May

Has brought many wonderful things so far. Warm weather, when one day we are setting up the pool and the next we are putting on jackets, but it has been perfect. The most amazing thing, it cools down at night. Last night when I actually started to freeze because the windows were open I thought in a couple months I am going to be dreaming for this weather to come back!

 The first week of May I finished a quilt for some friends that were getting married and since I had a deadline, the whole house was left unattended and this is what happened while I finished this:

Marcella got put on dinner duty. Since both parents were missing in action...(Jon upstairs working on his Finals and I on the couch quilting) She makes some killer popcorn, Yum!

Claire had something else in mind... any guesses? 

This would have to be one of the times in my life I just rolled with the punches.

I walked into the other room and saw this, and right before I FREAKED Out, I thought well, it isn't that big of a deal is it? I am worried the amazingly wet wet sand will ruin the carpet, so how about we just get a table cloth and let her go at it. At least I will know what she is doing.

When asked, "Claire, what are you doing?"

She replied, "Sand inside, YAY!! FUN!" as she is clapping and cheering.

And...I did it, I ran another half marathon. I did a trail run this time and fell once so I got a little muddy and my brand new shoes... not so pretty any more, but it felt good to finish. Thank yous to my little support team, running with me and cheering me along the way. You guys are the best!

Wow!

2 months since my last post. I bet you all were wondering if I had fallen off the planet. Well, nope I haven't. We have just been a little busy around here. So let me recap everything that has been going on to see if I can pick up where I left off. From the last picture you would expect that Claire would be potty trained. Yea, nope no cigar. She loves to go in her diaper and then go sit on the potty. My only hope is that at least she realizes she has gone... slow progress and I am counting the small miracles. So without further ado here is March in a nut shell.

Grandpa came to visit! Everyone was so excited to have him come. Marcella taught him how to play Castle Crashers and my favorite part was listening to this dialogue. 

Marcella: Grandpa you don't have to keep pushing those buttons.

Grandpa: Well I am trying to get back up. which buttons do I press?

Marcella: no, Grandpa, you are dead! 

We had loads of fun playing at the park, eating yummy food and talking family history. 

This guy was on Spring break so it was fabulous to have him home to spend time with us and Grandpa. 

I on the other hand left half way through and wen to meet my new soon to be sister in-law and hang out with this handsome fella. (oh I wish I could hug you right now!)

Funny that these are the only pictures I have. I really need to take more pictures!

 I flew home with my parents and the next day Jon and I left for the 4C's conference in St. Louis, MO. Can I just say that was the coolest city I have been to in a while. Seriously everything was free or practically free.  We stayed in this sweet Bed and Breakfast which was right next to this sweet quaint park that I could go running at. We also had some amazing ice cream, fabulous pizza (which later we found out it is because they use provolone cheese instead of mozzarella, so it is super creamy when it is melted. It was yummy.) had a fabulous dinner at a fancy restaurant, and just enjoyed not having kids for 4 days. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)

Yes enjoyed it so much that we even went to the zoo without kids. So random, but super fun and Free! I think our next vacation with the kids will be back to St. Louis. 

(a few more pictures for your enjoyment.)

We ended the month hanging out with my parents for a few days after we got back from St. Louis and yes this was the ONLY picture I took. Marcella was so excited to give grandma a pedicure and manicure. She had a blast.  Thank you so much for coming and please come again soon!

The love of a sister

is doing small things to help accomplish the big things.
                                                                    <3 you! 

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Last year, I remember being reminded that it was Dr. Seuss' birthday and quickly planned a fun dinner menu of Green eggs and Ham. (which seriously was hard for me to even eat green eggs and I was the one who dyed them. I knew they were safe....still.) Well now that Marcella is in kindergarten I had fair warning about his birthday and went back and forth on if we were going to do any kind of celebrating. On Wed. Heather kindly informed me that Marcella told her that "We give presents on Dr. Seuss' birthday!" Say what?! seriously? I think she was just trying to pull a fast one over me. So at dinner that night I said Marcella why did you tell Heather we give presents on Dr. Seuss' birthday? Jon kindly piped in "well we did last year." Wow, I must have been out in left field picking daisy's when all of this gift giving took place, because I have NO recollection of any gift giving. Well I felt the need to step it up just a tad and actually come up with a plan, because I was not eating dyed eggs again this year. So I give you our day of Celebrating Dr Seuss.

First up Breakfast:

Seussical Pancakes (or add food coloring to your batter and magic!)

 

 Lunch: 

 Cat in the Hat Skewers (bananas and strawberries)

 Grinich Spinach: Kale Chips (which were a bit hit with Marcella. whonu!)

