Lilly and Jack

This is Lilly's last week to be 5.  I started this blog a few weeks after her second birthday, which means I have been blogging for almost 4 years.

(Lilly's outfit of choice)

When she turned 2, I couldn't believe she was 2.  As you can imagine I can't believe she will be 6! 6 is old for a baby, which she will always be to me.

(Yes, that is a giant bowl of sugar cereal on hold while they 

finish their cookies for breakfast in front of cartoons.)

Luckily I still have baby Jack who doesn't talk back to me, so it's like I still have a sweet little baby (who hits you in the face).

(Watching the scary part in "Swiss Family Robinson")

I love my children so much, I find them absolutely brilliant and adorable.  What gives me the most joy is seeing them love each other.  I can now understand why my mother would always be upset when we were horrible to each other growing up.

(Playing at the hair salon)

Don't be confused, it is not always bliss and joy around these parts, just normal life. Screaming tantrums, fits of exhaustion, and sometimes the children get upset as well.

Ice Skating

Lilly is enrolled in an ice skating class and today was the first day.

She started out with a death grip on the wall and by the end of the 45 minute session she made her way out onto the ice.  She fell many times and got right back up.  I was very proud.

And, because I know you want to see it...here is a clip of Lilly skating.

Briar.

This past Sunday, after my unsuccessful nap time, I played with the children in the basement where I came across Briar and Julia.

Lilly received Briar on her first Christmas from Jim's brother Karl.  This became THE doll for Lilly. She loved many dolls and stuffed animals, but this was her special doll.  For awhile the doll was named "baby" and baby went everywhere with us.  Eventually Lilly named her doll Briar after my friend's baby.  Briar has been lost and re-found and I believe even re-purchased due to a permanent loss.  Lilly rarely let Briar wear her clothes and she took Briar everywhere.

I can't remember how Briar got phased out.  I don't remember when Lilly stopped sleeping with her or needing her.  Perhaps it was when Jack was born and I missed the transition in my postpartum fog.  I know that Briar was lost for about a month when we moved into this house and she was eventually found at the bottom of a blanket basket.  Maybe that was the start of the transition.

When I found Briar on Sunday, Lilly said "I don't really like that doll anymore so we can give it away."  I instantly had tears in my eyes and turned my head away so she couldn't see me cry.

She knew I was sad so she sad, "I just like special dolls better, but we can keep the doll here for you Mom."   Briar has been replaced by American Girl dolls, which do not get the same love and affection as Briar once did. When she does play with the "special" dolls it is to do their hair or change their clothes.  Gone are the days of lining up the dolls and having elaborate conversations and games.  She doesn't even make much time for her American Girl dolls either. She is so busy with school and playing with friends.

For now, Briar is in the basket with Julia and the other cast off stuffed animals that I am not ready to part with her.

Sunday quiet time.

This past Sunday was our first day back to 9AM church.  This of course means Sunday afternoon naps.

Lilly is past the nap stage, so I told her she had to have quiet time in her room while the rest of us napped.

She did not like that and kept asking if she could just come in my room and be with me.  I explained that everyone was having a nap or quiet time in their own respective bedrooms.  

She then came in and asked if she could just lay in my bed while I napped. I declined.

She came in again and asked if she could just lay on my bedroom floor and read a book, just so she could be near me. I again told her quiet time had to be in her own room, because she is not quiet when she stays with me.

Then she came in with a letter she had written to me. In her handwriting it said:

"Mom is you wrt in my lif you wod brec my hrt. I owes mis you. Love Lilly."

She also pasted her school picture next to her name.

She then took the letter back and in the saddest most pitiful voice she translated her kindergarten writing:

"Mom, if you weren't in my life you would break my heart. I always miss you. Love Lilly."

Oh my goodness child! You win, you can spend quiet time with me! 

photo by jim.

Resolution

This year I resolve to not make any resolutions.

I need my life to be flexible because I have no idea what will be thrown my way in 2012, but I will tell you that I am hopeful.  2011 did not mar me, it gave me hope and made me realize what is important.

I am a wife, a full time mother, a piano teacher, a preschool music teacher, and a regular person. There are a lot of things to accomplish in one day, none the less adding in goals for the new year.

In 2012 I am going to note what I accomplish, not make an inane list of things that I think I should accomplish.

Happy New Year!

Here is my cute Jack:

2012 Week One

We had a New Year's Eve party with a few friends and their children.  We had a ton of food AND fun.  There were fireworks, talent shows, and a rubik's cube completion. I believe there was an estimated 18 bottles of Martinelli's at our house. It was a good time.

I was so exhausted after Christmas that I stayed in my pajamas for many days. I got dressed on New Year's Eve and day, then back into pajamas for the start of the year.  I really enjoyed the time off from work, school, schedules, and alarm clocks.

Monday, my friend and neighbor, Christie gathered some friends to go roller skating for her 40th birthday.  I assumed this would be a gathering of women who lacked skills or had not skated in 20 years.  Oh no - she invited roller bladers and people with serious skating skill.  Then there was me.  The owner followed me around the rink yelling at me not to look down, that I was only looking at fear when I looked down.  It  was a sad display of roller skating. I have memories of being a pretty good skater back in the late 80's.

Wednesday we took the tree down.  I wanted to put the tree on the curb for the town to remove and Jim wanted to compost the tree and use parts for his garden (this is a regular disagreement).  Jim took the tree outside, and I assumed he was putting it on the curb for pick up... until I looked out my back window and saw this:

Jim cut off all the branches of the tree and started burning them before I even noticed he was gone.  He did this so he could use the trunk of the tree in his garden for a trellis.  He rendered the tree incapable of Christmas tree pick-up by removing all the branches.  Our town doesn't have a log pick up.  Jim won this year's Christmas removal battle.

This week we had bitter cold 10 degree weather a few days, then upper 40's weather the next few days. The temperature difference made it feel like spring!  Lilly used the warm weather to her advantage and went to some neighbors to sell girl scout cookies.

Tonight we attended a surprise party for Christie's 40th birthday.  We had the party at our church in the gym.  Once she arrived we sent all the kids to another room with a movie and some babysitters and the grown ups were able to enjoy the party. Genius setup.  We sat in the gym with all the lights turned off waiting for her to walk in.

My friends, Julie and Tina, planned and orchestrated the whole party.  It was an 80's themed party.  People came dressed up, we played 80's music, played some 80's Wii dance and sing along games, and ate good food.  The greatest part was Christie was really surprised!

AND it's my brother's birthday today! Happy Birthday Oliver, you're the best!

What a week! I am ready for a vacation.....

Year end

I have tried several times to write this post, and I just can't seem to wrap my head around 2011.

I tried doing a list of my favorites, I tried compiling highlights from each month, I tried doing a picture collage, and nothing felt right.

I tried writing about the best book I read or the best movie I saw or my favorite trip, but it just didn't work.

So, I leave 2011 quietly behind with extreme gratitude for my beautiful children that make my life meaningful everyday.