Unfair

Sweet Pea is learning the idea of fairness these days.  Actually, the concept of unfairness.  Every time I tell her "no" it is met with "Aww, that's not fair".  I think this is an important lesson.  She needs to understand that life is unfair.  Good things don't always happen to good people.  Bad people can go unpunished in our world.  I want her to understand that while little Suzy may be allowed 37 lollipops, as her mom I do not want her teeth to rot.  Thus, it is in her best interest to stick with one.  While Sweet Pea may see this as unfair, as a parent I see this as a matter of health.  Frankly, I don't give a damn (to borrow from one of my favorite books) about what Suzy's mom allows Suzy to do.  It has nothing to do with Sweet Pea.  It has nothing to do with my decisions regarding her and her health. 

Husband's mom is unwell.  I don't really want to go into the details, but she has advanced dementia.  At age 60.  There has never been a situation I have encountered in life that I see as more unfair than this one.  Why should this wife and mother lose her dignity at this young age?   If dementia is horrible in the elderly, it is horrifying for someone this young.  It is difficult for everyone involved.  It would be easy to yell at God and to tell him he is being unfair, and I have.  However, my hope and faith makes me want to believe this is all happening for a reason that is not obvious to me.  Just like Sweet Pea does not understand why I won't allow her to eat in an unhealthy manner, I do not understand why this family is being put through this fire.  It is painful and somewhat frightening (what if this happens to Husband, it is genetic). 

All I know to do is to pray that this serves some higher purpose.  A purpose I do not see since I do not have all the information and understanding that God has and is using in this situation.  I may not understand the why of this situation until I am in heaven.  It may stay one of life's mysteries.  I hope not.  Hopefully I can stay patient and wait on the Lord.  Just like I know Sweet Pea will someday understand why I limited her lollipops, I know someday I will understand this situation clearly.  I will be able to stop thinking about fairness.  However, like Sweet Pea, I am just not there yet. 

Meet The Teacher Day!

What an exciting day the little ladies had today!  They got to go meet their teachers at school.  Sweet Pea is lucky enough to have a sweet teacher she has loved in the past, so that reunion was adorable.  The two new-to-sweet-pea teachers seem lovely too.  Panda Girl has two fun teachers this year too.  One has a son in Sweet Pea's class, so we already know and love her. The other seems sweet and fun too.  Once we got home I started reviewing our schedule for the upcoming school year.  I must say, I was a bit overwhelmed.  Between school, MOPS, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and after school activities like gymboree, we are going to be kept very busy.  I prefer to be busy.  I seem to be happiest when I don't have too much free time on my hands.  However, I don't want to over schedule any of us either.  I suppose we will just have to wade in and see what happens.

An August of Vacations

August was fabulous.  We were so blessed to be able to go on a real vacation as a family.  We went down to Galveston for a whole week.  We had never spent a whole week on vacation since having the little ladies.  It was wonderful to have our big decisions be whether to go to the beach or the pool, whether we should eat ice cream or have candy.  The girls had a great time.  They were worn out by about 7 each night.  That allowed Husband and I to enjoy quiet evenings to ourselves and mornings where the girls were too tired to wake before 7:30. 

Sadly, while we were away Husband's grandmother died.  This was our second death of the summer.  Both individuals were over 80 and had Alzheimer's disease.  Thus, we were grateful our loved ones were no longer struggling with an uncooperative mind.  The little ladies and I went to the first funeral with my mother and sister.  Sweet Pea was profoundly affected by this funeral.  The questions she has asked since have been as surprising as they are thoughtful.  Husband and I did not really want her to think that she will be attending funerals regularly, so we decided to attend Grandma H's alone.  As a result, we took a short, intense trip to Erie, PA. 

A few days after returning from the funeral whirlwind I headed out to Cali with Sister and Sweet A to celebrate Sister's 30th birthday.  It was a fabulous trip that included a meal at Beso, a limo, a new Coach bag from Rodeo Drive and a star sighting.  Sister took a surfing lesson and I did some shopping for the little ladies.  We visited some lovely friends who live locally and met their sweet baby boy. 

We have no more travel plans in the works.  We go meet Sweet Pea's pre-k teachers and Panda Girl's MDO teachers tomorrow.  School will officially start on Tuesday.  Sweet Pea will be going to school five days per week. 

Obviously I have had many posts swirling around in my brain over the last month or so.  Hopefully I can take the time to get them all down in the next couple of weeks.  However, I make no promises!  How did you spend your summer vacation? 

Book Review Time!

I will just go ahead and say it, I am officially a bloggy slacker.  This summer has been full, even overflowing at times, of activity.  One of those activities has been reading.  One of my favorite books I read this summer was The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin.  The story grabs you quickly and does not let go until the final pages.  The novel is set, mostly, at a rustic fishing camp in Maine.  The story revolves around the camp's owners: Joe and Lucy Crosby.  After many years of visiting the camp, Harry Wainwright becomes and important part of the family.  Justin Cronin does a masterful job of weaving the story line through time and slowly revealing the each character. 

The relationships in this story seem to create another character of it's own.  There is love and heartbreak, anger and jealousy, forgiveness and redemption.  There is much more to these characters than and their individual stories than originally assumed.  It is a joy to read and let it all unfold before your eyes. 

The ending is far from surprising, but it is totally believable.  I would definitely say this is a great summer book.  It is enjoyable without being difficult to get into or follow.  The storytelling style is enjoyable and always leaves you wanting more.  I found it hard to put down each night.  I hope each of you has had a summer full of activities you love. 

