a birthday letter to her that was due in November.

This Mother's Day I'm expecting baby Loflin #4, which feels crazy to me.  Brendan and I always imagined having a big family, but I'd totally be lieing if I acted like I wasn't a little bit overwhelmed and freaked out about things.  One of my favorite things to say (besides..."he's parenting" when people ask me if Brendan is babysitting the kids) is, it's a good thing you don't birth a 2 year old!  And you get almost 10 full months to wrap your head around another tiny human coming into your house.  In about a month, I'm 16 weeks now, we'll find out if we are going to have a girl or a boy and then I'll get moving on clearing out old kids clothes.  We'll move Lucy into Addy's room and work on teaching her to use the bathroom at night to get her out of pull-ups.  I'll get the baby stuff back out of storage and pare down again.  Baby #4 will be well cared for, and loved, but will be short on the newest, fanciest baby things.  Unless said baby is a crazy person and then we'll go all out and do anything to get some sleep around here.  Peter and Lucy broke the news to everyone they saw when I was less than 8 weeks pregnant so it's old news.  I love how excited they are about their new sibling, Peter says that he and Addy will stick together and Lucy can have the new baby.  Unless the baby is a boy and then Peter will take care of the baby, but under no circumstances will Peter and Lucy be together.   This is hilarious to me, because as our oldest two...they'll be hanging out a lot!

Anyway, I'm due at the end of October.  I'm sure I'll enjoy the Florida heat this summer and plan on being in the pool as much as possible, not that lounging in the pool is an option, I'm sure I'll be required to tow little people around most of the time...but it beats the heat!

A few weeks ago we had a good little girls weekend up in NYC to visit Taylor and Spencer and relax for a little bit.  You know things are hectic when you are going to New York to chill out.  It really was just what we all needed, their apartment is incredible and felt like staying in a fancy hotel, but with a full service kitchen :)  We were not your usual New York tourists and spent a good amount of time on the couch in our pajamas....so perfect.  I loved seeing T out navigating the world of crazy..she seemed like such a pro, but I know she was exhausted at the end of the day!  It's draining to "fake it till you make it!"  I feel like I am doing that most days in my parenting life - but we do seem to be making it.

Peter man will be wrapping up his preschool years pretty soon and you know what, he is prepared for Kindergarten.  I know there will be (my) tears in August watching my boy head off to Lake Silver, my elementary alma mater, but I'm also excited for us in this new stage.  Don't get me wrong, I love the babies, but I also really enjoy having conversations with these little people.  I've learned to embrace his later bedtime and we read extra books or talk or play in the yard later and I really really enjoy his company these days.  Peter and Lucy are actually really funny, curious, and kind.  So sometimes, I think, we must be doing something right around here.  And then P yells out "what the Shell!??" and I realize I've been letting him watch too much of the teenage mutant ninja turtles, we'll need to dial that one back a little bit.   He credits his good math scores to the numbers show he has been watching during "rest time" and I'll take it!

Lucy loo is rapidly becoming the 2nd oldest - as she should - she's growing like a weed and weighs abour 15 pounds (seriously, I think Addy weighs more than Lucy by a lot). Like Peter, she adores her school and her teachers (who I am thrilled I have fall babies so I can have the same teachers for my 2 year olds!)  After their teacher conferences I am always amazed at how different these two little beings can be.  They are opposites in nearly every way.  Dear Lucy can't catch a ball or stand on one foot, but she'll be the first to share in circle time or go to comfort a friend.  She's going to be a sweet little helper as she loves playing "mommy" at school.  Lately "school" is her favorite game and she carries her Elmo backpack with her wherever she goes, it's full of snacks that no one is ever allowed to eat, my little pony,  her lunch box and whatever else she finds around the house.  This girl is always ready for anything and is a good sport about life, except bedtime.

