Girls Day Out

Dad and I have been thinking, talking and praying.  Our kids birthdays are always special days.  We have fabulous parties and make that day special for our kids.  This year we wanted to take birthdays in a different direction.  Oh we will still do the parties, the cake, the presents, but gifts from Mom and Dad will take on a new spin.  Instead of just giving the kids something, a gift that will no doubt be broken in just a few short months or lain aside forgotten, we want to create a memory with them.  Do something fun, unique, just for them.

C was the first one who got to experience this, a shopping adventure with Mom.  Family emergencies interrupted our grand plans but we still had a great time shopping on a smaller scale.  Now it is B's turn.  Our sweet little Curly Girly is four years old.  I seriously can't believe it.  How did that happen?  Anyway, after talking it over I knew the perfect memory making gift we could do together.  An afternoon at American Girl Place.  There is finally a store near us.  B is at the perfect age to really enjoy all of the 'girliness' and appreciate it.  It was just the place to celebrate B turning 4 and what a special little girl she is.  So we made our reservations for lunch at the Bistro and found somewhere for the boys to hang out for the day.  Nana, C, B and I headed off for an afternoon of girly fun.

B knew that we were heading somewhere special for her birthday, she just had no clue what that was.  She was in little girl heaven when we walked through the revolving door into the store.  She just stood there for a moment taking it all in.  I wish I had taken more pictures but I was truly just enjoying watching her run from display to display, looking at all of the dolls and clothing.  She was so excited.  She kept telling everyone it was her birthday too.

Lunch was absolutely fabulous.  If you have never been to American Girl Place for lunch, you really need to go.  The staff went out of their way to make sure it was a memorable dining experience.  The food was amazing and not just 'kids menu' foods either, there are plenty of adult foods to choose from.  C brought her doll with her and they had a little seat just for her doll.  Since B didn't have a doll (yet), they let her borrow a doll of her choice for lunch.  B was so excited.

Even C was excited to be at American Girl, which honestly surprised me.  She is right in that awkward 'tween' phase where I never know what mood she will be in.  C was ready to enjoy this girl time with her little sister.  (Sorry for the pictures, I only had Nana's phone as a camera).

B could barely eat her lunch, she was so excited.  She kept making sure her doll had enough to 'eat' and 'drink'.  They not only provide doll seats but little cups and saucers for the dolls, how cute is that?  Everything was new and fun.  She couldn't wait to go shopping and spend her birthday money.  Doesn't she look adorable with her 'friend?

Since we were at the store to celebrate B's birthday, she got a birthday cupcake as part of her meal.  As you can see she was one happy little girl.  She enjoyed her treat and was ready to get shopping.  We spent the next hour wandering through the store, from one end to the other shopping.  I wish I had taken more pictures of our shopping adventure but the girls had me hopping.  In the end C got a new swimsuit, sun glasses and earrings for her doll.  B received a brand new American Girl doll that has hazel eyes and curly blonde hair just like her from her Nana and Poppa.  She also picked out another dress for her doll.

Here is a picture of the doll B got from the website.  Isn't she adorable?  Just like my Curly Girly.  After our shopping adventure, the store had a scavenger hunt and crafts going on.  So we hung out a little longer and played.  The girls had a great time.  We may just have to make a trip to American Girl our new favorite birthday adventure.

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshots are a fun way to share those bits of life that are priceless.  On Mother's Day, while I am just enjoying my family time, I thought these pictures were perfect to share.

Sometimes life is just too busy to sit still for one moment.  For once you sit still in that one moment sleep will come at the most inopportune time.  At least it does when you are almost two.  There are times when Mom longs for that moment when I can sit still but I know if I do sleep will find me to.

He couldn't even let go of the spoon.  =)

Happy Birthday B!! 4 Years Old

Today, I can hardly stand it, my little B turns four.  It does not seem possible, yet in many ways she is way past a mere four years.  She has grown so much this year.  I thought I would share some of my favorite B pictures from the past year with you to capture how much she has grown this year.

Tea Parties With B

Life has been so busy lately that I haven't stopped to take the time to enjoy my kids like I should.  My kids are so patient with their busy Mom.  I love them for that but it is easy to take advantage of it as well.  I am striving to take the time to play with my kids. Dad does a great job at just playing with the kids.  I tend to just see the to do list and put them off. I am realizing quickly that they are growing up fast and I need to enjoy our time together before it is gone.  There will come a day, sooner than I like to admit, when my girls would rather hang out with their friends then have a Tea Party with Mom and my boys will prefer working on a car then cuddling with Mom on the couch with a book.

One day, while A and C were playing with friends and D was taking a nap, B was feeling lonely and out of sorts.  I stared at the piles of laundry, dishes and other things that needed doing, then I looked at her big blue eyes.  Chores could wait.  This was the perfect time to spend some much needed Mommy and Daughter time.  

I surprised her by digging out C's old tea set, which has not seen the light of day since C was six years old.  B's eyes lit up, the way only an almost four-year old's can, and she began putting everything in place for our impromptu Tea Party.  She was so excited.  She got her dolls out and arranged them in the living room.  She set the table beautifully.  She carefully served 'tea' to me and her doll guests.  She generously passed out cookies.  She said "please" and "thank you", just like every Mom loves to hear.  

It wasn't the most elegant Tea Party, we sat on the floor.  Our tea set is not fine china, but it has been loved by many girls before us (as all of the cracks and chips will attest to).  We didn't use real tea, water worked for our purposes.  We didn't even dress up for this event, although B is wearing a dress as usual.  We didn't drink tea with our pinkies up, yes, we did spill a little.  Cookie crumbs were in abundance.  

