Christmas Greeting 2009

Do you ever still feel it...That child-like excitement over Christmas....That energy-charged feeling that surrounds everything in the season?  Where every little moment is filled with wonderment?

I'll admit I rarely feel it any more.  Every once in a while a phrase of a Christmas carol will bring back that nostalgic feeling -- but only for a moment.  I'm afraid I fall into the majority of people whom I know who feel a bit frazzled and unprepared. 

It certainly didn't help that yesterday, 3 days before Christmas, as I was trying to buy the final 5 gifts on my list, I ran into a bit of car trouble.  I was in a hurry and feeling guilty because my kids were already on Christmas vacation and sitting home by themselves, rather than playing games, making puzzles & eating cookies with dear old mom.

I was leaving the mall parking lot, when I notice this blinking warning on my dash -- "Check Tire Pressure".  I think to myself, "That's interesting, I'll need to ask Cal about that.  I hope it is like the 'Low Fuel' warning that allows me to drive another 40 miles before taking action."  Well, apparently that is not the case. As I pulled onto the road into the crazy, last-minute-Christmas-shopping traffic, I experienced a lurching "th-thump, th-thump".  Not good.  I manuever into the next shopping center parking lot and call Cal's cell...then his work...and then I text him. Where is he when I need him?  I have no idea what I should do.  I'll admit that I pride myself on being a relatively independent girl with an "I can handle anything" kind of attitude, but this was way past my limit.  Me? Change a tire in the slush and snow? I don't think so.  I figured I might as well shop while I wait to hear from Cal.  He called me back shortly to say he was on his way to rescue me.  He bravely faced the elements...changing my tire, while trying to keep his nice work clothes clean.  I sat in his warm car offering words of encouragement through the window and telling him I was paying attention so that I could do it myself next time. :)  An hour and a half later, I was on my way home.

Well -- with that fun adventure behind us and one more day of preparing for the festivities accomplished -- I am now looking forward to a joyous Christmas.  And in an attempt to bring some nostalgia back to our Christmas season-- I thought I would share Christmas through our children's eyes:

Christmas Lights

 Merry Christmas from our Home to yours.  According to our children, the simplicity our lighted wreath and trees is boring.  They would much rather our house looked like the Griswold's.

The Advent Calendar

An early morning ritual.  The anticipation of counting down is essential.

Let it Snow...

The snow is beautiful, but, unfortuneatly, has already ruined a few holiday plans as the biggest snow storm in 7 years is predicted for Christmas Eve.

Cutting down The Tree

Carter was almost "man" enough at 9-years-old to help carry the tree this year. However, in his naturally uninhibited way, he kept yelling "Ouch" and sharing with everyone exactly where the tree was hitting him.  I had to take over.

The Christmas Program

What could be better than little children singing their hearts out about Jesus' birth?

Taryn is still wearing her flower girl dress from this summer. We adapted it with red sweater and red shoes for Christmas. (Thank you Jesse and Emily -- we have gotten our use out of this dress. It was also part of her "Beauty Queen Costume" for Halloween.)

The Creche

Over the years, our kids have all pretended and played with these figures.  We figured it didn't hurt to  let their imaginations flow about baby Jesus in the manger.  However, this year Taryn maybe got a little carried away when she introduced Ken and Barbie to Mary and Joseph and the WiseMen.  I wasn't sure if that was crossing the line.  But perhaps that is just the point of Christmas -- Jesus crossed that line and made his home among us -- Barbies and all.

Sparkling Ornaments

The Santa Hat

This hat comes out every year in December and Carter sleeps with it on most nights -- "And I in my kerchief and ma in her cap" ...

Christmas Carols

 Paige plays a wonderful rendition of "O, Come all you Faithful" on the piano which she was able to share at church.

Christmas Cookies

Aren't our aprons cute? (Thanks Mom!)

I'm glad we looked "cute" when we baked because our finished product certainly did not.  As I was lamenting over our sloppy work, Paige said to me, "At least we had fun. And they taste good. And this way you won't give them away."

Family

As I look over all these pictures, I realize that while I might no longer get that giddy Christmas feeling, and cars will break down and schedules will stay hectic, life is sure good when you carve out a few minutes to do something special for Christmas. 

And upon reflection, while the child-like excitement of Christmas may not last into adulthood, the truth and wonder of Christmas is more real to us than ever.  The thought of God becoming a human baby...the idea that the Almighty creator of the Universe came to earth and cried and cooed, that He teethed and crawled and took first steps...is no longer just a sweet story -- it is an event that we can't even begin to grasp.  We can't fathom the depth of God's love for us that He would come and dwell among us.

So maybe it's just a different kind of feeling now...not a giddy excitement, but an awe-filled humility.   

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!  She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,  which means ‘God is with us.’”  Matthew 1:23

Wishing you a wonder-filled Christmas!

Cal, Jen, Paige, Carter and Taryn

Bye-Bye Tooth

This is one of those years...one of those years that I am saying good bye to more and more things that I will never experience again as a mom.

Recently, my baby lost her first tooth.

Taryn came home from school one day to tell me her tooth was loose.  For two years she's been telling me she has loose teeth...always about the same time her brother was losing one. So this time I, again, didn't think anything of it.  But she kept begging me, "Wiggle it, Mom.  Come on, wiggle it."  So I thought I would humor her and put my fingers in her mouth -- and it MOVED!   I have to tell you, my heart literally fell.  I just couldn't believe it.  Last I remember she was slobbering all over breaking in those baby teeth and now those teeth are falling out!

When Paige was in Kindergarten and lost many teeth, it never even occured to me to feel that she was too young to lose teeth.  I had two other little ones at the time -- and she was my "big" girl.  Makes me wonder how much different I must treat Taryn at this age, then I treated Paige.

Well after 3 weeks of drama over this loose tooth, it finally fell out at school.  I was absolutely fine with her losing it at school -- I am terribly squemish about these kind of things.  Some of my friends LOVE to pull their kids teeth out.  I can't stand it -- I can't even stand looking at the thing hanging there. Anyway -- that's probably the reason her tooth held on stubbornly for 3 weeks -- I wasn't going to help loosen it any.

She was very proud as she came home with a special "tooth" card and her tooth in a baggie.  She couldn't wait to put it under her pillow and collect her dues from the tooth fairy.  She at least kept track of her tooth.  Carter seems to misplace his -- the last three times he's lost a tooth he's had to put a note under his pillow rather than the actual tooth.  His last note said "I don't know why I can't ever find my teeth.  Could you please give me $5.00?"  -- Yeah, right -- Our tooth fairy isn't that genrous!

