And the Celebrating Begins...

We officially kicked off Issa's birthday celebration this weekend! First, I got to take this cuteness shopping:

 We headed to the craft store to pick up the last of the supplies for Issa's party with her friends. We are going to be hosting one way cool tea party in a few weeks, and Issa can hardly wait!

Friday, Nana, Papa Rich, and Aunt Shannon rolled into town for the first party, though. I am so grateful that they asked to make the trip, and I am even more grateful that we had a relaxing, fun weekend together celebrating our girl.

Issa requested a Fancy Nancy party, and Nana and Issa created a fabulous cake:

 Nana did most of the work, but Issa did help with the border:

 With the cake finished, we headed to Issa's favorite restaurant to celebrate:

 She wanted them to know it was her birthday, but she was not so sure about the loud singing. So...our waiter just brought her a sundae and our family sang three different versions of Happy Birthday. It's just how we roll.

We came home and our little fashionista was spoiled rotten. Even though Uncle Jeff wasn't feeling well, he texted with our girl and sent a special shirt:

 She is wearing it today. I love that these two share that ridiculous game.

The birthday hero was Aunt Shannon:

 She found white bunny slippers. That sounds easy, but they are so hard to find in Issa's size! I am so glad I captured this moment. I get teary every time I see it.

We also had to be appropriately fancy for a Fancy Nancy party:

 Issa made these bracelets with Aunt Shannon thanks to a kit sent by Uncle Nick and Aunt Beth.

And cake required a wardrobe change:

 Issa finally outgrew her Hello Kitty dress, and there was much gnashing of teeth. Nana and Papa replaced it with these pajamas and a new t-shirt. The pajamas go perfectly with bunny slippers--don't you think?

And then there was cake:

 I love that big smile. Make a wish:

 And yesterday she donned some of her new apparel and rocked it:

 I actually got teary as I folded the new clothes. She's just so big. Six. It seems like yesterday I was awaiting her arrival. Sniff.

Lest you think little brother was forgotten, check out the cool jacket Aunt Shannon brought:

Yep...he gets to be a fireman every day this fall. He thinks he's pretty hot stuff.

With all of the celebrating, there was plenty of time to just be. We played games, read books, and laughed until we cried. It was a wonderful beginning to a month of celebrating a very big sixth birthday!

Evan's Year in Review

At long last, I finished Evan's Year in Review yesterday. As I watched my little boy grow before my eyes, I wanted to capture a few memories that don't appear in pictures. Following tradition, a year in review for my boy...

Oh, Evan, it has been a whirlwind year with you. You are becoming such a little man--no longer my baby, not even a toddler. You crossed the threshold into preschooler, and there are so many, many things I want to remember about this year that aren't necessarily captured in photographs.

As I was compiling your year in review, I gasped as I saw you in the stroller. It's hard to believe you were still riding at the beginning of this year. I can't imagine strapping you into a stroller. You would have none of it. Now, you are in constant motion, running into all kinds of adventures. You tend to jump first and look second. I may wince when you take a tumble, but I so admire your courage and sense of adventure. I hope you never lose it, but I do hope that you start looking at least as you are jumping if not a little before.

I have learned more about rocks, trucks, and trains this year than I ever could have imagined. The library actually ordered new truck books with you in mind because you have checked them all out at least twice. I love listening to your little mouth pronounce big words like "fork lift" and "excavator." I could do with a few less rocks in the dryer, though; please check your pockets. I stopped checking after I pulled out a live beetle.

Small boy, you are stubborn. I will never forget spending an afternoon inside with you while Daddy and Issa played outside. All you had to do was clean up some blocks, but you would not. And so you watched from the window. You may be stubborn, but you may have gotten that streak from me. I hope you learn sooner than I did when to be a little less stubborn. In the meantime, I will still be a little proud when you dig in your heels over something that is important to you. It will serve you well later.