 Fish: Gold fish Crackers (to go with one fish two fish et.)

 Cubed Ham and Cheese

 For Dessert: Cat in the hat Oreo hats and green eggs and ham (sorry no pictures, but you can see what they looked like here.) 

Guests: Wilson's and Hartwell's. I watched the boys while Heather went on Lori's field trip that day. They had a lot of fun helping me get the treats ready for Lunch.  I wish I would have taken pictures. Dang.

Girlies on one side and

 Boys on the other.

After lunch we made Oobleck. So so fun. I am not sure if the kids had more fun playing with it or if I did. It is just one of those things that your brain can't figure out. Why is it hard one minute and then dripping off your fingers the next? Loved it.

Yes Claire even loved tasting it. Good thing it is just corn starch and water.

Next up reading by Deidra while we cleaned up our kitchen. I also spaced that we made these cookies. side note: they did not turn out anything like that, but they were delicious!

 By the time dinner rolled around I was tired! So some of the things I had planned on doing got crossed out.  All in all here is the menu I was planning:

Dinner: 

Poodles of Noodles: pasta salad

Thing 1 and Thing 2 BBQ: pulled pork sandwiches

Diffendoor Salad: Fruit Salad

Yot in a Pot: Baked Beans

Schlotts Knotts: rolls

Green Eggs: deviled eggs (these not so bad)

Pink Ink: Raspberry Lemonade

Next up: Presents! 

Documented so next year I will remember they:

Each got a Dr. Seuss book. I Highly recommend the MY Book about Me. Marcella has loved it and it asks so many questions that I never would have thought to document. for example: My house has ____ windows and there are ____ forks in my house. Marcella filled out most of it that night and I have had a few laughs reading what she has written. Did you know she can stand on her hands for 1 sec. Her longest walk was 10 miles? She has swam 5 miles and 10 feet? Her longest hair is no inches! WOW, I am learning new things everyday.   They also got a Dr. Seuss memory game.

No Birthday would be complete without some cake! 

Question: What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Mine: What was I scared of?

Wow

As I was closing all my browser windows so I could make myself go do laundry or something useful and productive I laughed and thought well at least I have learned something today. First I learned how to be more efficient in house cleaning, how to save on grocery shopping, how to pack for a 10 day stay in a tiny little carry on bag, how to cook amazing meatballs, and figured out what to do for Dr. Seuss' Birthday tomorrow. Now I just need to apply what I have learned and get to work! What have you learned today?

Today I was day dreaming that

I was kissing this handsome man and we were back in Verbania

               

or even just sitting on the beach of the Cinque Terre. Either one would be heavenly.

What were you dreaming of today?

Today

Jon says that Wednesdays and Thursdays are my DAYS OFF. Yes it is true that I do not have these two cute girls for 3 hours in the morning on those days, but I was thinking about making my list of what I needed to do today and I thought I would share it with you. 

 

This is what I am going to try to get done in exactly 2 hours and 45 min. I will let you know how I did. But I have to ask... what does your day off look like?
ps: after one hour and twenty two minutes I may or may not have decided to stop working on my list... besides I need something to do on my day off tomorrow. 
ps 2: So Claire decided to just throw up last night...then today she was completely fine... so much for my day off. ;)

Oh to be little

   Have you ever had the feeling that as a mother you have been expecting nothing less than perfect from your oldest? I believe this week I have been reminded by Jon more than once that I needed to remember that Marcella is only 6 years old. I have had to step back and relax a little when it takes longer than a second to get a job done. Or continue to ask politely for her to do something even if it has been the millionth time I have asked.

   I watch this little one so eager to learn and explore the world around her and instead of taking time to really listen and help her explore I have been spending more time making sure she always hangs up her coat and backpack when she gets home, cleans up her room, does her jobs, just goes to bed! and on and on.
   The the other day I watched Marcella open her new umbrella and walk out to the bus stop. She reminded me of a miniature business women heading out to conquer the world and I realized that all too soon she would be doing just that. Sooner than I think she will no longer want to curl up in my bed and have me read to her as we snuggle. Soon she will care more about what her friends think than what I do. I am letting precious moments slip away. I need to slow down listen, relax and Laugh.
I am glad I slowly started learning this the other day as I enjoyed overhearing the joy and imaginations of two giggly girls as they were trying to get to Fairyland.

I will try a little harder this week to keep that simple joy and laughter in my home. Thanks for the fabulous reminder little Cella.

You Fill Up My Senses

 Is what Claire was singing at the top of her lungs last night. I loved hearing her little voice as you can only really make out the last word of each sentence. Watching as she would get louder and throw her head back to really scream (like a mountain in spring time!) and then tuck in her chin and look at the ground for the soft effect. (a sleepy blue ocean) She knows when to be loud and when to be soft. It actually is one of the first songs she would sing the whole song through. Good old John Denver.