So I say good-bye to Taryn's baby teeth...I wonder what little thing will hit me next as these kids of mine continue to grow...

Laughs on me!

I don't know what it is about my sister and me, but everything takes on a new note of hilarity when we are together.  Things that might not typically seem so funny, invoke ridiculous giggles that we can't seem to control.  Our time together during the Thanksgiving holiday proved no different.  And let me just add that if my mom joins in the laughing...well...we are all done for.  The males around us just look on and shake their heads.

Our Thanksgiving celebration started out with appetizers, as any good celebration should....stuff ourselves on snacks before dinner!  During this time, Becca thought it would be a good idea to take a picture of us siblings and our significant others, together, on one small couch. She also decided we should try to take a "serious" photo where none of us smile.  You can see below how well that worked out for Becca and me.

Then we moved on to dinner which was delicious!  My husband made me proud by finishing off three heaping helpings of food.  The man simply loves stuffing...what can I say?  Towards the end of his third helping, he leaned back in his chair, put his hands above his head and exclaimed "I'm done!"  Let me just say -- between the large number of people in the room and an overwhelming consumption of food, he had a mild case of perspiration.  He had also managed to spill in the middle of his shirt.  Becca and I looked at him revealing his pits and the stain on his stomach -- and then looked at each other and had a hard time containing ourselves for the next 5 minutes.  Poor guy!

But I must admit -- the last laugh was on me.  At one point in the meal, Paige asked for Ketchup.  (I know -- what a disgrace -- ketchup on turkey -- who raised this girl?!)  So I attempt to get up from the table to fetch the ketchup.  What happened next will now be talked about in my family with hilarious laughter for the next 20 years, I'm sure.  As I try to squeeze between my own chair and Taryn's chair my foot got stuck and I took a straight, but graceful, nose dive for the floor.  However, what stopped my face from hitting the floor was the kitchen door.  Yes, I did a direct face plant into the door.  Bam!  Time stood still for a moment.  Everyone held their breath -- I slowly put my hand to my face -- wondering how much damage I just did.  I knew it wasn't good.  Eventually, I dared to pull my hand away to discover it was full of blood. 

I dashed off for the bathroom followed by my mother.  (Apparently, that mother instinct never goes away.)  She was closely followed by my husband.  My nose was bleeding profusely and my lip was ridiculously fat.  My mother tenderly washed the blood from my hand as my husband held a cloth to my nose.  What a scene! I told them to both go back and enjoy their meal and I hid in the bathroom for a while.  I heard my husband announce to the group, "I think she's going to live."  The most humiliating part was when I had to go back to the table.  Once it was determined I had no life-threatening injuries...the laughter came.

So what can I say -- I'm glad I can laugh at myself!  I'm glad I have a sister and mother to laugh with.  And if this year the laughs on me, so be it!

Happy Thanksgiving

Here are a few things that today I give thanks for.  (In no particular order)

• South Dakota Sunsets
• Romans 8:38-39
• Friends and family that inspire me to learn more and do more
• Messed up hair and sleepy eyes of  my little ones as they greet me with "goodmorning mommy"
• A husband who keeps me stable
• Singing Harmony
• My slippers
• My down comforter
• A husband who likes to cook
• Spezia's Restaurant
• Top Chef and a glass of wine
• Walking into a clean house
• My dog curled up by my feet
• Taryn's little fingers
• Hearing Paige sing
• Carter still wanting to cuddle
• My parents love for one another after 40 years of marriage
• Time with brothers and sisters under one roof to discuss and laugh
• The Body of Christ
• A God who reveals Himself to us
• Health
• Freedom to worship
• Bible studies that expand my understanding of God's sovereignty and love
• Books that allow me to experience a different slice of life beyond my own small world
• Hearing our kids pray
• The intimacy of sharing a laugh with Cal about something only we find funny
• Paige's generous spirit and helpful nature
• Carter reciting Luke 2
• Linus reciting Luke 2
• Watcing the lightbulbs go off as a Taryn learns to read for the first time
• A sense of humor
• Little children singing "Away in the Manger"
• Candlelight
• The smell of pine
• Anticipation of things to come
• Amazing Grace

To My Son -- On His Birthday

Today we are celebrating Carter's 9th year of life.

Oh the anticipation of a birthday!  As I was driving Carter and a friend home from basketball last night (the night before the big b-day), I could hear them talking in the back.  Carter was saying "When it's your birthday, do you get up early and open presents right away?  That's what we do...my whole family comes into my room and wakes me up by singing the birthday song and then we open presents in the living room."   How sweet is that?!?!  He mentioned the family singing the birthday song as an important part of whole story.  Obviously presents were a bigger part, but those little traditions mean more than we will ever know.

Early morning present opening. (So early, it's still dark out!)

So here's what I'd like to say to my little man as he turns 9 :

Dear Carter,

Nine years ago today was one of the best days of my life because it is the day that you entered this world and changed my life forever.

Thank you for being you!  Don't ever change who you are.  You are like no other being ever created.

Keep your curiosity.

Keep marveling at God's creation -- at spiders and snakes & monkeys and whales...

Keep your desire to learn more about this great world we live in.

Keep doing experiments.

Keep drawing.

Keep playing hard.

Keep shooting hoops.

Keep your boundless energy.

Keep being affectionate.

Keep your tender heart.

Keep laughing with your sisters.

Keep respecting others.

Believe that you can make a difference in this world.

Trust that you can tell me anything -- I will always listen.

Have faith that God has a plan for your life.

Know with all your being that you are a child of God - and nothing can separate you from His love.

I love you Carter -- so much!  There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for giving me and dad the gift of you!

Happy Birthday, my 9 year old boy!

Love, 

Your Mom

Sure...I'll buy.

It is high time I post a blog again for the simple reason that I need to get the fact that I am "losing it" off the top -- I think I've done another 5 brain dead things this week, but I'm not going to admit to them right now.  Very early on, as I started this blog, I admitted that I created it for the simple reason of being honest and hoping that I would find someone along the way who can relate, and tell me I'm doing O.K.  In reality, I'm finding people who say things like -- "I sure thought your "losing it" list was funny." To which I eagerly reply, "Because you can relate?"  And they say, "No! I've never done any of those things?"  Ayyyee!