For all of your stubbornness, you are still my  cuddle bug. You love being my "pocket boy," and I will be so sad when that stops. You want me to sit on the couch, and you wedge yourself between me and a pillow, in the pocket. You may be talking about Spiderman or powing something, but you are still snuggled in and a little piece of my baby boy is still there.

In those moments when you are chatty, which is often, I frequently find myself giggling at the cute little way you say things. Dessert is "bee-sert," and I can't pronounce or spell the way you say popsicle. Someday, you will say these words "right," and I will probably cry a bit. I also love that you must say, "Hamma hamma," anytime a hammer is in your hand. It makes me happy.

You got your first big boy haircut this year--complete with buzzers--and at your last hair cut Miss Kelly actually had to thin it a bit so it would be a little less crazy. You went from baby to big boy with one hair cut, and I promise your future teenager to keep plenty of hair gel in the house.You will need it.

You and your sister are fast friends, and it makes my heart happy. I love watching the two of you play, and I even love watching you push her buttons. You have an ornery streak, but heaven help anyone who messes with your big sister. I have seen you puff up and tell bigger kids to leave her alone. I hope you are always this chivalrous. It suits you well.

As tough as you can be, you have the best laughs. And I mean laughs--plural. You have a wicked sense of humor that brings out a full belly laugh, you giggle in a way that could crack crystal when I tickle you, and you have the best maniacal laugh on the planet.

That maniacal laugh comes out most when you are being a full-fledged boy. I never believed in those stereotypes until I had you. You are loud, and boisterous, and full of life. I may occasionally lose my mind with the volume and the constant fear of stitches, but I don't think I would have it any other way. I think God sent you to teach me to worry less and live more--thank you.

I still can't help but worry, and you gave me the scare of my life this year. You had RSV, and it was the longest 48 hours of my life. You avoided the hospital, but seeing you on a pulse ox machine and watching for signs to take you straight to ER was the closest I ever want to come. Never do that to me again. Deal?

On a much lighter note, you are trying your hand at your dressing yourself. I am praying you develop some sense of coordination at some point. Right now, you are a hot mess. Forget about matching, and you have a thing for papa socks with crocs or sandals. Your sister is mortified.

Even when you look like a hobo, I still love you fiercely, little monster. You bring so much joy and laughter and adventure into our lives. You've taught me to worry less about dirt and falling and to focus more on exploring and living. I hope you always, always keep that sense of life about you, and I am so grateful I get to be your mama and enjoy the ride...

Five is Odd

I know five is an odd number, but it is a really odd number of students. After big classes that were nearly at capacity, five just is so...small. I've had two of the students before, and all five seemed to mesh well. It's just going to be a bit of an adjustment.

I ended class early and made it home to tuck some little people into bed. I was glad to get to see them, and grateful that I was able to tell them last night that Daddy's flight was delayed and he won't be home until tonight. It would have been an ugly morning otherwise. I was also grateful that our friends stayed a bit later so I could have a little grown-up conversation. It was a wondrous thing for sure.

Family is coming to celebrate a certain little girl's sixth birthday. More exciting posts to follow!

Well...

I have nothing earth shattering today. This has been a week when I'm hating the word balance. There is no such thing; there is just pure craziness. I read a blog the other day (although I can't remember who it was) that classified August as the secret December. It's that time of year when everyone is crazy busy with all great stuff--back to school, end of summer, extra-curricular activities, and fall excitement all in one giant mess of life...just without the carols and cookies. Yeah...I'm feeling that. Today's list of randomness:

1. I start teaching tonight. It's a master's level course I've taught before, and I love the content. However, because technology hates me I don't have access to a roster or BlackBoard yet. Lovely. I think I have six students--I think. I guess we'll find out tonight.

