Week 2 home from school.
Paint and play dough and water.
Lots of laughs, and mess :)
Monday, May 28, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
What a difference a year makes
It's been almost a year since I had Molly. Unbelievable.
I try and imagine what our life would be like if we hadn't had her.
Aaron and I wouldn't have bought this new house.We probably would have still looked for a bigger house than we had, but we wouldn't have ended up here. We would have dragged our feet, looking and waiting for the "perfect" house to come along. And this house was taken off the market days before we put in our offer, so if we would have been dragging we certainly wouldn't be here. In this house which I love. With neighbors whom we love. In a neighborhood which we love. Where I hope to be for the next 30 years.
I certainly wouldn't be driving a minivan. I assume I'd still be driving my Accord, since I loved it and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it except it didn't fit 3 car seats. Maybe I would have convinced Aaron that I needed a small little crossover like the CRV I wanted. Those don't fit 3 car seats either. Unlike our house, I don't hope to be driving this minivan for the next 30 years. Nice as it is...
I would be doing something during the weekday mornings other than what I'm doing now, although I have no idea what that something would have been. Maybe grocery shopping and housework without the "help" of an increasingly on-the-move toddler. Maybe...
It's hard to image what life would be like without my ever present little side kick. She goes almost everywhere with me. Unlike the twins when they were 11 1/2 months, I can just swing her on to my hip and go about my day, running errands for Aaron, the kids, the baby, me.
So if I hadn't had Molly our family would be living who knows where, I'd be driving who knows what, and I would be spending my mornings working, cleaning and running errands sidekick-less.
It's been a whole year since we added Molly to the family. 21 months since I found out I was pregnant. And even though it really isn't all that long, I can't at all imagine life without her.
I try and imagine what our life would be like if we hadn't had her.
Aaron and I wouldn't have bought this new house.We probably would have still looked for a bigger house than we had, but we wouldn't have ended up here. We would have dragged our feet, looking and waiting for the "perfect" house to come along. And this house was taken off the market days before we put in our offer, so if we would have been dragging we certainly wouldn't be here. In this house which I love. With neighbors whom we love. In a neighborhood which we love. Where I hope to be for the next 30 years.
I certainly wouldn't be driving a minivan. I assume I'd still be driving my Accord, since I loved it and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it except it didn't fit 3 car seats. Maybe I would have convinced Aaron that I needed a small little crossover like the CRV I wanted. Those don't fit 3 car seats either. Unlike our house, I don't hope to be driving this minivan for the next 30 years. Nice as it is...
I would be doing something during the weekday mornings other than what I'm doing now, although I have no idea what that something would have been. Maybe grocery shopping and housework without the "help" of an increasingly on-the-move toddler. Maybe...
It's hard to image what life would be like without my ever present little side kick. She goes almost everywhere with me. Unlike the twins when they were 11 1/2 months, I can just swing her on to my hip and go about my day, running errands for Aaron, the kids, the baby, me.
So if I hadn't had Molly our family would be living who knows where, I'd be driving who knows what, and I would be spending my mornings working, cleaning and running errands sidekick-less.
It's been a whole year since we added Molly to the family. 21 months since I found out I was pregnant. And even though it really isn't all that long, I can't at all imagine life without her.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Who's birthday is first, for real?
We've been talking a lot about birthdays here lately. Lola and Jackson have been to more parties for their classmates this year and they know that they have a birthday coming up. We've talked about party themes and what gifts they would like and what flavor cake they want to bake. This is the exciting part about having two kids about to be 4, so much of the fun is in the planning. And being a bit of a planner myself, I have enjoyed every bit of it ;) One topic that I wasn't so thrilled about (or prepared for ), however, came up for the first time the other day.
"Who's birthday is gonna be first mom?"
Ah... preschoolers. And the ever present question, "Who's first?" Or sometimes the demand, "I'm gonna be first!" Or the indignant cry,"I WAS FIRST!"
Well folks, if you have preschool twins, or probably two preschoolers close in age, this is a constant source of discussion, anxiety, and occasionally tears. Who's going to be first to the car? Who's going to get out of the bath first? Who will be first carried up to bed?
Aaron and I have learned, like many parents of twins before us, to avoid the black and white labels of "first" and (gasp) "last" at pretty much any cost. We substitute the word "turn" a lot without even thinking about it. We walk to the car together "as a family" to avoid hearing "I wanted to be the leader!" And if it's utterly unavoidable, if there are two kids waiting for ice cream and one is clearly going to get theirs first, I look at the one waiting impatiently and try to feel some sympathy as I scoop as fast as humanly possible.
