Small Joys of the Week 7

This week has been equally stressful and exciting.  We've been on a rollercoaster of emotion this week and we are ready for a long weekend!

* Birthdays - today is N's mom's birthday.  She's 39ish and as beautiful as ever.  We feel fortunate that we can celebrate her from a distance today.  Happy birthday mom!  We love you more today than yesterday.  Sending you large quantities of hugs, kisses and off-key singing!

* Kindergarten!  We have officially entered the world of kindergarten and I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone.  Yet, one the other hand, there are days where it feels like she's 16.  Because we've done preschool and pre-kindergarten, this is old hat to Zoe.  The only things that makes it feel different are:  she gets her own desk to hold her own supplies AND it's everyday.  The first makes her feel uber special.  Especially since her group of 4 desks includes three of her favorite people in class.  I have a feeling there could be some "talking to your neighbor" issues.

The second makes her lose sleep.  For the last few nights she's been up almost every hour on the hour because she knows what she's going to wear to school, she knows what snack she wants to take, she wonders what they'll do that day, do you think they'll get to play in the kitchen, do you think they'll get play time outside, do you think her sparkly shoes would match her purple dress?  It's amazing what goes through a kindergartner's head at midnight.  It's not what's going through my head, I can tell you that! 

I'm hoping we'll start to get into a routine and all her inner, midnight dialogue will wear her out and we can get some sleep!

*  Final Exams!  This week N had a big phase exam.  Due to some internal meetings at work, he had some issues with getting his last minute things completed before his test yesterday.  If he didn't get those done, he couldn't take his test.  If he didn't get to take his test before August 31st, he could be reprimanded or fired.  Nothing like a little pressure to make a stressful situation more stressful. 

I'm pleased to report that not only did N pass his exams (there are 3), he passed them with flying colors.  When I got the call that he passed, we both just felt a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders.  We both knew he would do great, but it's another thing to have it over.  He's onto the next phase of the program.  Only 16 more months left of this.  Woo-hoo!

*  Fathers - N has had a stressful couple weeks in preparing for his test.  These are always stressful times.  In the midst of it all, he's had to handle some other things with all our girls.  He's been comforting, encouraging, excited, supportive and most importantly loving.  I've watched him interact with all the girls this week and show them each his support and interest.  I love that he can put aside his stress or his week and focus on the girls.  It's one of the things that made me fall in love with him 8 years ago and I love seeing the dad he is to the girls now.  He's patient and so full of love. 

*  Pilates - I was able to go yesterday.  We spent 20 minutes doing squats.  I can barely get off the toilet.  For some reason, I'm happy about that.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

I Speak Crazy

This weekend we spent time in Umatilla with N. He’s got a big phase exam for work coming up. It’s on things like welding and other things having to do with metal, dams and fixing things. You can tell I’m a huge resource for N during his studies. These exams consist of written, oral and practical. The oral and practical are easy for N. It’s the written that takes a mental toll on him. Zoe and I went down to encourage him and love on him for a couple days.

Part of that time was spent at the mall because Zoe’s intake of FroYo was running dangerously low. In a divine miracle, there was even a train at the mall that she could ride. She smiled and waved at everyone we passed because that’s what you do on a train! I counted 6 people that waved back and about 50 kids who shot looks at their parents.

On Sunday we tried to get as much daddy time in as possible. Zoe batted her eyes and asked daddy to throw her in the air onto the couch, like she would be flying. N, also with hopes to fly one day, couldn’t resist the eyes or a girl after his own heart. For about 20 minutes he just kept lifting her and throwing her between her fits of giggles. I love that daddies so those kinds of things...until you’re home, away from the strong daddy and Zoe thinks the eye batting will somehow make me strong enough to do that.

Zoe was so sad to leave daddy and all the flying, she needed a pit stop at the gas station for a snack because all the flying made her hungry and a snack will make her miss daddy less. She’s also a bit of her mother too!

On the way home there was a small semi with another small semi on its trailer. Basically it looked like one semi was giving the other semi a piggy-back ride. I told Zoe that there was a truck on another truck! She looks at me and says, “mom, that doesn’t make any sense. Do you even hear the words that are coming out of your mouth?” Apparently we are family who is unafraid to hold each other accountable.

