When you go off the beaten path (by taking a leap of faith or by what you have been dealt in life), you will find beauty in surprising places if you are looking!  Noelle found this beautiful miracle in a field of weeds while we were on vacation earlier this month.  I would’ve never seen such an incredible creation, because I wasn’t wandering in the weeds, or even looking for beauty in such a broken, lifeless place.  May we all learn to look for beauty in our unexpected places… even if the places we end up finding ourselves in are downright broken and difficult beyond measure!

New blog coming on the sidebar soon about my decade-old journey with fibromyalgia.  I’d like to continue to keep pondfam.com as my happy place, and my daughters’ online scrapbook, but I’m taking this leap of faith to start a new blog to open up a part of me that has been hidden for so long, in the hope that it will encourage those who suffer with their “something,” be it fibromyalgia, another ailment, or something entirely different; because everyone has something.  I’m planning to share lots of funny things that make me laugh, because we all know that laughter is such great medicine; I’m going to share my struggles, my hopes, my dreams, my heart-aches, and lots about the people and faith I have in God that keep me falling forward, when I cannot walk forward.  I hope you will be encouraged and realize that you are not alone in battling your something!  We’ll see what happens!  I’m nervous and excited!

Melissa

 

We had such a wonderful night last week hanging out with over 15 Santas, celebrating Christmas in July with a toy drive for the kids in Moore, OK.  Chuck Lee, Santa on the right, is our family’s Santa, and has become a dear friend to us, spreading love and cheer everywhere he goes!  I can’t wait for the Moore kiddos to see all of these amazing Santas deliver their presents to them in true Santa fashion!

Mrs. Claus had a fun pass-the-present game, and Noelle ended up winning!

 

Lots of Christmas in July Santas!  I bought these little rompers for the girls last January on clearance.  At the time, I had buyer’s remorse because I knew it would be too cold in December to wear them and was disappointed I had bought them.  Now I know that we needed them for this.  So many people smiled at the girls and were tickled to see our cuties laughing and having fun in the square!  It was meant to be!

 

Mrs. Claus was so excited to see the girls!  They had a lot of fun being all dressed up together!  Rose and Santa Chuck have a special little bond; they understand each other in a unique way, and it is such a joy to see her get to have a little friendship with Santa Claus!

One of the Lone Star Santas brought his fun Santa truck, and the girls had a blast tooting the horn and checking it out!

Our Santa had a picnic with us during the event!  The girls were chatty, and it is so cool hearing how casually they talk to Santa Chuck.  He makes it his mission to know all about his kiddos, so he can talk to them about the things that matter most to them.  He’d be happy to be your family Santa too!

 

Noelle and Rose holding Santa’s hand carved wooden cane!

This Toy Drive was sponsored by an amazing organization called, Lone Star Santas, Convoy of Toys, Disaster Relief for Children. See www.lonestarsantas.org

And if you’d like to get on the list for Santa to come to your house on Christmas Eve and make your kiddos dreams reality, email Santa Chuck at Santa@SantaChuckLee.com.  He’s the kindest, most compassionate person you will ever meet.  He truly ministers to his Santa families, and you are guaranteed a magical, memorable night your family will never forget!  You will feel the love, joy, and hope of Christmas all wrapped up in a Big Santa Hug! 

The Pond and Pillar kids had a blast swimming together this week!  Carter, Vaden, Emily, Noelle, Anna Kate, and Rose are 3X2 peas in a pod!  They are a bunch of the kindest, sweetest, happiest kids you will ever meet!

Emma-P and Rose having a blast together!

 

Rose is finally enjoying the water this summer!

Our adorable sweet baby Rose!

Friends cracking each other up!

 

Cute, sweet, precious kiddos!

 

Rose loves flower pots!!!

Sissy kisses!

 

Vaden and Anna Kate are both 4 and will be in the same grade/school together just like their big sissies!  They had fun hanging out together!

Impressive!  Didn’t think I’d see this picture this summer!  Last week, at Camp P&R, the grandparents worked with her every day on swimming!  They did such a great job, and I’m so thankful and happy for our cutie Kate!

 

The Pillar kiddos, and Anna Kate and Emily running in and out of the mushroom.