Today, however, rather than admit to being a scatter brain.  I'll admit to being a sucker.  I am simply a sucker for people who come to my door selling things.  Sometimes it has worked out, other times...not so well.  I haven't always been this way -- I used to pride myself on being a tough cookie. "Who do these people think they are, wasting my time..."  But I have softened some over the years and it's probably for the best.  "Who do I think I am that these nice people don't deserve a chance to make a living?"  In the last year I have made the following purchases from someone ringing my doorbell:

1.  I bought Avon from the most "glowing from the inside" person I have ever met.  I would see this dear lady walking miles from my house -- always smiling and wondered what she was doing.  Then one day she came to my door selling Avon.  She was trying to establish herself, didn't have a car, and needed cash upfront for the sale before I received the product.  That should be a big red flag, but I decided to take the risk.  If this person needed the cash that bad and didn't return with my product, well I guess she really needed the money.  So I spent $20, hoping she would return with my product.  Not because I was desperate for lotion and bubble bath.  But because I wanted her to be the good person I took her for.  As she left she said "Can I give you a hug?  I hug all my customers.  God bless you!"  She did return with my products -- walked all the way to my house to deliver them.  God bless her!

2.  I bought meat from a guy selling shrinked wrapped frozen beef in many varieties and cuts. I must say I am quite the negotiator.  I talked him down to below half his starting price and got a freezer full of mediocre meat.

3.  I bought some bio-degradable household cleaner from a some salesman.  He had me sold on the product the minute he demonstrated how it could take Sharpie out of a piece of cloth.  (We've had more than our fair share of Sharpie accidents.)  He also began cleaning the mildew from my camper, but stopped after one brilliantly clean streak.  Again, I negotiated down from $40 a bottle, to $40 for two bottles, to $20 for one bottle.  Sold!  It is the kind of cleaner you dilute so I should be good for the next 10 years.  If you have a stain -- let me know!

4.  I bought a magazine from a very polite young man who was trying to better his life.  He was an orphan from Florida who was up in South Dakota on a 35 degree rainy day with some youth program trying to make something of himself.  He could earn points if I just bought a magazine and signed his sheet telling his supervisor how he did.  He let me know that if I didn't need a magazine for myself, I could buy one for the kids in his orphanage...perhaps they would be interested in Forbes, he suggested.  (Yes, by this point there were red flags EVERYWHERE.  First, orphanages no longer exist in the United States and second what child is going to want to read Forbes Magazine ?!?!?(the most expensive one, by the way)).  Well despite those red flags, I decided to chance it again, as I did with the Avon lady.  You just have to go out on a limb sometime and give people the benefit of the doubt.  I bought the Disney Magazine for $25.  The next day it was reported all over the local news about these magazine sales people who were a sham.  I was disappointed, not because I wasn't going to be receiving the Disney Magazine, but because he let me down!

5.  Today I spent 2 and a half hours on my one day off to listen to a Kirby salesman ONLY because there was the promise of a free carpet cleaning attached to it.  Somewhere along the line someone stopped at my front door and asked me to fill out a sweepstakes for free groceries which I, of course, did.  Somehow that turned into me winning a "free carpet cleaning".  (Yeah right!)  When they called to schedule the appointment I asked how long it would take, explaining that I only had one hour and wasn't going to buy a vaccuum.  He said "It will only take an hour and there is no sales pitch."   I believed him...What a mistake!  Eddie arrived today, and after a two hour demonstration which included being shown over and over exactly how nasty my carpets were, he breezed over my carpets with his shampooer and then I essentially kicked dear Eddie out the door.  He was nice and all, but my children were already waiting for me to pick them up from school.  I am happy to report that I didn't buy a vaccuum and my carpets are clean, but boy, did it cost me my time.

So here I sit...my skin is soft, I just ate a decent burger, my spots are removed, and my carpets are clean.  I'm not a total sucker....If only I could read a magazine!

Top 10 Signs I have too much on my mind OR I am seriously LOSING IT!

1.  Two separate times this week I needed to go to the post office to mail a package.  BOTH times I arrived at the counter, asked for a priority mail box and then had to admit that I had no idea what the address was for where  I was sending the package.   I had to get out of line -- call someone to find the address and then try again.

2.  I went to the grocery store to buy cottage cheese because I was actually going to cook and make Lasagna for dinner.  I became very distracted thinking about everything else I needed, including special snacks I wanted to make for our trip this weekend, and left the store without...Cottage Cheese!  We ended up eating Spaghetti O's and left overs.

3.  I brought Carter to basketball practice this week and decided to stay and watch him practice.  I told a friend that she didn't need to come back to pick up her son because I was staying and would be happy to bring him home.  You guessed it -- as we pulled onto our street I did a sudden gasp and Carter freaked "What's wrong?"..."We forgot Collin!!"  I quickly turn around -- call my friend and tell her "I am so sorry.  I didn't completely forget your son, I just a little bit forgot him, but I am on my way back to get him."  She said that the coach had just called wondering what was up.

4.  I had to pick  up Paige from church tonight and on my way there I all of a sudden snap out of it and realize that I am sitting at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green!!!

5.  I dialed my husband, Cal's, phone number and when he answers I say, "Hi Mark, this is Jen".  I totally intended to dial my co-worker, Mark.  Good thing Cal knows Mark.  And he is completely aware that I am losing it.

6.  I have 10 missed calls on my cell phone from my home phone because it is the only way I can find where I last misplaced it!

7.  We are leaving tomorrow for the weekend and I just now realized I have no idea what I am going to do with my dog.

8.  I sent an e-mail to a co-worker whose name is Michelle and started it out "Hi Trudi".  She e-mailed back "LOL.  You just called me Trudi." 

9.  I left work and couldn't find my car.  I re-traced all my steps and remembered thinking that it would be better parking in the back lot than the front lot because of the traffic -- so I was moments away from calling the police to report a stolen vehicle when I decided I might as well check the front lot, just in case, although I knew I had thought through parking in the back. Turns out that was actually my thought process from the day before.  My car was in the front.

10.  I know there was something else I forgot this week.  But I forgot what it was.

Thank goodness those who love me, bear with me!  I truly am out of control.

3 Minutes Plus 1

I'm missing my kids tonight....

