The power of words...and sisters

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

I'm sure we've all heard that saying, but when you think about it, just how true is it?  I know words have the ability to hurt me.  Anyone who says otherwise isn't being truthful.  Maybe words from strangers can roll off your back a little easier, but what about when someone you love says something hurtful to you?  Most of the time, we don't even think about how our words will affect others.  We say things without thinking of the consequences or we say things not realizing their true meaning.

A few weeks ago Calli and Serena were playing in the living room and Calli was getting frustrated with her sister.  I heard her blurt out "I hate you!"  When I asked her to repeat what she had said, she became embarrassed and didn't want to tell me because she knew it was a horrible thing to say.  We had a talk about how hurtful her words were.  I asked her if she REALLY meant it, if she really hated her sister and she told me that no, she did not.  I told her it was fine to be angry and sometimes we get mad at people, but that does not mean we hate them.  Hate is such a strong word.  I don't know that even adults can properly grasp it's meaning, let along a kid, but we go around saying it like it means nothing.  "I hate vegetables" "I hate the rain" I hate this, I hate that.  One of my pet peeves is when someone says that they "hate" so and so.  They hate this celebrity or that singer or the president or someone else that they've never met.  Really?  How can you actually hate someone you don't even know?  Disagreeing with their views or the way they live their lives is fine, but hating them?  That's a bit excessive.

Another of my pet peeves is hearing the word "retard" used in every day vocabulary.  If I'm being honest, I used to use that word as well and I would venture to say that most have used it in a derogatory way at some point in their life.  It is such an awful word and I cringe having to even type it on the keyboard.  It is so offensive to anyone whose life is touched by a person who is mentally challenged.  It should be offensive to everyone, but for some reason we've adapted it into our language and use it to offend others.  When I hear that word come out of someone's mouth I automatically judge them.  I'm sorry, I do.  I think using it makes you sound like an uneducated, uncaring human being.  If you can't find another word to use then that's pretty sad.  I can kind of understand that if you don't have anyone with disabilities in your life, it's easy to think that it's just another word.  But how quickly YOUR life can change and you can become the parent, the grandparent, the sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher, coach, godparent, etc etc. of a child with a disability.  Would you toss that word around so casually then?

Words can be distorted in translation and gossip can be a hurtful thing.  I've recently been a victim of words being exagerrated in their telling to others and it's frustrating.  "Well yes, I sort of said that, but not in those words and this is how I really meant it."  Once something is put out there, it's really hard to take back or even explain.  "Choose your words carefully" or "think before speaking" are some great cliches.

I'm not perfect.  I am sure there are words I use in my vocabulary that others could consider hurtful and it is never my intent to hurt.  I know I use words in a mean way when I'm upset, I have lied before, I've said things I wished I could take back.  I get frustrated when I hear others mangling the English language or not using proper grammar.  Yes, my family will call me the "English teacher" or the "grammar police" because I am constantly correcting them.  I just believe that if you express yourself with proper words and sentence structure you will be taken so much more seriously in life.

As for Calli and Serena: well, they are sisters and I am sure I am in for lots more "hateful" moments.  Before long they will be teenagers sharing a bathroom!  I know that underneath all the bickering and teasing they really do love each other and someday they will also grow to like each other.  I hope they will count each other among their best friends when they are adults and will be there for each other as needed.  I know I don't talk to my sister as much as I want, but all the texting, facebooking and IMing does add up.  I know when I truly need her she's there.  She's the first person I called two years ago when I was pregnant with Jameson and my Down syndrome test came back positive.  She's the one to whom I can say "oh my gosh, can you believe that Mom and Dad did this??"  We can go for awhile without talking, but then pick up the phone and have an hour conversation about everything and nothing (I think we might be due for one of those).  It'll be harder when she moves to the other side of the world in a few months, but I'm sure we'll still manage to be there for each other.  And someday we'll live close to each other again and pick up where we left off: at the mall.  Yes, I have no doubt that Serena and Calli will be just fine someday!

