The Tradition of Bloys

If you've known me for 5 minutes, one thing you know about me is that I love family traditions and heritage.  Last year when my grandmother Peggy died, we lost a true family matriarch who was the keeper of all the Cross-Creech family heritage.  She knew everything about everyone she had ever known within the family.  She took a lot of our family's history to the grave with her because we either failed to remember a story or failed to ask about it.  As we have sat around talked we have found we can piece some of these stories and some of our history together, but Peggy probably knew it better than anyone ever did and surely ever will.

One tradition within our family that she never let go of was our annual participation at Bloys Camp Meeting.  Bloys is a place I grew up going to and my children will be granted that same privilege.  It's not an experience everyone gets to have nor is it one that everyone can appreciate.  It's a week of walking on dirt roads, eating in cook sheds, sleeping on cots on a screened in porch, attending church in an open air tabernacle, and sharing stories on porch swings.  You hug necks you haven't seen in a year.  You let kids run free without fear.  You wear sweaters to breakfast and shorts to lunch.  You see more cowboy hats than ballcaps, and more cowboy boots than UGGs.  

I regret the many years we missed once we got in high school and college.  It seemed cheer camp, summer finals, and jobs seemed to keep getting in the way; but I always knew I'd find my way back.  Peggy was always so happy when she talked about Bloys.  I think it was her most favorite week of the year.  And I can see why...it's a week when time kind of slows down.  Life is more about each other and less about the jobs, houses, bills, and schools left behind.  It's when we just sit back and take it all in.

Little girls get to play outside and get dirty...even in cute clothes.

Little boys get to climb trees and wear their cowboy boots everywhere they go.

Running is allowed everywhere.

Being a cowboy is the norm.

Spending time with Great Uncles is savored.

And loving on grandmas is cherished.

Cousins get lots of bonding time.

And children seem to find a way to act quietly during church.

There's lots of time for the boys to be boys.

And the girls to get head injuries, because they're playing like boys.

But most of all, it's where we share lots of hugs, lots of laughs, and... 

a WHOLE lot of us share two teeny tiny bathrooms.

But we love it.  Since we left in August, Clinton has asked many times when we can go back to camp.  He wants to see his friends.  He wants to hang out with his Hop.  He wants to climb the mountain with his Daddy.  And I just want him to always love it the way he loves it now.  It makes me feel like he'll always have a deep connection to his Texas roots.  A deep connection to family tradition.  And a deep connection to Mama Peggy...because in the big picture he barely knew her, and he'll never truly know what he missed.

Boys Will Be Boys

The lines in this house have been drawn.  Clinton and Heidi Sage categorize everyone first by whether they're a boy or a girl.  All things boy are Daddy's territory.  All things girl are Mommy's territory.  Heidi Sage even claims me as her own, and lets Clinton and Rex know that Rodney is all theirs.

And the boys in our house can be a little crazy,

a little silly (yes, Rex, it's okay to be scared),

and a little funny.

But Heidi Sage and I love them all....all the time.

Hanging Around

Despite the fact that I often find myself wanting a small break, I keep reminding myself that next year Clinton will go to kindergarten...KINDERGARTEN!...and our lazy weekdays will be coming to a halt.  So, we've spent many days just sitting in the kids' rooms playing.  Just visiting with each other.  Just laughing together.  Just being.

I love watching the kids interact with each other.  I love seeing what makes them all laugh together.  And I love watching how much they each watch and react off of each other.  They're funny.

I find it interesting that Heidi Sage will sit for 30 minutes and play Batman and Robin with Clinton, then turn around and start playing dress up and baby dolls.

I love it that Rex is the only one Clinton doesn't get mad at for knocking over all of his Imaginext toys.

I'm entertained at Clinton's efforts to fight for the camera lens.  And, yes, he's four...just in case you didn't get that.  He's the oldest.  The biggest.  And most importantly, he believes he is the boss.  

While he won't admit it, I'm happy to report he is also quite the caretaker.  He loves on his brother and sister daily (with an occasional beat down) and won't let anyone else lay a finger on them.  He's our protector.

Rex is our little tag along.  He is DESPERATE to keep up with his brother and sister.  He's crawling, pulling up and cruising.  And a couple of times he's let go to stand alone for a few seconds.  I imagine it's just a matter of time before he's off with the troops.

Clinton makes sure to drop in and say hi from time to time...just to make sure he's not lonely.  :-)  Actually, if Rex wakes up and I don't make it in his room within 23 seconds, I can usually find one of the older kids in his crib keeping him company.  I just hope the crib holds up!

Yes, we're using this year to make sure we enjoy our down time.  I already have glimpses of schedules filling up, and car pools to run in.  I'm soaking up our 'lax routine and do-as-we-please schedules.  They will truly be missed one day....soon.