I'm in Nashville by myself...Cal and I had a wonderful weekend here together, but now he left to go home and I'm still here.  I'm so jealous that he gets to kiss all their precious cheeks tonight when he gets home late and finds them sleeping in their beds.  I have to wait another 3 days.

I was just thinking about what I would be doing if I were home right now...I'd be going through that whole bedtime routine thing...that routine that often makes me crazy, but that tonight I miss...

It starts with the "bednight" snack.  (I realize that word doesn't even make any sense....it should be "bedtime" snack, but in our house its "bednight".)  This almost always consists of vanilla icecream from the gallon tub that probably contains more high fructose corn syrup than any dairy product and Hersey's chocolate syrup.  However, tonight they probably acutally did get to enjoy the expensive Breyer's All-Natural Vanilla Bean because I was having a healthy moment at the grocery store last week and splurged.  However, there seems to me to be something fundamentally wrong with putting Hersey's syrup on Breyer's natural vanilla bean...I'm not sure.

Then after snack, we move on to the pj's and brushing teeth stage of the night.  If I'm going to lose my cool, this is when it will happen.  Undoubtedly, there are 500 distractions between snack and jammies and for some reason I need to remind them what we are doing as many times over.

Then the part I am missing tonight -- tucking them all in.  For Taryn I still curl up in her bed and read a story.  Then we shut off the lights, sing her prayers, and then I lay by her "3 minutes plus 1".  "3 minutes plus 1" has become such a part of our ritual that I hardly remember when it started.  All I know is what started out as a way for me to negotiate how to keep her in bed and to maneuver my way out of her room is now a cherished part of my night. 

It started as, "Taryn you need to stay in bed. "
And  her saying "You need to lay by me".
"O.K. -- I'll lay by you for 1 minute"
"No 5 minutes"
"How about 3 minutes?"
"O.K.  3 minutes." . . .
"3 minutes is up"
"Just one more"

Until finally we didn't need this debate anymore -- It was just "Mommy, can you lay by me 3 minutes plus 1?"  And I knew it was easier to just roll with it.
Recently, there have been nights that I kissed her goodnight and walked right out her bedroom door.  A bit of my heart ached that she didn't ask for the "3 minutes plus 1."  I have seen Paige and Carter graduate to new bedtime routines and I'm not sure I'm ready for her to.

For Carter -- I still get to pull his covers up, sing prayers with him and give him a kiss.  He most often reads to himself now because it's the only time in his day to get his required school reading in.

For Paige -- if she isn't working on homework late, she reads for a while and then I still get to go in, pull up her covers and give her a kiss.  But we don't sing prayers anymore...now I just remind her -- "Don't forget to pray."

And tonight -- since I can't tuck them in personally -- I will tuck them in with my prayers for each of them. And I will find comfort in the words of Psalm 139:
3 You discern their going out and their lying down;
you are familiar with all their ways.
5 You hem them in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon them.

(Italicized words I changed from first person)

Grandma Minnie

This week we attended the funeral for Cal's 98-year-old Grandma Minnie.   

I didn't expect to cry....

We were ready for this day.  She had lived a long life, and during the last 15 years of her life she had severe memory loss.  She didn't really know anyone anymore.  It was a day to rejoice. A day to celebrate the life she lived.  There is joy in knowing she is now in heaven where her body and MIND have been restored.   

But I did...I cried.  How silly of me to think I wouldn't.  I cried out of appreciation for the legacy of faith she left behind.  MANY of her family were there.   While a number of her family members have proceeded her in death, she left behind a small village -- 4 children (1 proceeded her), 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. (Who hears of that anymore?  Great-great grandchildren?)  Her daughter spoke of her mother's faith, her grand-daughter spoke of her grandma's faith, and her great-granddaughter sang praises to our Jesus.  The pastor recalled how on his visits with Minnie they would always conclude with the Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23 or the Apostles Creed.  And while she didn't remember much, those words always came back.  I pray that those promises are as deeply rooted in my heart and mind and that they are passed onto my children and eventual grandchildren.

As we stood around her gravesite -- I was struck by how ALL of our many lives exist as they do today because of her...one person.  And we all know Jesus.  I pictured her smiling at us all with her twinkling eyes.  How proud she would be to see us all gathered.  Thank you Grandma Minnie for the heritage you left for us.  Thank you God!

(While this is all very sentimental, I must also confess a typical "Jen Moment" at the cemetary.  We parked quite away back from the grave site and had to walk through the grass to get there.  I am, of course, wearing spiky open toed heals and so I am watching the ground very carefully so as not to trip or sink my heals into the earth. All of a sudden, a snake slithers right in front of my toes and I naturally yell out "Snake!".  I look up and everyone is looking at me -- I'm literally 5 feet from the tented area.  I had no idea I was that close or that loud.  Nice!)

Things That Made Me...

Below is a random assortment of things that I came across this week that struck me for one reason or another. I thought I would share them.

This made me....

...Laugh -- Have you ever spent time deliberating over a "holy" ending to an e-mail or letter? In my line of work...fundraising for a ministry...I've attempted many appropriate "holy" conclusions to letters. Maybe that's why I found this so funny...because for me it is sooo true! BooMama

This made me...

...Reminisce -- If you went to high school in the 80's, you must read this post from one of my favorite mommy blogs. Big Mama

This made me...

...Think of being a mom in a new way -- I know very little about this blog -- but this particular post struck a cord in me. Especially when she says, "As I drifted off, I felt her little hand on my tummy. She rubbed my stomach, much like I rub hers when she’s tired or sad to calm her, and I smiled with the realization that she’d been waiting for me to sleep, too. Her fingers fell into the deep grooves of the stretch marks 27 months of pregnancy have left on me and she paused. She backtracked slightly. She took the tip of her finger and began tracing the marks, the lines marking the roads on the map of our lives together. At that moment I realized something I’d not honestly grasped in 11 years of parenting; that I am hers. I am this thing, this pile of bones and skin that belongs to her. To them. That I am not just a 30 something girl with big hips covered in silvering tracks; I am an extension of three people, and I belong to them completely. And that, the giving over of myself to someone else, well…that is motherhood." On Motherhood

This made me...

...Excited -- I will admit that one of the things that gets me most excited is a good deal. I just bought a pair of boots for me and for my daughter from this website and then we got a third pair for FREE! There is also FREE shipping and we got 3 FREE lip glosses. Check it out http://www.wantedshoes.com/

My favorite quote for the week:

We will never know how much good just a simple smile can do. We tell people how kind, forgiving, and understanding God is, but are we the living proof? Mother Teresa

My favorite Bible verse for the week:

Psalm 34: 8-9

Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints for those who fear him lack nothing.

