...the newest member of the walking world!
Good things come to those who wait--even 16 months worth of waiting!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friend Island
Some of our friends had the generous (and crazy) idea to invite 3 other families to join them at their beach house for 4 days. And when I say "crazy", I mean that there were 18 of us... 10 of whom were kids! (It's no wonder all of the kids took it upon themselves to rename Fripp Island "Friend Island".)
My expectations going into the trip were low: I would consider it a success if no one got the stomach bug. Shame on me for having such low expectations! Every minute of the trip was incredible. The kids had a blast, entertained each other, and enjoyed a virtual 4-day slumber party! And we grown-ups had the chance to sit back, talk, laugh, and enjoy a time with no schedules, clocks, chores, or work. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and the beach was beautiful. Even an all-nighter in the ER with Jack for a bad case of croup the last night couldn't put a damper on the fun we had. Because hey, at least it wasn't the stomach bug!
My expectations going into the trip were low: I would consider it a success if no one got the stomach bug. Shame on me for having such low expectations! Every minute of the trip was incredible. The kids had a blast, entertained each other, and enjoyed a virtual 4-day slumber party! And we grown-ups had the chance to sit back, talk, laugh, and enjoy a time with no schedules, clocks, chores, or work. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and the beach was beautiful. Even an all-nighter in the ER with Jack for a bad case of croup the last night couldn't put a damper on the fun we had. Because hey, at least it wasn't the stomach bug!
The big kids
And the little ones
Beach Races
Healthy Jack...
...and not-so-healthy Jack
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Rooster Crows
I'm blogging... Chad must be out of town. It seems like that's the only time that I venture into the quietness of my kitchen to sit down and attempt to update our life over here in our corner of the world, to those of you who check in.
Chad is gone for a few days, and right now--at the end of the day--I'm struggling with being the mom I want to be and being the mom I actually am. Summer has, paradoxically, been a mixture of relaxation at a whirlwind speed. With the girls not taking naps anymore, I feel like the days--as lazy as some of our days are-- are nonetheless full. I don't think that I've quite gotten used to being "on" for 12 straight hours. I feel like I can have some really meaningful, quality time with the kids--the girls in particular-- followed by a scolding. In a time frame of 12 hours, this cycle is repeated...repeatedly. Being the worrier that I am, the scoldings sit much heavier on my mind and seem to outweigh the "quality time." I often wonder if it feels the same for the kids or if, because they are kids and kids need to be scolded, reprimands are more of just an expectation of childhood.
I feel like I had one of those days where I was just counting down the hours until bedtime... trying my best to manage, control, deputy, and corral. Nothing bad, nothing sad, just not enjoying the presence of my kids. Now, as they all lie sleeping, I want nothing more than to wake them up and love on them. Notice I said wake them up...I want them to realize and remember that I'm loving on them because I feel like I am lacking in that category, now that the day is done and the tallies are being made in my mind.
I guess that the beauty of motherhood--parenthood-- is that you continue to get chances. The kids will wake up with the same eagerness to attack the day; the same willingness to give me a clean slate; the same loyalty to love me because I am 'Mama'. I pray right now that I can greet tomorrow morning with the same expectations and know that the best medicine for a regret-filled night is simply my spoken "I love you".
Chad is gone for a few days, and right now--at the end of the day--I'm struggling with being the mom I want to be and being the mom I actually am. Summer has, paradoxically, been a mixture of relaxation at a whirlwind speed. With the girls not taking naps anymore, I feel like the days--as lazy as some of our days are-- are nonetheless full. I don't think that I've quite gotten used to being "on" for 12 straight hours. I feel like I can have some really meaningful, quality time with the kids--the girls in particular-- followed by a scolding. In a time frame of 12 hours, this cycle is repeated...repeatedly. Being the worrier that I am, the scoldings sit much heavier on my mind and seem to outweigh the "quality time." I often wonder if it feels the same for the kids or if, because they are kids and kids need to be scolded, reprimands are more of just an expectation of childhood.
I feel like I had one of those days where I was just counting down the hours until bedtime... trying my best to manage, control, deputy, and corral. Nothing bad, nothing sad, just not enjoying the presence of my kids. Now, as they all lie sleeping, I want nothing more than to wake them up and love on them. Notice I said wake them up...I want them to realize and remember that I'm loving on them because I feel like I am lacking in that category, now that the day is done and the tallies are being made in my mind.
I guess that the beauty of motherhood--parenthood-- is that you continue to get chances. The kids will wake up with the same eagerness to attack the day; the same willingness to give me a clean slate; the same loyalty to love me because I am 'Mama'. I pray right now that I can greet tomorrow morning with the same expectations and know that the best medicine for a regret-filled night is simply my spoken "I love you".
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