Amelia...

This is how we found Amelia after we left the dining room. She had schmeared the remains of her yogurt container into her hair. She was so excited! She made sure all of the yogurt was out of the container. She is such a fun little girl. She is beginning to say more and more words that we are actually able to understand. "Fishy." "Car." "Ball." "Dolly." She will attempt to repeat just about anything. She likes to play with cars, necklaces, balls, and baby dolls. She loves her sister. She is a spunky little thing that already knows what she likes and what she doesn't. She is one of my true joys.
Psalm 127:3a "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:"

Our week in Review...

Calla was invited to stay overnight at her cousin's house on Wednesday night. So, after church I graciously allowed Cory to put Amelia to bed and headed to the coffee house with my two closest girlfriends. Great, refreshing fellowship ensued. I love those girls. They make my life richer.

Since I was a mom of one Thursday, I decided to it would be a great day to pick strawberries. I dropped Amelia off at a friend's by 9:30, and was off to the strawberry patch. All year round, I long for fresh sweet corn and fresh-picked strawberries. I picked two ice cream pails full and headed toward the registers. As the tractor was leading me back to the van, I knew I would want more than I had picked. I do admit that the one deterring factor was the lack of conversation out in the fields. I attempted, twice, to converse with the nice grandpa man next to me, but he would have none of that. Busy picking strawberries, you know. Cory says maybe he thought I was hitting on him.

The rest of the day went as usual. the only thing it lacked was a non-stop chatter from my favorite four-year-old.

Friday night, we had a picnic with the girls from our Sunday School class. We had given them the incentive a few months ago. Bring your Bible. Say the three given verses. Have a family picnic. Two families, plus mine and the other teacher's. We were at a park near Lake Michigan. It was a lot of fun. I especially enjoy watching dads play with their kids. The cookie ice cream sandwiches my sister-in-law brought for dessert weren't bad either.

Now, Saturday, is full. Cory spent the morning out fishing with his dad and brother. Lunch. This afternoon is a graduation party. Then Cory and Calla are heading off to the races. Amelia and I will stay home and relax. I have two sewing projects to be working on, so that will probably end up being my goal.

A Shopping Trip...

We had a shopping trip adventure this morning. I have to plan these in the midst of several other kid-friendly outings. Monday, we were home all day. Tuesdays are park day with our friends from church. We stayed at the park from 10:30-1:30. So I thought we could eek out a trip to Target. Nothing else. Just Target and then back home. No such luck.

My friend and I usually plan our trips to Target together. Moral support, I think. I love Target. I love to wander around looking at every department. Snagging deals. Plus, you can get a drink and popcorn for a buck. You can't go wrong. Well. I find bliss in Target, but my girls are otherwise. It seems as if the large red bullseye sends off waves to their brains that say, "Disobey and throw tantrums. It makes life way more fun." My friend's kids are the same way. It seems Target sends them into this realm where they can be the other part of their split personalities. Their arms will flail at intermittent moments. Screams, whether of joy or disgust, erupt at any given opportunity. And yet I keep going. I do try to make it an every other week event.
My favorite Target memory happened when I was nearly due to have Amelia. Calla and I ventured to Target alone. I was at the customer service desk when it happened. She bolted. Down the main aisle in a child-like jog. Ok. I can keep an eye on her while I waddle as fast as I can to catch up. Then it happened. She took a sharp right turn into the clothing racks. Now all was hopeless. As I began searching the racks near her entry point, I realized she was long gone.
"Code Adam. Female. Two years old. Blonde pigtails. Blue denim shorts. Pink shirt. Code Adam. All employees." As I stood there with tears and dread on my face, Target employees emerged from the woodwork. All were on the search for a little girl whose mother obviously can't control her. Yep. Especially when the darker forces within Target take over. They found her within seconds. Gleefully playing in the center of the toy aisle halfway across the store. Needless to say, we left. And now she is confined to a cart most of time. Until she's 21.

A New Adventure...

We decided to move Amelia into Calla's room last week. Both girls were having their own struggles at night, so we decided maybe this was the best move. It seems to be working well. They take turns as to who gets to cry themselves to sleep. Mostly Amelia. It has been fun to listen in on conversations. Calla will say little things to Amelia. "Amelia, Momma said no more crying." "Amelia, we need to be good girls." "Amelia, should we sing one more song?" I am glad for the friendship that is already blossoming between the two of them. So sweet.

Weekends...

I love weekends. Starting on Friday afternoons, I feel free. Like there will be no limits to the things we can do as a family. This past Saturday, we started off at "Breakfast on the Farm." It is an annual event that none of our four family members have experienced. Even Cory, who has lived here most of his life. We were pleasantly surprised. A large spread of food. Games for the kids. Freebies: pencils, magnets, coloring books. Poking around the farm. And Culvers ice cream. The only drawback was the sweltering heat. We only stayed about an hour and a half.