Today

Recently, I stood in line at the post office fighting back tears. (You might think that this not such an abnormal thing considering how long you often have to wait in line.) However, I was fighting back tears because as I watched a toddler and her mother in front of me, I was struck with the realization that my days of little hands reaching up for me and little giggles as I nuzzled a neck were over. For more than a decade I have had a little one tagging along. A little one who asked questions, clung to my leg, chattered unceasingly, and yes, threw the occasional tantrum. Now...those "little ones" are all at school.

I think I must be overly emotional since my baby went off to Kindergarten because truthfully -- I think I'm O.K. with where we are at.

In the midst of those days with my little ones I heard over and over --" enjoy them while they last...they will be gone before you know it." I knew that to be true, and I did enjoy them, but in retrospect, I'm not sure I savored them as much as I wish I had. But isn't that always the case? Isn't that why people tell you to enjoy them...because they too wish they had enjoyed them more?

When I was living the days of cuddling and tummy zerberts, first steps and first words, trips to the zoo and lapsit at the library. I was also in the midst of spit up and ear infections, diapers and tantrums, potty training and sleepless nights. It's all just a blur. During those years, I struggled to complete a thought, let alone savor a moment. I didn't appreciate a cute conversation in the post office line because I still had to address the package, find the right box, & get frustrated over why the line wasn't moving faster so that I could complete my next 10 tasks. The never ending "Mommy, can I have some candy?" questions just didn't seem so cute. My perspective is quite different now as I witness just one adorable chubby cheeked snapshot of my past and not my reality.

Do I miss the precious moments of that time of our life? Yes. Do I want to go back to that time, I'm not so sure.

What I do know is this...I did those years to the best of my ability and I loved them. And now I have today. And today...I can actually complete a thought!

Today, I enjoy my sixth grade daughter immensely...our conversations, the new opportunities she has, and the activities we can do together as mother and daughter. I enjoy my 3rd grade son who still gives me a hug in front of all his friends in the cafeteria at school and marvels with me over how much milkweed our "pet" caterpillar can eat & digest, resulting in crazy amounts of poop. And I'm finding I have the time to savor every moment of Kindergarten with my baby. Taryn has the same teacher as both Carter and Paige and I love hearing her come home from school with the same stories they did. In fact, today was "purple day", she got to wear purple, color purple and learn the "purple song". We all sang it together at the top of our lungs on the drive home from school.

The Purple Song:
(Sung to the tune of Camptown Races)
P-U-R-P-L-E -- Purple, Purple. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells. Purple grapes on the vine. Purple Kool-Aids fine. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells.

Pretty catchy, huh?

It was a good moment, a good snapshot, one I took the time to savor.

For the Love of Birds!

I am going to humble myself and tell you about our chaotic experience last week of bugs in Taryn's hair.

I imagine that when I say bugs & hair in the same sentence you automatically assume, as I did, LICE!!! That dreaded word, the dreaded stigma. Taryn had come in from outside three days in a row complaining that her head itched -- her hair was practically standing on end she was itching so much. The first two days I told her she was sweaty -- the third day I checked her out -- and my heart stopped -- I could see little black things the size of pencil dots moving all through her hair. Let me just say -- NASTY!!

So I freak, as any good mom would, and go into overdrive. "We need to go to the doctor. We can't touch anything. We need to move out of our house." And then I call my mom!

After I collect myself, I drive Taryn to the doctor and as I pull into the clinic, I decide to just call them from the parking lot. "Seriously," I thought, "do I have to go in there and pay the co-pay to find out what I already know...bugs in the hair equals lice." So from the parking lot I talked to the nurse on-call and she told me everything I needed to do. It was a list that ended just before move out of your house and after -- "Don't worry, you will eventually get rid of them and if everything I said fails you could try olive oil in her hair for 8 hours a day, 3 days in a row." (I'm not kidding.)

So I come home like an army general shouting orders to my troops. "Put all your stuffed animals and pillows in these plastic bags, pull ALL of your bedding off, goop up your hair with this gunk, throw away your brushes." I comb tediously through every ones hair and discover nothing on anyone but Taryn. Which was encouraging, but surprising. I fell into bed that night to the luxurious accommodations of a sleeping bag and a new pillow that Cal purchased for the whopping expense of $3.49.

I hardly slept.

The next morning I continued with the literal mountain of laundry. I called the school first thing and told them I needed to report a case of head lice in the Kindergarten class. I don't care what they say -- admitting you have bugs in your hair is humiliating.

I then call a friend who I know has been through this mess before and her encouraging words to me were "Ohhhh Shoot! I'm sorry." (It actually was a little harsher than that :)). She told me how important it was to get every nit off of the hair shaft and that she literally went through 10 hairs at a time to remove them all. She also described what she saw. And all of a sudden I realize that what she is describing is not at all what I saw in Taryn's hair. I get on the Internet and start doing research -- and what I am seeing pictured, is not what I experienced. So I google "dot size black bugs" and wouldn't you know -- some ladies blog comes up about these swarms of minuscule bugs that she thought were lice, but weren't. She begins to describe how they discovered the source of the bugs was a birds nest above their car.

The bells go off in my head. We have a bird's nest under our deck on a support beam. Every single day Taryn goes and lays down with her forehead on our deck to peek through the floor cracks and check on the baby birds. She loves to see them opening their mouths wide for food. So I go out to our deck and lay a magazine down on the floor right above the birds nest. Instantly it is covered with these dot-sized bugs.

I quickly call the school -- "Stop the presses -- a note announcing a lice infestation in the Kindergarten is not necessary. It's just bird mites!" Then I call Cal -- "You must come home. You have some baby birds to kill" (However, he couldn't kill the baby birds -- he's such a softy. He propped them by a tree in the back field behind our house. Now they will likely starve to death instead. But I love him for trying.) And the bugs easily washed away!

Thus ends our bug story. The only good thing about it is that all of my bedding and comforters have been cleaned. And I learned that crazy ladies blogging about crazy things comes in handy!

Tribute to Summer

My kids have been back at school for one whole week already! I guess that means summer is officially over. Where did it go?

I thought I'd include my annual "heading off to the first day of school photo."