My sweet Addy girl is just as sweet as ever, though she spent the last few weeks getting in some pretty major teeth so she has lived on squeeze packs and pretzel rods.  She is always smiling and greets all of her loved ones with a mouth wide open and tells them goodbye with a big wet snotty kiss.  Like all of my kids, she loves yay yay the most, which I suppose is how things should be.  I don't mind often though that she cries a little when I leave her with someone else.  Addy loves water, she climbs in the bathtub with P and L and is desperate to swim.  Some of my favorite activies to watch are Peter pushing Addy around the pool in her float.  She screams with laughter and Peter grins with pride as they make their laps around the pool.  Addy will hopefully keep her sweet disposition when new baby comes, she won't quite be 2 so I'm hopeful that after a few months she'll really have no memory of when she was the baby around the house!

I love these tiny humans more than I could have ever imagined.  And I love them so differently - equal amounts - but so differently.  They each have such unique qualities about them that I know comes only from above - whenever I question my faith or wonder where God is, a quick look at the goldfish in the couch, toilet paper on the floor, play doh on the shoes (why are they wearing shoes while stepping on play doh!??), reminds me He is here, in all the mess and we're going to "fake it till we make it."

Happy Mother's Day mom / yay yay!  Your shoes are impossible to fill...and so it's helpful again for me to realize that as unique as God has made my kids, he made me unique too.  So I don't look to fill my moms shoes, but my own, and I look forward to all of our walks together. Thanks for everything you say, do, write & pray, and for teaching me how to be a mom. (Like reading to my boy...sometimes.)

Semi-annual update. Blogging is hard.

I have to stop doing this to myself.  Also, I should stop giving my friend Katie a hard time about not updating her blog. And hi Heather! I'm sure you are reading this soon!  My faithful blog followers.

My last update was early September.  Which means we have celebrated 4 of 5 family birthdays since I last posted.  So, birthday celebrations included a pool party for lovely lucy, a camping party for precious peter, and a neighborhood celebration for adorable addy.  Sandwiched in between their big days were trips to Disney World (a hit for Lucy, who wore her Mickey Mouse t-shirt and pointed at it all during the parade held just for her birthday), & Legoland for Peter man.  Also a huge hit...farther from O-town than we planned for, but a super fun experience.  If you can go, go!

P and L are halfway through their school years, they both have amazing sets of teachers who we love dearly.  I love how my kids are loved at their school & admired and encouraged for the little unique people that they are.  Peter started soccer with his school friends, he is much more interested in practice than he is in playing the games...his favorite thing to do is sit on the bench and play in the dirt with his friend Annie.  He loves practice though!  Lucy was the team mascot...and cried when she wasn't allowed to play.  This same scenario has popped up now that P has started tee ball.  Lucy cries and cries and says "only boys can play", to which I say "no way lucy loo!  girls are awesome too and you can play...you just have to be 4!!"  I also want to tell her, get used to it my friend.  The boys are not going to want you to play!  But she's fierce and she'll hold her own the day after her 4th birthday :)

We celebrated the great Aunt T's wedding to Spencer.  We all had a blast together with the whole family, it was an impossible task without the help of the other great aunt Theresa & Matt who came to help us with the kiddos for the weekend!  Cousin Casey to the rescue who braided Lucy's hair (I still need to learn that skill), and we were thankful for a super relaxed bride who didn't seem to notice or care that none of our kids left the ceremony when they were supposed to.

ok.  It's photo dump time.  As usual, this is the best you'll get from me!

September: Lucy loo's birthday

- 20 photos!  I don't know how to pare down.  Is that right? Pare?  I used to be smart. (Also, yea, i just googled it.)

October

Aunt T got married! 

i had a lot of fun at the after party.  a lot.

cutest halloween crew there ever was!

November: Peter man's birthday

also included, Fun Fair, setting up for Christmas

December: Addy girl

January

celebrating Uncle Mack & Alex's engagement!

February

March

I had to document this find...for FREE!  What a steal. I'm thankful for my re-entry on facebook for this gem.  Brendan calls it the chariot...and it's totally the way we ride now.  Happy March my friends!

Oh, another note.  I'm into doterra essential oils these days.  I thought they might be hokey at first, but our family of 5 have made it through the winter with barely a sniffle!  No more nebulizers or antibiotics for us! ( I mean, we'll take them if we need them, but we haven't needed them!) I'm a believer!  www.mydoterra.com/essentiallylea.  So empowering, I'm telling you!