T Ball Practice!

My little ham.

Wordless Wednesday: She made me a map. But she doesn't know where it goes.

Sweet, Violent Love....

Remember when I mentioned my middle two here?  

Here's the thing.

I get moments like this:

She gave him a black eye!

And this:

His retaliation... pin her arm and try to get her with a sneaky left...

But I also get moments like this: 

I love them.  And they know that.  And they love each other.  They just don't know that part.

Wordless Wednesday: Some Big Shoes To Fill

The Lonely Goatherd

Girlie was in her very first dance recital Saturday. 

The entire show was pretty cute, but tears were streaming down my face while she was performing. 

Why?  

Because it hit me like a ton of bricks that she is not a baby anymore.  She's not even a toddler.  Or a preschooler.  Or a kindergartner.  She's a kid... one who doesn't need her Mommy for every little thing. 

It was a bunch of little things, all rolled into one.  

It was because of this.... 

Her hair is long enough for a pony tail now.  And she could fix her own shoe "mishaps" without my help.

And this....

She was wearing make up.  And went back stage by herself with a smile and a "Love you Mom."  When the hell did I stop being Mommy?

And this...

And she was awesome... didn't freeze up.  Didn't cry.  Smiled the whole time. Nailed the routine.

And this...

She amazes me every day with what she is capable of.

She's getting too big for me to hold her in my arms :( 

When did she get so capable and independent?  Yes, I know, that is the goal of parenthood, right?

Well, I'm not ready.

Shouldn't I get a warning?

Fairy Houses!

Happy Birthday Girlie Goose!

Happy Birthday to the happiest and silliest,

most inquisitive and smartest, 

Most creative and funniest,

Most generous and sweetest, 

Six Year Old I know!  

 

I love you, Jelly Bean! 

You Trust Your Husband With The Kids?

Someone said to me the other day, "You trust your husband with the kids?"

Um, yes.

I think the more relevant question is, "Why, don't you trust your husband with your kids?"

Let me back track a minute here.

I had mentioned how much I was looking forward to Sunday.  Why?  I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona.

Why was I looking forward to it?  I was gone from 7 am to 7pm.  AND I got a massage.  AND a facial.  AND a moisturizing treatment.  AND to lay by the pool without having to pace restlessly while I watched hawk eyed to prevent a drowning.  AND play in the mud.  AND eat lunch while it was still warm. AND read a book that didn't rhyme or have a dancing pig in it. 

IT WAS GLORIOUS. 

So I mentioned that I would be gone all day to a mom that I'm friendly with.

Her exact reaction?  "I'm so jealous!  Who is watching the kids?"

Me: "Oh, my husband." (You know.  Their FATHER.)

A look of concern crossed her face.  "All day?  By himself?!"

Me: "Yup."  (Is there another option?)

And that is when the "You trust your husband with your kids?" came out of her mouth.

And at that moment, a lot of thoughts went through my mind. 

I figured that she meant "But he can't do as good a job as you can!"  At least I hope that is what she meant.  Because if she meant that my husband can't take care of our kids, she and I are going to have a problem.

Here's the thing -- if I can watch the kids day in and day out by myself, why can't he?  If I can get them up, dressed, fed, to the park, home, entertained, and happy (mostly), without losing any, why can't he? 

Do I have to remind him of certain things -- nap times, snack times, what games are allowed, what are safe parks with a two year old who thinks she can fly, what is a good movie to watch for quiet time?  Yes. 

He doesn't do this every day like I do -- just like I would need help if I did his job for him one day.

Will he do as good a job as me?  Yes.

Will he do a different job than me?  Yes.

Will come home to toys scattered all over the place, to half of the children naked, to a mess in the kitchen, and to kids hopped up on sugar?  Yes.

Will the kids be happy and thrilled to spend the day with just Daddy?  Yes.

The kiddos need that.  They need their Daddy's laid back attitude toward parenting to balance my Pinterest inspired, crazy-lets-fill-every-minute attitude toward parenting.  They need to know that if the toys don't get picked up right away, or that the dishes might not be put in the dishwasher the right way, or that you have ice cream for a snack at 4 in the afternoon, the world will not end.  

As all of that was running through my head, I plastered a smile on my face and jokingly replied: "If I didn't, I wouldn't have had kids with him." 

This is what having older siblings looks like

Having older siblings means that you will always have someone to cheer you on, hold your hand, play with you when you are bored, and loan you clothes (sometimes even without them knowing it!).  It means that you will always be loved and protected by people other than Mom and Dad.  It means that you are more likely to run before you walk, that you think you are bigger than you are, and that you are constantly getting into trouble (at least your olders have a scape goat to blame their antics on). 

Having an older siblings ALSO means that: 

that you learn to blow raspberries before you learn to talk.

It means that your favorite words are "Poopoo Butt!"

It means that you know how to scream "No" before you are one.

It means that even though you are the smallest kid on the playground, you are the toughest. 

And it looks like this at dinner time:

Wordless Wednesday: Working with Mommy

This is what Tball looks like when you forget your mitt.