Sweet Dreams

I lay with Little A every night as she goes to sleep. It's one of the best parts of my day.

We reconnect. Even if we were just butting heads 10 minutes earlier, something laying side by side in the dark room brings us back together. She snuggles in. I scratch her back. We talk about the day.

In the quiet of the night, I get a little insight into her world as she processes her day. She becomes reflective. She apologizes for incidents early in the day, some that I'd already forgotten about. She tells me about her day. She asks questions about things that happened at school, giving me a peek into her mind and a chance to help her understand and reframe events.

Someday, hopefully many many somedays away, she'll want to fall asleep alone. For now, I happily give up 20 minutes of my evening to lay beside her as she leaves the waking world for dream land, hoping she feels her mama's love as she drifts to sleep.

Toddler Talk - Little Mister

While looking at the Riverwalk:

Little Mister: Are there sharks in there?

Me: No

Little Mister: What about crocodiles?

Me: Nope.

Little Mister: What about alligators? Or anything else that can chomp me?

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Little Mister: Jesus died on the cross. And then he came alive again. Now he lives in Heaven.

Me: Yes and where else does He live?

Little Mister: In my heart. (taping on his ribs) But my heart is closed, so why do the sing a song in church about opening your heart to Jesus? You can't open your heart. It's inside your body.

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After having a rough morning with a bad attitude:

Little Mister: Mom, I tied it together.

Me: What did you tie together?

Little Mister: My attitude. I tied it all together.

Me: You mean you pulled it together.

Little Mister: Yeah. I pulled it together.

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Little Mister: Today we made celery with peanut butter and raisins.

Me: Did you call it Ants on a Log?

Little Mister: No, I called it celery with peanut butter and raisins.

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'Your breath is stinky. It smells like Daisy's." Daisy is my brother's dog.

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Me: "We need to leave to go pick up your sister."

Little Mister: "I'll just stay here."

Me: "Bud, you can't stay. There is no one to watch you."

Little Mister: "It's okay. God can watch me."

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Watching out for his dad

While taking a walk we found some dandelions.

I asked if he'd like to bring some home for his dad and sister and he considered it. He then smelled the dandelions, and yelled out 'these smell disgusting and gross. Dad is allergic to gross things."

Little Mister's Prayers

• That dinosaurs will not be extinct any more and that he can fight them.
• that he will not suck his fingers or eat his snot
• that he will get to play whatever he wants
• that he will know what eight means
• thank you that dinosaurs are dead and can't eat us
• 'thank you for everything but not pirates and Goliath.'

Fun Finds

Some recent finds that the kids are really enjoying:

1. Books written by Caralyn Buehner and illustrated by Mark Buehner. Great stories with really detailed, fun illustrations. Little A loves looking for all the hidden pictures within the picture - the illustrator clearly had fun putting the book together. We've read Fanny's Dream, Snowmen at Night, SuperDog, Snowmen at Play. I have a couple more on my request list at the library.

2. Wild Kratts on PBS Kids. A kids show that I actually enjoy and learn something from. The Kratt brothers have animal adventures and teach a lot about animals on each episode. The kids now spout off random animal facts throughout the day.

3. Shelled Pistachios. Keeps Little Mister busy for awhile, although I can't always get him to put the shells in the trash.

What are your kids into these days?

Six

Today you are 6. Your age now takes two hands to display.

Did you know 6 is my favorite number? It has been since I was a child and it has carried into adulthood. My first phone number (which is still your grandparent's phone number) started with a 6. Your dad and I got married on the 6th. You were born on the 6th. I hope your 6th year is one of your best.

This year has found you quickly learning to ride a bike,

developing a consuming and passionate love for dogs, especially your grandparent's Ginger,

becoming a very competent swimmer,

forming friendships with some older and idolized neighbors whose love for crafting almost matches yours,

You are creative, driven and determined. You are inquisitive and observant. You care very much about what other people think of you and have started to get self conscious when I 'catch' you dancing or singing. As a result, you are currently (by your request) taking a break from gymnastics and dance, as you don't like the recitals and public displays. I hope to teach you that your standards and goals are yours alone and that yours is the only opinion that matters.