Finding my motivation to run

Running has been so hard for me lately.  I want to keep with it, I want to be a "runner" but it's been so discouraging lately.  Some days I have zero motivation to get out there, but I know those cookies I ate or that bowl of ice cream is just sitting in my belly waiting to be burned off.

But I really have figured it out; why no one runs here, that is.  The last two nights it has been cooler than usual.  It is still 85 degrees out, but there has been cloud cover and it is just not as sweltering as it usually is.  Let me tell you, this has made a HUGE difference.  I have had runs lately where I struggled to get to three miles.  I have been going to the gym more and getting on the treadmill because, while the treadmill isn't ideal, it is easier to be in an air conditioned room than outside.  So I've been able to do about four miles per run, but it isn't my ideal way.  But I finally get it.  I took up running in November when the temperatures were much cooler.  I thank God that I chose that time of year to get into the sport because I would have died if I picked it up now.  I am so thankful that all of my training for the half was in the winter months and that my race was in April, when it was still fairly cool and NOT HUMID.  Running here is like torture and it's supposed to be enjoyable if it's something you choose to continue to do right?!

Monday evening I had to cancel my run thanks to thunderstorms so I was determined to go on Tuesday.  We had soccer practice at 7pm and dark clouds, but I really wanted to be able to at least do some exercise.  By the time I ran out the door it was after 8pm and the rain was threatening.  I made it four pretty easy miles thanks to the cool weather and got in after dark for the first time since my winter half marathon training days.  Toward the end I noticed a lightning storm to the west.  If that's not a clue to cut your run short (I was hoping for five miles) then I don't know what is!

Yesterday I decided to start a training program for my upcoming five mile race.  I've found that putting myself on a schedule really helps me stay motivated, no matter if the race distance is short.  I always still end up skipping days or changing it around, but for the most part I stick to it.  Last night I had a thirty minute tempo run and was grateful for the cooler temperatures.  I managed to finish just over three miles in the thirty minutes, holding a 9:30 pace for most of the run.  I spent half a mile going up a hill, which killed my average time.  It has been so long since I've completed a three mile run in under thirty minutes: I've been averaging 32-34 minutes and just being happy with being out there and running instead of focusing on my time.

I've really been trying to focus on my breathing lately and making sure it is slow and even and that has actually been helping.  I am due (overdue) to get more running shoes and I'm excited to go and pick some out.  I am not sure if I will stick with the same ones I have now or try something new.  I plan to have a gait analysis and if they recommend different shoes then I am open to new ideas.  If nothing else really strikes my fancy, I will stick with my Nikes; I have been pretty happy with them and I love Nike and love the look of these too (the toes are rounded, where most running shoes are pointy toed and funny looking).  Shoes are a big thing.  I would love to have the desire and drive to try barefoot running, but I just don't think I can.  Running injuries start with the shoes and the best thing you can do for your body is to lose them.  I just don't want to run my body into the ground and cause problems for myself later in life, but barefoot running...I just don't know!

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the cooler weather BIG TIME.  Unfortunately I've got awhile to wait and I'll just suck it up until then.  I'm slightly encouraged now though because I may think of training for that second half marathon.  Over the winter of course...

Loving the Library

I think that libraries are so fantastically amazing.  There is something special about stepping through the doors and being surrounded by thousands of books, any of which you can choose to take home for free and read.  (I also love bookstores for similar reasons, but there is the added cost of actually buying a book.  And once a book is bought, how many times do you actually read it?  For me, it's once.  So I pay at least $10 to read a book once that I could check out free from the library.  I have to admit though, it is fun getting a shiny, new book that you are first to open and read.)

Most libraries feature storytimes for young kids.  We live in between two libraries so I'm able to check out the goings on at both of them.  One has a playground across the street and that made it fun to go to the library and then picnic at the park.  It has been so incredibly hot the last few months though that that's been impossible.  Some of the libraries do special reading programs and fun activities during the summer break from school.  When I just had two kids, I loved going to the library for storytime.  It was easy and fun, but now with three it's just exhausting.  When I was pregnant with Jameson we were going to storytimes weekly because it was something fun and free to do.  I have been slacking lately taking the kids.

