Yesterday went like this:

I started off at 5:00 and headed for a swim.  First day of my triathlon training schedule and I was determined not to miss a work-out.  Swim in the morning, run at night.  It was going to happen, no matter what.  So I hurried into the pool, did my not so hurried laps, hurried back home so Courtney could trade me places. 
Hop in the shower, hair into a ponytail.  Think about how Claire has suddenly decided she is almost two years old.  Realize that we haven't been in this stage for a while and wonder about the best way to handle the tantrums and newfound desire for independence.  Dress, scriptures, wake the girls.  Once again announce to Emmy that we had errands to run.  Announce to Emmy that no, she could not go to Grandma's house and that really, I'm not so bad. Put Claire in time-out.  Explain that we don't scream to get what we want.  Quickly create four hairstyles, put Claire in time-out.  Explain that we don't scream to get what we want.  Feed the gang, kiss husband goodbye.  (I like it when I can do that on a Tuesday morning).  Load everyone up and head to the bus, which we make in time, YEAH!  Drive home, feed Buddy, and attempt a quick clean-up.  Put Claire in time-out.  Explain that we don't scream to get what we want.  Wipe up the counters and it is time to go to Logan.  Realize Claire is awfully quiet.  Check on Claire.  Find her in Emmy's newly acquired (from the dollar store), neon yellow make-up.  Remember that I hate when my children acquire play makeup.  Try to gingerly wipe the makeup out of Claire's piggy tails.  Realize that "gingerly" ain't going to cut it.  Fill the tub.  Stick Claire in, soap her up.  Realize that soap ain't going to cut it.  Wonder what people will think about my cute little girl with a neon yellow forehead.  Up my game.  Use my favorite, (not from the dollar store) makeup remover.  Scrub.  Scrub, scrub, scrub.  Pale yellow will have to do.  Replace the piggy tails. Off to Logan.  Stop at DI.  See that Claire has pulled out her piggy tails and looks like an orphan child with her stringy, wet hair and yellow face.  Oh well.  Hope for wonderful, cheap bike for Emmy.  Find cheap, but not so wonderful bike for Emmy.  Decide to keep looking.  Head to paint store.  Claire smells.  Change her diaper, only to find that we have is an unfortunate bit of "cheeky-leaky".  Mmmmm.  Attempt to change her diaper without getting you-know-what all over the car.  Partially succeed.  Use her big sister's pants as a back-up.  They look like big sisters pants, but it will have to do.  It only adds to the orphan look.  Again, oh well.  Head to garden store.  Promise a treat from the bread store if everyone is happy.  Make it through two aisles when I realize that happy is not going to happen.  Buy the treat anyway.  Visit with senior couple who tries to pretend my kids are well behaved and do not look like orphans.  Appreciate the kind comments and genuine smiles.  Tell myself I'd like to be that kind of person when I grow up.  Load everyone into the car and a find a garbage for smelly diaper..  Head home.  Lunch.  Nap for Claire.  Sigh of relief.  Start to clean the utility room, and realize that it has reached such a state of messiness that I can only attack on area at a time.  Today?  I choose the bathroom.  Note to self:  do not ever let it get that messy again.  Hang up my toilet brush in time to get the girls from the bus.  Head to the flower store.  Emmy talks me into buying one gazillion flowers.  I agree, they are all much too pretty to pass up.  Return home.  Unload our purchases and gaze at empty garden boxes- my blank canvas.  Ponder, ponder, ponder.  Finally, make a plan.  Start the hose.  Claire loves the hose, and giggles at each drop.  The girls climb the tree nearby and I think how I can't wait to have them all home again for the summer.  In fact, it almost feels like summer for a few magic hours.  Sprinklers, dirt, and bare feet.  Claire is too much help.  Everyone is.  Cucumber seeds scatter without a plan and I announce that I can only have one garden helper at a time.  Daddy arrives home from work.  (I like when that happens on a Tuesday).  Daddy takes Emmy with him up to Grandma and Bop's house to do some backhoe work.  Emmy announces to Grandma that everyone else was home helping with the garden, but Daddy asked her to come along so he could get done faster.  Grandma smiles.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ryenne feeds Claire and puts her to bed.  I thinks how nice it is to have helpers.  (Later I find a pajama-less Claire asleep in bed.  But hey, she's asleep, isn't she?)  Ryenne joins Kate and I in the garden.  I retract my two-at-a-time rule. In fact, I learn these two are gardening champs.  We make a system: I lay it out and they plant it and mark it.  What took a whole day last year is done in two hours.  Three cheers for my girls.  Water each garden box one more time while the girls fix themselves a peanut butter sandwich.  The girls beg to sleep in the playhouse.  I relent.  After all, it's almost summer, right? Shoo them off to bed and welcome home Emmy and Courtney.  It is now 10:00.  Again, I think to myself that it feels like summer.  Completely irresponsible.  I love it.  Feed them cold cereal for dinner and Emmy is in heaven.  Say my prayers and climb into bed at 10:45.  Cuddle up next to Courtney and think to myself, "What a good day.  Best I've had in a while."