2. I hosted a PTSA meeting here at the house last night. I had the horrible realization yesterday morning that I had no idea how many people were coming. As the new good on the block, I didn't want to send the "RSVP dang it" email, so I guessed--I guessed way wrong. I prepared for eight adults plus kids. Four adults arrived. We will be eating heavy hors d'oeuvres for the foreseeable future. It was a lovely evening, though.

3. I need Issa to go back to school. She is getting bored, which means I am getting edgy. I actually heard myself say, "Find something to do or I will find something for you to do," yesterday. We are both card gamed, crafted, and tea partied out.

4. In related news, my calendar is getting complicated. Note to self: I need a better plan for the end of the summer next year. I sort of forgot that my school starts earlier than Issa's, and I now am trying to find play dates or babysitters so I can attend meetings. I am also a bit afeared when I look at a calendar that is so full already.

5. On a happier note, we are getting ready for Issa's birthday! We have our first celebration this weekend, and she and I are going shopping tomorrow to get everything for her friend tea party. Issa and I have a date with the craft store. Wish me luck!

6. Daddy comes home again tonight. We can't wait!

7. My laundry is refusing to do itself, so I suppose I should go do that.

Shiny and New

It's funny how life comes full circle...

Yesterday, I met with my first student teacher as a university supervisor. I couldn't help but smile as I sat across from a girl that reminds me so much of me from eleven years ago. She's so shiny and new. Full of theory and ideas and optimism and a binder of lesson plans that would make your head spin. They are wonderful and long and plentiful.

I met her at a coffee shop so we could meet before I walked into her classroom for the first time. On the way there, I remembered the nerves and the over-whelming moment you begin student teaching. It seems so very big. When I saw a young woman dressed in elaborately teacherish clothes sitting at a table with a binder, a notebook, and a wide-eyed look, I knew I had found my girl.

We chatted about why she wanted to teach, what she is really good at, and what she wants to grow in this semester. I was impressed, and mildly amused, and excited to see her in the classroom. I reminded her that I was not expecting perfection, and she visibly relaxed and nearly cried. She's going to be fine, and I'm glad I get to be a part of this circle.

Salsa

Saturday, the kids and I headed to the Farmer's Market here in town. We had never been to this one, and we had such fun. The variety of vendors was amusing. There were big farms with professional-looking boards, and there were small gardeners with handwritten white boards. There were some local artists selling stained glass and wooden furniture. There was a folk singer filling the market with his guitar and soulful voice. There was a small baker selling old world breads, and there was a bigger bakery selling everything but bread. In short, it was lovely.

The kids and I were on a mission to find salsa ingredients, and we did well:

 Aren't they beautiful?  The white package was half a loaf of sourdough rye, and the tupperware holds fresh figs. We enjoyed those two things with a little marscapone--delicious.

We chopped and chopped. Batch one:

 We ended up making two batches. I had no idea how many peppers and tomatoes we would need, so I bought a bunch. Considering the last jar of this salsa lasted us two days, I didn't mind making a little extra:

One afternoon and nine jars later, my house smelled like salsa and I was a very happy woman.

Deep Sea Diver

Issa finished her last week of camp for the summer. This week, she was a deep sea diver! A week in lunch notes:

Monday:

 They learned about nautical navigation and how sailors used the stars to steer the ship. The museum brought in a mobile star dome, and Issa came home telling myths of the constellations. She is an awesome story teller.

And...that note is written on the back of the bottom of my grocery list. I almost forgot, and I had to so a make-shift version in the car.

Tuesday:

 Issa learned about the different ecosystems in different parts of the ocean. She made a coral reef, and they even made "scuba suits" from two liter bottles.

Wednesday:

 Invertebrate day! Issa loves jelly fish (because she has never met one in the open water), so she was thrilled! She has been walking around classifying invertebrates and vertebrates and looking for animals with exoskeletons. When those big words roll off her tongue, I can't help but be in awe of my baby.

Thursday:

 Fish day! They learned about how some fish hide and how some fish talk with light. They talked about food chains and how different fish swim. She learned so much she is still throwing out random fish facts.