   As I watched her I knew I had to capture this moment. I understand that raising kids is tough. A lot of times it is not a picnic and really far from it. Lately I have been trying to put my feelings down about how raising a child with a disability is just .... and that is where I get stuck. It is just what exactly, that isn't just like raising a "normal" child. Then last night as Claire was singing at the top of her lungs while hiding out in the pantry doing what she does best... whatever I tell her not to do... I thought of a way I might be able to explain a small thought of what it is like for me.

Claire you fill up MY sense of

Joy with your adorable eyes that turn into rainbows when you really smile.

Happiness with the way you say "ughs!" (hugs)

Frustration when I realize I have no way of knowing if you really understand.

Urgency and worry when I realize you are no where in sight and I have no clue where you have run off to.

Relief when the neighbor down the street has saved you from getting hit by a car.

Sadness for the things you won't get in this life

Amazement at all you have overcome and accomplished in your short 3 years

Compassion.

Love.

Life.

Little Claire

 A few weeks ago, Claire and I were playing a game. As we played I had an a-ha moment where I realized she is so grown up. I found myself wishing I could just freeze this moment and keep it in my memory. I wanted to remember how excited she was when it was her turn again.

 I wanted to remember how little her hands are and how much I love it when we hold hands. So soft and little.

 I wanted to keep telling myself, LOOK! She has learned how to play a game, an actual game where you have to take turns and follow directions. She does something daily that is exceeding my expectations (good or bad) of what I thought she would be able to do. 

I love that she is talking more and more everyday. I love her little sentences as she would turn over a card and say, "oh what is it?" and then 8 times out of 10 say what was on the card. I love that she will tell me knock knock jokes and laughs and says"that so funny" I love her "ughs" (hugs) and "isses" (kisses).  The way she dances and screams "WELLA, WELLA ide, ide." (Cella, Cella slide) even if Cella is right next to her and continues until she slides with her. oh my little Claire, I sure love everything about you, thank you for letting me capture these moments with you.

How do you Nap?

 Claire has it down to steps. It goes as follows:

Take everything off your bed. Including but not limited to your blankets and sheets.

Move any large object in your room that will enable you to turn on all your lights and the ceiling fan to make your already freezing room completely frozen. oh ya and remove pants and diaper. (everyone knows it is better to sleep naked?!)

Take your favorite pillow and blanket and position your face up against the hinge side of the door, so you can 1. shove things under the said door while you are starting to fall asleep and 2. make it so no one can enter.

Love you Claire-dee-Bear-dee!

I got it. I sat and waited the minutes it took for Marcella to give me the look I wanted. I captured her shy, oh you caught me and extremely happy face and I couldn't be more elated. And after I got it, I went downstairs to thank Jon again for buying me a new lens for my Birthday/Christmas.

Marcella has always been (fill in her age) going on 16. She loves to be right in the middle of whatever we are doing and doing it right along side us. She is a night owl who at 18 months proved to Grandma that she would be able to stay up until someone put her to bed. (we finally drew the line @ 2 am.)

She has so many teenage attributes now that I hope when she is actually a teenager she will have outgrown all the bad ones and be heavenly. She would sleep in until 10:00 every morning if we let her.  On school days she always protests, saying "Can I please just stay home from school today? Please?"

She loves learning and always has a book or two she's reading. She tells me all sorts of amazing facts, like, "Did you know that some frogs not only eat insects, but eat other frogs?" or "Did you know that sharks are always growing new teeth? They use up more than 10,000 teeth in their lifetime." or "The Trap-Jaw ant can snap her jaw shut at the speed of 145 mph. That is fast." She loves to sew and is always asking when she'll get her own sewing machine.

But beyond all this, she has followed in her dad's footsteps and loves playing computer games. When it's my turn to host craft night, Jon and Marcella are usually both upstairs playing some game together. So you can imagine the pure joy she displayed when Jon surprised her with her very own steam account.  She is now officially a PC gamer and our house is filled with lots of talk about Terraria, Minecraft, Farm Frenzy, and most recently some racing games. (I know super hard core right?)

All of this finally brings me to that perfect picture. Jon had set up a time to play Terraria with his brothers, and of course Marcella wasn't going to miss out. Jon set it up so Marcella could chat with them while playing using some old headphones and the speaker on his laptop (since at the moment we only have one headset. geez.) And here she is in all of her adorable excited six year old glory playing games with the people she loves.


Love you to pieces Cella Bella!