At two, we were off to a wedding. It is interesting to me how my perspective on weddings has changed. When you are young, a wedding is an unbelievable event. You sit and watch everything in awe and then you fidget until it's all over. When you get to the point that you plan your own wedding, things are a blur. Then all your friends get married and you watch each one so affectionately. That was nice. I liked that song. The flowers were beautiful. She looked stressed. Glad it's over. At this stage of my life, going on 7 years of marraige, two smallish kids, a wedding seems like another event. I spent more time worrying how loud my girls were being than I did noticing all those wonderful details I looked at before. The wedding was rumored to have child care, from the very lips of the mother-of-the-bride. Not so lucky. Cory ended up being my nursery room attendant with Amelia while I sat with Calla, who is very much in the awe and fidget stage. The reception was wonderful. Outdoors. Casual. Coffee bar. Kid-friendly table of snacks and games. Did I mention they had a free coffee bar? One iced mocha for this mother of two on this 90 degree day. Thanks a bunch.

Then Father's Day. I love Father's Day. I love the Dad of my girls. He is amazing. When you marry someone, you know how much you love them and you know what they are like in their relationship with you, but you never know what type of parent they will be. I got the best of the best. Well, I should say that my girls got the best of the best. Their dad loves them. Loves to be with them as much as he can. Plays with them, even if he has to eek it in between a few other responsibilities. My kids will never wonder if their dad loves them. He tells them and shows them every single day. Happy Father's Day, Cory.

Summer fun...

So summer is officially here! Four days of 80+ degrees. Cory took a half day off of work today and we all headed off to the city pool. It was wonderful, except for the necessary wearing of the bathing suit by this bathing not-so-much-beauty. Calla was ducking her head under the water and holding her breath. Scampering around under the fountains. Waiting for the cones to dump water on her head. Amelia was nervous at first. It didn't take long for her to enjoy herself though. She was scampering toward the water even when we were trying to warm up. That's right! Warm up! It is great to get chilled when the air is 90+. I so enjoy watching my girls with their dad. He is like their best bud. And there are few others they would rather play with. I think the feeling is mutual.

There is plenty of summer left to enjoy. Even in the heat, which I truly despise, I try to enjoy the option of being outside. Being in Wisconsin, there are too few months that allow for outdoor activities. I love this stage of my girls, too. They are fun to watch interact. My summer fun memories are replaying themselves through my children. The sprinkler - in the front yard for all the neighbors to enjoy watching. The sand box that coats everything for 36 hours afterwards, even after a bath. Hot, sticky summer nights with no air conditioning. But hey we've got a fan to blow the hot air around! Taking cool baths almost every evening. Wonderful summer!

Spending time...

I realize the importance of time, most often because of how little I feel I have. When I choose what to do with my day, I usually want to enjoy what is chosen. I realized long ago that a lot of my discipline problems were stemming from always having my kids in places I wanted to be. How can I expect them to behave when we are always in adult-friendly environments? My kids need an outlet. And when they get to do what is fun and engaging to them, my day goes better, too! What a novel concept!

My time lately has been playing catch-up. I feel like the housecleaning gets to a point that I need a few days of just catching up. I soon come to the reality that Calla wants my time. So I need to choose the better over the good. I only have one more year of being the most prominent influence in her life. I need to utilize this time. I know I will miss the time with her while she is at school way more than she will miss me.

This week I was also reminded of time with our loved ones. My sister-in-law lost her mom to a sudden reoccurrence of cancer on Amelia's birthday back in February. My own dad has been gone for three and a half years. How precious is the time spent with them now! There was a discussion with Calla today about why people have to die instead of staying here so we can be with them. Tough questions from an innocent mind. I miss my dad so greatly. I want him to be here so I can be with him, too. I want to make all my moments count with those I have right now. Take the time with Calla and Amelia. Make an extra effort to let Cory know how much I love him. Embrace my mom every chance I get.

Flexibility...

This week has shed some light on my inflexibility. I like surprises only if they are ruined and I can prepare myself. I have always been one to get an anxious stomach on the eve of something new and unknown.

First test, the weather. We were in shorts last week at the park and I had to borrow sweatshirts from another (more prepared) mom. This week has been hot and humid. My very least favorite weather. So. How do I function with two little rambunctious girls that most definitely do not want to be hermits in our semi-cool home atmosphere? My rigid answer would be, "Who cares? We'll sit in the house until next week if it means no sweaty, yucky air." But my heart tells me that would not bode well. We were at the parks, on our swings, outside every day. I even ate lunch with the girls outside twice, which is another issue for me all together. We did take refuge in air-conditioned bliss at Wal-mart once as well. It's a little give and take sometimes, right?

Second test, the bedtime. My mom always reminds me that when I was little, I was a bedtime nightmare. Thanks a lot. Let's let bygones be bygones, ok? Right now I need sympathy. Calla does not need much sleep to function. She has never napped longer than an hour and a half. She has had a 10p.m. bedtime for a long while. She still is up by 7a.m. Sometimes earlier if she's excited for her new day to begin. Well, now as much as ever before, she stalls at bedtime. We have tried so many different mehods. Earlier bedtime. Nope. Longer bedtime routine. Nope. Shortened bedtime routine. Nope. Flat out bribery. Maybe. Nope. Discipline tactics have always remained firm and effective, but still no easy bedtime good nights. She has been up until after 11:15a.m. the last two evenings. Sobbing. Scared of anything and every thing. She gets that from me. So. The first night she fell asleep in my arms. The next, in our bed until we were done with our movie downsatairs. We'll see how tonight pans out.

I will always have a new challenge to face. Every day. It is how I act in response to those challenges that keeps me on my knees. God has entrusted me with these two precious girls. Me? I want to do a proper job. I Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."