Last week we went to the library because I wanted to check out a Ramona book.  I saw that the movie Ramona and Beezus was coming out so that inspired me to rediscover this series of books that I loved as a kid.  I remember devouring them all because I so loved to read.  I want to instill this same love of reading in my children because I think it is very important.  So far they all love to read books.  I thought Calli might be old enough to listen to a Ramona book.  It is a chapter book, but a short one with a few pictures here and there.  When we checked out Ramona the Pest and sat down to read it, I wasn't sure it was holding her attention very well, but when I reached the end of the first chapter she told me "keep going" so I did.  We finished the book in two days where I thought it would take a week to get through.  I loved reading it with her because of course it's been so long that I can't remember exactly what happened in the books.  This one was about Ramona going off to kindergarten, so it was perfect I figured.  Now this week I am backtracking and reading Beezus and Ramona, which I should have started with.  My hope is that I will get her familiar with the books and be able to take her on a Mommy/Daughter date to the movie.

Anyhow, last week at the library they were setting up for a special event called "Storytime Train".  I would have loved to stay, but I didn't know about it and we had already been at the library awhile and it wasn't starting for another fifteen minutes.  So when I got home I looked it up and wouldn't you know; it goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is ending this week.  So we decided to check it out today.  It started with a puppet show and then there were four stations that the kids worked their way through.  One had them making puppets, another had them making hats and the last two were games to play.  Then they gave out cookies and juice and we had a picnic in the library.  They did raffles to win books and at the very end the Scholastic bus showed up outside where they were giving away FREE BOOKS.  We were lucky and got in line quickly and were some of the first on the bus.  It turned out that it was filled with activities and games and if we had been stuck waiting in line, who knows how long it would have taken.  I went through quickly, as I was losing my mind a little by that point (Jameson requires constant attention; thank you my darling boy for pilfering my keys from my diaper bag and leaving them on the ground without my noticing so one of the librarians would eventually hold them up in front of everyone and ask if they belonged to anyone).  Each of the kids got a free book: Jameson got a board book, Serena a Clifford book and Calli got a book called "Off to Kindergarten".  It couldn't have been more perfect.

I was happy to discover this event at the library and wish I had the patience to be able to take the kids again on Thursday, but I think I've had my fill of it for the week.

Here are the kids with their new books:

Where a kid can be a kid...

Today we took a trip to one of our favorite places: Chuck E. Cheese!  The kids love it because, well it's CHUCK E. CHEESE.  And I love it because they really have the best salad bar.  I'm serious, it's crazy good.

Anyhow, Calli's friend from preschool had a birthday party there today so I took all three kids and went to Chuck E. Cheese (from here on out referred to as CEC) by myself.  This is the first time I've done this since Jameson started walking and let me tell you, it was not easy.  I'm realizing that life is a little tougher since the little man has become mobile, but not quite old enough to be self sufficient.  Taking two to CEC was a piece of cake.  Calli is plenty old enough to run around on her own.  I give her 1-2 tokens at a time so she is constantly having to come back and check in if she wants more.  Even Serena I let roam on her own, though she tends to cling to me most of the time.  But Jameson needs to constantly be followed around.  He is definitely not content to sit in his stroller, he wants to be part of the action of such a fun place!  He watches all the other kids playing their games and even tries to join in (the basketball game is not safe with Jameson around trying to steal the balls!).  The air hockey table is also just his height to grab the paddles (or whatever those air hockey things are called, I am drawing a blank).  He enjoys playing in the toddler area and going down the slide, but it only holds his attention for so long before he wants to wander around the rest of the building again.  So I've finally come to the point where I have three kids running in three different directions and I will admit it is overwhelming!

I did manage to get Jameson to sit at the table for about an hour to eat lunch and do birthday festivities.  Usually as long as he has food in front of him he is happy.  He is turning into quite a handful I must say.  For Calli's birthday, I almost didn't ask Richard to come.  Stupid me!  I wasn't thinking how difficult it would be to have to deal with three kids and a birthday party!  Needless to say, when I changed my mind about wanting him there the night before, it was the best decision I could have made.  He chased Jameson around and played with Serena while I dealt with the birthday girl and guests.  And speaking of CEC, here are some pictures from Calli's birthday there that I never posted.  Enjoy!

