may 1

"We need glue and paper for a nature art project," Laci said to me this morning through the back screen. 

The girls were outside, gathering leaves and sticks and dirt. Noah and I were inside doing dishes, making breakfast, slurping coffee. Well, at least one of us was. 

My first instinct was to say "No." Unsupervised glue isn't usually the best idea. But I was trying to get a few things done, so I handed over a bottle of Elmer's and two sheets of paper. 

Several times I heard, "Mia is putting glue on her hand!" And, "Mia is putting glue on the ground." And "Don't Mia!" And "It's my turn!" 

Laci came in once for tape when the glue wouldn't hold a large branch. And I went out once with a washcloth to remove glue from Mia's hand. But, for the most part, they worked on their own, even helping each other (when I forced them to).

And they created these:

(The first one is Laci's - neat and organized. The second one is Mia's - a bit less orderly).

And I was, am, a proud momma. 

Even when I had to comb glue out of Mia's hair. 

how to tell a knock knock joke

Laci has entered the age of joke telling.  And, like any four year old, has no idea what really makes a joke funny.

The other day, I hear her instructing Mia on how to tell a knock knock joke.  Mia, ever the admiring little sister, listened to her big sister's directions.

Laci:  Ok Mia, now it's your turn.

Mia:  Knock, knock.

Laci:  Who's there?

Mia:  Papa.

Laci:  Papa who?

Mia:  Papa E!

They break into hysterical laughing for several minutes.  Papa E is what they call Ryan's dad.

And THAT is how you tell a knock, knock joke.

some good things today

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day." 

A friend has this quote on her blog and I have always liked it. It's simple and true. 

Sometimes the good parts of the day are obvious.

I escaped from the sickies today and spent an hour visiting with one of my oldest friends, Jana.

This is her youngest, Millie, meeting my youngest. She's two months older than my boy. He's about as tall as her but she out-cheeks him by a mile.  

Sometimes the good parts aren't so obvious, but with practice, you learn to notice the little things. 

Driving home today, I looked in my rear view mirror to see two silly girls giggling and singing along to the Frozen soundtrack. They think the "In Summer" song is hysterically funny. I don't have a picture but I can see them in my head - smiling, giggling, sharing some sisterly joke about snowmen melting. I couldn't help but smile and feel so very blessed to have them in my life.

These heart-filling moments aren't as rare as they might seem. They are part of every single day. And, this year, I hope to fill this blog with more of those moments. 

Did you find something good in your day?

a sister and cousin outing

A few weeks ago, Kristina and I took the kids to the salmon ladder. Not a super exciting adventure, but it was fun. Laci and Mia ran around like crazies and Harper had fun watching them as usual. I think watching her cousins be crazy is her favorite thing to do. She's taking notes on how to join them in the near future. And already, Harper and Mia are best buddies. Oh, the trouble those two will get into.

The best part for me was to be able to do something fun with my sister. We are very close in age, but haven't always been at the same stages in our lives. There have been different points in our lives when we were very close and did everything together, even sharing the same group of friends in high school for a while. But there have been other times where we've been at completely different places in our lives and had few opportunities to do things together. 

We still aren't in exactly the same place...she works and I don't, so our times together are limited by schedules. But, with little Miss Harper getting bigger, I see that we will be spending much time together again. After all, we can't really keep these two apart.

Oh, and this is the best my kids can give me when I say, "Stand next to your sister and look at me, please." And yes, sometimes I make them match.

give your sister a hug, I say

and this is what I get. 

sister stuff

Hello July!  How rude of you to show up with 106 degrees today and a predicted 111* tomorrow.  Just a week ago, it was raining and I made chicken pot pie for dinner.  What happened?  No sense in trying to understand the weather I suppose.  Instead...

... Look at these beautiful girls.  Sometimes I look at them and I have to believe I've done something good in my life to deserve them.

They are becoming friends, whether they like it or not.

It is for them that I write this blog.  Sometimes I forget that.

But I'm trying to remember.  And I'm hoping that if I keep reminding myself, maybe I'll make a better effort at recording our summer.

And I'll hopefully pick up my camera again and feel good about capturing moments like this, where they aren't biting or pinching or screaming, but instead working together and creating a sisterly bond that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Since today is a Monday, and today is the first of the month, I figured it's a good place to start.

sisters

 

 Just my kids...being kids.  Showing their personalities, which I obviously love.

Ryan and I went to a funeral today for his great aunt.  It wasn't a terribly sad funeral, she had lived a long life and a good life with people she loved and was loved by.  Isn't that all that anyone can ask for?  She died in her sleep, no cancer or illness taking her.  Just age.

I think the person I feel saddest for is Ryan's grandmother, who is now an "only child," so to speak. I overheard her say she will miss her Saturday phone calls with her sister, and it hurts my heart to know how much she will be missing her sister tomorrow morning.

I know that losing your parents is incredibly painful, but it is something you are prepared for in one way or another. Everyone expects that, at some point, your parents will no longer be with you on this earth.  But sisters and brothers?  That's something entirely different.  I don't remember my life before I was a sister and I can't imagine who I would be without being "the oldest."

