Friday, November 29, 2013

Winter Wedding

Happy Friday Night.  Just sitting down at my computer and my fingers are itching to do some holiday shopping.  But first these pictures from last weekend.  We travelled west to attend my cousin's wedding.  A very fast trip to say hi to family, celebrate with the newlyweds, and wear fancy party dresses.  I'm kinda partial to winter weddings.  Maybe because nearly eight years ago I had one of my own.

    Not sleeping...just waiting patiently for the show to start...


The show began with my beautiful cousin, the bride, and her brother who did awesome at filling some big shoes.  My girls watched the show intently.  Callie kept calling her "The Wedding Girl"  even though I had told her the bride's name numerous times.  But what a stunning and elegant Wedding Girl she was.



And at the end of the show, do the bride and groom live happily ever after?  Absolutely!

      The rest in pictures...






Children sleeping on chairs pushed together is somewhat of a family tradition for us.  It is the surest sign that a good time was had by all.  Especially mom and dad because that meant we didn't have to go home early! Yes, definately a good night celebrating the beginning of the Wedding Girl's next chapter.  


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Fastest Post Ever

Warning: tonight's words are going to be quick, not well thought out, and very random.  Time seems to be slipping through my fingers this week. Tonight Jon took Lexi to dance class and Callie and I had the house to ourselves for about an hour.  She sat on the cupboard and talked to me while I cleaned up the supper dishes.  I looked at her and said, "I think this is the first time we've ever been at home, just the two of us".  We thought about it for a minute and neither of us could ever remember us being at home without little sister. Callie had lots of questions tonight, like, "Why did the choir sing the song Roar at the Bullying Awareness Assembly at school"?  So we rocked out to a little Katy Perry in the kitchen and had an informal lesson on idioms and what it means to "bite your tongue" and the importance of standing up and using your voice.



Callie went on to tell me that they were learning about bullying in her class.  And she went into a whole explanation about power and weaknesses and she said that they had practiced what to do if they ever see someone getting bullied.  Then she confides in me, "you know mom, I would do that stand up thing if I had to. But guess what?  Me and my friend looked all over at recess and we couldn't find anyone that it was happening to!"  I had one of those moments where you look at your child and you just love them so much.

And this morning, Callie traded in Treehouse for HGTV.  A girl after my heart.  Kermit likes Leave it to Bryan too.






And just when I think I couldn't possibly love this girl anymore, she pulls out this performance for me.  It was her first time with this song and  I can literally see her brain power working to read the notes. And in her mama's eyes, it was perfect.


Looking forward to getting ready for Jolly Ole St. Nick around here!  How about you?

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The Difference of a Day

What a difference a day can make.  One day it's a beautiful plus seven and we are trick or treating in little black party shoes and the next we are in full blown winter gear.  Yes, one day is all it takes.





We were ready for winter this year.  Callie had to pick a new snow suit since she's been growing like a weed lately.  If her jacket looks at all familiar that would be because it's her third one.  First it was purple, then it was green and purple, and now its pink.  What can I say, sister knows what she likes.  And what she likes is a jacket with no fur around the hood and no ribbing at the cuffs.  She did really want another toaster suit but they don't make them in her size.  Yep.  growing up.



Little sister inherited the original purple snow suit.  And someday I'll probably look back at these pictures and not remember which girl it is in that suit.  It does just feel like yesterday that Callie was wearing that purple North Face.  Yes, what a difference a day can make.  



And everyday Callie learns something new.  She is full of enthusiasm for school and learning and always has so many questions.  Her dad lovingly calls her George, as in Curious George.  And with November 11th coming up, our George has been learning about great-grandpas, why we wear poppies, war, freedom and peace.  

A soldier gave a speech at the Remembrance Day assembly at school on Friday.  Callie said, "I don't really know what he was talking about, mom.  I was just looking at the pictures on the screen."    Oh, how fortunate we are that our children don't have to truly know what war is first hand.  And yes, this soldier reminded me about how often we take our freedom for granted.  How we can go through our days not worrying about turning on light switches or starting our car.  Thanks to the many soldiers who allow for us to worry about finding the perfect snow suit that feels right and not whether our next step will be on a landmine. And if we truly want to know the difference a day can make we need only say, nine eleven.



The difference of one day for my mama means being another year older.  No one really complains about aging around here.  Its a reason to celebrate being alive, being healthy, and being together.  The girls picked a minion cake for their grandma. Happy Birthday to my mama.



A day can make a big difference.  Today we've been thinking of our good friends.  A day ago they were driving to the city and now they are recovering from a severe accident.  A day is all it takes sometimes to change our perspective and priorities.  To count our blessings and appreciate our freedoms.  Lest we forget.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Trick or Treat

Callie flip-flopped between two costumes this year.  Initially, Vexy from Smurfs 2 was in the lead but when it came down to crunch time, it was Bat Girl who won the right to go trick or treating.  Lexi asked to be a purple magic butterfly. Wings and a wand was all it took to make her happy.  I think she would have looked cute with some sparkly face paint but there just wasn't time.  Halloween is kinda one of those days that we just try to make it through.  Costumes are never comfortable, the school day is long and boisterous and sugar filled, and by the time we hit the streets expectations are low and we walk a careful tightrope.  One missed step and we could be in meltdown city.  

But in the end, the beautiful weather fueled our enthusiasm and helped us to power through the night.



We met up with our friends like we did last year and the year before.  When you use Halloween as your measuring stick for growth, you can't help but notice how everyone is growing up.  We were ditched by some of the older siblings to go treating with their friends blatantly waving their growth and independence in our faces.  My once shy Callie who would hide behind my legs at the doors of people we knew is now running up to doorsteps, budging her way in, calling out trick or treat and then racing down the steps in a hurry to get to the next house.  



Lexi has never had to be shy because she's always had her sister to lead the way.  Her legs ran and her wings flapped as fast as they could to keep up with the big kids.  No matter how many times we'd tell her to slow down, she just couldn't.  She thought this trick or treating thing was a race.



Of course, until she tripped and fell and skinned her hands.  Then she slowed down.  And then mom and dad were cool enough to hang out with again.  Jon carried her and I held onto her scraped up hand and we resumed trick or treating at a more appropriate pace.  



Every morning on our way to school we would drive by this spooky house.  Callie wished that we could live in that house. And  that's where the promise to buy the blow up cat came from.  Thanks to a great friend who was able to make it to the store promptly after Halloween, we are now the proud owners of a ten foot high blow up cat!



The girls can hardly wait till next year!  But for now, two bags full of treats sit on the floor.  One girl could take them or leave them.  The other girl would have a chocolate bar sandwich for breakfast.  Can you guess who's who?  We took down our Halloween decor today and packed it up with the blow up cat and Callie played her  favorite Christmas carol on her little boom box preparing up for things to come.
Keep looking forward and have a great week!