The birthday girl on her birthday at CEC

The birthday table

Calli and my, I mean her cake.  I miss this cake.  We had good cake today, although not homemade.  I must say, if you are going to get a cake, Sam's Club does a much better job than HEB (their cakes are so dry).  It was actually really good and I'm pretty picky about store bought cakes!

Calli and Chuck!  See the empty seat on the bottom?  That held Serena, who promptly burst into tears and got out of there as fast as she could when that oversized mouse appeared.

Just look at the way she is waving to her adoring fans in this first picture.  She is eating it up.  She loves being the center of attention!

Calli has also decided she wants to have her next five birthdays at CEC.  Hey, that might not be such a bad idea!

The Shirt Says it All...

Who can resist those big blue eyes and sweet smile?

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's...a Ghost?

I first noticed them during my mom's visit back in June.

And today they have made their reappearance.

This little one even roars.  Have you ever met a ghost who roared?  Hmm.

The best part is after the ghosts are finished hiding under the blankets and I have to brush all the knots out of their hair.  Fun times.

Six Flags

We got season passes to Six Flags this year instead of Sea World.  We have been twice and I don't have the best reviews of it.  It's not very clean, customer service is SO SLOW with EVERYTHING.  It is ridiculous.  I could write a whole novel about that.  Most employees I've come across are rude and unfriendly.  But it is something to do on the weekends and if you go once, you might as well get a season pass because it's almost the same price.  I guess I just get bored of these theme parks too.  I WANT TO GO TO DISNEYLAND.  Sorry.  That just slipped in there.  Anyway, I got bored of Sea World after having passes there the last two years and so we thought we might try something new this year.  I wasn't very impressed with Six Flags, especially not the part where I walked in the park, had to go to the bathroom and found out the restrooms were marked ONLY in Spanish, forcing me to look at the gender of the people entering each restroom to figure out where to go.  Yeah, that did not make me a happy camper.  And what FAMILY theme park allows SMOKING in designated areas?  Six Flags Fiesta Texas, that's who.  Obviously there's no invisible wall keeping the smoke from traveling and one area is actually IN Wiggles World, a kids place!  Not to mention people just walk around with cigarettes anyway.

Six Flags has a water park and a Wiggles World with rides for little kids, so it's pretty comparable to Sea World.  Just not as clean and not as close to our house and no animals.  But like I said, it's something to do.  We spend most of the time in the water park though because it's too hot to be out in the sun all day walking around.  The only problem is the water is warm so that doesn't really cool you off anyway.  Serena had fun this last weekend playing in the water.  She went in up to her neck and loved it.  She sure has changed!  Jameson didn't want much to do with the water, especially after I tried to make him wear a life vest.  Calli of course wanted to go down all the little slides and get water dumped on her head because she is my fish.

This was on our first trip to Six Flags when my dad was visiting.  Here is Calli with Looney Tunes characters.

Calli and Serena waiting for the kiddie ferris wheel.  I already knew not to ride this because it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R, but by the time I got to my dad and the girls they were already boarding it.  It is so boring because it constantly stops to let people on and off and seriously takes about twenty minutes.  I think they learned their lesson and we always skip it.

Riding the train that they wouldn't let Jameson on because he wasn't walking proficiently yet.  And they were kind of rude about it.  Oh and they wouldn't let Serena ride up front with Calli, she had to be with me.

Family photo in front of a waterfall

Strawberry ride!

And these photos are from our trip to the park last weekend.  Here's Calli, Jameson and me with Scooby.  I didn't even ask Serena because I knew.

My boys sweating it out

Roller coaster!  I took Serena on and she was not a fan.

The most boring car ride EVER.  It was so slow and we were sitting in the sun the whole time.  It was a little miserable, but at least Jameson could go on and had fun.

Bumper cars!  Calli and I kicked butt.  I hit my knee on the steering wheel during when we were coming to a stop at the end though and have a nasty bruise.  I didn't think I hit that hard!