Friday:

It was whale day! They talked about why whales are not fish. They measured how many campers it would take to be the same size as different whales, and they talked about how something that big floats.

It was another wonderful week, and Issa is still good tired from such adventures. She is already waiting for the camp brochure for next summer...and that makes my heart happy.

Big Kid Hair Cuts

Right before school started last year, Issa announced she needed a big girl hair cut and got bangs. Apparently, it has become a tradition.

Evan's hair has gotten so thick Miss Kelly actually had to thin it a bit so it won't look completely insane. When she was finished, Evan announced he was big enough for gel:

 Be still my heart.

Issa decided she needed a little face-framing fringe and a feather:

 Ignore the crazy face--don't ask, I have no idea.

Evan also wanted everyone to see my new hair cut, which is the same cut just trimmed up:

Perhaps photography is not his thing.

Friends

Last night, Crystal, Shelby, and Tyler came over for dinner. Both daddies were working.

After dinner, Shelby and Issa danced off to play dress up and Barbies--the usual. I sat at the kitchen table with Crystal and spilled my soul. I'm tired. Brad's traveling a ton. The semester is starting before Issa is starting her school, which is a deadly combination. I am out of cope. She knows. She listened. She let me curse and cry and curse. She said all the right things, and she sent me a "hang in there" email this morning. I needed it.

What did my heart the most good was Evan and Tyler. My three year old adores this 15 year old. Tyler dutifully played baseball and trains. He chased Evan; Evan rolled with laughter. They wrestled and pounced. In short, they were boys. Poor Evan has been surrounded with girls a lot lately, and he needed this. Not once did Tyler say no or roll his eyes. Not once did he seem a bit frustrated or board, although I know he had to be. I am beyond grateful.

When you live a long way from family, you have to build a new support system--a safety net--a kind of family. I am so blessed to call these people mine.

Mail

Yesterday was a big mail day around here--in-coming and out-going. Issa got a very special post card from school:

 It's official: Ms. Wright will be her first grade teacher. I want points for not even tearing up when we got it. Issa is very excited. Ms. Wright is new to the school, but the principal recruited her after she student taught there. That is always a fabulous sign, and Issa can't wait to meet her at open house.

We also sent Issa's birthday party invitations yesterday:

She has invited six little friends for a tea party, complete with a tea hat making craft and a teacup cake. She has helped me plan every detail, and she can't wait for her first friend party. When did my girl get so big?

Best Alarm Clock

This morning, I woke up to this:

"Iss-y, my aw-ake!'

Pitter patter pitter patter. Issa goes dashing into Evan's room, "Good morning, buddy!"

I hear her climb up into his bead, and there are whispered conversations about who knows what. I hear the bears and the turtles greet each other, and I hear more giggling than I can imagine this early in the morning. My heart is happy.

Parenting is so full of what ifs and worries. Did I make the right decision? Are they getting everything they need? But every once in a while, there is a resounding moment where you know you are doing something right. This brother and sister love each other fiercely, and that is definitely right.

Big Weekend

This was a very big weekend around here! Friday started with school shopping. Issa did a great job sticking to the list, and she was so excited to pick just the right glue sticks, pencils, and erasers. This was her big thrill, though:

 Hand sanitizer. She was beyond thrilled to purchase hand sanitizer. I have no idea.

We came home, packed the backpack, and then waited for Grandma Pat and Grandpa Kevin to arrive. Saturday, we took everyone to our museum:

 Evan hasn't quite figured out his binoculars yet. Issa still is the master of the pose:

 Grandma and Grandpa used to live in Maryland and were missing the ocean, so we packed up yesterday morning and headed east! Our usual beach was incredibly crowded, so we drove a bit and found our new favorite beach! Evan remains king of the sand:

 But he did venture into the ocean! Daddy has him, and you can see Issa and I out a little deeper:

 There is just nothing better. It was odd to be at the beach when the water was warm and the sun was hot, but we loved every minute. We found some shells and enjoyed the ocean air.