I came back home to the realization that mommies and daddies each have their roles. Depending on the day, mommies are lacking both in sheer strength and common sense.

13

Today we officially enter the teen years.  D is 13 today.  Here's some things about D that you should know:

13 - This teen thing isn't that shocking.  She's always been a teenager at heart.  She had "the look" perfected when I met her at age 5.  Which had me worried.

12 - D is an easy teen.  She's young for her class, so we're already half way through junior high.  While there have been crushes and mean girls, she's navigating it with grace.

11 - One of her favorite things to do, even when she was 5, is paint our nails together.  It's our girl time.  We chat about boys, life, movies and growing up.  Some of the things that she says shows how wise she is. 

10 - Even though she's in junior high, she'll still give us hugs and kisses in public.  There are many times when we'll be together, waiting for something or chatting with people at church and D will go up to hug her daddy.  I love that those things are natural. 

9 - She's got her heart set on becoming a baker.  It's been her dream for years now.  She's incredibly talented.  She has great ideas, good instincts and is willing to work to perfect her craft.  I'm amazed at her passion.

8 - She's a trendsetter.  If feather earrings are in, she'll have 5 pairs.  If blue eyeshadow is in, she's got it.  Right now, she's totally into neon.  The brighter the green, the better.  What's even more awesome, she knows how to wear it.  Which is truly saying something because neon isn't quite the skintone complimenter as some might think.

7 - She's an excellent sister.  She takes time to hang with Zoe.  They are thick as thieves.  When you have 8 years difference, that's not always the case.  Those two love each other in ways I prayed they would.

6 - She's trustworthy.  In a world where there is pressure on kids in ways I didn't experience, D usually picks the high road.  She's a friend that won't tell your secrets, a person who won't judge you and she cares deeply for people. 

5 - She loves things that make adults sore:  swimming laps, rollerskating, Just Dance on the Wii...  When she gives you her smile, you totally give in because no one can resist it.

4 - She can totally sleep until noon, unless we're doing something mentioned above and then she's up with the sun. 

3 - She's kind, loyal and fun. 

2 - She's growing into such a stunning woman, both inside and out.  I'm amazed at her maturity, her passion, her joy in life. 

1 - She's a daughter you'd be proud to claim. 

Happy birthday D!  We are so honored to call you daughter.  I've watched you grow from a child into the beautiful, young lady you are today.  You absolutely take my breath away.  I look at you and am awed by your beauty.  When I look deeper and see you heart, you leave my speechless.  You are kind, compassionate, joyful and wise.  I love to see how God is molding you.  You are His handiwork and He doesn't make mistakes. 

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life.  You are a blessing far beyond anything I deserve.  I pray that today is filled with blessings, laughter and the reminder of how truly amazing you are.

Love you sweetie. 

A-B-C's and 1-2-3's

It's hard to believe that summer is coming to an end.  We've had some cooler temperatures and great sleeping weather.  This is probably my favorite part of summer.  Cool in the evenings, thunder storms and warm days. 

Just as I'm catching my summer stride, it's time for school to start!  Tonight we have a potluck at the school for all the kindergarten families.  Zoe will get to meet her teacher, see her room and catch-up with all her friends.  She's been counting down the sleeps until her potluck!  We have to bring a main dish and a dessert.  We made ham and mashed potatoes (because finding things at a potluck that Zoe absolutely loves is impossible) and cupcakes with frosting in her school colors.

Next week is the official start to school.  Wednesday is a time at the park for them to play, socialize and get ready for the grind of going every.single.day.  Thursday is her first day at the school.

A kindergartener!?!  It seems like the time is flying by and yet, she is 5 going on 16, so it's also like it's at a standstill.  All of us are so excited for this milestone in her life.  I'm not even a bit teary about it, which is shocking.  Maybe that's because Zoe LOVES school, her friends and is beyond excited.  Because of preschool, she knows 85% of her class already.  By knows, I mean loves them.