She melts me.

 

These girls are my life!!! (with their awesome Daddy, of course)

Girl picture!

My beautiful Noelle with her beautiful BFF, Emily!  Every time these girls get together, it ALWAYS turns into a sleepover… and we love it!

Night night, sweet friends!  What an awesome night!

Today, after the Pond cafeteria finished serving lunch, I let the girls build their own fruit n’ yogurt parfaits.  That’s all the tricks I had up my sleeve for today.  Staying home in the summer is actually more work than going out to play (cleaning, picking up, changing more diapers it seems, laundry, just housework type stuff and entertaining kiddos), but it saves more money, and Momma’s gotta have a pj day every other is what we’ve found works for us.  But, sometimes, we’ve just got to get in the car and go, even if it is to just ride around the neighborhood.  This is the phase of the year where having toddlers is exhausting!  Ask Noelle, she’s my right hand gal!  Don’t know what I’d do without her help, and Anna Kate helps when she’s not in a 4 year old struggle with herself.  Baby Rose is just sweet sweet sweet, but God love her, needs action 24/7.  I know I will miss this time, but right now, I’m too exhausted to really press into the fun of it all.  I’ll work on that as of right now!  Getting ready to go hang out with our favorite Santa!  More on that next week… Hope you guys have an awesome weekend.  I sure am looking forward to it! 

 

Rose’s favorite game is “Monster” which she sometimes calls “Dinosaur!”  One of us plays the monster and one of us runs away and acts scared, and then we switch roles.  We’ve played this game for literally hours this year!  So when I found this monster cape, I knew it was the perfect add-on to our imaginative game of play.  Rose and our cousin, Noemi (Mike’s brother, Stephen, and his wife, Susana’s little girl), had a play date at the mall play land with Grandpapa and Kay Kay!  We had a blast!

   

Rose wanted me to take a turn like we do at home, and all of a sudden, the entire play ground became interested in “Mommy Monster!”  All was well until some rough little boys started running after me.  I immediately took off my cape and said, “I’m just a Mom.  I’m not a monster!”  I didn’t know what to do with those boys, lol!

I had fun getting Noemi to smile and get into the game!  We are really concerned about her mommy, Aunt Susana.  She has been admitted into the ER two times, and this week, she just went in for her 3rd visit.  At her 2nd ER visit, her appendix ruptured, and at this time, they are still fighting infection.  Please please pray for her weak body, that is beyond tired of living in extreme pain for the past three weeks, and her sweet heart, because she misses Noemi!  Noemi has been staying with Kay Kay and Grandpapa and they have had lots on their plate as well.  This has been a difficult summer for our family, and we are trying to make the most of it, that’s for sure!  Thanks for your prayers!

Sweet Noemi, age 16 months!

 

Rose loved testing out her new monster powers!  I have a feeling this cape will be the center of hours and hours of fun and laughter for years to come at the Pond household (or wherever we go)!   

I finally got Rose’s newborn pictures in (I know, 2 1/2 years later), but they are with us to stay!  Every Thursday, I’m going to post a new one to reflect on such sweetness and completeness she brought into our lives in February, two amazing years ago!

Noelle is the nurturer in the family, always has been, always will be.  Our photographer captured this side of her without even knowing her, or posing her for that matter.  She was loving on Rose after Rose’s shoot, and Janice got her camera back out and clicked this picture.  Noelle HAD to wear a rose in her hair on Rose’s special picture day, and I almost asked her to photo shop Rose’s feather off of Noelle’s cheek, but after seeing it several times, I actually like the natural look of it all.  It’s life, it’s raw, it’s beauty, it’s creation, it’s love!  Noelle’s little profile, and Rose’s luscious lips and adorable toes, not to mention the way Noelle’s tiny hands look so big covering Rose’s body, are just perfect.  I pray Rose will always feel this comforted and protected by her big sisters; they both love her to the moon and back!!! (even though I caught Anna Kate spanking Rose today because she wouldn’t give her her Jessie doll back!  When I looked shocked, Anna Kate said, “What are you going to do?  Throw me in time out, spank my little bottom?” with her hands up in the air.  That’s probably the first time I’ve laughed during discipline.  She was just taunting the situation, and it got the best of me!)  Anyway, hope you enjoy this Thursday throw-back pic with a Thursday in-the-moment-tell-all thrown in there for the fun of it, lol!

