Saturday, December 22, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
ballerina dreams
Lucy has recently completed a ballet class taught by a wonderful young woman named Miss Jenny. She has really enjoyed her time there, twirling and learning and wearing pink tutus. Some of her favorite things! Her class at Dreams Dance Academy has been good for her. She learned that sometimes it will be hard and she will have to work at it. It is not "just twirling and looking cute" although she does that just fine! :) I'm excited for her as she tries something new and fun for her. Last night was her last class for this session and she was allowed to bring a friend. There ended up being several girls from her kindergarten class at this night and it was crazy giggly! When the class was over there was the promise of McDonald's for all and off we went. Walking in with another mom from class, all the girls piled themselves into one booth! More giggles and lots of pink and sparkles! Both Lucy and her friend quickly fell asleep on the way home, not even making it out of the main road before closing their eyes. I say falling asleep dreaming of ballerina poses isn't a bad way to end an evening.
Monday, December 17, 2012
the Santa party
Every year our dear friends, The Reilley's, invited us over for their annual Santa Party. It started as a get together for the daycare kids and their parents--maybe about 6-10 families. Over the years, the Reilley's have grown this event (yes-I've said it...it's an EVENT) to include other of their friends, family and of course now that our kids our older....school-aged friends and their families. It's an event that we look forward to every year and really is a permanent part of getting our Christmas on!
This year was no exception. Here's the drill. The adults all plan to bring some sort of appetizer or dessert. This is great because then Katie and Rob do not have any cooking to do. They can circulate and chat, snack and visit with everyone. As it should be! While Katie and Rob also have beverages out to share, the adults usually bring a little "cheer" along with them to share with others.
As for the kids, Katie thought ahead about this too. Happy kids mean happy adults. We feed them first with some fun pasta, fresh fruit, crackers, chicken strips, and a juice box. They are happy, fed, and they move on to play with each other. This frees up the adults to enjoy their adult beverage of choice, and catch up with each other. This year the first chat I walked into was a very intense conversation about tech options in our homes. Bundling, cable, Dish, wireless, streaming, home phone/no home phone, ....it was really something.
Anyway, the kids play, the adults play, everyone eats. Just a note...there was a moment of silence held this year as our friends, the Sears family, were unable to be with us due to sick kiddos.. We missed them...and their Cookie Crumbs cookies. Actually, it was unusual for us this year too as Lucy was saying she didn't feel well either. No fever, vomiting or ANY symptoms at all, just tired...so we went because it's tradition. Mistake! She was asleep on Daddy before Santa even showed up. Wait, I didn't talk about Santa yet! It's a Santa party....so......
Katie's dad, Bob, is Santa. He has the beard and the belly and the bag. We all sneak a wrapped gift for our kids into the Santa bag hidden in the garage, and Santa makes his appearance every year to pass out presents that make our children smile. Even though Lucy was tired and cuddled up with Mark on the sofa, she was the FIRST to see Santa. She spied him peeking through the window and her eyes have never been bigger!! She was so excited and sat straight up "Look! It's Santa!! He's really here! Daddy! Mama! Santa!" Priceless reaction that only someone so young and believing can have. I wish I could bottle that innocence and bring it out when I needed to feel great about the world again. Santa comes in ringing his bells and the kids go cuckoo! They surrounded him at his feet and we all laughed at how perfectly still, quiet, on their bottoms, angelic they all were waiting for Santa to speak. Awesome. Every year Santa greets the children and before he does any presents he asks the kids to sing a song with him. I think this is my favorite part. They all believe for that moment, even the bigger kids who may have questions in their heads about him being "real", they all love this moment, and it's pure Christmas. Thanks Mr. Praeger!
Of course, this moment is shaken up a bit later as Santa has passed out all of his gifts and he's counting down to allow them to rip the paper open! An interesting thing happened this year. Adam will be 9 years old in just a couple of weeks. He's on the border of whether he believes or not, hearing stories on the playground, bus and lunchroom. He hasn't quite asked us yet if Santa is real. When he does, I plan to share this letter I found as I feel it really says what I want him to know. Santa passed out all the gifts and asked if everyone had a gift. Adam started looking around and then realized that he DIDN'T have a gift. He looked quickly around and Santa was starting to count...he had a bit of shock, and hurt, and "oh no" on his face as he turned to look at me. Of course, I asked Santa if he could look in his bag again and of course there was gift for Adam there way at the bottom. He thanked Santa then turned to me and said " I was nervous there for a minute, I thought I wasn't getting a gift. That meant I was too naughty this year!" We left soon after to take Lucy home to bed. In the car on the way home Mark asked him about that moment. He said, "Dad, at first I was really sad and thought Santa wasn't going to give me anything. After he gave me my present I realized something. The elves made MY gift first. First gift IN the bag, last gift OUT of the bag. I was just at the TOP of the list this year...not the bottom!"
