Daddy Daughter Date

Jon doing his best to pose like he did in HS. Sis so excited she's about to jump out of her own skin.

Daddy-daughter dates are the best!

Jon took Sis to dinner and then dancing at the annual DDDance in our LDS stake here. They really go above and beyond. I've never seen anything like it. The cultural hall aka gymnasium was transformed. There was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. The floor had been made to look like cobblestones. The tables were set in a round and in the center was dancing.  They had a violinist playing during dinner and dance instructors to help afterwards.  They even got their pictures taken (just like HS) to take home.

At one point while they were dancing Jon said Sis was looking at her feet, counting out the steps and he reminded her to look up at him and not her feet, like the instructor had told them. When she looked up, she was beaming! He said he had never seen her so lit up. It was an absolutely magical night.

Late Night

My daughter is in tune with me already. Its uncanny. You see, when I am sick I often can't sleep. My body doesn't like being horizontal and try as I may, I just can't sleep sitting up. The result? Late nights spent wishing I was sleeping. There have been nights, many in fact, where Sis can somehow sense this and wakes up inexplicably. I'll be reading or on the computer in an utterly silent house and still she wakes. She doesn't just wake, she is awake. We're talking WIDE awake. No groggy voice. No squinty eyes. Just wide awake and ready to chat. Last night was one such occasion. She came into the living room and asked if it was time to be awake. She was ready and if I had told her 1:30 am was the right time to start her day she would have done it. What resulted was a very long night with me escorting her back to bed multiple times. One such time, she came in and informed me that the cat was chasing a really fast bug in the dining room. My first thought - a roach! That had me out of bed in a hurry - which is funny because I don't know what I would have done except scream and climb up on a chair, which also would have been incredibly helpful - but turned out to be an old friend, the house centipede. Some bread and milk and a few hugs later and she was tucked in for the night. I wonder why I'm not getting better? ;)

Sneaking Up

She is somewhere else in her imagination. I wish I could see what she sees.

Singing and twirling in the dining room

So Helpful

A little explanation... As a pup, Jack was kennel trained. As a result, he often feels safest when he has a roof overhead. He's always under the table whenever anyone is sitting at it. He likes to be under the desk when anyone is using the computer. And his latest - he likes to be under my sewing table when I am sewing. He's weighs more than 90 pounds and my desk is quite small. It's really the most helpful thing.

Birthday #8

I can't believe we made it! She's eight. It's official. I watched home videos today of when she was smaller. Sadly, I hardly remember some of it. I remember her being a sweet, happy baby though. She had everyone wrapped around her little finger. Not too much has changed, except now she speaks instead of screams(mostly), stills giggles a lot and she makes sure everyone is listening.

Instead of a kid-party this year, Sis decided she wanted to have all her favorite people over for pizza and cupcakes. This was much more appealing to me so we fired up the pizza stone and cranked out about a dozen pizzas for 25 of Sis' nearest and dearest, ranging from a 3-month old to many, many grown-ups. She asked everyone to wear masks and knowing Sis' love of all things Phantom, one grown-up friend even came as the Phantom, tux, mask and all. Thanks Daniel.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Sissy......

New tradition of opening presents at breakfast. I mean really, why wait?

Bigger boys had their own pizza party on the deck.

I love the look on her face. She's genuinely thrilled!

We're blessed to live here and have so many fabulous people to call family. Happy Birthday Sis!!

Happy Birthday Sis!

My baby is eight today. She's such a funny, creative, pretty, vibrant young girl. She drives me crazy one minute and has me in stitches the next. I can't imagine life without her. Happy birthday you crazy beautiful girl!!

Deep Sick Thoughts

I woke up late this morning after another night spent unable to breathe through my nose. Initially I woke early with a raging case of cramps, but after taking care of necessities I tucked myself back into bed, curled in the fetal position, thinking tragic poor-me thoughts. Being sick (this time) has revealed to me that I am an impatient person. I didn't think I was impatient by nature, but the truth has been revealed. Another morsel I discovered about myself is how much I take my health for granted. By and large I am a healthy person, or rather I don't often get sick. I have come to see these as being two very different things. Not getting sick does not make me healthy. It makes me lucky. I am fortunate to have not been unwell much in my life. I have only ever been in the hospital to have babies. I spent loads of time in the ER as a kid, most of which can be explained away by my lack of grace. I haven't had stitches, that I can recall. I've broken plenty of bones, but again - only as a kid. In fact, the first year we lived here in Baltimore, I can hardly remember being sick at all. We went the whole winter without catching anything. Nothing. Not one of us. Amazing right?!
I have been sick for two weeks now, since the drive home from the beach. I feel like I should have lost weight as I haven't been able to taste much this week and I have been expelling massive amounts of nasal debris daily. Not the case unfortunately. Oh well. I know it will pass and I will be well again. I do want to be well. But more importantly, I want to be healthy. I am going to take better care of this great gift I have been given - my body, my life. Here's to a healthier me.

When I Grow Up...

Sis is going to be eight this week. For the last few days she has been saying, when I grow up... (fill-in-the-blank).

Take for instance our trip to the grocery store today. She wanted to buy three bags of marshmallows. I said no. She said: When I grow up I am going to buy them all the time. I got the same response for everything I rejected. I told her I hope she has a good job.

My favorite conversation took place while we made rolls for dinner. I was telling her how I loved chicken noodle soup and rolls because when I was little and it was a cold day or someone was sick, my mom would always make it for us. She thought about this for a minute and said:

Sis: When I grow up I am going to buy lots of movies for my kids. Kid movies. Grown-up movies. Shows.

Me: What kinds of movies?