One Fish, Two Fish, Big Fish, Scary Fish

Right before the kids and I took off for Texas at the end of July, Rodney and I packed up the mini and made a day trip to the Tennessee Aquarium.  The kids had a great time, but I'm not sure if it was the huge fish or the toys at the gift shop or the amazing chicken strips at the food court that they loved best.  Maybe it's fair to say they loved it all.

As usual, Heidi Sage and Rex took full advantage of all the services provided to them.  Not gonna lie, I would have paid somebody a thousand bucks to push me around that place.  If I didn't exceed the weight limit on the stroller, I might have kicked HS out of her seat and had Rodney push me.

And while Heidi Sage enjoyed the ride from the car into the aquarium, it wasn't long before she was up and narrating the. entire. tour.  She told us about everything.  Big fishies.  Wittle fishies.  Scawee shawks.  And even pointed out about 3,248 of 3,400 butterflies in the butterfly room.

Clinton mostly just cared about the sharks.  Thanks to his Uncle Brian, Clinton has very strange love-hate feelings towards sharks.  He thinks they're too awesome, but at the same time they kill people...and that makes them mean.

Heidi Sage soaked it all in.  And while she has a larger than life personality, seeing her standing in this window looking at the "OH-shen" reminds me how little she still is.

And while sharks were Clinton's highlight, he was interested in everything.  As we got to each creature he wanted us to read some facts to him about the animal.  He needed to know what kind of animal it was, what it ate (specifically what kinds of other animals it killed), where it lived, and how big it would get.  I enjoy his curiosity and appreciate his need to know...but after a few hundred animals, I just need him to be an observer...not a researcher.  ;-)

Heidi Sage wasn't sure about everything.  Some things were strange enough she felt the need to return to her seat and instruct me to keep moving.

...but then again, some things (like penguins) took a good 30 minutes to view.

Clinton really wished this turtle hadn't died millions of years ago...he wanted to meet it.

But he, of course, found lots of other things to meet face to face (through the glass).

We also had to take a few pictures just of us...with no fish.  Here's me and my "big boy".  I'm no longer allowed to call him my baby.  He gets a bit irate over it.

And here's Rex who pretty much looked like this the whole time because he's not really one for crying, moaning, or complaining.  Just happy to be here.  Just happy we remembered to bring him...not like we forget him a lot....in fact it was only once...and I realized it just as I pulled out of the driveway...he was alone for maybe 30 seconds...but I digress.

I'm pretty sure that's not the smile I was referring to when I asked you to say "CHEEEEZE"...but I guess it's still adorable even if it is a hurry-the-hell-up look.

Heidi Sage with her Daddy.

 And who do you think had the cutest bum at the aquarium?  That would be Heidi Sage.

Van Gogh and H2O

I find the summers to be exhausting.  Ever since I got pregnant with Clinton my body just can't quite handle heat the same...and it's flippin' hot!!  I also truly miss my preschool days when the kids get to be entertained by someone else for a while and I get a chance to breathe.  And the days are sooooooo long. So long.  My children seem to have an issue with their eyes being closed if there is even an ounce of sunlight.  With 5:30am sunrises and 9:00pm sunsets, I find myself with a lot of hours on my hands.

Even as close as my 3 kids are in age, it's still somewhat challenging to find activities that suit everyone.  Granted Rex is mostly content to just watch, but still it has to be an activity where I can find a place for him to watch.  And then it needs to be something that Clinton doesn't think is for babies, but Heidi Sage can still grasp.  Anyone now realize why I let my kids dig holes in the yard and make mud pies?

Anywho, we've been doing quite a bit of painting this summer.  Both of my big kids love it, and Rex enjoys the view.  The kids like to channel their inner "Van Gogh" and create masterpieces for me to "ooh and ahh" over.  

Heidi Sage likes to use as many colors and as many paint brushes as she can.  And as much paint as she can.  She, like her brother, doesn't believe in the "less is more" concept.  More is always more in our house...whether you're talking about cupcakes, toys, or paint...more is preferred.  But if you start talking about broccoli then maybe less (or none) is the top choice.

While Clinton also loves paint brushes, he does a lot of finger/hand painting as well.  His paintings usually end up with so much paint that the paper tears.  And if you look really close you can see the paint also on his torso and face.  This, my friends, is why we paint outside.

And as the big kids get their art groove on, Rex just sits back and chills...

...OR CHEERS!

Finished products.  Clinton's on the left, Heidi Sage's on the right.

Once the paintings are complete, some clean up is in order.  This is the part where I go turn on the sprinkler and let them run until I can't see a speck of paint on their little bodies.

They love it...and I avoid paint getting tracked in the house...and my grass gets watered.  So really, it's a win-win-win.

And while we've done a lot of fun things this summer, we're looking forward to the cooler breezes of fall.  And maybe some 7:00pm sunsets.  :-)