And, of course, all this thinking about sisters and getting old and dying led me to think about my girls.  How they are slowly becoming friends.  Friends who fight a lot, but friends all the same.  How they will make up little games to play together when they think I'm not paying attention.  How Laci will help her little sister get things she can't reach.  And no, it isn't all sunshine and roses.  Mia has bit Laci more than once in the past few days and Laci consistently takes all the "good" toys from her little sister.  But there are lessons to be learned from the arguments, too, and that's just part of being siblings.  I am so happy they have each other and I hope that I'm setting a good example of how important sisters are in life.

To my sisters:  I'm sure you already know, but I love you both dearly and am so lucky to have you as my closest friends in life.  See you tomorrow.

our early christmas gift

My head is still swirling from Christmas and our kiddos need to detox from too much sugar, too many toys, and not enough sleep.  But, before I get to blogging about our awesome Christmas, I want to share someone who made her appearance a little earlier than planned.  It seems she didn't want to miss out on Christmas, and who could blame her.

Meet my sister's new baby, born December 22 in the early, early morning,

Miss Harper Ann

It was very special to be able to witness little Harper's first cries, which sounded more like a baby cat than a human baby, but we love her just the same.  In fact, Laci may like her more because of it.  Mia loves her as well, just as long as she isn't being held by Grammy or Papa.  Mia is happy to share her momma with her new cousin, but definitely not her grandparents.  Eventually, I know they will be best friends.

My grandma and Harper

And I hope my sister doesn't mind me posting this picture of her, I just think she looks so beautiful.  She is adjusting to new motherhood very well, and I'm so proud of her.

Did you get a special gift this year?

baby shower and motherhood

Kristina's baby shower was a success, and dare I say, even perfect. I never expected perfection, which I suppose is why it was. Perfection has a way of showing up when your expectations are attainable.

 

I love how new babies bring families together and we can eat and be loud and smile until our cheeks hurt. And I'm so, super excited about getting a new niece in a couple of months. A new niece named Harper (someone guessed!).

And never have I been more happy to have a kid playroom in my house than I was during the shower. It looked like a tornado plowed through the room by the end of the day (too bad I didn't get a picture of that), but there wasn't an unhappy kid or baby in the house. And next year, baby Harper can join in on the fun.

 

I tried to think of some advice to give my younger sister about becoming a mom, but I'll be honest, I don't think I have any clue what I'm doing. I don't think anyone really knows what they're doing as a parent all of the time, or even most of the time. And maybe that's the wisdom I can share with her. Parenting is as much a game of guessing and trusting your instincts as it is a science of child behavior (the science part I know nothing about). You just love your kids, do your best for them, and learn to forgive yourself when you screw up. Because you will, and you will feel terrible. But that baby doesn't stop needing you or loving you because you broke down, and you have to pull yourself back together for her.

And if you ever do think you've got something figured out in the ways of motherhood, I can assure you that your baby will instantly grow into a new stage and you will be as lost as you were the day she was born.

Of course, I don't want to make it sound like motherhood is just one failure after another. Because it's not. There are always a few bright, shining moments each day when you feel like a great mother. Things will just click and you'll know how to make the baby stop crying or you'll understand what your toddler is trying to say clearly, and you'll feel like, "Yah, I got this." And it does feel pretty awesome. Awesome enough that you should stop and truly enjoy that moment, because it might not happen again for a while. And because the rest of mothering can be so darn tough, it makes those easy moments that much sweeter.

So, congratulations and good luck dear sister. Your life is about to change like you never expected. And all your expectations and judgments about motherhood are about to be challenged. As with all things in life, you never really know until you've walked in those shoes. So, slip into those motherhood shoes and make your feet comfortable, because they're gonna be there for a long, long time.

the present

Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do. ~Jean de la Bruyere

Today, in the heat of the afternoon, I enjoyed a few moments with my girls.  Grassy feet in the baby pool, Otter Pop juice staining skin and suits, the warmth of the sun after a cool dip in the pool - just to name a few.  And, after the girls were put to bed, I came straight to the computer to upload these pictures.  I didn't want them to sit too long before I looked at them.  So often, I get busy and while I still treasure the pictures, they don't speak to me in the same way as when the day is still fresh in my mind.

There have been many comments in our home this month about how different life looks today than it did a year ago.  On this day last year, the eve of Laci's birthday, we left little Mia at the hospital to celebrate with our big girl.  I'm so very, very grateful to have both our girls in the same place tonight - tucked quietly in their beds in the room next to me.

A year ago, I never could have guessed how much happiness and light our little Mia brings to our family.  She makes these smiley, squishy faces that just radiate joy.  Her anger and sadness are equally extreme, taking the form of wild, screaming tantrums and dramatic wailing when needed.  But her happiness is contagious, her true zest for life, enviable.  When I picture her sick little body laying in a hospital crib, I imagine that huge personality of hers just crying to come out.

A year ago, I never could have guessed how much Laci would change.  She will be three tomorrow and already such an amazing little lady.  So serious and so sensitive, she is a lot like her mother.  She loves big - generous with kisses, hugs, and "I love you's."  She is a good big sister.  These are the things I notice about her when I take the time to actually see her, to listen to what she has to say, to play with her (I have been working on the last one).

But what is so special about both of them, is that today, in that little pool, they just knew they were happy and having fun together.  I'm so glad I was there to see it.