The best part of our new beach: we are five minutes from the aquarium! Evan fell in love with the little lizards:

 And we had two very happy kiddos:

 Grandpa got to see an alligator:

 And Issa got to pet a horseshoe crab:

Issa and I also got to pet a shark! It was just a little sand shark, but it was amazing. I'm still trying to find the words; it really felt like nothing I have ever felt.

It was a great weekend, and now it's back to the races! Issa is at camp, Evan is at school, and I'm already two days behind. Happy Monday!

Small Things

Sometimes, the kids growing up sneaks up on me. Yesterday, Issa and Evan asked if we could play Candy Land. Although I would have preferred to gauge my eyes out with a spoon, I said yes because that's what mommies do. (I find that game to be the most numbing moments of my life I will never get back; I know that it teaches all kinds of wonderful things, but come on! It is so dull.)

As we started to play, I caught myself gasp. Evan was playing. Like, draw a card and move the right guy to the right spaces playing. When did that happen? And...he won! Fair and square. My baby is growing up...

Evan the Chef

Evan helped me make spaghetti last night. He loves to brown the meat:

 Please note, although his face looks a little sad in the picture above, he is not. That is his smash face:

 Most people stir; Evan smashes. It works. The meat gets brown. My little chef:

A towel over his shoulder--just like his mama.

I love cooking with my kids for a few reasons. First and foremost, I love that both of them are learning how to cook and to love cooking. I love knowing that they will be able to feed themselves once they leave the nest. I also love the time in the kitchen. "I don't know" responses to questions about the day turn in to long conversations. There is just something about the kitchen that gets the kids talking--even if Evan decided to regale me with tales of who went to the bathroom when and where yesterday. I'll take it.

So Sweet

Every once in while, I get really lucky and have my camera beside me and catch one of those every day moments that I want to remember:

This girl is the cat whisperer. If she sits for more than two minutes (which is rare), the cats will find her. If they don't, she goes looking. She and Frosty are both so long, and they love to stretch out together. Frosty purrs; Issa talks sweetly. It's the longest I ever see either of them still. It just makes my heart happy.

Mindful Breathing

Because Issa's legs are so long, her ballet teacher is worried about her muscles tightening up as she grows. As Issa has declared dance her "thing," and her teacher believes she has some real natural talent, she recommended that we start stretching more with Issa in order to develop the habit now while she is super bendy and could prevent her legs from tightening up. It has been a great excuse for me to go back to a yoga practice. Each night, the kids and I have started doing a simple practice, and I forgot how much I missed it.

Although it may be difficult to focus on breathing with two little ones, and it's slightly less relaxing with Evan falling out of tree pose every two seconds, it is really good for all of us. I had forgotten how much breathing helps life...and I found myself breathing a lot yesterday. Like when Issa picked up every. single. egg. in the carton to be sure there were no cracks. It was a five minute ordeal. Just breathe.

Or this:

Issa now makes her own lunch start to finish. What should be a two minute warm up of left-overs becomes a fifteen minute preparation with chairs being pulled all over my kitchen. Just breathe. I have a feeling that will get us through a lot in the coming years. Math homework. Just breathe. Another negotiation about what to wear. Just breathe. Girl drama. Just breathe. Maybe I should paint that above my kitchen door.

Just breathe.



Goodbye...Sort Of

This was one whirlwind weekend!

We went next door Friday night to watch the opening ceremonies and have dinner. I was in love with the opening ceremonies, and the kids had a blast playing together again. I love watching Issa play little mama, and poor Evan just doesn't know what to do with himself when another little guy loves smashing dump trucks into things as much as he does. He actually took two dump trucks over to show William, and they are kindred crashing spirits.