Oh, and that run?  The one that was going to get done "no matter what"?  I'm learning something about that.  In the life I am choosing, the one where I grow both kids and flowers, vegetables and laughter, and where both love and chaos abound? 

There really isn't such a thing as "no matter what," after all.     

nothing quite like it

Home. 

After a few days away, the Mister and I returned last night.  We scooped up our girls and drove back to the place we most belong.  Don't get me wrong, I loved being away.  This morning, when I surveyed the reality of facing the grind and all that has to be done today, I wanted to go back.  Back where it's easy.

But just now, I walked past Ryenne's empty (and messy) room, I couldn't help but be glad to be here.  And look forward to this afternoon when her room isn't empty anymore.  When she and Kate come back and my house is once again filled with giggles, footprints, and surely a few quarrels. 

This morning I drove Courtney over to get his truck.  His one short night home must not have been enough.  For when he kissed me goodbye before he headed South again, he cocked his head to one side and said, "When it's all said and done, there's nothing quite like home is there?"

No, not really.  The world holds boundless treasures.  Fantastic adventures.  Amazing sights.  Beautiful and good people. 

But when it's all said and done, there's nothing quite like home.

big ten

My little Miss Ryenne is suddenly becoming not so little. 

Ten years old? It doesn't seem possible.

I have this little voice that keeps reminding me that before long, I'll be saying "Twenty years already?  It can't be possible!"  I want to remember what life was like during our first decade with Ryenne Ashleigh.

1.  Ryenne is fun. 

2.  Ryenne is funny.  I love being able to watch her grow into her personality.  The other day Courtney and I were laying in bed and laughing about something funny she had said.  It's exciting to see her go from little girl "cute" to big kid/adult humor. 

3.  Ryenne is dramatic.  Always has been , always will.  We experience tears, bed flopping, and door slamming on a semi- regular basis.  However, the door slamming has decreased dramatically.  When she slams her door, she loses it.  Turns out- she likes doors.  This past year, Ryenne has came a long way in learning to control her emotions. 

4.  Ryenne is smart.  She loves learning for the sheer joy of learning.  This is especially true with anything in nature.  She devours knowledge about animals, rocks, flowers, the sky. . .and she'll remember it!  She is always bringing home books from the library about the Earth and it's creatures.  This morning she was walking around trying to read a book titled Rocks and Minerals, while getting ready for school. 

5. School can be hard for Ryenne, but she can do hard things.  Fourth grade has been really good for Ryenne.  Whereas we used to have daily tears about homework, she is learning to dig in and get it done.  And reading?  Right now she is loving the Harry Potter series and has zoomed through the first five books.  She was just saying the other day that until this year, she had a hard time finishing a book- typically she'd lose interest before she would ever finish.  Not now!  Most nights we have to close her book for her so she can get some sleep.  Yay- I have a bookworm!

6.  Ryenne wouldn't mind being a little girl forever.  We often tease the girls that we are going to "put them in a jar" to keep them from growing.  Ryenne is actually in favor of this idea, although she is a bit concerned that it might get a little "squishy".

7. This girl of mine has a fantastic imagination.  She is creative, artistic, and very fun to have around.  She rarely, if ever, tells me she is "bored" and comes up with the greatest ideas.  Her idea of a perfect day is one where she can stay home all day with absolutely nothing on her to-do list.

8.  Ryenne is beautiful!  She was born with a head full of thick, black hair.  Who would have guessed she'd turn into a strawberry-blonde, green eyed gal?  Her dad always says he hopes his girls are a bit homely until they turn twenty-one.  I may be a little biased, but I think he's out of luck. 

9.  Ryenne is a builder.  She loves building and creating, whether it be with an object or people.  She is kind and thoughtful with others and doesn't like to see someone sad or left out.  (Of course, we see exceptions to this at home with sisters sometimes, but Courtney reminds me it's all part of the growing. . !)

10.  Ryenne is a good girl.  She wants to be good.  We are having the best time watching her learn how.  And best of all?  She is ours. 

Happy Birthday, Ryenne girl.  We love you more than all the stars in the sky. 

too much of me to go around

This morning we are heading to Logan to run errands.  Emmy loves running errands with me.

Just kidding.  She hates it.  Which is actually a little funny to me, because any other opportunity to leave the house is interpreted by her as being a great adventure.  (Just one more uniqueness about that gal that eludes me.  I'll be forever trying to figure her out.)

The difference, I've decided, is me.  Running errands involves me.  So does every other day in her life, which makes it so much less exciting.  Embarking on a day of work errands with Grandpa?  Nothing better.  Going with Grandma C. to take Nana and Papa to the doctor?  Wonderful.  Visiting Grandma T, J, or Aunt Andrea?  Fantastic. 

A day on the town with Mom?  BOR-ING. 

So you can imagine her dismay at hearing we will be shortly heading out to attack my shopping list. (Seems we're out of just about everything.)