And in truth, that's the best of it. Last year was so different than this year--for him and for all of us. What a different a year can make. What a difference a DAY can make. Things change and kids grow and people leave us. Babies are born, new friends come into our lives and Santa is there every year--to make our eyes wide and to invite us to sing with him. Thank you Reilley's! Thank you Santa!
This year was no exception. Here's the drill. The adults all plan to bring some sort of appetizer or dessert. This is great because then Katie and Rob do not have any cooking to do. They can circulate and chat, snack and visit with everyone. As it should be! While Katie and Rob also have beverages out to share, the adults usually bring a little "cheer" along with them to share with others.
As for the kids, Katie thought ahead about this too. Happy kids mean happy adults. We feed them first with some fun pasta, fresh fruit, crackers, chicken strips, and a juice box. They are happy, fed, and they move on to play with each other. This frees up the adults to enjoy their adult beverage of choice, and catch up with each other. This year the first chat I walked into was a very intense conversation about tech options in our homes. Bundling, cable, Dish, wireless, streaming, home phone/no home phone, ....it was really something.
Anyway, the kids play, the adults play, everyone eats. Just a note...there was a moment of silence held this year as our friends, the Sears family, were unable to be with us due to sick kiddos.. We missed them...and their Cookie Crumbs cookies. Actually, it was unusual for us this year too as Lucy was saying she didn't feel well either. No fever, vomiting or ANY symptoms at all, just tired...so we went because it's tradition. Mistake! She was asleep on Daddy before Santa even showed up. Wait, I didn't talk about Santa yet! It's a Santa party....so......
Katie's dad, Bob, is Santa. He has the beard and the belly and the bag. We all sneak a wrapped gift for our kids into the Santa bag hidden in the garage, and Santa makes his appearance every year to pass out presents that make our children smile. Even though Lucy was tired and cuddled up with Mark on the sofa, she was the FIRST to see Santa. She spied him peeking through the window and her eyes have never been bigger!! She was so excited and sat straight up "Look! It's Santa!! He's really here! Daddy! Mama! Santa!" Priceless reaction that only someone so young and believing can have. I wish I could bottle that innocence and bring it out when I needed to feel great about the world again. Santa comes in ringing his bells and the kids go cuckoo! They surrounded him at his feet and we all laughed at how perfectly still, quiet, on their bottoms, angelic they all were waiting for Santa to speak. Awesome. Every year Santa greets the children and before he does any presents he asks the kids to sing a song with him. I think this is my favorite part. They all believe for that moment, even the bigger kids who may have questions in their heads about him being "real", they all love this moment, and it's pure Christmas. Thanks Mr. Praeger!
Of course, this moment is shaken up a bit later as Santa has passed out all of his gifts and he's counting down to allow them to rip the paper open! An interesting thing happened this year. Adam will be 9 years old in just a couple of weeks. He's on the border of whether he believes or not, hearing stories on the playground, bus and lunchroom. He hasn't quite asked us yet if Santa is real. When he does, I plan to share this letter I found as I feel it really says what I want him to know. Santa passed out all the gifts and asked if everyone had a gift. Adam started looking around and then realized that he DIDN'T have a gift. He looked quickly around and Santa was starting to count...he had a bit of shock, and hurt, and "oh no" on his face as he turned to look at me. Of course, I asked Santa if he could look in his bag again and of course there was gift for Adam there way at the bottom. He thanked Santa then turned to me and said " I was nervous there for a minute, I thought I wasn't getting a gift. That meant I was too naughty this year!" We left soon after to take Lucy home to bed. In the car on the way home Mark asked him about that moment. He said, "Dad, at first I was really sad and thought Santa wasn't going to give me anything. After he gave me my present I realized something. The elves made MY gift first. First gift IN the bag, last gift OUT of the bag. I was just at the TOP of the list this year...not the bottom!"
And in truth, that's the best of it. Last year was so different than this year--for him and for all of us. What a different a year can make. What a difference a DAY can make. Things change and kids grow and people leave us. Babies are born, new friends come into our lives and Santa is there every year--to make our eyes wide and to invite us to sing with him. Thank you Reilley's! Thank you Santa!
