Run

I took Lenna running on the indoor track at the Y this morning. She is trying to reach a milestone (5 miles) for a club at school. She is an amazing runner. Next time, I will take her *before* my cardio workout instead of after. If you ever need motivation, take your 8 yr old and have her threaten to lap you. . . .

Lenna's 15 Minutes

Last year Lenna entered a story in a writing contest. Her story was selected to represent the first grade in the county contest, and won! She was recognized with the other winners from each grade level at a school board meeting in April.

In October we received a letter in the mail inviting Lenna back to a school board meeting, where she was going to be recognized again, this time for achievement at the state level! Her story went on to represent the count in the district then the state competition. Her story won for all of first grade! She was very excited! We celebrated with cake, of course!

Her principal really made Lenna feel special and proud. She was able to be on the morning news show, have her picture on the school website, and received a trophy. Later in the week a news reporter came and did a little article on Lenna and her story. She made the front page of the Columbia County News Times. Here is a link to the article: A True Fairy Tale.

We are very proud of our little author!

The Nose Knows

I was standing in the kitchen doing the routine chores of the morning when a familiar scent wafted into the room from the recently opened bathroom door. As my memory registered the humid mix of ivory soap and right guard, a wave of nostalgia swept over me and I found myself being transported back home. I indulged the memory with a short trip to the bathroom to sit and breath deeply and remember all of the times I had smelled it before, hundreds of mornings as a little girl, teen, and young adult. My dad is visiting this week and has brought with him the shower staples that have been his stand by for as long as I can remember.
Why is it that certain smells can bring back such strong memories?
For my dad, it is the above mentioned toiletries and a certain pink mint candy. Homemade bread, chocolate chip cookies, and perm solution (not all at once of course) will conjure up an image of my mom. My grandpa smells like orange soap and petroleum products, from years of working in a service station fixing cars, pumping gas, and running an oil lube. I am reminded of my grandma when I smell hamburger stew or late-night buttered toast (the post-bedtime indulgence we always looked forward to when sleeping at her house). Remembering my late grandfather always brings back thoughts of black coffee with cream and an image of the two swirling together in his mug after dinner when he let me stir. There is a smell to my grandma's house that I can instantly recognize when I walk in the door with the familiar creak- a mix of heating oil, old furniture, lilacs, and boiled potatoes with white gravy. The smell of sawdust always makes me smile as I think back to the nights when we were engaged and first married and I met Mike outside of my apartment as he returned from work and had to dust the sawdust off his clothes and hair before I could kiss him goodnight.
Funny how you never forget some things and those old scents are always comforting. I always look forward to sneaking a nap in my parents' bed when I go home to visit. Not only is it the most comfortable bed in a house of sofa sleepers and bunk beds, but there is something familiar and soothing about the scent of the pillows that my mom and dad slept on the night before. I can nod with an understanding heart when Lenna comes to my room to steal my pillow on the nights she is having a particularly hard time sleeping, when Andrew is overtaken by the urge to smell my hair, or the women at church feel compelled to sniff my baby's head.
I wish there was a way to bottle up those old familiar smells and tuck them away for later when you want to remember. The way fresh notebooks and new crayons remind me of elementary school or the anticipation that comes with the scent of book binding glue and fresh ink. Or the way sagebrush, pine, hay, and woodsmoke reminds me of the town where I grew up. The smell of a worn basketball and a polished gym floor coupled with the squeak of gym shoes gives me the urge to shoot baskets. Funnel cakes, cotton candy, corn dogs, and taffy will transport me back to summers at the county fair.
I wonder what my children will think of when they remember their childhood years from now?

Happy Birthday Baby!

November marked the one year anniversary of the day when Rebecca joined our family here on earth. We love her. She is our sunshine. Our red-headed, pink-cheeked, hot-tempered, giggling little sunshine.

I couldn't decide on my favorite picture, so I decided to show you all of them.
I made two cakes for her birthday, one for her and one for us, because her siblings were disgusted at the thought of eating her smoosh cake.

Oh, and the last few photos of the slideshow are the day after, when she took her first steps. An eventful week!

Baptism

LENNA IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!

Saturday, November 14, 2009
12PM-1PM
Augusta Ward Meetinghouse
2108 Eastland Dr, Augusta, GA

We would love it if you are able to join our family for this special day! Lenna will be turning 8 and getting baptized. She is very excited to take this special and important step! It would be wonderful to surround her with the love and support of her ward family.

The stake center where our ward usually meets is closed that weekend, so we are having it at the Augusta Ward building.

We hope to see you there- there will be treats!

Love,
The Cross Family

Motivated

Last week Lenna received a special certificate from the school board and a trophy from her principal (which I have been meaning to blog about. . .) for winning first place at the state level in the Young Georgia Authors Writing competition.

Today I was contacted by a reporter from the local paper. He wants to bring a photographer and come visit our house and talk with Lenna about her recent award so they can do a little article about her in the education section of the paper. Tomorrow.

I am suddenly feeling very motivated to finish cleaning the living room area and to get around to hanging those pictures that have been sitting around for a while. And where did all this dust come from? And how long have those hand prints been in the wall? Is that book shelf too cluttered? How should I arrange the furniture? I wonder which wall they will take a picture in front of. Better get busy!