In memory of another great summer here is my..."What I love about Summer" list:

• Dirty feet that mean my kids have been running around...like kids
  
• Slicing through the cool waters of Lake Okoboji as I dive off the dock
  
• The sound of baseball on TV
  
• Sitting with my husband on our deck with a glass of wine listening to Delilah (honestly my husband's choice)
  
• The smell of fresh cut grass
  
• Jenni -- our "babysitter".
  
• Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella salad
  
• The family road trip -- where memories are made.
  
• A cool breeze coming through my window as I sleep
  
• The sound of crickets in the night air


• Catching fireflies in a jar


• Campfires


• Eating a meal that I grew half of in my garden


• Full moons that light up a night walk.
  
• Sleeping in (This is especially true after a week of trying to get Carter and Taryn out of bed before 7am!!)
  
• Laughter from kids as they jump on the trampoline, run through sprinklers, swing on the swing set, run down the slip'n'slide, throw water balloons.
  
• Bracco's outdoor patio
  
• "Grandpa and Grandma" camp for a week!


• Laying in the grass and watching the clouds.
  
• A happy husband after a few rounds of golfing at even par. (A happy wife on the VERY occasional par on one lone hole.)


• Big sky -- from my house I can see from horizon to horizon. Some people have mountains, or forests or oceans...I have the sky!

Why does summer have to end so soon?

Oh well, at least fall is up next...and I'll have another "What I love" list. Praise God for another wonderful summer and more seasons to look forward to!

Breath Deep

This evening I took a moment to inhale...

I was standing on my deck and I just stopped to look around for a moment and then I took a really deep breath, and do you know what I smelled....I smelled "Iowa". Now before you think pigs, cows and all things stinky, it wasn't that....it was the Iowa of my childhood memories. It was the smell of my grandparents farm that had no animals. The smell of hay and alfalfa and rich black soil. A sweet scent hanging rich in the humid air. As I sat there breathing in the aroma that transported me back to the carefree days of chasing kitties and running in corn fields, of playing kick the can over the barn and spitting watermelon pits into the grass, I wondered -- does it always smell like this here? Do I not even know that these scents are surrounding me because I no longer take time to just sit and breath.

Every summer as a child, my family made the 10 hour drive from Michigan to central Iowa to visit my grandparent's farm for a whole week. It was the best week of summer -- there was something magical about it. The quiet, the stars, the air, the love. The traditions of coffee time and tea time -- just like clock work. (And of course, nap time during "As the World Turns") The fresh raspberries or strawberries that had just been picked covered with cream and eaten in cut glass bowls. The games of pinochle around the big kitchen table. And the laughter shared (at some one's expense) as my grandpa pulled off yet another practical joke.

As I took a moment to breath in tonight, poignant memories filled my mind and I missed those days and the precious people who were the center of them.

Dirty House = Blessing

I will admit that I am terribly annoyed when I walk into someone's house and they are not expecting me (or any company for that matter) and it is completely clean and organized with not one thing out of place. I had that today as I walked into my sister-in-law's house. She was at work and I needed to drop something off unexpectedly. The house was in perfect order and I was filled with both envy and loathing. In fact, I decided that I should probably use the bathroom while I was there -- I'm sure I could have waited, but I think the curiousity got the better of me and I just wanted to see if her bathroom measured up to the rest of the house. Much to my disappointment, it did! Clean as could be.

My house, on the other hand, which I rushed to leave this morning, had a sink full of dirty dishes, unmade beds, baskets of unfolded clothes -- in fact it was so bad, I felt I had to call my husband to warn him that if he stopped at home he would find a disaster -- he laughed and told me he just had and...I was right...

I, in fact, have a number of friends that fit the classification of "House. Always in order". I remember when a friend called me while she was out of town and asked me if I could stop by her house to pick up a clean pair of pants for her son who fell in a mud puddle at school. As I walked into her house, it was disgustingly perfect. Even the boy's room was organized and his drawers were neatly piled. Please...give me a break! I honestly think I would have made Carter sit in dirty, wet pants before I allowed someone to come into my house unexpectedly to rummage through his drawers. (Although, I am beginning to relax. If people know me, they know my home is not pristine.)

So what am I doing wrong that I can't keep the piles off the counter and floor and table, etc? I can't blame the fact that I am busy -- they are all busy too. Is it just not a priority to me? I like a clean house and I can get it that way when I need to -- it just never is organized on an ongoing basis. I am not one of those people who needs to have my kitchen clean before I go to bed. I sleep just fine with a sink full of dishes. However, in the morning, I always wish I didn't sleep quite so easily.

I will say I am very driven by results. So maybe I like it to get it really messy so that when it is clean I feel like I have accomplished something. (How's that for a positive spin on my laziness). I decided I should take a picture of the way I left the kitchen this morning -- and the way it looks now.

Before

After

Accomplishment!

I think one of the reasons I have always enjoyed working part time is because it gives me that sense of completing a task. On the days I am home I often feel I need to give Cal a report on what I did for the day..."I mopped the floor, I washed the dishes, I bathed the kids, etc." He responds "You don't need to give me a report -- I know you were busy." "Yeah, but I need to tell you for my own benefit. Nothing looks different from when you left this morning until now....but in between that time chaos occured and was put back in order and I want someone to know!!" I'm thinking these before and after pictures are a great idea to help build my own sense of accomplishment.

One of the best things a friend ever said to me was "You bless me when you let me see your house like this." Wow! She left me feeling like I really have a lot of blessing to provide through my dirty house! Who knew? Blessings to you all!

Holy Zucchinis!

I am a novice gardener and this year I decided I should plant two mounds of zucchinis. Well, they essentially have taken over my garden -- and I'm not even that fond of them! I don't mind occasionally eating them stir fried and I have found a Zucchini bread recipe and a zucchini soup recipe (not as bad as it sounds) that my whole family seems to like. However, I definitely need some new creative uses for zucchini...if you have any ideas please send them my way.

The weather this summer has been ideal for gardening and everything is growing in abundance. I have two rows of green beans and while I was out harvesting my first pick this week, I filled three ice cream buckets full. I tried to capture in a photo just how many beans this is -- but I'm not sure I did. For a little perspective -- they are in my largest mixing bowl -- you know -- the one you use to make monster cookies! This is after giving some away and eating a meal. If you like green beans and live in my area -- let me know -- I'm sure I can part with a few more. I really should learn the art of canning food. What do you think?

