The Sidden Family

Since I have totally slacked off on updating my blog I thought the easiest way to catch up might be through an overview of pictures to highlight the past few months of our lives...

Ringing in the New Year just before our midnight sail

Captain Larry's boat  lit up 2012 for our midnight sail

Luke with his new calf bought from Pa with money from Luke's piggy bank

Luke's 7th Birthday at Alligator Adventure!

Luke's Birthday at the Farm with Special Friends Don & Robbin. Also, the day he caught Tad the Tadpole (R.I.P.)

Will, Aley, and Wyatt join Luke at Alligator Adventure

Springtime in Winston-Salem watching the clouds...

Easter Weekend at Holden Beach

Our annual Holden Beach Easter Egg Hunt with the Williams & the Blairs

Winston Girls' Weekend at Seabrook Island

Texas Girls' Weekend in Dallas

Welcome Summer at Holden Beach

Lots of family time at Holden Beach

On the boat with the Williams

Best Holden Beach Friends, Aley & Ava. 4th of July re-enactment parade for a movie in Southport

A few other momentous occasions over the past few months include Luke riding his bike without training wheels, Wyatt catching his first fish without help, Luke's first piano recital, and my first triathlon.  I have pictures to document these events but for some reason they won't load to the blog... maybe I'll get it to work later.

Christmas Card Photo  (Thanks Aunt Judy)!

My little penguin

Tiger Boy

Christmas 2011 was a good one. It was busy and jam-packed with activity. I am writing this on January 16. There are Christmas photos still on my camera, a few miscellaneous decorations sitting around, and even some unwrapped gifts because we haven't officially celebrated with Shaun's family at this point. We tend to have the Christmas that never ends around here. We headed up to Traphill for the Double Creek Christmas program. It was a sweet evening listening to Shaun's family and friends present the Christmas story through music. Then we were off to Abilene for the Crumbliss Christmas. Luke and Wyatt were thrilled to play with their cousins, go horseback riding, eat as much beef as possible, and hang out with family. Luke especially liked being included in some big boy activities like playing Monopoly. We headed back to NC for Christmas at our house and then were off to the beach for New Years. The highlight of our New Year's celebration was a midnight sail in the Intracoastal Waterway with Captain Larry and Kari. Aside from running a-ground due to a low tide, it was quite an adventure to be out on the pitch black water looking at the stars and fireworks. It was a great way to kick off the New Year. Just this evening Wyatt said, "I'm thankful for Aley and  Ava and the beach house. I like our friends." I like our friends too and continue to be grateful for the fun our family gets to have as we spend time together whether in Texas, Winston, the Beach, or wherever we find ourselves. All in all it was a Merry Christmas. The boys were thrilled with their gifts, watched Santa travel on NORAD's website, and contemplated Dory the Elf on an daily basis. The Christmas Season can be stressful yet somehow experiencing it through the joy of my children makes it worthwhile.

I'm sure I've said it before... Fall is my favorite season. There are many reasons I like Fall but I think the main reason is the sense of family and tradition that comes as we enter the Holiday season. Our family has created a few family traditions that I hope last for years to come: we head up for a Sidden Family picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway to celebrate, we make a trip to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin, we discuss and brainstorm for the perfect Halloween costume for each boy (some ideas I like more than others), and we enjoy cool Saturday afternoons watching college football, playing in the yard, or heading out to hike or explore. Of course, there is Thanksgiving which is always a great day filled with family, food, and God's creation. The pace of life seems to slow a bit in the Fall. Maybe its the calm before the storm of Christmas-time. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

This summer might be one of those summers I never forget. It will be one of those periods of time that brings a smile to my face in even the more trying times in life. This summer was a simple, sweet summer. The boys are at a perfect age where they can play together and with us and yet aren't too big to rather be with someone else. We really didn't do anything amazing. It was the everyday summer activities that culminated into a summer of joy. The boys squealed with delight, played, and ended the day with the kind of exhaustion that you feel when all is right with the world and you've enjoyed every minute of it. The best way I can wrap it up is through Luke's description... Luke made a TOP 10 list.

