We Love Each Other

Saturday night Clair wet the bed around 5 am. I got up with her and changes the sheets. I cleaned her up in the tub. We settled into her bed, and of course she wanted me with her to settle. I snuggle close. I love to snuggle her in her bed. We are facing each other. She pulls her face in close to mine and smiles. She looks me square in the eyes, smiling she says "we love each other, don't we?"  It was mostly a statement and she was looking for confirmation. I reply with a big smile, "yes sweetie we love each other very much."

This girl is so amazing. I love watching her grow. I love the way she uses her words. I love her sweet heart and innocent, honest nature. She is perfect! 

My Mothers Day 2016

I'm 39, my Mom is 63, Ellie is 8, Max is 5 and Clair is 3. This morning started out with extra snuggles in bed from Clair - nearly an hours worth. We watched TV, giggles lots, kissed, snuggled, and Clair even told Daddy it was Mommy and Clair special time. It was really sweet and I enjoyed it. Ellie also took my breakfast order and brought me delicious perfectly washed, perfectly cut, strawberries in bed as a lovely snack. David brought us girls our orange juice. 

We had breakfast and then took a look at the new house we are building. It made me a nervous wreck finding the wet house and things off spec, not to mention the graphitti. It was a rough start for me. Luckily David talked to the builder who planned to handle this and more already. 

Before going off for lunch and a movie with my mother, Ellie, Max and Clair took me off on a map les treasure hunt to find presents they made for me. It was very well planned and executed. The gifts were hand made and thoughtful. They are sweet kids and I love them so much!

Time with Mom was nice. We chatted, watches a new another's Day movie, and she helped me get this weeks shopping. It was relaxing. 

The evening entailed a dinner at a local Wallin place, pizza pretzel creations, followed by froyo at Sweat Frog, who happened to be honoring Mother's Day by giving all moms free yogurt. It was really thoughtful and sweet. 

When we got home, another fantastic part of my day was throwing the softball with Ellie. Tonight, she decided she could catch pop flies! And she sure can!!! I love watching her learn and pick up these new skills!

I am thankful for being a mom. Hopefully the kids know this. They are the best part of my life!

A day with Max

This Friday Max was supposed to go on his first field trip with his class to the Baltimore zoo. The forecast was 100% rain and cold in May. This is really unfortunate as Max can not stand getting wet, unless in the tub, and then barely. Clair and I were going to go with them because I had a hard time with the idea of him being there without me to keep an eye on him. 

As the weather became clear I was more and more dreadful. Max was excited. 

Friday morning when he got up I jokingly asked him if he wasn't sure he'd prefer to stay home for he day because it was going to be so wet and miserable all day. He thought for a second and said okay, we can go another time as a family. He decided to get excited about the opportunity I just presented him. I was so relieved and excited. After a few minutes I decided we would spend the day together since I had already taken it off work. 

We dropped Ellie at school. We started with sitting at Starbucks and enjoying some lovely beverages, online shopping for his friends birthday present, and then reading a couple bible stories. Next we decided to go see Disneys new Jungle Book Movie. We shared a popcorn and truly enjoyed the movie and each other's company. We had the whole theater to ourselves and Max was thrilled to get to have what he thinks are the best seat in the house - top center! He likes to be high up. 

We watched the movie and I let Max enjoy a LOT of popcorn. He was pretty brave. He only got scared a couple times, during which we snuggles. He is the sweetest boy!  

After the movie we had grabbed a pizza and soda, a couple groceries and headed home before Ms Sarah left. 

After putting Clair to bed, we finished an art project, built some Legos, read a couple stories and generally had a relaxing afternoon together. 

Max is really amazing company! I loved this time together. Thankful for his sweet nature, energy, and love!

My Mother's Day, little moments go by

She's trying to outgrow me. You never know when it might be the last time you get to rock and gold your sleeping child as they grow. I don't know when it happened with Max and Ellie, but it did. So many of those little moments go by. This is my Mother's Day treat to myself. I should wake her. Instead I am letting her keep sleeping, on my lap, a little while longer. 

