The Way It Should Be

Yesterday, I set out a Nativity that a friend of mine had given me. I put it in the typical arrangement... baby Jesus front and center, Mary and Joseph on either side, angel behind and a multitude of onlookers and their animals flanking the family. This morning, Audrey told me that she rearranged them a little and wanted me to see it. She had arranged it as it should be. Christ Jesus right smack dab in the middle with everyone completely focused on Him. This is the way Christmas should be celebrated! It may become family tradition to always arrange the Nativity this way!

My Best Idea

My best idea this year? Surprising the kids with a trip to WDW! We told them on the morning we left. We had such a great time. The weather was great, there were hardly any lines and the kids stayed well. All of the grandparents were supposed to come, but both of my parents were sick and had to stay home. It just wasn't the same without them along. Jennifer and Lin were so wonderful to us. They put up with Disney overload and were always willing to push the stroller, carry the backpack or hold Cassidy. The extra 2 sets of hands made it possible for Charlie and I to really enjoy the trip. We made some wonderful memories. It sure is hard to come back to work and school, though!

Mustaches

I was just downloading photos off my camera and ran across this one. We had a package of fuzzy mustaches from a camp costume. Cassidy is upset in the picture because it tickled her nose and she scared herself when she looked in the mirror. There are a thousand of these moments in my week and so many times, I snap a picture (or just chuckle) and move on. But this time I just wanted to stop and appreciate my really fabulous family. We have so much fun together. I am so blessed.

Happy Camper

I was the brillant one who pushed the idea of Will going to camp for a week. What was I thinking? I have missed him like crazy. It was like living life without thumbs. Nothing felt right. I didn't really know what to do with myself except to wonder what he was up to. I didn't think it would be this way. Up until 2 days before camp, I was making lists of all of the things I could do/get done with just the two girls. Monday, I spent the day moping around the house and doubting the capabilities of a 20 year old to supervise my child for the week. Tuesday was a little easier and so on through the week...until today. I am back to moping. I am counting the hours until I have all my little birds back in the nest and I can rest at night. Being a mother is hard. I push my kids to become independent and fly and yet with each new step, I am saddened to see their childhood slipping into the past.

This photo was taken just before we left Will last Sunday. Tomorrow morning we will find out how things went for him this week. I hope I can send another picture just like this one.

Slip-n-slide

Could she be any cuter? I picked up a slip-n-slide at Target, brought it home and the kids were out there playing in a matter of minutes. Actually, they saw it on the counter, they went and changed themselves into swimsuits (including Cassidy) and were unfolding it before I knew what happened. Ben came over a bit later to join in the fun.

Cassidy would run to the very end and then plop down and look up at me like she had slid a LONG way. "Wow, baby! You are so big sliding those last 6 inches! Way to go!" Then she'd giggle and I'd laugh and she'd start over.

Cassidy is at such a cute stage. She is precocious and witty, she has an amazing vocabulary and has a lot of phrases borrowed from Will and Audrey. Tonight as we were putting the kids to bed, I heard her say to Charlie, "You are the best daddy in the whole world!" It made my heart melt.

First Official Swim Meet

Sweet summer! Will has completed his first "official" swim meet and had a great time. He came home hot and tired with handfuls of ribbons. I am finding that Swim Team has a culture all its own. Parents get there at 5:45 to set up tents, drag out their coolers and jockey for the best lawn chair positions. I let Charlie handle that and I bring the girls later... after my cup of coffee. Every one hangs around and talks, the kids load up on candy and the parents run around trying to track everyone down before their event and reapply the sunscreen/bug spray. Today we sat right next to the stand where the parent volunteers make breakfast tacos, fajitas, burgers and hot dogs for purchase. I was totally regretting the time and effort I had spent on making a picnic lunch. Next week I am going to take it easy and bring a $20!

The Graduate

It is official! Audrey has graduated summa cum laude from the Bears Class! She is no longer a pre-schooler. My sweet girl is flying towards her first day of Kindergarten. What a girl! Maybe on my second time around I will be able to hold the tears in until after we drop her off for her first day. On Will's first day of Kindergarten, I couldn't hold it together so I had to stand outside while Charlie took Will in. Charlie returned with a message to "Tell Momma I'm gonna be alright." I have all summer to get used to the idea...

One for you...One for me...

Some days just don't go as planned. Today was supposed to go something like this...

5:30 roll out of bed, do a load of laundry, stumble to the kitchen for coffee, get ready for kids

7:00 breakfast, get kids ready for school, get house ready for Bible study

8:00 Will leaves

9:00 Take Audrey to last day of school

(don't forget the hotdogs, teachers gifts and swim stuff for class party)

9:30 Return home to house full of women and kids for Bible study

10:45 leave study early to go to Audrey's party, Cassidy plays with a friends

1:00 Home for nap/quiet time

3:00 Pick up Will and friends from school, take one friend home until swim team

4:45 Swim team, entertain girls at park

5:30 race home for dinner, get Will ready for baseball game

6:45 Will out the door for game (with team snacks and drinks),

get girls bathed, read to and into bed

8:00 girls to bed

8:01 glass of wine

9:15 Will home from game, catch up with him, get him into bed

10:00 crash

Instead, it started out like this:

Charlie: "What's that noise?"

Jessica: "I didn't hear anything."

Charlie goes upstairs and returns to tell me that Will is not feeling well. I race upstairs, plastic trashcan in hand and pass it to him just in time. Thank God the boy can aim!

After I sent a flurry of e-mails cancelling and re-arranging, I sat back and thought, "Ok, now what do I do with my day?" Suddenly, the schedule was cleared. So, I played with Cassidy, tickled and read books. I talked with Will about plans for the summer. I poked around in the garden, enjoyed a popsicle with the kids, pet the dog and caught up on paperwork. I watched Cassidy feed Kersee handfuls of goldfish. Will seems to be doing better and is hungry again. I think this day may have turned out better than originally planned.

I'm so proud of my girl!

Audrey asked me to teach her how to ride a bike like a "big girl" today. Well, of course! First of all, Audrey is usually very hesitant about anything that might require perspiration, effort or courage. Second, usually Daddy is requested for these sort of big events. But, she chose me! After about 15 minutes of back-breaking hovering up and down the sidewalk, I convinced her that the cul-de-sac would be safe and that I would personally protect her from any oncoming traffic. She was flying up and down the street 15 minutes later. When we came inside, she was sweating more than I have ever seen and she said to me with rosy cheeks, "Riding a bike like a big girl is way more fun!" I am so proud of her. It was a great Mother's Day gift!