 

While the big sisters are away, the monster will play!

*First pictures with our new camera; I’m so excited!

These are just some sweetie pie pictures that were on my phone I didn’t want my bloggy friends that aren’t on Instagram to miss seeing from our summer so far!

Noelle’s favorite place to eat ~ La Madeleine!

Mommy/Daughter date to get make-overs at Sephora!

Noelle’s favorite thing.

 

We’re in trouble!  This girl loves all things fancy, even high heels!

Fun lunch/mall date with Noelle in June, and Rose absolutely loving her bread/butter on the patio at Cotton Patch!

 

We have to wait 30 minutes after my allergy shots before they will let us leave each week… it’s not fun for the girls, but they are good sports.  I try to schedule them when Rose is really sleepy so she won’t find a way to burn the place down with her energy!  Noelle and Anna Kate have had fun dressing up in all sorts of different outfits this summer for make-overs and dance parties!  They do bicker like all sisters do, but when they get a fun idea that keeps them busy, they are the sweetest teammates around. 

One fine Monday, we went to see Despicable Me 2 and shopping with friends (Ava and Chloe).  It was one of my favorite days of summer so far!  I took all three Pond girls to the matinee by myself for the first time ever.  Anna Kate got a little hungry half-way through, but other than that, they all sat perfectly still.  I was so impressed and now we can start doing movie dates!  Wha-hoo!  New freedoms every day!

I love this picture of Rose.  She wanted her picture taken but was acting uninterested.  It looks like she’s a star baby the paparazzi were after at Target.  She’s my little star baby!!!

 

So, after the success of the matinee, Mike and I decided to take the girls to see Monster’s University one night last week.  Monsters Inc. is Rose’s very favorite movie!  She absolutely loves Boo (the little girl that accidentally enters monster land, which would be Rose’s dream come true, lol), Mike (green ball monster), and Sulley (big blue scary but sweet monster) and talks about them daily!  If fact, she wanted to wear her hair in pony tails to the movie so she could look like Boo!  She definitely squeals and talks just like Boo, so we’ve started calling her our little Boo!  She loves it!  When we call her Rose, she’ll sometimes correct us and say, “I Boo!!!”  It’s adorable!  We want to get her some MU dolls for Christmas, but we’re having a hard time waiting b/c she loves them so much!!!  Here’s the big girls with a poster we put up above our trash cans in our laundry room.  Obviously, this phrase is on a much simpler scale than we adults face in our daily lives, but it’s a good reminder to the girls, that when they aren’t fussing and whining, their countenance is much more pleasant to be around.  And it also encourages them to keep smiling, keep shining, and that true beauty comes from the inside out!  On the girls’ level, it’s such a good quote for them to remember, especially when they are doing laundry room chores… and they need to turn that frown upside down! 

Cow Appreciation Day was so much fun this year!  The girls absolutely LOVE dressing up as cows and getting free kid’s meals!!!

 

Noelle and I before her 7 year well last week.  She’s doing great!  She’s in the 25% for weight and height, so she’s my little burst of joy!

We started curling our hair with beach waves for the summer, and Noelle and I are enjoying our new tousled look!  It’s low maintenance, so that’s always a plus when I have fix four hairstyles every time we go out, lol!

Dear God, help me get through the curious 2’s.  Sweet baby Rose is flat wearing me out!  And by the time I have one mess cleaned up, she’s used that time I’m working on that to create an entirely new mess.  We are spinning wheels!  Mike and I very consistently discipline our girls, but in situations like this, I could’ve been watching more closely, put the tube of toothpaste further out of reach, or given her a productive activity to do; so although she’s made more messes than the other two girls put together, she’s just trying to explore and have fun.  She’s a total sweetheart… we just need better boundaries with her.  We’re working on it!

 

 

Her shirt says, “Lil’ Girl, Big Game!”  Amen, sister!  By the time I had cleaned out all of the toothpaste out of our bathtub, she had gone in the shower and rubbed soap all over her hair and clothes (again, I should’ve had it out of reach, lesson learned on that one too).  It was a double bummer because she was already squeaky clean from her shower the night before (this was first thing in the AM).  Sweet baby Rose, something’s gotta give, sister.  You are wearing your momma out!  I’m gonna get you! 