I digress. Back to "who's birthday is gonna be first?"
It started with "What day is my birthday, mom?"
"Lola, your birthday is March 11th."
Then came "Well what day is MY birthday, mom?"
"Jack, your birthday is also March 11th. You have the same birthday. Isn't that cool?!?!"
Please please please think that's so cool.
Not a chance.
I could see it in their eyes. The confusion. Their little preschool brains refusing to accept that they could have the SAME BIRTHDAY. Impossible. Inconceivable. Utterly ridiculous.
I must not have understood the question. "No, but mom, who's birthday is first?"
I went round and round, refusing to budge. No way am I getting into that with two 4 yrs old. Not even 4... 3 yrs and 10 mos. I held steady, "guys, you have the SAME birthday. No one is first. No one is second (for the love of God, NEVER say LAST). You were in my belly at the same time. The doctor took you out of my belly at the same time. You have absolutely the same birthday."
Their resolve was as steady as mine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot. And that's fine with me. I would rather them be frustrated by my idiocy than look my precious little wide eyed birthday boy and girl in the face and tell them that one of them is 1 minute older than the other. Like Santa and the Easter Bunny, I'm holding on to that unfortunate truth as long as I possibly can!
"Who's birthday is gonna be first mom?"
Ah... preschoolers. And the ever present question, "Who's first?" Or sometimes the demand, "I'm gonna be first!" Or the indignant cry,"I WAS FIRST!"
Well folks, if you have preschool twins, or probably two preschoolers close in age, this is a constant source of discussion, anxiety, and occasionally tears. Who's going to be first to the car? Who's going to get out of the bath first? Who will be first carried up to bed?
Aaron and I have learned, like many parents of twins before us, to avoid the black and white labels of "first" and (gasp) "last" at pretty much any cost. We substitute the word "turn" a lot without even thinking about it. We walk to the car together "as a family" to avoid hearing "I wanted to be the leader!" And if it's utterly unavoidable, if there are two kids waiting for ice cream and one is clearly going to get theirs first, I look at the one waiting impatiently and try to feel some sympathy as I scoop as fast as humanly possible.
I digress. Back to "who's birthday is gonna be first?"
It started with "What day is my birthday, mom?"
"Lola, your birthday is March 11th."
Then came "Well what day is MY birthday, mom?"
"Jack, your birthday is also March 11th. You have the same birthday. Isn't that cool?!?!"
Please please please think that's so cool.
Not a chance.
I could see it in their eyes. The confusion. Their little preschool brains refusing to accept that they could have the SAME BIRTHDAY. Impossible. Inconceivable. Utterly ridiculous.
I must not have understood the question. "No, but mom, who's birthday is first?"
I went round and round, refusing to budge. No way am I getting into that with two 4 yrs old. Not even 4... 3 yrs and 10 mos. I held steady, "guys, you have the SAME birthday. No one is first. No one is second (for the love of God, NEVER say LAST). You were in my belly at the same time. The doctor took you out of my belly at the same time. You have absolutely the same birthday."
Their resolve was as steady as mine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot. And that's fine with me. I would rather them be frustrated by my idiocy than look my precious little wide eyed birthday boy and girl in the face and tell them that one of them is 1 minute older than the other. Like Santa and the Easter Bunny, I'm holding on to that unfortunate truth as long as I possibly can!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Laugh When You Can
Is saw this yesterday on Pinterest via Aaron's cousin Kristin :
"Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change."
I'd add "quickly" to that quote.., "apologize quickly when you should"
The connection between this quote and my favorite of the Beatitudes is too perfect to miss.
Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)
Having a pure heart is truly a goal worth working towards. When sorrow and guilt and denial take over it's so easy to feel far away from God. But when following this great advice, I not only feel God's presence but see it in those close to me.
Laugh when you can
apologize when you should
and let go of what you can't change.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Happy New Year
One of my favorite bloggers, Tsh at http://simplemom.net/, posts these Questions for Reflection for the New Year annually. Last year I thought about them for a few minutes, pondering how my year had gone. This time I'm gonna think about each one for more than just a couple of minutes. I'm going to REALLY think about them, and write the answers down. Here are some of them... abbreviated ;)
What was the single best thing that happened this year?
Well, that's easy, right? ;)
What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Balancing the needs of 3 children, Aaron, myself and all the other important people and activities in our lives. Having a new baby with 2 preschoolers and a husband who's had a challenging and very time consuming year at work has been, well, challenging. For all involved.
What was an unexpected joy this year?