Homesick

Lately I have been really homesick.  Time is dragging, yet it's flying by at the same time.  How is that even possible?  Family and friends come to visit us and while I love seeing everyone, visits just mean saying goodbye and I dread that.  Reunions are so great, but every time I drive to the airport I can't help focusing on the drive I will make back to the airport to drop the person off.  Both my mom and dad have come out for visits lately and seeing them is great, but each time we part I feel so sad.  Families are so spread out in this day and age and it makes me sad.  Growing up, I had nearly all my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins closeby.  I wanted my kids to grow up the same way, knowing everyone by more than just a picture on the refrigerator and a voice on the phone.  When it comes down to it, family is all you have and family is what matters.  A big fancy house and pretty things don't matter if there's no one around to enjoy them with.  At the end of my life I want to look back and be satisfied.  I want to know that I spent all the time I wanted to spend with all the people I love.  I want my kids to see me making an effort to live close to loved ones so maybe in turn someday they will choose to live close to me.  The thought of my kids growing up and moving to the other side of the country (or worse, the world) terrifies me.  I don't know how some parents do it.  Calli has already promised to live next door to us when she moves out and I plan to coerce similar agreements from Serena and Jameson when they are of age.

Seriously though: what is more important than spending all the time you can with people you love?  I want this for my kids and selfishly, for me.  I want to bring my kids into my mom's store each week to get a cookie, like I did when I was younger.  I want my dad to coach Calli's soccer team.  I want to have Sunday bbqs with family, take day trips to the city, to the snow, to whereever.  I want the comfort of knowing that we're not all alone.  That someone is there, should we need help or a babysitter so we could actually have a date on our anniversary.  I want to show my kids the high school that their Daddy and I graduated from.  I want to show them my childhood home and all my old stomping grounds.  Of course I want them to have their own memories and traditions, but I want to share ours too and I want them to experience the things that we did.

Besides that, this California girl misses her home.  I think people will always take pride in their hometown and I know I do.  Living away for seven years has opened my eyes to the world around me.  I am glad that I have had the chance to experience new ideas and customs.  I have met people from all different states and countries and I know my geography a little better than I did in high school ;).  But, as Dorothy from my absolute favorite movie of all time says, "there's no place like home" and I've really been feeling this.  I know, I know: home is where you make it.  I have my family with me, we have a roof over our heads and we are truly blessed.  But I'm ready to click my heels now and get me the heck out of Oz and back over that rainbow where the grass is always greener...

My Dad on his visit in May

Grandma Molly painting Easter eggs with Calli

Grandma Keri and the kids

Me and Mom enjoying some margaritas

Grandpa Bob with Serena and Jameson searching for Easter eggs

Mom and me on her birthday...I am sure she will kill me for posting this pic, but I love it.

And finally, my wonderful family.  I know everyone thinks this about their kids, but seriously, we made some beautiful babies.  I can't tell you how many times I get complimented on my beautiful family and nothing could make me prouder.

If I left your picture out, I'm sorry.  It probably just means I don't have a recent one.  We love and miss everyone.

Christmas in July?

I think the girls are a little confused on which season it is.  We don't keep it super cold in the house, but it's much better than the temp outside so maybe they thought inside=winter?  Who knows.

BFF

That stands for Best Friends Forever, in case you are not hip on the lingo nowadays.  The BFFs I am referring to are none other than Calli and Serena.  Yes, you read that right.  They love each other, they really love each other!

In all seriousness, they have been getting along so well for the last few weeks.  I know I am jinxing it, but it melts my heart to see.  Serena is growing up and as she's able to communicate more and more I see that her relationship with her sister is improving.  Calli enjoys playing with her now because they are finally on the same level and love doing the same things.  As I type they are both painting in their paint books at the table.  Anytime they do anything at the table, Serena proclaims "I'm next to Calli!"  She is devestated if you tell her she cannot sit next to her big sister, so this pretty much isn't an option.  We have rearranged our dinner table so Richard and I are sitting next to each other and the girls can be together.  This was pretty challenging at first and still isn't the best option; they need help serving their food, cutting things up and getting refills and meanwhile Richard and I are constantly bumping elbows (I can't wait until we can have a bigger dining table!).  In the morning the girls sit together at the bar and eat their cereal.  I am actually really surprised that Serena hasn't requested to sit next to Calli in the car, but there I go jinxing things again.