You've blossomed into quite the artist and spend much of your time with crayons, markers, scissors, tape and paper. We've gone through no less than 30 rolls of tape this year, as you use it for almost all of your creations. You, with no guidance or assistance from your dad or me, make paper clothing,

construct your own mini-trees,

make lots of angels, fairies and princesses in several different mediums, elaborate lego buildings, fill our stairway with paper lanterns,
make your own kite with chopsticks, creating jewelry with tape and paper, and, sometime, 'arting' on your brother.

Favorites:

Color - pink and purple

Food - Chicken Pot Pie, Berries, Strawberry Ice Cream

Movie - Tangled

TV Show - Wild Kratts, My Little Pony

Activities - Doing Art, Swinging, People Watching, Asking Questions, Swimming

This weekend you and I were at a playground and you asked to swing in my lap. We worked together to get you up into my lap (the swings are pretty high off the ground at this park) and, while successful, we found ourselves sitting in a swing that was absolutely still and were too high off the ground to use our feet to get it started. Thus we started slowly moving forward and backward, our bodies working in sync. The swing started to shift, ever so slightly and we continued. After a few minutes of quietly working together as one, we got the swing moving steadily and enjoyed the feel of the rare breeze in our hair. We talked easily about little things, even though, as you said '[you] couldn't see my face but [you] could hear my voice." Swinging in the shade with my ever-growing little girl still fitting in my lap brought a few moments of pure bliss for me.

Today I met you at your school to eat lunch with you in the school cafeteria. You had a huge, face-filling smile for me when I walked into the noisy, active cafeteria and I couldn't get to you fast enough. We made our way to the parent tables on the stage and your smile never left your face. I know all too well that my presence at school and in front of your peers won't always bring you joy, so I will thoroughly enjoy the days and years that it does. You happily pointed out your new friends and solemnly explained the rules of the cafeteria. You told me you liked my shirt and politely thanked me when I shared my kiwi with you. I let you have one of the birthday cookies that I was dropping off for your class and you beamed. I thought back to one of our first lunch dates, when the two year old you jumped up and down in the booth with a mouth full of mashed potatoes and I almost teared up thinking about how much you've grown up in four short years since that meal.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl. You are so very treasured and loved.

Love, Mama

Card Carrying Member

The One Where My Kids Finally Enter Chuck E Cheese

I made it almost 6 years with Little A and over three with Little Mister, but my kids have now officially been to Chuck E Cheese. And..... it wasn't so bad. It was actually better than I expected. I appreciated that each game cost one token (as opposed to movie theater arcades where some games cost 3-4), that I could say 'yes' each time they asked to play something and you better believe I followed them around with sanitizer wipes.

Confessions

1. I am way too concerned with other people's opinion of my parenting skills. Or lack thereof.
2. This is compounded by the fact that Summer 2011 will be known as The Sibling Bickering Summer.
3. I can not figure out how to teach my kids to speak kindly consistently.
4. I said a bad word in front of my kids yesterday when I got lost downtown. I don't think they even know the word or that it's bad (it would have been different if I yelled out 'stupid' or 'butt'), but still, it was uncalled for and not classy.
5. I want a do-over for my attitude in July. And for my daughter's.
6. I haven't opened my Bible in two months. At least. I did download a Bible App, but I haven't opened that yet either.
7. I have checked Facebook daily, but not my Bible. Nice.

Popsicles on the Porch

Just a typical hot day. The kids are still in their swimsuits, eating popsicles on the porch.

making faces for the camera

Then, without warning, disaster strikes....

What could cause those tears? That anguish?

This, of course:

The last bite of popsicle falling to the dirt below. Oh the horror!

More tears....

Why me??

Then, in an uncharacteristic display of selflessness, Little A offers him the rest of her popsicle.*

All is well with the world.

Life is good.

* She later told me that she was all done and didn't want the rest anyway. Sigh.