EASTER 2009

Brooke is allergic to eggs and Morgan tasted one and spit it right back out. Still, like many things in life, the fun part is "the hunt!" This theory applies to dating, shopping and, of course, easter eggs.

Modeling is definitely in their futures - don't ya think? Brooke is giving her "pondering" look, while Morgan is trying to look innocent. She just about pulls it off!

High School Musical

Brooke and I went to see the Central Crossing High School production of High School Musical. We were both very impressed. It was neat to see students that I had taught in 6th or 8th grade suddenly transformed into confident, talented, self-assured individuals. Brooke was in awe of the cheerleaders and the dancers.


Neither of us had ever seen the actual movie, so we were both eagerly awaiting as the curtain rose. We had very few expectations. I was simply hoping to sit for an hour or two in a comfortable chair. Brooke was satisfied the minute she saw pom-poms.

For those of you unfamiliar with the HSM plot, it can be summed up as follows: A mix of Romeo and Juliet with a bit of S.E. Hiton's The Outsiders and a dab of Grease. It is simply put, a classic story of cliques that clash. As I held Brooke in my lap the entire time, I couldn't help but ponder the question - How would she survive the brutal nature of teenage girls? Her tenderheartedness leaves her easily offended by small little comments. She can tear up unexpectantly, even if someone isn't trying to hurt her feelings. She is scared of the dark. She doesn't like to go to the movie theater because it gets "too loud, too big, and too dark!" She says her "heart hurts: when she misses her mommy and daddy. She crumbles when she is scolded and knows that she did something wrong. How can this little thin-skinned child one day survive the jungle of high school?

I guess it is our job to prepare her for this world. How do I prepare her for it without hardening her? How do I keep that sweet heart inside of her without leaving her exposed to years of hurt? How do I nurture her innocence without making her a target? Each day I have more questions and fewer answers, but somehow I seem to get by. I hope I have a few more years to figure these things out. I am SO not ready to have teenagers (Especially those of the female variety!)

Still, the show was FANTASTIC.

Fast Friends with Alyssa "Grace"

Our good friends Chris and Heather live about an hour and a half away. So, we don't get a chance to see them as much as we would like. With a busy life full of having kids, potty-training, birthday parties, family events, work commitments, and all the other requirements we have as adults, it is difficult to uncover a weekend that both of our familes are free for an evening. So, we were really excited last weekend when the kids were healthy and we were able to visit them in their new home. Even though they have lived there for about a year, we had not yet seen their place!

One of the best parts of the evening was watching the girls play together. Before we arrived at their house, Brooke decided that Alyssa's middle name had to be "Grace." It is actually Marie, but the entire night Brooke called her Alyssa Grace. I am not quite sure why. Just one of those things that makes sense to a four-year-old.

Alyssa and Morgan are exactly a month apart in age, and when you get two two-year-olds together, it is a bit of a crap shoot. Luckily, they became fast friends. They bonded over ice cream and princess dresses. We (the adults) bonded over pizza and beer. Good Times!

Disney Surprise

It is advisable to keep information from your children if you are planning to go somewhere fun. In doing so, you may actually get them to nap before you leave the house. You can avoid the constant questioning that goes something like "Are we going to leave soon?" OR "How much longer until it is time to go bye-bye?"

After learning this lesson the hard way, we decided to really surprise the girls with a trip to see "Disney on Ice!" They both napped great that Sunday afternoon, and as they woke up, we threw them in the bathtub, and told them that they were going somewhere fun! Brooke's guesses included bowling, Tuttle Mall, the library, and Cracker Barrel. Morgan simply repeated all of Brooke's guesses like a little mocking bird.

Even as we drove to Nationwide Arena, we didn't give them any hints. We got inside of the building and even up the escalator before Brooke realized that she was in for some sort of Disney treat. Her first reaction was "Are we in Disney World?" I snapped the second shot as the idea was dawning on her!

.

Morgan's favorite part of the show? Eating Popcorn! Brooke's favorite part? "The skating!" To our surprise, we were front and center. The girls could actually feel the flakes of ice fly from the rink as the skaters slid, jumped and twirled by. Chip (or maybe Dale) gave the girls a hug during the finale. Overall, I'd say it was a great night. Still, it kinda makes me wonder if my kids need more excitement in their lives. I mean, bowling and the Cracker Barrel were on the top of their lists!

Do you feel a draft?

It started out pretty typical - Morgan takes one of Brooke's precious stuffed friends............

Then..........

THE RACE is on..........

and the pants are falling off......

Without any assistance from Brooke, Morgan's pants were mid-calf as she was in hot-pursuit throughout the house. But, that didn't slow her down much. It made me wonder if she had taken fashion notes from some of the 8th grade boys she had seen recently at my school. Still, the speed at which she ran from Brooke was amazing considering her wardrobe malfunction. It didn't seem to phase her one bit. While watching this I could see a fight brewing, and I was faced with a dilemma - Do I try to intervene and prevent an almost certain sisterly battle? OR... grab the camera. I guess it is obvious which option I chose.