I do find great joy in going out to my garden and picking veggies and raspberries -- every time I pull back a leaf and find 7 full beans hanging there or a handful of juicy berries, it's like discovering gold. I get so excited. (I obviously need to get out more :)). However, my romance with zucchini's has ended -- there is no longer any joy when I pull back a zucchini leaf and find yet another zucchini the size of a pumpkin.

Now I'll admit I got a little caught up in taking photos of my vegetables just now. I am beginning to consider a career in Vegetable Still-Life photography. I am going to title this one:

"Peppers and Zucchini's"

And this one is "Green Beans in a Yellow Bowl."

If you would like to hang my artwork in your local coffee shop -- let me know! But it's going to cost you (Ha-Ha).

Well, just in case you also have a plethora of zucchini -- here's my soup recipe! Enjoy!

Sautee: 1/2 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 T. Olive Oil

Add: 4 Cups chicken broth, 3 cups cooked chicken, 3 small sliced zucchini's, 14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes w/liquid, 1 can corn, 8 oz tomatoe sauce, 1/2 c. salsa, 2 t. cumin, 3/4 t. pepper

A Diva in the Making

Oh...my precious baby girl. She is as sweet as sweet can be and so incredibly full of love. Yet I think I see a Diva in the making.

Taryn's always been a girly girl -- into princesses and dress up, purses and lip gloss. But lately it seems to be rising to an all new level -- then throw in an opportunity to be a flower girl in a gorgeous dress with her hair done up and well ...we got ourselves a diva.

I had noticed "diva-like" tendencies early on. For example...she's always been into shoes, but lately she tends to pick out shoes with a one-inch wedge heel rather than the cute flowery little girl shoes. She has also always seemed to know what's appropriate to wear to what occasion. At the ripe old age of 4 -- she had us all waiting to go out to eat as she changed out of sweat pants (which would have been totally appropriate for Applebees) into a skirt and matching shirt. She came out of her room saying "this is much better." Lately though -- she desperately wants a strapless dress like many of the high school girls are wearing. I'm sorry -- I draw the line at strapless on a 5 year old.

For a whole year before she turned 5 (on March 5 -- her golden birthday) she started inviting everyone to her "golden birthday party with the princesses at Disneyland." She came home from pre-school one day and told me that Katie, Emma and Tyson could all come with us to Disney (even though Tyson doesn't like princesses). We did end up going to Disneyland and did meet some of the princesses in the pouring rain, however, sorry to say, the friends stayed home.

And boy, does the girl like crowns. We enrolled her in a dance camp this summer -- she was so excited on the first day...I helped her with her leotard and dance skirt, put her hair in a bun and I thought we were ready to go, however, she stopped me and said -- "Mom, don't you think I should wear my crown?" Luckily, I was able to talk her out of that one. Then last week we were headed to visit the grandparents. Again she needed to take a crown along. She opted for the crown that says "Princess" right on it because, to quote Taryn, "That's what they always call me."

She has also always had a "boyfriend". I was mortified one morning as I was driving Taryn to daycare when she was 3. She was telling me that Tyson broke up with her (this was not the part that mortified me -- I thought this was probably for the best). It was her next few statements..."So now Cody is my boyfriend." I asked her why Cody was her boyfriend now and she responded "Well Mom -- I can't not have a boyfriend." Well this resulted in a lecture from Mom that was way above her three-year old head about how a girl doesn't NEED a boyfriend and can do just fine on her own and how a young girl should not find her worth in a boy but should be confident in who she is. I'm sure that sunk right in.

Just a month ago I was having a conversation in the car with Paige (who turns every shade of red at the mere mention boys) about our nephew who was getting married. It led me to say how I already pray that God will lead the right man into her life at the right time who will be a strong Christian and treat her well. Paige is about crawling under the seat just thinking about this, however, Taryn pipes up from the backseat -- "Mom -- you don't need to pray for my husband. I already know I'm going to marry Tyson...or maybe Derrek." (Apparently, things are back on with Tyson. All I have to say is Tyson or Derrek -- beware!)

And then came the wedding...she was in perfect form. I can't help but brag a bit here...she was absolutely perfectly behaved. This was so up her ally -- wearing a beautiful dress, having her picture taken, being on stage, all the attention...she was brilliant :).

She has put the dress on at least 5 times a week since the wedding. She often pretends she is getting married. She lays out my Yoga mat as an aisle (good use for it, since there is very little Yoga happening) and asks me to be the pastor. Often her name is Taylor Swift and she is marrying one of the Jonas brothers.

We did let her wear the dress to church one Sunday and on our drive to church that morning she says to the family, "I know I am going to be the prettiest person at church today." We all just laughed.

I have to tell you there was a moment at the wedding where my mind jumped forward 20 years to her own wedding day. Of all the places for this "fast forward" to happen it was when I was helping her go potty. I was holding this big puffy white dress up around her face and and looking into her innocent eyes and I asked her "Is this one of the best days of your life?" Her response was "I think it is the best day of my life, until my own wedding." Oh, I can see it now.

You better treat this precious girl right -- Tyson or Derrek or Cody!

Trust me -- I'm praying already!

Do I really have to share?

We preach at our kids to share, share, share...

And as mom's I think sharing with our children is something we just naturally do. From before they are born we have let them borrow our bodies, then our breasts, we have let them steal our sleep and our sanity.

We don't think twice about giving up the last cookie for them...even though we really want it. We make sure they are fed first, get their first choice of movie, get to pick the game -- it really is all about them. And within boundaries, this is probably the way it should be.

However, sometimes I just long to be selfish. Is that bad?

I had one of those selfish bouts not long ago...

We are huge American Idol fans -- the one show that the whole family can sit down and enjoy together. We also never watch anything "live" anymore (how did we survive without DVR's). So at 7:30pm everyone else is ready to start the show, but of course I still have about 5 things to do before I can join them...switch the laundry, stick money in the backpack for a field trip, finally change out of my work clothes, etc. "Go ahead and start without me."

When I finally get downstairs to join them, I have brought a can of soda with me to enjoy. I also go and pull a blanket out of the closet because I'm cold.

I sit down...and immediately two kids want to drink my pop. Next they both want to have my blanket on them which I have wrapped snugly around myself. I let them sip my soda, and I undo the blanket so it covers both of them and one of my thighs. Then they want more of my pop, and they begin to fight over my lap -- one wants their legs on my lap, the other want to sit on me -- I feel like a worn out jungle gym. And all I really want is some quiet so I can hear Kris sing!