Sis: The Office

Me: Why do you like The Office? (which she's not allowed to watch BTW)

Sis: The jokes.

Me: Really? (said while trying to suppress a smile)

A pause...

Sis: I'm hariess(sp?)

Me: You're an heiress?

Sis: No, it starts with an H.

Me: (after thinking for a moment) You're hilarious?

Sis: Yes, I'm hilarious.

Yes Sis, you are hilarious. Sometimes I wish I could stop you from growing up at all. Just don't do it too fast okay?

Gettysburg

Its 10:00 Monday morning, aka Labor Day. Jon and I are staring at each other wondering what to do with our free day.

M: How 'bout Gettysburg?

J: Sounds good. Let's go.

(If only all decisions were so easy...)

Half an hour later, with a full tank, a cooler full of food, book for Et, art goods for Sis and tunes for Jon and I - we're off.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. It was cool and overcast but not raining. There were people there, but I wouldn't call it crowds. We spent an hour at the museum and many hours more touring the battlefield - which is enormous BTW. I don't know how much Esther even understood. Et was amazed, as were Jon and I. I won't bother to write me feelings about the place except to say it is hallowed ground and I was completely overwhelmed at times. If you haven't been there, these pics will seem random.

The HighWater Mark - where's Pickett's Charge took place.

The Pennsylvania - The largest monument in the Park.

at Devils Den

E remembered all the names of the different battlefield areas. I thought he understood and would remember some names and battles. Apparently it had more of an impact than I thought. (Me with a big smile.)

A Couple of New Ones

 

Just a few of Jon's latest for you to check out. The yellow one is small and red is much larger. Tremendous!

My Little Phantom

She does this sometimes. She'll appear, midway through her school day, ask me to turn on Phantom and then reenact various scenes. Todays performance, starring Claudio her cat, The Point of No Return. The laundry basket is the boat. The cat, Christine.

Oak Island, NC

(I can't believe how long it has taken me to get this posted! Too many photos to sort through.)

This is E, not getting wet on Sunday after church.

What a perfect way to end the summer!

A fabulous lady and family friend let us use her beach house for a week. We invited some friends, loaded up the car and spent an amazing week at the beach. Thanks Lee!! You're the best!

Jack followed Sis around much of the time.

I love Sis' expression. This was the night we arrived. The kids were in heaven.

The kids had never been to the ocean. Not really anyway. We went to a beach on the Mediterranean, but it was in a harbor so no waves. Molto bella! It was great to see them take to the water like fish. Even Sis who is not my water-baby became quite the little boogie-boarder.

My boys.

Sis' first time in the ocean. Priceless!

I tell you I couldn't get enough of the water. I can't find them, but I know I have gills.

There was a hurricane moving up the coast on our last few days there making the waves very big and extremely addicting.

Flying kites.

Jack loved the ocean. He's a water-dog.

The crab Jack spotted and Jon caught on the beach. The kids almost loved him to death.

Christmas Countdown

I love the holidays. I do. When I was a child, my mother made Christmas a magical and special time at our house. I don't know how she did everything she did, but she really pulled out all the stops during that final month of every year. She never waited until December to pull out the Christmas music, which in fact I am streaming via Pandora as I write. There are certain pieces that transport me back in time when I hear them. I love that. I think that is one of the reasons I love the holidays so much. They are magical and fully of wonderful memories for me. So, why am I writing about Christmas in August? Well...

It's time. I can hardly believe it, but it is already time again for me to begin the Holiday Grand Plan. (Don't know what I am talking about? Click the link.) I have done this off-and-on for the past 10 years or so. I love it! I really do. I am a planner and an organizer at heart and this is a perfect fit for me. Here's the long and short of it...
~ The plan covers 18 weeks, beginning today.
~ It tells you what to do and when, to prepare for the holidays.
~ It does everything in easy and manageable steps.
~ It's free.
~ It makes the holidays, not just Christmas but Halloween and Thanksgiving too, wonderful and relaxing.
~ You can actually consider the season and what you are celebrating.
I guess to fully understand why I like it so much, you just have to check it and try it for yourself.
Let me just paint a picture for a moment to tempt you a little. (It may sound impossible &/or cheesy, but it is possible and I can't imagine a better way to spend the holidays.) It is the first week in December. It's a cold night out and you, holding a cup of cocoa, are watching a movie with your family. The tree is trimmed, the house decorated. You have little on your mind because you have finished your tasks for the season. You mailed the Christmas cards last week and finished wrapping the last of the gifts you were making and purchasing too. There are nearly 2 dozen dinners in the freezer and equally as many containers of holiday goodies tucked snugly away as well. The house is not only decorated, but clean and in good repair - many of those nagging fix-it projects finished over the past few months. You have already mailed your Christmas packages to loved ones, the advent calender is on track and you have time to read the Polar Express to your kids. It doesn't matter that there is a great sale at the mall and it is a blizzard out. Your packages are already wrapped, labeled and hidden in the closet. Your bank account thanks you too as you have spread your spending out over the last few months, not all during the month of December.

Let me just say, the years I have been faithful to this plan, I have spent more time reading Christmas stories, watching Christmas movies, making Christmas crafts, and drinking cocoa or hot cider as my kids played games on the floor. I haven't worried about over-scheduling or money or what to get my mother-in-law or anything really. Its not for everyone. Some people thrive on chaos and they work better under pressure, but as for me and mine...
Let the countdown begin.

Bless My Life

Here's a blog everyone needs to check out. It's called Bless My Life. A very dear friend and her sweet husband put this up to help people recognize their blessings and uplift and inspire others. It does just that!

Thanks A&R for your wonderful blog and all you do for others. I feel blessed to know you both.