I am thankful

It's difficult for me to roll with things. I like to be prepared, plan ahead, organized. I'm sure I have a lot of annoying traits, but this is by far the one that everyone who knows me has to put up with the most. This month in particular has been less than stable for me in the last several years. Bad news, health scares, bad pregnancies, all seem to occur around this time of year. Par for the course, my Mom is dealing with some health issues. It's not my story to tell, but I can tell you that she will be OK. It's life, we live it and we get through it. It makes us stronger, it brings us together. For me, it puts my priorities back into focus. At the end of the day, what really matters in your life? It is at these moments you pull from your inner strength and keep moving forward. So while my immediate reaction to November when it sneaks up on me is to brace myself, it probably couldn't come at a more appropriate time to remind myself to be thankful. Be thankful for what I have, and for who I have in my life. I am thankful.

Happy Halloween 2012

While out Trick or Treating in the rain, Rick asked, "Who is this for anyway? You or the kids?" He's right, they would have been happy dressing up and just going over to Noni's house that night. But I felt inclined to show off their handmade costumes.
















Speaking of being crafty (and tooting my own horn), I made these treats for Sophia's classmates. They will make a reappearance next year for sure! So easy to make and addictive!

Look who's 2!

 

I had planned a birthday party on Ava's actual birthday with the family, but Ava's virus had other plans and decided to give her a gift of a 102 temperature an hour before family was to arrive. So we had a nice big cake (I made it in the shape of an owl, her theme for the party) all to ourselves. And food, lots of food.

This year we had 2 balloons in honor of Julia, one for each girl to let go. We also told Sophia why we are making a tradition of releasing the balloons on Ava's birthday. That felt good to tell her about Julia, but also trickier than anticipated.

 

Sophia says...

Or doesn't say, may be more appropriate. So I pick up Sophia from school today, and the teacher asks to speak to me. Immediate thought: this should be good. Second thought: Dear god, I can only imagine what came out of her mouth. I signed her out and proceeded to look at her sitting quietly waiting for her name to be called, as if the whole scenario might unfold on a jumbo tron displayed on her forehead. Not. I walk over to the teacher and ask what was up. The teacher, with somber face, tells me that Sophia said "F-you" today. But "I didn't hear her say it, a child came up to me and told me she said it. And she didn't say the whole word, she literally said "F-you'." I'm sure my response was perplexed, I might have had an awkward smile, but I was totally baffled where she would actually say an abbreviated "F-you." And in what context? I'll admit that there is occasional swearing in our house. Never the "F" word, in any context. Rick hates when I even abbreviate it to him. If I really, really want to get my point across (heated discussion while we are alone, of course) I will drop the "F bomb" and he will cringe and give me the look, and reprimand me about using the word. Which I find funny. And then I may throw it in a few more times because I'm mad and don't need to be reprimanded. Damnit. So anyway...I told her teacher thank you for bringing it to my attention and I will talk to her about it. We get in the car and I ask her how school was. She said she didn't want to talk about it. I asked her if she'd rather talk about it when Daddy came home, and she said, "Well I was playing with my friends S* and D* and we were playing that game "Eeeny meeny miny mo, catch a tiger by the toe, if you holler, let it go. And then E* came up and said, 'You said a bad word' and then the teacher talked to me." Imagine a big pause. And then I'm trying to figure out how to have a conversation about a non-existent bad word at the same time trying hard not to correct her on her game playing. Seriously, it's "if HE hollers, let him go" not "If YOU" but I guess we wouldn't be in this situation if she knew the right way of playing the game. Which brings me to the conclusion of that little boy must know what "F-you" means, because he tattled on something he clearly misinterpreted. So either Sophia is a genius (you know I'm biased and I think she is super smart) and was able to figure out a way out of getting in trouble by making an elaborate story up, or it was purely miscommunication. I'm guessing miscommunication here. My predicament is that it's Friday. So I have to wait until Monday to clear my child's name. And my name. Because we all know the teacher believes she heard it in the home.