Early Mornings & Rain Puddles

When the day starts at 5:40am...
...1.25 hours of work time are logged by 7:15am.
...MMan is napping by 8:00am.
...Breakfast done.  In-bin, mail and bills sorted out and lotion made by 9:30.
...All little people simultaneously napping from 11:57am-12:01pm.

That's pretty much how the day went.  HandyMan was home to help this afternoon so I could get some work done which will save me from having to stay up too late tonight.

We had a moment this afternoon when there was a slight break in the rain and I realized that it was 57 degrees out.  I ordered everyone out for 10 minutes if fresh air until it started raining again.  It was such a spring tease but it felt so good!

As GGirl went running outside: "My puddles are back!  Puddles, I'm coming!"  This girl loves rain puddles!

"Puddles, I'm coming!"

Really Mom, another picture?

Happy 4th Birthday GGirl!

Four years ago today, I met a little girl who has kept me on my toes ever since.
Dear GGirl,
You are creative, energetic, and full of song.  As a big sister, you are good at looking out for MMan.  You picked your meals today; it was cream of wheat for breakfast.  Oatmeal and quesadilla were chosen for lunch.  I picked out some fun pasta and helped you with your dinner menu: Chicken Parmesan with fussili, salad, garlic bread and of course your pink cake with hearts on the side and a princess and her daddy the top - upon construction, you decided that your cake needed a Mommy and a MMan as well.  You love Busytown Mysteries, Dora The Explorer, Diego and Chuck the Truck.  You have lots of "best friends" who you are very excited to spend time with.

Until today, pink was your favorite color.  As we were putting the pink frosting on your pink cake in a room full of pink streamers and pink balloons, you informed us that green was your favorite color, because it was your birthday and you were four, you had a different favorite color now.  Very logical! And very amusing to all the grown ups in the room who had decorated and purchased gifts with your penchant for pink in mind!

SitSter and Ms. D joined us for dinner and when it was time for cake, we had Granny and Grandad with us on Skype and Gram B with us on HandyMan's phone.  Technology brought family in three states together to celebrate you!

After cake it was gift time and the whirly-whistle things were almost more fun than the gifts.  After cleaning up and getting you ready for bed, we shared a quiet good night.  I told you how I couldn't believe that you were four years old already.  With very sleepy eyes, and fingers playing with my hair you looked at me and said "Mommy, I can't believe your . . . what comes after 34?"

I love you GGirl!  Happy Birthday!

Snowy Day & Mommy Time Out

Today we woke up to the snow and ice forecasted by the weather folks.  At the sight of snow GGirl went all hyper.  MMan had a rough night but the weather cancelled a 7am responsibility so we all got to sleep in a bit.  Waffles were the order of ghe morning for breakfast. 
By 2:45 MMan was up from an all- too-short nap, GGirl had turned squirrelly and her behavior was challenging every last iota of caffeine and patience I had.
Enter the Mommy Time Out.  I made a cup of tea, grabbed my kindle and my personal assistant and headed for the chair in front of the pellet stove; MMan playing happily in the floor. 
Within 35 seconds of sitting down GGirl was climbing all over me.  I stood het in front of me and explained that I was sitting down and not getting up or answering any questions until my tea was gone.  She peeked over the top of my mug and ran off to play.  A few minutes later she comes and peeks in my mug again, but says nothing.
So I sit, breath deeply, write, read, and sip VERY slowly.  And pray that this Time Out will get me through dinner and the kids' bedtimes without a meltdown.

The Pink Prancing Princess

So many things to be thankful for this week.  Here are just a few.
A nice line-up of blessings mark (for the most part) the end of an ordeal that was a car accident at the end of December-
:: Easy to work with car insurance.
:: Getting our car back after three weeks in the shop.
:: Getting cleared from my concussion and feeling much better.

MMan is sporting another tooth. GGirl continues to be a great big sister and helpful daughter.   This morning she was the Pink Prancing Princess- happily dancing around the living room.

Skype time with family, a high energy youth group Game Night with live music, and being caught up on work projects rounds out the week on a high note.

Blessings to you and your week to come!