Adley stayed home sick today. She's got a fever and sore throat. I told her this morning she couldn't go to school if she was still sick. She broke down completely. Sobbing the sob that only dramatic 5 year old girls can do and through her sobs I hear, "I just love school way too much mommy!"
I can't stop laughing...I am sure these are only funny to me as the smitten mother but I can't help but record it to remember how much laughter Dax brings into our home.
While I am typing these posts he comes running in half crying, me half listening. Adley starts yelling something else and Dax in his most stern, very angry voice, while pointing a mean finger of shame at her yells:
"Hey you, Adley, you stop talking, I am trying to tell on you."
I just found these photos from Halloween...how did I miss them???
Adley and Dax love to help me clean the windows and glass table tops. I am so blessed. After they had cleaned the sliding door, I assigned Adley the bathroom mirrors and off she went. I hear this conversation:
Dax: Adley if you need any help, you let me know, and I will help you because I can.
Adley: No thanks Dax I can do it.
D: Ok, but you just let me know and I will help you.
A: Ok, Dax come and put your hand on mine and you can move your hand with my hand and we can both clean it.
D: Thanks Adley (as he climbs on the sink to help)
Really, where do they get this from?!?!? So stinkin' sweet.
We started out to have an adventure! We certainly had one. The big Thanksgiving Turkey Trot for Zaharis, there were hundreds of kindergarteners out to exercise for 12 minutes along with any parents who wanted to participate. Of course we were in on that kind of adventure.
Dax was completely ready in his super hero costume (cape and goggles) that makes him strong enough to run really, really fast. Kyron complete with forgotten shoes. Mom completely prepared without the camera (luckily my phone captured a few good moments) and flip flops. I do all things flip flop!
The coach preempted with the tortoise and the hare story and told us to be the tortoise. Whew, I didn't know how I was going to RUN around that bus stop with a stroller and a super hero in tow...not to mention the turkey we were there to see!
So we started off slow and steady, it was nice. The breeze was perfect and the kids were happy. But then around lap 3 the kids decided that they did, in fact, want to run! And why wouldn't they? Let's go. The only problem: Dax was sure he wanted to be the one pushing the stroller while we ran!
Being the pro at it that I am...off we went. I was straddling Dax and running while he was in between my legs and pushing the stroller (yeah, it was quite a sight!) Then with no warning I feel a terrible pain in my toe. I had kicked right into the heal of Dax's shoe and down he came on my toe...I lost 2 toe nails and it was very adventurous. So I am going to again cast my vote on the tortoise and say, slow is always better. Taking your time and letting things happen gently is ok with me.
Despite the pain, it really was fun to see Adley (our precious Turkey) and enjoy in a new memory and adventure together!
Dax said at dinner tonight...
"Mommy, you're the bestest mommy ever, I will keep you......for thousands and thousands and thousands of days!"
I'm likely to hold him to that!
Adley's friend asked her why we adopted Kyron....her response:
"Because we wanted to add someone with dark skin [to our family]."
Long pause..."Well, actually, we saw him in a book and they told us we needed to get him so we went and got him."
There was no book. I love her random reasoning.
Some cousins are worth kissing and some...well, not so much. Luckily for me, I have one cousin that is well worth kissin'!
My sweet cousin came to visit me…I love her visits and chats.
The timing of her return could not have been more perfect. She is an angel, my kindred spirit. So many times I have felt like I am looking in a mirror and understanding her and she understanding me as if the same being. Somehow our souls touch.
It really hard to understand the spirit that we share, our lives’ experiences so similar in so many ways, our desired outlook on life coincide, our common pains and setbacks that we struggle with, our pride that only sometimes gets in the way, our emotional evaluations and interpretations so parallel.
She’s been back ‘home’ for just under a year now. And I am grateful that she wants to be a part of my life. She has taught and shown me many new things about myself. I have been able to understand myself better, know myself better and relate to myself and her in a new way that’s been impressive and helpful and wonderful. So many days without her knowing she would just pass by and brighten my life.
She really hasn’t done anything in particularly special; although she is very special. She’s just been her. She’s been a friend, a confident, a listener, an encourager, compassionate, thoughtful, selfless, insightful, and incredible. I am grateful for the ease of her love. I am fortunate to have such a remarkable friend.
She listens, I listen, we share and she makes my heart smile.
***In case you were wondering, worth kissin' and actually kissin' are different! *laughs*
This weekend was full of excitement, another great date night. Last year we went to this show and absolutely loved it. I love watching the season but there is just nothing like seeing it live, in person. It was incredible to see the strength and talent of these dancers. We got to go to So You Think You Can Dance? again this year and hopefully again next. I just can't get enough of it. They make me want to dance...but no, I don't think I can dance.
I love date nights. I love riding motorcycles (especially Harley's). I love leather jackets. I love theatre. I love culture. I love most musicals. I love Gammage. I love romantics. I love great seats. I love Phantom of the Opera (my first time to see it). I so love Chal. I love that he takes me out. I love that he loves those things too.
I usually enjoy Halloween. It's not my favorite holiday but I still enjoy it and want to have all the fun we can. However, this year, I am a total party pooper. I didn't decorate, I didn't dress up, I didn't make fun cookies, I did as little as ‘parent’ly possible to get by and I was totally ok with that.
We did manage to carve a pumpkin. And by WE I mean, Chal. I gag at the sight of pumpkin insides and the smell just about sends me to the floor...yuck! But Chal and his iron stomach save the day and he and Adley carved the pumpkin. Sadly we learned that Dax will maintain the weak stomach side of our family. He and I will be avoiding the carving together! What a treat for daddy and daughter...we'll see next year where Kyron lands.
Adley wanted to be a pumpkin for weeks, I didn't want to make a costume or buy one for that matter. So I was more than delighted when a friend found an old Belle dress-up costume and wondered if Adley would want it. YES! And of course that changed her mind about the pumpkin. What perfect timing. I love my friends that save me without even knowing it.
Dax wanted to be someone new each day. Superman, Spiderman, Super Why, Batman, and many more. Luckily that made it easy to convince him to be a super cowboy the day of Halloween. I doubt I will be so lucky next year.
Kyron ended up going into total tantrum at the time to go out so that eliminated any need to have him dress up...lucky me, not so lucky Chal who had to stay home and deal with it and hand out candy.
The kids ended up with loads of candy and the Great Pumpkin was very pleased with his loot this year. After selecting 11 pieces of candy to keep the kids put their candy at the door for the Great Pumpkin to take and leave a nice gift for them...I love the Great Pumpkin. This year Adley got a Crayola white board with practice writing pages, Dax got a sword and Kyron got a color wonder coloring book and none of them got the chance to gorge on candy!
Who doesn't love it when you can gather with friends and all the kids happily play and make lots and lots of noise!!!
My husband is not the traditional 'manly man', meaning that he's not afraid of changing dirty diapers, he doesn't cringe at helping me clean the house (most of the time *winks*), he doesn't watch sports non-stop, he takes me to chick flick movies, he cooks dinner often, he's not very competitive...he's really a jewel and I love everything about that in him. On occassion though he does have a chance to be the 'manly' man...killing wild beasts (like squirrel on a survival weekend) and teaching young men the Mountain Man ways (complete with capotes, medicine bags & wigs *laughs*)
I am not sure what it is about this that is so enjoyable but this is how he shows his 'manly' man and I think it's hilarious and fun! What a truly great man I married.