Now that my girls are finally playing nice together it's sad that Calli is getting ready to go off to school in a month.  I know Serena is really going to miss her sister.  I am glad that they had these two and a half years to bond together at home, but their time together is going to be cut significantly short.  Calli's days will be filled with school and homework at night with not much time for her sister.  Of course Serena has Jameson, but it's just not the same.  She'll play with her dolls while he'll have his Tonka trucks and I'm sure they'll interact, but let's be real: as he gets older he's not going to want to play Barbies and dress up all day long.  Plus I'm sorry, but there is just a special and unique bond between sisters (every girl should have one!) and it's been really fun to watch this coming out between my girls recently.  I remember being pregnant with Serena and not knowing whether she was a boy or a girl.  I would have people ask me all the time and then inquire if I wanted a boy since I already had a girl.  And sure, a boy would have been nice, but NO.  Honestly I wanted a sister for Calli and was estatic to have another little girl.

The girls have been spending more time together in our house so maybe that's why they've been getting on so well; they really have no choice!  Summers here are so hard; when you wake up in the morning it is already 85 degrees out and by noon the heat index is at 100.  Every. Day. From May to September. (April to October if we're really unlucky!).  Needless to say, we can't go to the park or do any other outdoor activities.  The pool isn't an option because I am sorely outnumbered with only one who can swim on her own with a life jacket.  So I am stuck doing the same things over and over again; going to the indoor mall with the play area and going to a play place.  But now that I have three kids I have to pay for at the play place, it gets expensive.  So we're stuck at home most days or maybe go to a friend's house once a week.  That hasn't happened much lately because I quit my playgroup amid some drama going on and have distanced myself from some people.  My very close friend just had a baby last week so playdates with her will be few for a short time.  I did get to visit her in the hospital (the same one that I had Serena and Jameson at.  Walking through the doors that I walked through every day for nearly two weeks to visit Jameson in the NICU made my heart catch in my throat and memories come flooding back).  Her little boy is so adorable and so LITTLE.  You truly forget how small newborns are until you see one, especially when you have older kids.  She stopped by yesterday and seeing her brand new son next to my one year made me realize how fast mine have grown.  I perhaps had a tiny touch of baby fever...time for Baby #4?  I know what you all are screaming at your computer screen right about now, Richard included.

It's so bittersweet seeing your kids grow up and I feel like mine have been doing that in leaps and bounds lately.  Calli is about to go off to kindergarten next month, how did that happen?  I have started reading her the Ramona books in anticipation of the movie coming out.  I used to absolutely love these books as a kid and I wanted to share them with her.  They are short chapter books and I wondered if they would hold her attention, but every time I reached the end of a chapter she would say "more!".  We finished the first book in two days!  I am waiting on the library to have the next one in.  I am sure with the new movie everyone is checking these books out.

Serena is growing up way too fast also.  She has just been so cute lately, when she hasn't been frustrating that is.  Last Friday evening while I was at the salon getting my hair done Richard had all three kids.  I am so sad that I missed this big event and I didn't even believe Richard when he first told me what happened the next morning!  Apparently Serena said that she didn't need her paci and she wanted to throw it in the garbage because she was a big girl now!  So off they went to the trash to toss out her paci and she slept all night just fine.  I was very worried that throwing it in the garbage was a bit too final because what if she did need it the next night?  Now it has been nearly a week and she has slept just fine without it and only asked about it once or twice.  I am still in shock that she decided to get rid of it all on her own!  Calli has also taken it upon herself to potty train her sister.  One day last week they found an old bag of pull-ups (left over from Calli, I was saving them for Serena) and came downstairs with Serena in one.  Calli announced that Serena was going to go to the potty so they went into the bathroom and Calli sat with her while she sat on the toilet.  After that, every 15-20 minutes Calli would tell Serena it was time to go potty and Serena would follow her into the bathroom and try to go.  She never actually did go, but she really likes wearing pull-ups and I think she likes feeling like a big girl.  I am definitely not pushing her, but at least she is interested in it.  Do you know how many diapers I change a day between her and Jameson??

