Thursday, October 15, 2009
Eli's first day of pre-school
I love all of their goofy looks... Eli dressed himself on the first day of school. He just had to look "super awesome".
7,927,633 apples...
While wandering the isles of our neighborhood Target store, Emmy fell in love with a pair of faux patent leather pink Mary Janes. As she was prancing around in her new "pretty" shoes I asked her what they looked like. I was expecting her to say "shiny" or "pink", but no... She said "apples".
Reason 7,927,633 I love this child more than words can describe.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Born to Subtract
A few weeks ago, while at Target waiting for Jon to change Emmy's diaper, Isobel and I happened upon a $1, 1st-2nd Grade subtraction workbook. I decided that it was worth $1 to get a head start on subtraction.
A few nights later, Isobel was bored so we pulled out the workbook. The first page used picture examples to explain how subtraction works. Isobel and I talked about it a little, and then we went over some of the example problems, which according to her were super easy.
15 minutes later we were on page 4 of the workbook and Isobel was having a great time. In fact, as she wrote down another right answer she looked up at me and smiled.
"I think maybe I was born to do subtraction." Her voice so matter of fact, as if there was no other explanation.
It is good to know that at the age of 6, Isobel has found her true calling.
Poppy will be very happy to know that there is finally someone in the family who likes numbers as much as he does.
A few nights later, Isobel was bored so we pulled out the workbook. The first page used picture examples to explain how subtraction works. Isobel and I talked about it a little, and then we went over some of the example problems, which according to her were super easy.
15 minutes later we were on page 4 of the workbook and Isobel was having a great time. In fact, as she wrote down another right answer she looked up at me and smiled.
"I think maybe I was born to do subtraction." Her voice so matter of fact, as if there was no other explanation.
It is good to know that at the age of 6, Isobel has found her true calling.
Poppy will be very happy to know that there is finally someone in the family who likes numbers as much as he does.
Know vs No to Green Eggs and Ham
Isobel is one of those children who has little problem learning. She is a sponge and absorbs knowledge. The down side of this is that whenever something is even slightly difficult for her she hates it. She is so used to things just making sense that she has a difficult time when they don't. This has been our biggest struggle with reading. She can sound out words, but if they are one of the many words in the English language that can't be sounded out, she becomes agitated.
For instance... a few nights ago we were reading one of her Level One Barbie books and the word in the book was know. She struggled with sounding out the word, so I told her the word sounded like "no". She did not believe me, her exact response was "nuh, uh. Why are you lying to me? No is spelled n-o and does not have a k in it." I told her that I know it is strange, but I promise it sounds like no. She was very upset with me. We had to call Jon up so he could confirm what I had already told her. This did not sit well with her. In fact she was so upset that we had to close the book and go to sleep.
The night before last, I suddenly had an idea... which to me was brilliant, but to every other parent in the world was probably obvious. I would have her read something that she sort of knows, but would still have to read. We started with Marvin K. Mooney Will you Please Go Now. What a mistake, she knows this book so well, that she didn't even have to read the words, she could recite the book from memory (a downfall of it being my favorite Dr. Seuss book). The next book of choice was Green Eggs and Ham. This one was a success. She sort of knew it and the pictures match the words, making it easier to figure them out. She read each word in the book all by herself. At one point I told her that could sounds like would (which she was reading without problem) only with a c instead of a w. Beyond that, I didn't help her at all. She was so proud of herself and so excited. For the first time ever, the words "okay, maybe I do like reading" escaped her lips. A true success.
Since that night she has read Green Eggs and Ham at least 5 times. She will read it to anyone who will listen. She has read it to Emmy and Eli more than once, and they loved it.
Just another thing that is exciting, yet sad. Just another example of how quickly she is growing up. One week from tomorrow she will climb back on the bus and head off to her first day of first grade. And I feel pretty good knowing that she can read at least one full book independently before she climbs those stairs.
For instance... a few nights ago we were reading one of her Level One Barbie books and the word in the book was know. She struggled with sounding out the word, so I told her the word sounded like "no". She did not believe me, her exact response was "nuh, uh. Why are you lying to me? No is spelled n-o and does not have a k in it." I told her that I know it is strange, but I promise it sounds like no. She was very upset with me. We had to call Jon up so he could confirm what I had already told her. This did not sit well with her. In fact she was so upset that we had to close the book and go to sleep.
The night before last, I suddenly had an idea... which to me was brilliant, but to every other parent in the world was probably obvious. I would have her read something that she sort of knows, but would still have to read. We started with Marvin K. Mooney Will you Please Go Now. What a mistake, she knows this book so well, that she didn't even have to read the words, she could recite the book from memory (a downfall of it being my favorite Dr. Seuss book). The next book of choice was Green Eggs and Ham. This one was a success. She sort of knew it and the pictures match the words, making it easier to figure them out. She read each word in the book all by herself. At one point I told her that could sounds like would (which she was reading without problem) only with a c instead of a w. Beyond that, I didn't help her at all. She was so proud of herself and so excited. For the first time ever, the words "okay, maybe I do like reading" escaped her lips. A true success.
