Compassion

An unscripted moment in time.

Abbey playing Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet.
Sat on her Stool.
Eating her curds away.
Along came a spider.
And scared her right away.

Trick or Treat

Mark's big brother and family have a camp site at Jelly Stone Park, about 20 minutes from our house. I am not a camping person. I do not sleep outdoors, but I will make a day or evening trip to the grounds for a campfire and good burgers. This happened to the last weekend that Jelly Stone Park is open for the year. It was an unusually warm weekend in October, so we headed on up to the camp ground for one last bit of summer fun in Autumn. They were also celebrating Halloween at Jelly Stone. The girls got to put on their costumes and go trick or treating a bit early. Abbey had more candy than I care to talk about. Her lips and tongue were still blue when we got home. Cari loved her sucker, and for a mom who doesn't like to camp, I had a pretty good time too.

Astronauts like Disney Princesses too

As a busy mom I am good at doing laundry, folding laundry, but I do admit that I am not good at putting it away. Quite often multiple baskets of FOLDED laundry can sit in a bedroom for weeks. As I type, there is a basket of folded laundry that has been sitting in a corner of Abbey's room since Sunday. I don't fret over clutter as long as it is contained. The biggest issue is how quickly a four year old can undo a basket of folded laundry. As I have pointed out, Abbey takes great pride in dressing herself, and I'm not talking about just in the morning either. Anytime of the day she will be wearing a costume or changing her clothing into something more comfortable. And when there is a basket of folded laundry on the floor, it gives her quite the pallet for artistic creativity. I have two choices: Get grumpy, or just role with it. So today, rather than kill her spirit, I just went along with her and this is what our conversation was.

MOM: "Abbey, why are you in your jammies at noon?"

ABBEY: "Their not Jammies, mommy, their my space suit. I'm an astronaut and I'm going to the moon."

MOM: "Is that your space jacket?" I said while pointing to her princess sweatshirt.

ABBEY: "NO mom." It's just my blue sweatshirt. I need it 'cause it's cold in space. Did you know that?"

MOM: "Yes Abbey." I have heard that it's cold in space. Good thinking. You don't want to get cold."

At this point Abbey went back in her bedroom for a moment or two, until she called me in.

ABBEY: "Mommy, I need space shoes to keep my feet warm." Did I mention that her space shoes are exactly 2 1/2 sizes too small for her. I have tried to pack them away on several occaisions, but they always seem to make their way back in Abbey's room?

Later, Abbey curled up on the couch, with her Hello Kitty blanket, I mean in her space ship, and blasted off into space. And that thing on her head is her Nana deedee space helmet.

When Abbey was done playing I didn't know if i would die laughing, or cry because of the mess she made.

A cloudy day for Little Miss Sunshine

Ellie has been nicknamed Little Miss Sunshine due to her never ending smile. It is rare that she even cries or fusses. If she does become fussy it is with good reason. A hungry tummy, a tired body, a stinky diaper, or something hurts her. The other day Ellie was not a happy camper. A combination of the purple bags under eyes and the faucet of drool coming from her mouth were a fine indicator that Ellie was teething. All it took was a good dose of ibuprofen, and a nap in daddy's arms to clear the clouds for Little Miss Sunshine. UPDATE: Those teeth still haven't poked through, but the sun is shining.

Fashion Week In Paris...Fashion at Home

It is currently fashion week in Paris. I love watching updates of what will be in style. Some of it makes sense. Some of it I don't find appealing or understand for that matter. Like this little creation by British fashion designer John Galliano during his spring-summer 2009 ready-to-wear collection presented in Paris over the weekend. Who in their right mind would actually step outside thinking they look good in something like unless they were four years old, or part of a not so conventional profession?

This now brings me to discussing the fashion of a four year old. Abbey is currently at the stage where she likes to dress herself. Tiaras tutus and fairy dust are a must in her style. Sometimes I just have to put my foot down and force her to change her clothes. What can I say, Cinderella attire ( cheap taffeta and plastic high heals) just won't do when we go grocery shopping. Our little family of five draw enough attention when we go places, I can only imagine what it would be like if Abbey wore her dress up clothes.

This morning, Mark went to run some errands and took Abbey and Cari with him. I told Abbey to go get dressed and she came out in her purple ballet dress, pink tennis shoes and black sweatshirt. And a dishonorable mention for her favorite accessory. That brown, raspy old security blanket (NANA DEEDEE) she brings with her everywhere. I shook my head in disbelief at the creation Little Miss Abbey picked out. Oh the horror!! I then took a large gulp of lukewarm coffee, and thought that there are worse battles to fight for. I sent her back in room to put some leggings on (IT'S COLD HERE) and put her in her car seat.

SCORE: Child 1. Mom 0.

We're Going Home

It will be seven years since we bought our house. We brought three babies home, and met a lot of wonderful people in our community. some who I am sure will be friends for life. Despite this, this area has never felt like home. Mark has been commuting for 2.5 years now to the Milwaukee area with hopes that when the opportunity presented itself we would head home. One thing lead to another and M and C decided to move to North Carolina just in time to miss the Wisconsin winters. Once they put their house for sale it got us thinking that it is time to attempt to sell our house. We put our house on the market with little optimism that it would sell. Well, four days later we recieved a reasonable offer, a closing date at the end of October, but no place to go. Not even a community picked out. Well, lots of stress and lots of heart to hearts later, Mark and I picked a community and now have an accepted offer on a house. I love the big bedrooms, the large kitchen ( not the layout), and an awesome laundry room with a stationary tub. I do not love the pink master bedroom, or the mauve counter tops in the bathroom. Nothing a little paint, knocking out a few walls, and a complete kitchen remodel won't take care of. Oh, and since M and C will be taking their Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville Margarita Machine with them to North Carolina, Mark and I will need one of those too. It is good to be going home after all these years.