And my baby Jameson, who is no longer a baby at all but a full blown toddler.  He walks everywhere and can finally get up off the floor by himself without having to crawl over to something to pull himself up on.  He says "uh-oh" and gives really sloppy and drooly kisses, but they are so sweet and I love them!  He comes at you with his mouth completely open, ready for a kiss.  I love it!  He's almost always got a big smile on his face, especially when he is into mischief, which is a lot.  He gets into EVERYTHING.  Having a boy is so much different from how my girls were.  Jameson explores anything and everything; nothing is off limits so I have to make sure that everything is completely baby proof.  He gets into cabinets and drawers, turns the TV on and off, unplugs electrical wires and will enter any room that has the door left open.  He'll crawl up the stairs faster than you can catch him if you leave the gate off.  And I don't even have any toys in the house with small pieces: it's so much easier that way!  This kid sure does keep me on my toes and most days I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to raising him, but I sure do love him.

My days can be long and trying, difficult and tiring...but I look at their smiling faces and know it is all worth it!

Hippity Hoppers!

Dancing Queens

So I signed the girls up for dance classes this summer.  Chrissy's is having a "summer camp" and it's four sessions during the month of July.  It just happened to work out that there was a Pre I and Pre III class back to back on Wednesday night.  So I only have to go once a week and it's late enough (Serena's class starts at 5pm) that Richard will be home from work and able to stay with Jameson so I don't have to drag him there for two hours.  One hour in the lobby with him was enough when it was just Calli's class!  I swear, that was the longest hour of my life waiting in that lobby for Calli to finish class.  Anyhow, I also know that Serena will need me during her class and there's no way I can watch her and him at the same time.

Yesterday was the first class for both of the girls.  Calli was very excited because she would have one of her little friends from preschool in her class this time.  Serena said she was excited earlier in the day, but I knew that meant very little.  I kept trying to talk up dance class and get her excited.  She really enjoys dancing at home and Calli sometimes teaches her some of the moves she learns in her class.  So yesterday she was in a good mood early in the day, but I didn't want to take any chances of her being tired and cranky when it was time for dance class.  She had stayed up late the night before, with it being 4th of July and hadn't had a nap so I knew she was still trying to catch up on that sleep.  She took a four hour nap yesterday and woke up in a pretty good mood, but wasn't quite as excited about dance as she had been before the nap.  I got her dressed and she told me she didn't like it and tried to take off her clothes and shoes.  After having them on for a bit she got used to it though.

So off we went to dance class.  Serena has the same teacher that Calli has had for the last two years so it was nice that she was already familiar with our family and knew Serena's name.  When it was time to go in the room, of course Serena didn't want to go so I carried her in.  There were eight other little girls in her class, some were excited, some were shy.  The parents all got to stay in the room with their kids this time, but next week we will try and be phased out, which I already know is not going to go so well for us.

Serena just stood the whole time and didn't want to dance at all.  At least I got her to move to whereever the other little girls were and sit down or stand up, etc.  After about ten minutes I had Calli sit with her and try to engage her while I backed off.  I thought if I could get her away from being dependent on me, that would be good.  She did great having Calli by her side; she still didn't dance, but she wasn't crying or upset.  Lots of stickers were given, which confused Serena at first.  When the teacher went to give Serena her second sticker, Serena told her she already had one!  It was pretty cute.  I ended up telling her teacher that Serena is the "anti-Calli" and that I hoped she hadn't expected her to be anything like her sister!  I also warned her that I didn't think I would be able to "phase out" of the room like the other parents.  I am going to have Calli hang with her for the classes while I sit in the room and watch from the sidelines.  At the very least, this is exposing Serena to a social situation, which had to come at some point.  She is painfully shy and it's hard for me to see her so scared of putting herself out there.  While I can relate to how she feels, things are much different with her than with Calli.