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| Reilley's Santa Party 2010 |
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| This year! 2012 |
Thursday, December 13, 2012
apples and trees
Recently though, I've been able to find more similarities between my dad and I because I was blessed to have him with us at our home. Over the summer as I traveled east to his home in PA, we had a lot of time to talk and reminisce and muse about the future. Being diagnosed with cancer contributed to his musings; he knew his time was shorter than we all planned it to be. He knew that he didn't have a lot of time to do and see all he wanted to.So we talked, rambled, looked deeply at things. We watched for little joys in the day; like the deer that wandered into his yard daily and the hummingbird that flew to his new feeder moments after we hung it up. We looked at the kids playing in the yard and marveled at their creativity and intelligence at work. We laughed together at old pictures and knew how important it is to take those pictures to save the stories that we might forget later on. I save those moments too. I write them down and cherish the stories. We walked around the lake near his house. One day we went together, another day with my own kids, and it was bittersweet to me that we wouldn't continue to do this with him. I will continue to take my kids to the forest preserves, lakes, camping, hiking and show them the beauty of outdoors...but it will be without my dad walking with us. He knew it was important to teach kids about the names of animals and trees. To notice the difference in bird calls and leaf patterns and fish that you catch (and release). Mark and I will keep that going.
As a teacher, I know the importance of education. But I know that and feel it in my bones because my dad taught it to me. He wanted us all to do our best and get an education. He saved and worked hard to make sure we had our shot to go to college. I blew my opportunity from him and disappointed him to the heart, I'm very sure of that. But I worked hard later and graduated from college because I WANTED it. And I know he was proud of that later. I know he was proud of ME. I'm glad he saw me graduate and do something with my education. I'm glad he knew it worked out in the end and I learned from my mistakes. Because we're both pretty stubborn. If there is an idea in our heads, we aren't going to let it go lightly. It really is impossible not to look at my own kids and how we parent them, when going through all the old pictures and hearing the stories from my aunts about Dad's childhood and growing up. As we planned his memorial, the stories flowed, as they often do, and Dad's sisters told stories of how he picked on them, defended them, got into trouble, saved the day, worked and was lazy. I loved watching their faces as they told the stories. He was protective of his sisters, like Adam to Lucy, but also tormented them because that's his right as the brother! Love it!
My dad died on November 9, 2012.
One month before his 67th birthday. I was there, alonge with his sisters and our immediate family, when he left this life and walked home with Jesus. I watched the light leave his eyes, and the pain leave his face. I remembered every single time I knew I disappointed him and a few times I managed to make him proud. I know that he wanted to do much, much more with us, but our time and God's time runs very differently. Dad told me that I shouldn't wait forever to do the things I really can do now. He told me to love and hold on to my kids, to respect and care for my husband, to be a strong wife and mother. He told me to be sensitive to them and be careful with my words. Words can hurt. So I'm trying Dad. I'm trying to do that. So that I can be what you modeled for us, and learn from your mistakes too. People often use the phrase "apples and trees" -usually while rolling our eyes a bit- to compare children to their parents. I hope I CAN follow what Dad told me. Because it would be an honor to have someone say "apples and trees" when they look at me, and think of my dad. He was a good man, strong parent and I feel confident that on his walk Home, he was told "well done my good and faithful servant". Miss you Dad.
.
As a teacher, I know the importance of education. But I know that and feel it in my bones because my dad taught it to me. He wanted us all to do our best and get an education. He saved and worked hard to make sure we had our shot to go to college. I blew my opportunity from him and disappointed him to the heart, I'm very sure of that. But I worked hard later and graduated from college because I WANTED it. And I know he was proud of that later. I know he was proud of ME. I'm glad he saw me graduate and do something with my education. I'm glad he knew it worked out in the end and I learned from my mistakes. Because we're both pretty stubborn. If there is an idea in our heads, we aren't going to let it go lightly. It really is impossible not to look at my own kids and how we parent them, when going through all the old pictures and hearing the stories from my aunts about Dad's childhood and growing up. As we planned his memorial, the stories flowed, as they often do, and Dad's sisters told stories of how he picked on them, defended them, got into trouble, saved the day, worked and was lazy. I loved watching their faces as they told the stories. He was protective of his sisters, like Adam to Lucy, but also tormented them because that's his right as the brother! Love it!My dad died on November 9, 2012.