 

Lesleigh was my saving grace last week!  She came over almost every day and helped watch the girls with me.  We ran errands, had fun lunches, shopped, and just tried to make the best out of a really hard week for me physically.  I don’t know what I would’ve done without her extra set of hands and love for the girls!  In the picture to the right, the big girls and I were headed out to a late night outdoor movie at our neighborhood Pond to see the movie “Up” last weekend with our friends.  It was so much fun roasting s’mores, feeling the subtle breeze blowing, listening to the trickling of the fountain in the pond in the background, and just sitting down in our comfy chairs in the dark, stars brightly shining, taking a breather, and enjoying a cute movie with our neighbors.  I’m thankful to God for little moments like these that bring relaxation, reflection and thankfulness.

The Pond girls have had a blast swimming this summer… and it ain’t over yet!  Lol!

  

A sand pit is exactly where Rose needs to be chillin’!  Isn’t she adorable!?!

  

 

Enjoying the pool with my girlies!

Oh no you didn’t take away our torpedo!

 

Please give it back… I’m getting angry!!!  (OMG! This is Rose in action!)  Don’t mess with our Rose blossom!

  

Mommy swooped in and worked it all out… torpedo’s back in business!

Mrs. Paula’s preschool is the best!!!  Thanks for having us over to swim in your beautiful pool, Mrs. Paula!!!

 

Every year, we get pedicures with flags or fireworks for the 4th of July holiday.  It’s our little tradition, and the girls love it!  We only get pedicures once a year, so they definitely look forward to it all year long!  Noelle got creative with her breakfast at the hotel our first morning, and Mike made an awesome thank you basket for the Thurmans this year; impressive!

Instagram pics the night our camera died… these are three happy girls right here!

Rara, Noelle, and Aunt Joe spent the entire afternoon in the pool one day.  Noelle LOVES being with adults and just listening to their conversations.  She’s enjoyed this ever since I can remember.  She was the first kiddo at our young church, and she would quietly sit on the couch and just listen to our conversations.  When she was teeny tiny, she would whisper that she had something to say, and then we would give her a turn to express her opinion about the subject we were talking about.  She’s our emotional, spirit-filled child who thinks deeper than you would expect of a child her age.  I love it!

This is Noelle’s happy place!

Sweet baby Rose with her Mommy and her “Ra-re!”

Anna Kate is finally not scared to ride in the boat!  Yay!  She was LOVING the wind blowing her hair back like a super model!

Uncle Fred and Aunt E had some of their friends’ granddaughters come over to play with the girls the last evening of our vacation; they all had a blast together on the boat!

 

My angels!

Livin the boat life!

 

More savoring the relaxing breeze on the lake… I’m so happy Anna Kate faced her fears this year and got to enjoy a little piece of heaven on earth!

While we were in the middle of our vacation, one of my BFFs said, “Where are those adorable girls’ parents!?!”  So we took this picture for Mrs. Lisa!

Noelle and Aunt E gaining some momentum on their tubing adventure!

Rose watching Aunt E and Noelle tubing with much excitement, but when we put her in the tube for a turn, she absolutely freaked out, so it was a no go for Rose this year… but at least she wanted to ride in the boat.  Anna Kate wouldn’t even do that at two… love them all!

Uncle Andy rode with Rara on her first tubing experience!

Of course our girlie diva loved finding seaweed and scaring her sisters with it!  Like I always say, you can’t read a book by its cover!

Mom absolutely loved swimming in the lake with Aunt E and Noelle!  They were having WAY too much fun! Lol!

 

When you gotta go, you gotta go!  This is the only store in town in Liberty Hill, TX.  They have this bulletin board outside of the store for city announcements.  Noelle was so fascinated with the small town feel, she kept taking picture after picture.  She said she wanted to remember what the olden days looked like, ha!  There was a barber shop across the street with and old strip of business merchant store-fronts, all different colors and beautiful woodwork with chipped paint in all different colors (beautiful).  I’ll take a picture of those next year!