None of that matters.  Our impromptu party wasn't about all of the fuss and frills, it was about a special memory that we can always treasure.  As parents, especially with Pinterest and the internet, it is so easy to get sucked into making everything magazine cover worthy.  Children's parties are extreme these days.  A simple playdate is now a carefully planned event to connect our toddlers with the right friends.  We have lost sight of the simple joys of childhood.  On this quiet afternoon, B and I discovered that joy again.  It was a moment away from the craziness of life.  When all that mattered were B and me.

Black Belt

A has been in a children's Taekwondo program at our local studio for almost two years.  He started when he wasn't even four years old.  I admit it, there were times when I didn't think A would last in Taekwondo.  (I know that sounds terrible but it is the truth).  He did not seem to be getting much out of it.  It was often a battle just to get him to class.  I wondered if he was actually paying attention.  Was it worth the money we were paying each month in tuition?  In class he does just what is necessary to squeak by, not much else.  I can't help it, I want to see him do the best he can at everything.  

We kept encouraging him, despite evidence that maybe this just wasn't for him.  We always made a big deal about him earning each new belt and moving up in the class.  I was never really sure who was more excited about his belt testing, A or Mom and Dad.  I realized I was becoming the dreaded 'helicopter' parent but how else was I going to teach him about perseverance and follow-through?  What I thought was really a lesson for him, ended up being a lesson for Mom.

A has always been a challenge to raise.  I say that with so much pride and love.  He frustrates me at times yet I can't imagine our family without him.  A has his own way of doing things, that includes how he learns.  Some might label him an 'unmotivated' learner.  I have thought the same thing on many occasions.  Schoolwork with him can be frustrating.  I just never know if he is actually retaining what I am teaching him.  Taekwondo has shown me that our little guy is taking in more than we think.  He is slowly absorbing what is happening around him.  It may look like he isn't paying attention or retaining anything but when you start quizzing him, you will be amazed at how much he knows.  A is just like a sponge.  He continues to blow me away daily with his perception and knowledge.  All this time in Taekwondo, I lamented his lack of pizazz and finesse while kicking or punching.  When I should of realized that he was really taking it all in.  So he could do it right, when he was ready.  A lesson that this Mom needed to learn.

Recently A tested for his Black Belt in his class.  This was such a big deal for him.  He talked about it for weeks.  He practiced in the backyard, down the hallway and was ready to be quizzed at a moments notice.  He was eagerly awaiting his turn to show off everything he has learned.  Let me tell you, A's excitement was contagious.  He was finally excited about Taekwondo.  I was one proud Mom watching him stand on the mat and prepare to test.  I once again learned that even though my children are just that, mine, they can still take me by surprise.  They teach me so much about life.  We were all created differently and unique, by God, and He gave us all a different way to learn and navigate life.  "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb."  Psalm 139:13-15

  

Here is the video of A doing his testing.  He did great.  He was so proud of himself.  He had set the goal of achieving his Black Belt and he did it.  I know our pushing helped him reach that goal, it also showed him that he could do it.  It also showed Mom, to give him his space and let him figure things out on his own.  He has to learn his way, on his terms.  We took him out for Mexican afterwards to celebrate his achievement.  He couldn't wait to tell everyone what he had done.  Now if we could only get that same kind of motivation from him for other stuff, like his bedroom.  =)

After the kids test, they get the opportunity to break a board.  This is something A looks forward to each time.  The first time he was a little hesitant about smashing the board but now he has broken boards with his feet and hands.  He has collected quite a few boards.  He was especially excited this time, not only did he break the board in one place but in two.

A had to wait a week to get his black belt.  He couldn't wait to get it.  When it finally arrived, he was so solemn and serious, it just made me laugh.  Even he recognized what a big deal it was.  So now we have our very proud black belt.  And a Mom who looks at her son with new appreciation and insight.

Crazy Busy

Have you wondered where we have disappeared to?  Just the land of 'crazy busyness'.  It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, however, and that is so exciting because this Mom needs a nap.

The ABC are very busy at school, working hard on finishing up the school year with style.  Not that they have too much to finish up because we will still be doing school all summer but we will at least be done with their classes and preschool.  D, well he is just plain busy.  Getting into everything.

Dad just wrapped up yet another term of graduate school.  I have seriously lost count of how much he has left.  He has the week off before jumping back into more classes.  I know he is counting down the days until he is finished with both Master's Degrees.

I have been the busiest of all.  The Curly Girly Boutique has exploded into a frenzy of activity for our first street fair of the year.  This also happens to be the biggest tourist event we have in town, so it is a big weekend.  With all the new changes to our product lines over the past year, we have had to do some serious re-thinking of the 'look' of our business.  This has added to the normal stress of preparing for a show.  I have been sewing like a crazy woman and Dad has been building display pieces for our booth.  We will both be glad when this weekend is over.  Right now our living room looks like a store with all of our products hanging up, waiting to be priced.

I will share some pictures of the parade and all of that fun next week.  Until then, wish us luck that we do great at this weekends street fair!!

D's Babbling

D is our quiet one.  He is generally very shy and a little slow to warm up.  When we are out and about, he will hardly make a peep.  Especially when we are in a large group of people.  When he is hanging out just with Dad and Mom, we can barely get a word in between his babbling.  It is so cute!  So I thought I would share this rare glimpse into D's personality that few get to see.