Saturday, we had a going away party for a good friend. We are all Olympic junkies, so it basically was 17 people crammed into my family room eating burgers and cheering on the USA. In other words, it was perfection.

Yesterday, the kids and I drove out to pick up some stuff she was trying to get rid of (including a sweeper just in case my melted version doesn't pull through), and she ended up coming back here for dinner. I love saying until next time and discovering it really means tomorrow...and she may be back today for dinner since her refrigerator is officially empty. When she actually flies away on Wednesday I may curl up in a ball.

I woke up this morning to little people wanting to plan their Halloween costumes. This does not bode well for my week. Wish me luck!

Well

Brad is forever telling me, "When you do something, you really do it well." Normally, you would think it's a compliment. Usually, though, it's when he's trying to fix something I broke. It's a talent I have. Fortunately, it's also a talent he has. Last night, he fixed our vacuum:

 We're are still a little unsure of how I did it, but I managed to melt the end of the beater bar a bit. It might have something to do with sucking up a foam cat ball and it getting all kinds of stuck and then ground to shreds. Oops. A flame thrower was involved in the repair. It was a little scary, but it's fixed!

This is how Issa helped:

 She read to Daddy. In case you are wondering, Amelia Bedelia is not really a rocket scientist.

This is how Evan helped:

We're not sure why he covered his ears because of a flame thrower.

Moral of the story: don't sweep up cat toys.

I'm Special

I took Issa and Briana to the library yesterday morning for their last summer reading program. Birdman Dave had come to teach the kids about birds, and I think we all learned a lot. We met a screech owl and a puppet bird that taught us what birds and humans have in common, but the highlight was Belle, the macaw.

Belle demonstrated how strong her beak was, how dexterous her feet were, and how smart she was when she played shadow and talked. Then, Belle took a flight around the room. Before she flew, Birdman Dave explained that in his 15 years of working with Belle she had never landed on anyone, and that we all just needed to sit very still as she made her loop around the room. We were all very quiet and very excited. Birdman Dave told Belle to take a lap, and she came and landed directly on my foot. I'm special. For a moment, I feared for my toes, but she was very gentle and amazingly soft. I have never been so still in my life, and a very shocked Birdman Dave came and retrieved Belle.

I'm hoping for a much less adventurous day of mowing and grading today. We'll see!

Summer Fun...Mostly

Yesterday was a day full of summer...even if I hadn't really planned it that way. Issa and I started our morning by making sweet pickles. We had four pounds of cucumbers to use up, and this seemed like a great plan. Our first solo canning mission was a huge success!

I cut the cucumbers into spears, and Issa cut them in half to fit in the jars:

 She is becoming more and more helpful in the kitchen. She did the sauce mostly on her own:

 I read the recipe, but she did the measuring and stirring. She also put the spears into the jars:

 Something about this shot just makes me blissfully happy:

 We have decided there is something insanely satisfying about the ping of a sealing jar:

 After I cleaned up the canning kitchen, Issa invited Briana over to play. Since it was one million degrees in the middle of  a week day, they decided to set up a lemonade stand. Just as we were talking about how they would "purchase" the supplies from me for their business, I noticed this:

 And then this:

 And then I realized somehow it had eluded me that when I let Viv in she looked more like an Irish setter than a shepherd. So...the girls helped me give her a bath to earn the supplies. There are no pictures. There are no words. Two small, squealing girls, one unhappy dog, and me in one small bathroom trying to rid fur of red clay. I do not recommend it.

But...they earned the supplies and set up shop.

Who wouldn't buy lemonade here? They each made $2, and they thought they were millionaires. That is what I call a day full or summer.

A Milestone

Every once in a while a milestone sneaks up on me. It had the nerve to do it last night. Issa was getting ready for ballet, and I went upstairs to find this:

 Her friend Briana was doing her hair, and Issa decided she would much rather have Briana do her hair than me:

Apparently, I do not know how to do pigtails any more. I have a feeling this is only the beginning...