One month before his 67th birthday. I was there, alonge with his sisters and our immediate family, when he left this life and walked home with Jesus. I watched the light leave his eyes, and the pain leave his face. I remembered every single time I knew I disappointed him and a few times I managed to make him proud. I know that he wanted to do much, much more with us, but our time and God's time runs very differently. Dad told me that I shouldn't wait forever to do the things I really can do now. He told me to love and hold on to my kids, to respect and care for my husband, to be a strong wife and mother. He told me to be sensitive to them and be careful with my words. Words can hurt. So I'm trying Dad. I'm trying to do that. So that I can be what you modeled for us, and learn from your mistakes too. People often use the phrase "apples and trees" -usually while rolling our eyes a bit- to compare children to their parents. I hope I CAN follow what Dad told me. Because it would be an honor to have someone say "apples and trees" when they look at me, and think of my dad. He was a good man, strong parent and I feel confident that on his walk Home, he was told "well done my good and faithful servant". Miss you Dad.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
December Top Ten List
Top Ten Things I Love About December This Year
10. no snow yet! It's been warm enough to have our Cub Scout den meeting outside around a campfire, warm enough for sweatshirts instead of coats, warm enough to keep geocaching in the woods
9. I have decorations up before Christmas Eve this year. Last year we didn't even have our tree until the 23rd. This year I am gettin' my Christmas on!
8. watching them look for Tom the Elf every morning with excitement. Man! that Elf on the Shelf is still incentive and I love it!
7. new mistletoe! Any time I can get my son to willingly give a kiss to me or his sister is priceless. And you can't argue with mistletoe placed conveniently in front of the refrigerator
6.visits with friends. I am really looking forward to three different get-togethers that are planned this month. First, a small group to make DIY ornaments while drinking adult beverages. Maybe that isn't such a brilliant plan but nonetheless...it's happening. Our annual BT Christmas shopping, eating, adult beverages. Can't wait to see you girls! And lastly, the annual "Jay takes the boys to Culver's and the teacher ladies eat, laugh, play games and drink adult beverages at Chris' house" night! I sense a theme here.
5. ballet recital next week to Silent Night...will I cry?? oh yes! This date is also my dad's birthday. He would have been 67 and my heart is broken that he is gone from us only a month ago. Silent Night and little girl in pink leg warmers will go a long way to warm my sad heart
4. lights, lights and more lights. With all this warmer weather our neighborhood has had a lot of time to continue putting up lights. It seems to have inspired some to keep purchasing new sets and load it up. Our street looks beautiful. As always, we are looking forward to our trip to Larsen's Christmas Lights. Best I've ever seen!
3. most of my shopping is done! I love online shopping. I love shopping for that perfect hard to find gift...and then finding it. This year I have done that for a few people and I'm excited to see them open the gift.
2. RichWrap warehouse sale. Wrapping paper, tissue gift bags and tags for the next two years for under $50. This year is was Ladies Day Out and I went with my mom and my daughter. We went armed with Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and cake pops. Great deals to be had here! Even on the last day!
and the number one thing I love about December this year....
1. Advent at church. Jesus is our number 1 gift. Not just this year, but every year. Our church is decorated and we are celebrating the birth of My Savior. Come join us!
10. no snow yet! It's been warm enough to have our Cub Scout den meeting outside around a campfire, warm enough for sweatshirts instead of coats, warm enough to keep geocaching in the woods
9. I have decorations up before Christmas Eve this year. Last year we didn't even have our tree until the 23rd. This year I am gettin' my Christmas on!
8. watching them look for Tom the Elf every morning with excitement. Man! that Elf on the Shelf is still incentive and I love it!
7. new mistletoe! Any time I can get my son to willingly give a kiss to me or his sister is priceless. And you can't argue with mistletoe placed conveniently in front of the refrigerator
6.visits with friends. I am really looking forward to three different get-togethers that are planned this month. First, a small group to make DIY ornaments while drinking adult beverages. Maybe that isn't such a brilliant plan but nonetheless...it's happening. Our annual BT Christmas shopping, eating, adult beverages. Can't wait to see you girls! And lastly, the annual "Jay takes the boys to Culver's and the teacher ladies eat, laugh, play games and drink adult beverages at Chris' house" night! I sense a theme here.
5. ballet recital next week to Silent Night...will I cry?? oh yes! This date is also my dad's birthday. He would have been 67 and my heart is broken that he is gone from us only a month ago. Silent Night and little girl in pink leg warmers will go a long way to warm my sad heart
4. lights, lights and more lights. With all this warmer weather our neighborhood has had a lot of time to continue putting up lights. It seems to have inspired some to keep purchasing new sets and load it up. Our street looks beautiful. As always, we are looking forward to our trip to Larsen's Christmas Lights. Best I've ever seen!
3. most of my shopping is done! I love online shopping. I love shopping for that perfect hard to find gift...and then finding it. This year I have done that for a few people and I'm excited to see them open the gift.
2. RichWrap warehouse sale. Wrapping paper, tissue gift bags and tags for the next two years for under $50. This year is was Ladies Day Out and I went with my mom and my daughter. We went armed with Starbucks Peppermint Mocha and cake pops. Great deals to be had here! Even on the last day!
and the number one thing I love about December this year....
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