Getting to visit my old and dear friend Tracie in Tennessee. It's been sooooo long since we've seen each other and I've never visited her in TN. So even though it was for such a sad sad reason (the funeral of her brother), being able to put my eyes on her and my arms around her was such an unexpected joy.
Pick 3 words to describe 2011.
Character building opportunity
What were the best books you read this year?
Ummm... did I read??? Just kidding, um, sort of. I read the 7th Harry Potter (for the 3rd time) and it was awesome (again :) I started the Aunt Dimity series of cozy mysteries while on bed rest and I'm totally hooked.
With whom were your most valuable relationships?
This is a really good one. I like this question a lot and have given it much thought.
What was your biggest personal challenge from January to December?
Getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight!!! And mission accomplished and then some!!!! Can you tell I'm proud ;)
What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
THE TELEVISION! I have given up most tv in the past 6 months. No more reality tv. No more flipping channels at night. I still have a few favorites I DVR, and my goal is to turn on the tv, watch my show and turn it off! And I'm doing pretty well, although it's incredibly easy to slip right back in to the flipping channels habit.
What was the best way you used your time this past year?
I think the only possible answer for me is spending time with my kids. Really really spending time with them. Leaving the cereal on the floor, the laundry unfolded and the phone on silent and walking with them as they ride their scooters around the block. Playing memory and Go Fish. Making a huge mess baking brownies. There are so many other ways that I spend my time, gratifying ways, but I believe this is the BEST way.
What was the biggest thing you learned in 2011?
In terms of practical learning, how to manage the households finances. And I should emphasize learnING, nor learnED.
Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.
While I definitely won't be sorry to put much of 2011 behind me, I've stretched and grown in ways I didn't know I ever would. I'll take what I learned with me into what I hope will be a happier, easier 2012.
Happy New Year!
What was the single best thing that happened this year?
Well, that's easy, right? ;)
Balancing the needs of 3 children, Aaron, myself and all the other important people and activities in our lives. Having a new baby with 2 preschoolers and a husband who's had a challenging and very time consuming year at work has been, well, challenging. For all involved.
What was an unexpected joy this year?
Getting to visit my old and dear friend Tracie in Tennessee. It's been sooooo long since we've seen each other and I've never visited her in TN. So even though it was for such a sad sad reason (the funeral of her brother), being able to put my eyes on her and my arms around her was such an unexpected joy.
Pick 3 words to describe 2011.
Character building opportunity
What were the best books you read this year?
Ummm... did I read??? Just kidding, um, sort of. I read the 7th Harry Potter (for the 3rd time) and it was awesome (again :) I started the Aunt Dimity series of cozy mysteries while on bed rest and I'm totally hooked.
With whom were your most valuable relationships?
This is a really good one. I like this question a lot and have given it much thought.
What was your biggest personal challenge from January to December?
Getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight!!! And mission accomplished and then some!!!! Can you tell I'm proud ;)
What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
THE TELEVISION! I have given up most tv in the past 6 months. No more reality tv. No more flipping channels at night. I still have a few favorites I DVR, and my goal is to turn on the tv, watch my show and turn it off! And I'm doing pretty well, although it's incredibly easy to slip right back in to the flipping channels habit.
What was the best way you used your time this past year?
I think the only possible answer for me is spending time with my kids. Really really spending time with them. Leaving the cereal on the floor, the laundry unfolded and the phone on silent and walking with them as they ride their scooters around the block. Playing memory and Go Fish. Making a huge mess baking brownies. There are so many other ways that I spend my time, gratifying ways, but I believe this is the BEST way.
What was the biggest thing you learned in 2011?
In terms of practical learning, how to manage the households finances. And I should emphasize learnING, nor learnED.
In terms of big life learning, really facing and trying to accept that my children are participants in this world, this society, not just in this family. For good and sometimes for not-so-good, other people, other participants in this world, will help shape them and the lives they lead.
While I definitely won't be sorry to put much of 2011 behind me, I've stretched and grown in ways I didn't know I ever would. I'll take what I learned with me into what I hope will be a happier, easier 2012.
Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Ready for the runway
Lola has really been expressing her own individual style lately, changing her cloths several times a day and pulling inspiration from all sections of her wardrobe.
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| I call this look "mixed seasons". Is it summer, time for swimming? Is it winter, jacket weather? Or is it March, time for her birthday? A fashionista like Lola shouldn't have to choose! |
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| Lola chose this outfit very deliberately for school. She was very proud of herself, and I'm proud of her as well. As her Oma pointed out, Lola at 3 looks a lot like I did at 15! |
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