The conversation went like this:

Emmy:  "Can't I stay at Grandma Tams?"

Me:  "No, not today.  You can ride with me.  It will be fun!"

Emmy:  "Whyyyyy can't I call her?  I don't want to go to Logan?  (pause).  Can I call Andrea?"

Me:  "No.  You can come with me."

Emmy:  "Whyyyyyyy can't I stay with Grandma?"

Me:  "Because I don't want to leave you.  I'll be leaving you tomorrow while I go on a field trip with Kate (at Emmy's request).  And this weekend Mommy and Daddy will be leaving you for a few days.  So I don't want to leave you today.  I want you to be with me."

Emmy:  (Pause).

 "Will I see you tonight?"

Me:  "Yes."

Emmy:  "Will I see you after the field trip tomorrow?"

Me:  "Yes."

Emmy:  "So, I will see you today.  I'll see you tomorrow.  And the day after that!  And the day after that!  What's the problem with that then?  I'll see you today!  I'll see you tomorrow!  I'll see you the day after tomorrow!. .

. . .Besides I can always call you. 

Can?  I?  Please? Go?  To?  Grandma's?  House?"

She doesn't know it yet.  But she's gonna miss me desperately. 

the best of both worlds

Beautiful day outside, it is.

Ryenne and I walked home from church, discussing lessons learned and the overall state of the union. Upon arriving, she ran across the lawn to play beneath the trees. I was standing in our driveway talking to my parents when she tromped over proclaiming that a bird had. . . .
ummm, relieved itself upon her dear little head.

She squirmed. I laughed. And then my mom announced that it must run in the genes. The attraction of birds and their subsequent droppings, that is. It's happened to my mom at least a half dozen times.

This made me laugh again.

While Ryenne washed her hair, Courtney and I lay on our bed, exhausted from the morning at church. 8:30 in the morning! I tell you, Sunday mornings will exhaust the best of saints. (And we're not among that group). Especially the slightly unprepared ones who are on the roster to teach sharing time, arrive extra early to set up the chairs in the primary room, plus manage the beautification of self and four gals. If we make it one piece, it's nothing short of a miracle.

No wonder we flop onto our bed at the completion of our worship each Sunday.

Our effort at recuperation was interrupted by three little girls bouncing around on the bed asking for a bit of lunch. The nerve! Emmy was most especially energetic. Loud, louder, loudest. Her dad kindly reminded her that she either tone it down or be "uninvited" to the gathering. Following this declaration, he rolled over. I'm thinking it was one of those if I can't see you then you'll go away kind of efforts.

Emmy watched for him to close his eyes, and then promptly announced, "All right! The old man is asleep!"

I laughed so hard I cried.







That's how life is, I've decided.

Some days make you laugh. Others will bring you to tears.

I like it best when I get to do both.

apparently i love this girl

One fun thing about Kate is her super vocabulary. For as long as I can remember, this girl can use her words! Combine this with the deep way she processes everything, and it makes for some pretty astute observations. She is one of those rare people who thinks everything through backward, forward, and upside down, before she decides to say anything on the subject. I, on the other hand, talk my way into deciding what I think about something-and not always successfully. I've often wished I were more like Kate in this manner. I'll just say that Kate makes for many a great conversation. Her teacher at school often comments that she loves it when Kate raises her hand. She can't wait to hear what my girl has to say.

One example of Kate's fun vocabulary is her latest usage of "apparently". This word is a current favorite, and pops up in most sentences. If you hang around Kate for a minute or two, you may hear things such as:

"Apparently I'm going to need your help."

"Apparently no one shut the door."

"Can you get me a snack, because apparently I'm still hungry".

Every time I hear the word, I smile. I'm pretty sure that she'll soon pick up a new word, and 'apparently' will drop back into occasional usage. For now I'm content to hear her throw it into nearly every sentence.

Because, apparently, this girl is one of a kind. And I like it that way.

ryenne's pixie dust party

This year for Ryenne's birthday, I finally joined the ranks. We gave her first real birthday party! She decided on a fairy party, and we staged the whole affair in the play house. The girls were darling and Ryenne had such a fun night.

We decided to start off with a little tea party. The girls loved eating off their tiny little plates and fancy teacups. One of the girls said, "Everything is pink!"

After the tea party, the girls opened presents and then embarked upon building fairy houses. The story goes that if you build a house for the fairies they will come and visit. Once completed, you set your house outside, and you can tell when the fairies have come each time something is removed or changed in the house. The girls used moss, flowers, chestnuts, pinecones, rocks, twigs, tiny birds and butterflies. Each house was different and so fun. A few of them even left little bits of food for the fairies to snack on.

When the night was over and we had finished taking everyone home, Courtney asked Ryenne if the party was a 'smashing success'. She grinned and replied, "It was a triple smashing success!"

Come back anytime, you cute girls!

"Life itself is the greatest fairy tale. . .

all you need is faith, trust,

and a little bit of pixie dust."

-Hans Christian Anderson and Tinkerbell