Reflections of an aging Momma

Tomorrow my youngest baby, Clair Vonita, turned three years old. This is just another reminder of how fast life is flying by. It seems like just yesterday David and I were in New York, single and free, with a very simple life. The past decade has been full of fantastic changes. I have truly wanted my children my entire life, I do not remember a time where I was not thinking about the family I would have one day. 

What I didn't know was how hard it would be to have a family. What I didn't understand is how hard it is to work and try to do the right things for little people you're responsible for. What I knew was that I enjoyed taking care of children and playing with them. I love playing with my kids. Unfortunately, with this busy life that I lead, work, trying to make all the right decisions, cleaning, eating, exercise, attempt at other things, I truly don't play with my kids.

I do hope they grow up, Mary will take the good things from their childhood marry them with change and the good thing they see their family in their life. David and I are doing this one way, there are many ways to do this. I was speaking to a colleague today who thought it would be a good thing to teach her son that he shouldn't marry a boy that wants to stay home and raise a family only. I have to admit I don't feel the same way. If anyone of my children choose I would admire them for it. Being with your kids, truly having the patience to teach them and raise them, is the hardest, most rewarding, most time-consuming, most filling part of life. I honestly believe this.  

Claire, thank you for being my little girl. Thank you for your smile, thank you for the challenges, thank you for your energy and your curiosity, thank you for your love letters and love of learning, and thanks for keeping me on my toes darling! I pray that I will get enjoy my children for many decades to come. And I know, during that time, Clare will continue to keep me on my toes and keep me in line. 

Tomorrow my baby turns three, Max is almost 6, and Ellie is eight and a half. I am so proud of each one of my children. I pray God enables me to help them become the people he wants for them, and me who he wants for me to be.

And on the more commercial side of things, I can't wait to watch my baby girl's eyes as she enjoys the Prezzys we have waiting for her in the family room for the morning!

Planning Clair's first real birthday party

Clair turns three in a couple weeks. I have yet to actually give her a real birthday party. The first birthday we combined with Easter. Second birthday was an afternoon at pump it up with two of her cousins. This year she really wants to celebrate. She has taken note of how much fun it is when her siblings celebrate. We were on a mission to find a good place for her party. On Friday afternoon I think we found it.

Within 60 seconds of being inside paradise of fun, Clair was in the gate shoes neatly tucked into a shelf and on our way inside one of the jumping castles. She had a blast and loved it. The place was clean, it smelled nice, it was colorful, and it just seems to work. So we are planning the party. This weekend Ellie and Clair helped me make birthday party invitations that Clair will deliver to her friends at school tomorrow. She's really excited about inviting her class friends. 

And almost 3, Claire has so much personality. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to go make it happen. That's going to serve her well in life. She also has a sweetheart and great manners. She will tell you she loves you, she will thank you for your help. She really looks up to her big sister, and loves playing with her big brother. She's great company to anybody who spends time with her. She's really into books. And over the past month she's become quite an expert at her letters. She enjoys spotting letters telling you what she sees

Talk about letting personality shine, check this picture out which I snapped at my moms house on Easter. Claire had that dress on for Easter, and came downstairs in the green shoes the orange hat and caring the baby doll. It Just suited her perfectly. And she was back upstairs to keep playing with the big cousins. 

Rules and self assurance

Today I struggle with the values I teach the kids - to follow the rules yet stand up for yourself and others. 

There have been a couple times this year where Max and Ellie have had someone physically bothering them - touching them inappropriately or hitting them - and they have been too worried about getting in trouble to get the attention of the adult in charge to make it stop. This makes me feel sad and wonder if I've taught the kids to comply by too much, worrying too much about getting in trouble. For example Ellie didn't want to say anything because you aren't supposed to talk in the hallways and it would happen when walking in a line. 

We want them to stand up for themselves. We want them to be respectful. Teaching how to strike this balance is so hard yet so important for human beings. 

I pray for guidance and wisdom to help the kids through learning this. 

Today's approach was to seek help from the guidance counselor. David says if that doesn't work, well tell them to defend themselves. 

By Gods grace let's hope we get this right. I struggle daily with this still as an adult. Difficult conversation are just that, difficult.