Luke's Favorite Summer Things:
1. Clamming
2. Tubing
3. Ghost - Crabbing
4. going to the beach... every week
5. Going to the "big" movie theatre
6. Swimming & Kayaking in the canal
7. Swimming at the pool
8. Learning to really dive off the diving board
9. hiking at Stone Mountain and the Farm and Bass Lake
10. Swimming in the swimming hole at Lower Falls Waterfall
"oh... I have more can I just have 10 on my top 10 list?"
11. Vacation Bible School
12. Soccer
13. Pulling in crab pots and catching a flounder
14. Building legos with Wyatt
15. Playdates with Will (who also got to come to beach with us for a few days).
16. Fireworks on the 4th of July
17. Wyatt is a big boy because he learned to use the potty (I especially like this)

This list makes me a appreciate a few things. My boys love to be outside, they love the water, and they love to be with friends and family. We are blessed to have good friends and family to share our everyday life. I guess that's what makes the ordinary days extraordinary.

It's hard to believe Luke is in Kindergarten. He has loved learning for all of his 6 years of life and now he is an "official" student. He is thrilled with school. I have the great joy of having Luke at the school where I work. Right now, Luke thinks this is a great set-up. I don't know that he will feel the same way about having his mom be the school counselor when he is 13... but for now, he loves it.

Recently, I got to watch his class release the Monarch butterfly they had observed from caterpillar to chrysalis to emergence. I wish I could capture the moment as the kids hollered with delight as the butterfly gained strength and eventually flew off into the heavens. I can't resist the metaphor as it applies to observing the growth and development of a child. As I left Luke at his kindergarten classroom that first morning I knew it was his first opportunity to fly. It is my hope and prayer that he continue to be nurtured by caring teachers who challenge him and pique his curiosity and that year by year he become stronger and more independent so that one day he will take off on his own adventure with strength and confidence.

Wyatt was adamant he wanted a party at the beach with his beach friends. He didn't want a pool party or a pirate party or a rollercoaster party or any other kind of party a three year old might want... just the beach and his beach friends. I don't really blame him. We have great beach friends and Holden Beach is one of our family's favorite places. I felt a little bit guilty about not having balloons, sending cute invites, and having his friends from Winston celebrate with us. I mean Luke did invite all 25 of his "closest" friends to his 3 year old birthday party. Oh well, each kid is different and we had a fabulous time. Wyatt was thrilled with his beach cupcakes and fish in a bottle party favors. I don't think I would have it any other way. My lesson learned: listen to your kids when they express definite opinions and enjoy the simplicity of what they really want.

Wyatt has fully embraced being three. He loves telling people he is three and jumps for joy that he is NOT a baby... he is a big boy, wearing underwear and all. He is in the year of "do it me self." I love watching him do all kinds of things without any help from Mama. He's continuing to talk a little more everyday and has a fun sense of humor. Wyatt is constantly playing pranks, hiding, and saying funny things with a twinkle in his eye. I can't wait to see how much he grows and learns this year while at the same time wanting to treasure his great sense of curiosity and joy as he makes new discoveries about the world around him!

So Spring Break and the rest of Spring brought a lot of fun in spite of the weather. The highlight of the trip was probably time spent with our "beach friends" the Williams Family and the rest of our friends on High Point Street. Luke got a kayak for his birthday but it was too cold to put it in the water. Thankfully, when we headed back down to the beach for Easter the sun was shining and into the water went the kayak... and Wyatt followed by Mama (since Luke tipped Wyatt out of the Kayak and though the sun was shining the water was freezing). Wyatt wasn't too happy about is surprise dip in the water and has been leery about riding the kayak with Luke since. Spring time at home brought a lot of sunny weekends to play outside. I don't have any pictures but we spent a lot of time on the soccer field: Luke played and Shaun coached, Shaun played and we cheered. Shaun's team made it to the finals of his adult league tournament so it was a pretty exciting season for the grown-up boys. Shaun and the boys got the garden ready, Luke lost a few more teeth and "graduated" from pre-school. It's on to Kindergarten in the Fall! It's hard to believe he's old enough to head off to school but lucky for him, I'll be right down the hall. I wonder if he'll still think that is so great when he's 13?

The Williams girls (Aley & Ava) with the boys at the Aquarium

The High Point Street Band - premieres at the Williams' Home

Wyatt, always hamming it up

Wyatt working in the yard

Luke, getting bigger every time I turn around

Wyatt is ALWAYS on the go

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I love spending it at the beach with the boys. It is such a sweet and simple time. We had a great weekend of fun with friends and church at the beach Chapel.

Getting ready for the Spring water at the beach

Family picture on Easter Sunday

Luke in his birthday kayak!

Luke & Wyatt relaxing in the sun

Wyatt & Ava "chilling out" while the big kids kayak

Preschool graduation. So long Messiah Moravian...

Luke, Millie, and Wyatt after church. Notice the lack of teeth in Luke's mouth