July 2012

True Story

July 30, 2012

in Keeping it Real

Last night I fed my family a dinner so lacking in nutritional value or substance that it makes the time we had ice cream for dinner look healthy.

I kid you not.

We’ve been burning the candle at both ends round the circus parts the past week… finishing up projects at the old house, organizing the new house, having company, throwing a birthday party…having more company… somehow yesterday it ended up 8pm, the Olympics were on and we’d all been looking forward to watching them… we hadn’t eaten dinner. I had ZERO plans for dinner and so we went down to the basement, sat on the couch and I brought down dinner.

A bag of Doritos

A package of white Oreos

and in an attempt to slightly assuage my guilt, a bowl of grapes.

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Yes, I know, I can just go ahead and toss that notion of ever getting nominated for Mom of the Year out the window…

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My 5 year old

July 24, 2012

in family,growing up

She’s my free spirit.

My morning girl.

My glass half full child. 

She loves to create… always drawing, writing letters or pictures, doodling on any paper she can find. 

She’s very verbal.  When I put her in her room for quiet time, I often think someone has snuck in there with her b/c I hear her talking away—only to discover she’s talking to her self, or reciting things she heard on the radio or TV.

She loves music and will randomly break out in song and sing whatever thought pops into her head. 

She’s my peacemaker. 

She loves to dress up… loves skirts and dresses and color… lots of color.

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She loves to perform. 

She participates in gymnastics and soccer and whatever else she does because she enjoys it, wanting to do well, but I don’t see a competiveness about her.  She loves games- Old Maid and matching are two of her favorites.

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She is self confident.  I’ve heard her say “Well, I just don’t know how to read like so and so even though she is younger than me”  or “Well, I can’t ride my bike down the hill like you can” and she says it very matter of factly.  She is sure of who she is, she knows her limitations and they don’t bother her.  Conversely, when she sets her mind to something, she catches on rather quickly.  She just has to want to do it and she can ride with 2 wheels, stop sucking her fingers, learn to read… all of which she did rather quickly when she decided on her own she wanted to do them.  I guess she is self motivated.  Or works on her own schedule.

She def marches to the beat of her own drum.  IMG_2649

I see so much in her at 5 that I hope I can somehow foster and nurture so that it is there in a more mature form at 15.  I don’t want to squelch her creative spirit by telling her to color in the lines.  I love her self confidence and boldness.  I love that she isn’t afraid to be herself, even if it is different from those around her. 

I also love her dimple and her sweet sing songy voice… please tell me it won’t go away when she turns 5 b/c it is far to precious for her to grow out of it!

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Jack O Lantern Grin

July 23, 2012

in tooth fairy

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The tooth fairy is pulling over time here at the circus… luckily, someone has forgotten to put his teeth under his pillow, so he’s cashing in tonight with all 3 he lost in the last 2 weeks… I love his new Jack-o-Lantern grin…however, I am not so keen on how grown up he’s looking these days.  Though that seems to be a ongoing refrain round these parts. 

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I’ve written before about the crazy places and positions I’ve found my kids sleeping in.  It appears child number 4 is no exception to the random sleeping locations of the circus crew.

Last night, when I went upstairs for bed, I found him asleep in his door way like this.

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Today at nap time, I again went up the stairs to find him out of his room. IMG_5694

It appears he’s taken a preference for sleeping in the hallway/landing area of our home.   Because, really when you want comfort, who doesn’t think Berber carpet?

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I feared however, this would prove a problem when his sister came out of her room before he was ready to wake from his nap, so I moved him back to his bed before it was too late.  Thankfully, my timing was pretty good as he stirred slightly and settled back to sleep. 

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Choo Choo

July 19, 2012

in choo choo,growing up

His favorite thing these days is Choo Choos.  He was so excited at Target the other day when we went down the Thomas aisle.  “Choo Choo right there”  he pointed excitedly, over and over. 

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He always sleeps with at least one choo choo in his hand and is super thrilled with the choo choo mattress sheet his Grandma made for him.  He also LOVES to wear his choo choo shirt, or bathing suit.  And is thrilled with his choo choo book from the library.  He literally jumps up and down if the kids turn Thomas on the tv.  He will point over and over “Look choo-choo!”  “Choo Choo right there!”

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It’s so fun for me to see him enjoy something all his own.  He fell in love with trains on his own right, not because his brother or sisters liked it and it’s really the first thing he’s latched on to like that. 

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I love seeing him grow into a little person with his own likes/dislikes/opinions/passions.

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Years ago Aunt Karen gave our oldest child a Life is Good soccer shirt.  Because the color and theme were gender neutral, I ended up passing it down to my daughter a few years later.   It actually became that perfect shirt for younger siblings to wear to soccer games so she could feel like she was a part of the team too.  By the time my third child wore it, it was worn with shin guards and sometimes even cleats TO WATCH the older 2 practice.  Naturally, I had to hold onto it for child number 4 and he’s now old enough to sport it himself.  It will def be one of those “sentimental clothes” I add to my box of clothing that for some reason or another I just can’t part with. 

August 2008

check out his new wheels

September 2009

(this would be the time we met the Star Wars gang at the Library after a soccer game)

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September 2010

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June 2012photo (16)

Life is indeed good, very good.

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