Being in that Pre I classroom brought back memories of Calli's first dance class three years ago when she was just two-years-old.  She had four girls total in her class and had never been in any kind of class or structured environment like this.  I remember all the other moms leaving right away and their kids being fine with it, but not my little girl who was used to staying at home with Mommy all day.  She clung to me for the first few minutes, until her wonderful teacher asked the class if they wanted to be princesses.  She then turned to Calli and asked her and that was all it took.  Calli fled to the other girls excitedly and never looked back at me for the rest of the class or any after that.  She has really enjoyed her time as a dancer and is very good at it too.  She has done so well at all three of her recitals: even as a two-year-old she was up on that stage following the teacher's lead from the wings and doing all the moves she was supposed to.  I hope Serena can also find happiness in dance someday, but I know things just take more time with her.

Here are my little Dancing Queens all ready to go to their classes!

Serena being Serena

Dance class!

4th of July

We had a pretty great 4th of July this year.  My day started with a four mile race not too far from our house.  I had been a little nervous because of the nasty weather we've had for the past week, but luckily we didn't have any rain.  It was pretty cloudy and during the race I felt a few small sprinkles, but overall the weather was not too terrible, compared to what it could have been.  I have cut way back on my running lately and had only managed two 3-mile runs on the treadmill this week.  I knew that if I could do three mile runs then I could do a four mile one when the time came and I did.  I didn't set any records and ran pretty slow (around an 11:30 pace) but I'm trying to take on a whole new mindset when it comes to running.  I do it for myself and should stop caring how fast I run.  I don't know that I am cut out to be a "runner" and to be competitive at it, nor do I really have an desire to train for that.  I am happy just going out and getting the exercise.  I am out there DOING it and there are a whole heck of a lot of people who aren't, so that counts for something.  At least I am out there.

After my race I came home (it was still only 8:30am) and got the kids all dressed in their 4th of July clothes.  They looked very patriotic and even had flags to wave around.  I started some preparations for the bbq we were having later with some friends.  It orginally started at our house, but we changed it to go over to theirs.  So that meant I had bought the bulk of the food already and we had a lot to transport!  We went over around 1:30pm and just enjoyed a day of being lazy, eating and having fun.  The kids played in the water, the men drank their beers, the women sipped on margaritas...and everyone had a great 4th.  Just before we were leaving the girls all got to do some sparklers, which they loved.  Calli didn't want to hold it at first, but she finally was convinced and loved it.

When we got home it was just past 8pm and Jameson was very cranky.  I was disappointed he wouldn't be able to make it for the fireworks outside, but it was probably better that way.  He went to bed and we took the girls outside for the block party and fireworks in the cult-de-sac.  We had bought fireworks for the first time in our adult lives the day before and were pretty stoked to set them off.  We got packs and packs of sparklers, some of which are being saved for next year because there was so many.  I think those were Calli's favorite; she loved all the fireworks really.  Serena had a meltdown after seeing the first big firework go off in the air and told us she was tired and wanted to go to bed!  So Richard took her inside and it was just us and Calli out there.  We had one big firework that I was really excited called a VooDoo Ball.  Come to find out, those were probably the big thing this year because everyone had them.  So I kind of wished we had bought something else, but it was still fun to watch.

Around 10:30pm we called it a night and headed inside.  I didn't know if I would be able to fall asleep with the fireworks going and me being such a light sleeper, but I was out almost as soon as my head hit the pillow and slept like a brick.  I guess I was a little worn out!  It had been a pretty long day, but a really fun one.

4th of July morning

Just getting home from bbq, getting ready to put Jameson to bed and go out and watch fireworks!

Me and Calli

Me and all the kids

My pretty Serena girl!

My crazy Calli girl!

Sweet little Jameson!  The girls have been bringing their pillows downstairs lately and he loves to lay on them.

Calli enjoying her new Hippity Hop...thanks Grandma Keri and Grandpa James!

This was right after the first big firework went off.  Goodnight Serena!

Calli playing with her sparklers

This one is for Kendra!  We spent every 4th of July together during our childhood and lighting sparklers and running to the end of the court with them was one of our favorite things to do.  Maybe next year we will do it again finally!