On the road again

Today we begin our pilgrimage to the Quad Cities in Illinois.  We are heading up to spend tonight with my parents north of town.  Tomorrow morning we will officially be on the road, bright and early.  Mom and Sister will be with us for the fun.  I have packed up our clothes, which is the easy part. Now I need to spend the afternoon gathering up the other various and sundry items we will use during the next week.  Thus, my mind is churning.  Trying to figure out what is vital for the little ladies and what is just extra stuff.  Clearly we need Panda Girl's pack and play since it will double as her bed.  A panda or two will also make their way into the minivan with Panda Girl's passies (for bedtime only these days).  The DVDs will be coming as well.  I have never been so glad we sprung for the built in DVD player in the van.  I am also going to make sure we all have our pillows, as sleep is very important in our family.  The girls will have their crayons and lacing cards and books.  I will bring my kindle and probably my knitting stuff too.  We have large amounts of snacks for the road too.  I have also ensured the cameras are charged and the memory cards are cleared. 

Are there any things I am missing?  What are your essentials?

MIA

Has it really been almost 2 months since I last posted?  How is that possible?  Clearly summer has not turned out to be the quiet and relaxing season I had imagined during the spring.  There have been visits to the lake.  We have been thrilled to host family members we do not often see.  There has even been a weekend away without the little ladies (can I get an AMEN!).  There have been movies to watch and surgeries to attend.  I would love to say that the blogging drought is going to be cured for the rest of the summer.  However, that is not in the cards.  In the next six weeks I am taking two week long trips and one very long weekend away.  Thus, it will continue to be spotty.  However, when I am here I will do a better job with my updates.

I have read so many books lately, I do not know where to begin.  Hopefully tomorrow I can choose one to review for you.  Most have been good reads.  I have even had some variety in my choices.  Of course I have read some interesting fiction, but I have also read a book about eating well to manage hormone levels.  More on all of that tomorrow, hopefully. 

This has been a summer of contrasts.  The temperatures have been blisteringly hot, but the weather has been amazingly wet as well.  Old friends from far away have moved to town while more and more local friends have moved away.  I have been working very diligently to improve the overall health of the family.  We have started eating healthier by embracing organic foods and shunning processed junk.  However, I am currently battling my second case of strep throat.  We have not paid a babysitter all summer, yet we did get out for our 9th anniversary and enjoy a weekend with friends (sans kiddos).  I am constantly amazed by the amount of life we have in our home.  While some of that life is due to the two doggies and four fish, it is mostly the product of two adorable little ladies who embrace each moment to the fullest.  However, on Saturday morning we are driving 1100 miles for a family funeral (more discussion on that later).
One of the highlights of the summer has been Mother's Day Out.  Panda Girl has been attending MDO at this location all year, but it was new for Sweet Pea.  I was unsure how well she would adjust.  It turns out I had no reason to worry.  As usual, she adapted easily and happily.  I have been blessed to be able to take them somewhere fun while I get a break two days a week.  It makes me a better mom to be able to run errands and exercise and just sit on the couch and read without the constant interruptions small children bring with them.  MDO has kept my sanity intact and my children well cared for and well loved. 

On Saturday morning, very early, the little ladies and I are joining my mother and sister on a two day road trip to visit family.  I have a great uncle who recently passed of Alzheimer's disease.  It has been a long and difficult road for the whole family.  Thus, I am thankful he has been taken home where he can be free of the burden of such an insidious disease.  I have been wanting to take the little ladies to visit family for over a year.  However, we have been waiting for this funeral so we could see as many family members as possible at one time.  Thus, the long car trip. 

I am not a road trip person.  Typically after about four or five hours, I turn into a pumpkin.  I get grumpy and snippy.  My children have never spent more than a couple of hours in the car at one time.  It seems I am asking for trouble with this decision.  However, I have spent time in prayer over this and I can't get the idea of driving out of my head.  Each time I consider flying I get a really bad feeling.  I have no idea why I am feeling led to drive, but I do not want to ignore what I am being told.  So please keep me in your prayers on Saturday and Sunday as we undertake this crazy adventure.

She Smelled of Summer

Husband took the little ladies up to visit his parents this morning.  Those grandparents have a pool and a swing set, so the girls love going to play.  I love having them leave to get some quiet time to myself in my own home.  This week I had been trying to make a nap mat for Panda Girl.  She is growing up and needs one for mother's day out.  Today was my perfect opportunity to finish it up.   I was amazed at how quickly I can complete a project when there are no little hands wanting to help (read: drive me crazy while using a machine I do not have complete confidence in using).  It turned out really cute.  She wanted nothing to do with it, but Sweet Pea has had fun playing school with it all afternoon. 

The girls got home after I had finished (hallelujah) and just in time for their naps.  As I was putting Panda Girl in her crib I took a big whiff of her.  She smelled of summer: that intoxicating mix of sunscreen, sweat and chlorine.  On me it smells awful, but on her it smelled magical.  I hugged her extra close and took one more deep breath.  How I love that smell.

As Gretchen Rubin says in her book, The Happiness Project, the days are long but the years are short.  That hit me hard today.  In the near future I won't have toddlers vying for my attention all the time.  They won't be asking to help constantly.  That amazing smell of summer will be replaced by smelly adolescent stench.  While I truly needed and enjoyed my break today, I am aware that this time in their lives is fleeting.  I am thankful I was able to appreciate my sweet little girls today.