In my heart -- I know how lucky I am. I am thankful to have kids who want to be cuddled and loved, and I know some day I will miss moments like these.

But this day...well, I just wanted to sit down at the beginning of the show, in the warmth of my blanket, and enjoy my soda without someone else's saliva all over it. Is that too much to ask?

Doing our Part (Kind of)

I was very proud of Carter the other day. He asked if we could go pick up garbage in a ditch along a highway by our home. I was pleased that he wanted to care for our earth this way, however, I really had no desire to help him out. First, I was a little self-conscious about what all the people driving by would think ...and second, who really wants to pick up someone else's smelly garbage. But I decided this was an opportunity for me to either instill in my kids the idea that it is worthwhile to care for God's creation or ignore the request. So I forged ahead and decided to encourage Carter in his desire. We packed up our golf cart with garden gloves, garbage bags, a dog, two girls, a boy and a mom and drove to the ditch. I am sure the cars driving by had a good laugh as I tried to control 3 kids and a dog alongside a busy highway. But we did successfully fill two bags full of garbage,survive the traffic, and fend off a swarm of ants.

My parents passed on to me early in my life that we need to care for the world God entrusted to us, and I am trying to teach my children that same lesson. I believe we are not suppose to simply use up the earth and all of it's wonderful resources for our own selfish pleasure, but that we should do our part to be good stewards of God's creation.

My parents were recycling and composting....way before it was "cool". And they continue to model many ways of living "green" -- not because it's the latest trend, but because they feel called to do so.

So I decided to take a look at how Cal and I are doing at modeling this kind of purposeful living to care for our environment to our kids, and I realized that while our intentions are good and a few "green" habits are in place, we often still fall into the trap of letting convenience and comfort win out over what's best for God's world.

These are our attempts at being friendly to the environment:

• We try to carry our own bags to the store. I am very anti-plastic bags. However, due to my inability to remember anything past my nose, I often forget to bring my own bags along. I might even get the bags as far as my car, but to actually bring them into the store...that's another whole accomplishment. I did recently make a great discovery -- there are these adorable little roll-up bags that you can throw in your purse. They cost $3 at Pier One -- I suggest everyone get a couple. Besides, Cal looked absolutely adorable yesterday as he walked out of the grocery store with my pink paisley and blue polka dot bags.
• We do recycle faithfully. We have a great garbage/recycle service. I was proud when I even started breaking down my cereal boxes for the recycle bin.


• We sparingly run our air-conditioning (except for the entire months of July and August...seriously, we live in humid, hot South Dakota).


• We appear to live by the mantra -- "If it's yellow let it mellow. If it's brown send it down." (At least "water conservation" is the excuse I offer for why the toilet never seems to be flushed -- and Carter, well I don't think he feels it is ever necessary to "send it down", much to the disgust of his big sister.)
  
• We try to limit our use of paper products. Unfortuneately, I can only do so many dishes in a day before I opt for the ever handy use of paper plates.


• We buy energy efficient light bulbs. (But here is where Cal's support for green living begins to waiver. He is not a big fan of having to wait for 3 minutes for the lights in our bedroom to get up to full brightness -- to quote him "I know that everyday is earth day, but my socks don't match!!!"


• We own one fuel efficient car (the other...not so much.) And we do try to carpool. Maybe someday we'll get into using our bikes, but I'm not sure if we could handle that much exercise.

Well, we'll keep trying.

Is Thank You enough?

I truly believe that I am one of the most fortunate working moms in the world...

For the last 11 years I have been driving to "Laurie's House" before I head to work to drop off some combination of one to three kids. My car has changed, our house has changed, my job has changed (4 times!!!) - but "Laurie's House" has been a constant. It is a place that Paige, Carter and Taryn have felt safe, have felt loved, and have always had fun!

This week I walked up the front steps of "Laurie's House" for the last time to pick up a child after work. I started to get very emotional as I opened her front door and thought about how I would never have a little one run down her hall to greet me with open arms and an affectionate "Mommyyyyyyy".

What do you say to someone who has had such a positive impact on the life of your family.

The following is a letter I wrote to Laurie in an attempt to thank her for the last 11 years:

Dear Laurie,

Thank you!

We do not take for granted the significant role that you have played in the life of our family.

For the last 11 years, you have essentially partnered with us as we have raised our children, and we could not have asked for anyone better than you!

Thank you for the countless meals fed, prayers prayed, crafts created, books read, walks taken, games played, swings pushed, fights refereed, noses wiped, tears dried, hugs given and love shared.

Our children will always have fond memories of “Laurie’s House”. We know that we will still see you often, but we will miss you all the same. I personally will miss stopping by your house -- I always enjoyed our talks and the parenting wisdom you shared so freely.

You have had such a positive impact on Paige, Carter and Taryn -- and we are forever grateful!


We thank God for you.

Milestones

This is a week of milestones in our life -- two graduations and our final day of daycare (after 11 years with the same caretaker.)

This morning we watched our beautiful daughter, Paige, graduate from elementary school and officially become a middle schooler. (How exactly did she (and we) get that old?) I have the mixed emotions of pride at the young lady she is becoming and sadness at the fact that she no longer sees herself as a child. I pray that she continues to hold onto the uninhibited joy and excitement she has so freely demonstrated all of her life.

We went right from Paige's graduation to watch our youngest beautiful daughter, Taryn, graduate from pre-school. What a delight to watch pre-schoolers sing and dance with gusto. In fact, Taryn was dancing so hard she took a nose dive off of the first level of risers and did a sort of belly glide on the floor. One minute she was standing there singing, the next she was gone. I held my breath for a moment, but when she got up smiling and got right back into it, I started to giggle. In fact, Paige, my mom and I began a serious case of the church giggles -- you know the kind that you try to stifle but can't quite contain. I worked hard to think of something else so I would stop laughing, but then either Paige would start up again or I would picture Taryn on her belly and I would start up again.

Taryn was a great sport about it. In fact, she had the best quote of the day "I was just boogieing down so much that...oops!"

So my days as a mother of a pre-schooler have officially ended. An entire segment of my life as a mom has come to a close...oh how I have enjoyed the pre-school years with all my kids. I am sad to see them go, but at the same time, I am looking forward to all the new adventures yet to come.