Last night we set out all her school supplies, the 4 jumbo glue sticks, the #2 pencils, the big eraser, the 2-24 count boxes of crayons, watercolors, colored pencils, scissors and her pencil box and labeled them.with.her.name!  She was beyond excited.  In preschool nothing is labeled.  It's community stuff.  This year, it's Zoe's own stuff.  To say she loves having her name on her things is an understatement.  We had to label several other things she owns because labels = FUN!  Had I known that little bit of information, I would've made some "this book belongs to" labels and let her go to town on her books.  You gotta find those things they love doing so you can sit for 5 minutes and not have to pretend you're a prince, evil stepmother, wicked stepsisters and the mice.

Maybe that's just our house!
I think it's safe to say we're all ready for school to start.  Zoe is about 2 seconds away from reading and it's killing her that she can't read everything!  She can write notes to N all by herself.  So at least she's not totally devoid of communication.

I'm eager to see what God has in store for her this year.  Like with all things she does, she'll enjoy the journey, keep us all laughing and make my heart swell a little bigger than I thought possible. 

Small Joys of the Week 6

This week has proven two things:

1) I'm old

and

2) my body is no longer 25.

I've been motivated this week.  With that in mind, here's my small joys:

* Pilates/Yoga classes where there are three of you, one instructor and the 60 year old lady next to me can do a side plank with very little problems.  I wanted to hug her afterward and thank her for her motivation.

* Women's Beach Volleyball, namely Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings.  I love watching those two.  They are amazing.  They have earned the right to retire...at 35.  They are my age.  I think the only thing I've earned a three-peat on is finishing off French Onion dip in three servings.  Tomato, tamato.

In other ways my week has been joyful:

* Snuggling with Zoe while she sits on my lap, her arm reached around to hug my neck, whispering in her ear that I love her and then she toots on me.  The primal laugh that accompanies that makes the disgusting part of this story totally worth it.

Have a great weekend!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Super Hero!

N is a man who enjoys looking on Facebook, but rarely, if ever, puts anything out there.  He knows that Pinterest exists and that I spend about 20 minutes before bed each night checking it out.  That's his extent of interaction with Pinterest.

Or so I thought.

Last week he said to me, "I saw this really cool way to make jet packs out of 2-liter soda bottles.  We need to make this happen." 

Because I had pinned this little kid-friendly craft to my Pinterest page I knew exactly what he was talking about.  He downed some Mt. Dew for the craft, shopped for spray paint and tissue paper and let Zoe pick out the yarn for straps.

Honestly, I've never seen him this excited to make a crafty thing.  He loves doing the Pinewood Derby cars for AWANA, but this is something totally outside his previous foray into crafty things.  I'm not gonna lie, my heart just about wept from tears of joy.  With all the years of going to super hero movies, learning to play Halo on XBox, trying to understand World of Warcraft, etc. and now he's initiating crafting.  It's almost like the little parts of life came together to make things right in the world!

Not to mention that a certain 5-year old was beyond excited to have a jet pack.  Even if she didn't understand how soda bottles were going to transform. 

Zoe and I went swimming with some friends and when we came back there was a lovely patch of metallic gray on the lawn.  Clear evidence that a certain daddy was totally excited to have a jet pack and save the world.

When Zoe realized it was time to become a super hero, they couldn't make those jet packs fast enough.  They did pose to show me how tough they are:

Zoe loves her so much that the other day she was talking about going somewhere and this was her comments:

Could I take a plane?  No!  Could I take a bicycle?  No!  I'll have to use my jet pack.

She didn't seem the least bit upset that, as her third option, is was the only mode of transportation up for the job.

Dog Days of Summer

Summer for us involves tons of water.  None of us really like being hot, so we find ways to cool down.  There are a number of options:  sprinkler, kiddie pool, YMCA, splash pad, Columbia River, kind people who let us use their pool...

We aren't picky.  We've utilized each and every one of these this year.  Sometimes when it's really hot and we're in Oregon, I'm 3/4 tempted to just go up to random houses and see if they have a pool we can take a dip in.  100+ degree temps will do that to a person.

Since Zoe has learned to put her face in the water, her fear has subsided.  She splashes, jumps, dips all the way under and smiles the entire time.  We are so glad she's a fish like both N and I are. 

Part of my evenings consist of getting home, changing clothes, packing a picnic, lathering the sunscreen and heading to a park with my favorite girl. 

I'm so incredibly blessed.