Make Believe

If a child is to keep alive her inborn sense of wonder,

she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it,

rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. Rachel Carson


Each night when I tuck my girls in, we go through the same routine. Mostly it consists of prayers, hugs, stories, kisses, more hugs, and some time to just listen to them. I ask them questions about their day and usually get a very mixed up story about the fun they had at daycare.
Morgan recently graduated to her big-girl bed, and along with the pride she beems with when she says, "MY big-girl bed!" came a whole new set of routines that she must follow to assert her new found independence. She must walk up the stairs BY HERSELF. She must get on the potty BY HERSELF. She must wipe BY HERSELF. She must get up into her bed (which is equal to her height) BY HERSELF. She must walk to the top of her bed and flop down on her pillow (missing by just inches the headboard) BY HERSELF! And just when I think my little baby is pulling away too quickly, she begs me to lie with her and sing her "You are my Sunshine." Then there are a million hugs and kisses before I can escape the lair of Miss Independence. In her mind she must make believe that she is truly ready to "grow up!" She must convince herself that she is ready. But, then reality sinks in, and she realizes that the world is much bigger than she and it all seems less scary if mom is next to you singing a lullaby.
By this time Brooke is anxiously awaiting my arrival in her room. I have difficulty finding her amongst her "friends." She calls the stuffed animals friends and to her they are much more than toys. Many of her stuffed pals even have names. There is Sara, the rainbow beanie baby bear that she insists is a weiner dog. There is Vivianne, her newest bunny that must be changed into her Hello Kitty PJ's each night. There is Todd, a random brown bear. Chewy - the crazy-looking alpaca-fur bear that Aunt Lynn gave her from Peru. And most importantly Puppy, the puppy that travels everywhare with her. Some of her friends haven't been named, but they keep her company just the same. I love the fact that she finds comfort in these make-believe creatures.

I hold tight to the moments of wonder they get from their make-believe world. I appreciate being swept away in it with them.

Too soon perhaps, Brooke may find her bed a bit too full of "toys" instead of "friends." And Morgan may find herself happy to finally be "left alone!"

Magical Snow

At 10:58 PM last night, I got the call - NO SCHOOL!!

One of the perks of teaching is the unexpected, but always prayed for snow day! Because Brooke and Morgan are like roosters in the morning, I knew sleeping in was out of the question. But, that didn't keep us from staying in our pajamas for the majority of the day.

First on the agenda was making chili soup. Brooke assigned herself the name of "bean girl" and found a lot of humor in telling her father that, "beans make you toot!" She was even happy to demonstrate this after eating her share of the soup. Morgan was left with tomatoes and stirring. I was satisfied when all the ingredients ended up in the pot and very little ended up on the floor. Regardless of how the chili tasted, I had decided it was a kitchen success.

Second on the list came crafts. In the world of a four and two-year-old, this consists of fighting over the stencils and crayons and deciding how they can tear the paper in a new way. Next, when crafting as a toddler, one must glue glitter to their hair and eyelids. When all else fails, crafts must be dumped systematically on the floor and left for mom to clean up. My girls are good at all of these things. I think they might be gifted!

Finally, nap time! I find it a requirement for both mom and children on snow days to find at least one hour to sleep. I more than met my requirement as Brooke and Morgans slept for over two hours! AHHHHHH!

Then, I knew eventually I would break down and spend some time suiting up the girls to head out into the snow-covered wonderland they had longingly peered at through the windows.

First layer - tights and undershirt. CHECK!

Second layer - sweater and jeans. CHECK!

Third layer - fleece sweatshirt. CHECK!

Fourth layer - Snowsuit and Coat. CHECK!

Finally - gloves, hat, boots, scarf. CHECK!

Morgan lasted approximately 7 mins and 22 seconds. Her gloves fell off twice. She couldn't get herself upright after falling down and attempting a snow angel. And she quickly realized that, for some, the snow is much more enjoyable to look at through the window while sipping hot chocolate.

Brooke was in it for the long haul. She talked me into being her sled dog and I pulled her up and down the court for about 10 minutes. After I worked up a sweat, I decided it was time for her and the 10-yr-old neighbor girl, Tara, to sled together.

This worked out beautifully. It reminded me that, at age 10, we have an infinite amount of strength and energy. Brooke lasted nearly an hour. She would have stayed out longer, but the chili soup was ready and she was promised hot chocolate when she finished her bowl. She is definitely my child -chocolate always wins!!!

While at dinner, Brooke informed her father that her arms (which are sore from the four-year shots) didn't hurt at all outside. She explained, 'The snow is magical!"