Since that night she has read Green Eggs and Ham at least 5 times. She will read it to anyone who will listen. She has read it to Emmy and Eli more than once, and they loved it.
Just another thing that is exciting, yet sad. Just another example of how quickly she is growing up. One week from tomorrow she will climb back on the bus and head off to her first day of first grade. And I feel pretty good knowing that she can read at least one full book independently before she climbs those stairs.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
R.I.P. Gore
I remember the day we brought Gore home from the Humane Society. It was Thanksgiving Break and we were there for one last attempt at finding our missing dog, Pup (who some believe, after 12 years, ran away to die). We were walking through the kennel area and a little brown dog was scooting around a kennel. It broke my heart, so I asked the person helping us if he was available for adoption. Unfortunately, he was not. He had been so badly abused that his hip was shattered and he would most likely never walk again. Although they hoped he may be adoptable at some point, they could not place him for adoption until the charges were brought against his previous owner. I watched the dog for awhile, feeling very sad that we couldn't give this poor puppy a good home. Then I heard the sniffing.
I looked in the kennel next to the poor abused brown dog and saw this little black puff ball with an enormous tongue. It was love at first sight. This dog was perfect for our family, so much so that I barley had to ask, much less convince my parents that this dog was meant to be in our family.
That was 16 years ago and I was right. Gore was a perfect addition to our family. Today my parents had to take that member of our family to the vet and have her put to sleep. I know it was devastating for them, they loved her so much... she will be missed
I looked in the kennel next to the poor abused brown dog and saw this little black puff ball with an enormous tongue. It was love at first sight. This dog was perfect for our family, so much so that I barley had to ask, much less convince my parents that this dog was meant to be in our family.
That was 16 years ago and I was right. Gore was a perfect addition to our family. Today my parents had to take that member of our family to the vet and have her put to sleep. I know it was devastating for them, they loved her so much... she will be missed
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Another first...
I swear I put sunblock on her before we went to the pool, but it didn't occur to me to reapply. We weren't there very long, or at least I didn't think we were. So, Isobel ended up with her first sunburn... another parenting failure on my part this summer.
My ever so supportive husband felt that this was a first that needed to be captured on film.
Don't worry... I remembered to thank him for capturing this precious moment.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
4th of July
We spent 4th of July in Galena, IL with Jon's parents. If you have never been to Galena, I strongly recommend going. It is a beautiful historic town located in the Northwest corner of Illinois.
Jon's parents have spent the last year renovating a historic home and it is beautiful. We love visiting. They have a huge front yard which means the kids spent a lot of time outside running around. They had such a great time.
The day started with a walk downtown to a parade on Main Street. I am not sure if it was a short parade or if we missed a lot of it, but it was over shortly after we arrived. Regardless, the kids loved it; there is something about parades and children that just equal magic.
The City of Galena puts on a firework show over the river, which the kids were excited to see. However, before we even headed out to the show Eli heard the bang of some local fireworks and went running for cover. Less than 10 minutes later he was fast asleep on the couch. So, I spent the night at home with a sleeping Eli, while everyone else enjoyed the show. And enjoy it they did. I heard rave reviews about the fireworks from both Isobel and Emmy. Although Isobel did think it was a little loud.
Emmy loved them so much that she still talks about them. Almost every day she mentions that she loves fireworks and that she saw them with Grandpa. I know she is only two and the memory will fade over time, but right now it is fresh enough in her mind that she still talks about it. Hopefully Eli will be less afraid and tired next year so we can all enjoy them together.
Anyway... here are the pictures of the 4th.
I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July.
Jon's parents have spent the last year renovating a historic home and it is beautiful. We love visiting. They have a huge front yard which means the kids spent a lot of time outside running around. They had such a great time.
The day started with a walk downtown to a parade on Main Street. I am not sure if it was a short parade or if we missed a lot of it, but it was over shortly after we arrived. Regardless, the kids loved it; there is something about parades and children that just equal magic.
The City of Galena puts on a firework show over the river, which the kids were excited to see. However, before we even headed out to the show Eli heard the bang of some local fireworks and went running for cover. Less than 10 minutes later he was fast asleep on the couch. So, I spent the night at home with a sleeping Eli, while everyone else enjoyed the show. And enjoy it they did. I heard rave reviews about the fireworks from both Isobel and Emmy. Although Isobel did think it was a little loud.
Emmy loved them so much that she still talks about them. Almost every day she mentions that she loves fireworks and that she saw them with Grandpa. I know she is only two and the memory will fade over time, but right now it is fresh enough in her mind that she still talks about it. Hopefully Eli will be less afraid and tired next year so we can all enjoy them together.
Anyway... here are the pictures of the 4th.
I hope you all had a happy and safe 4th of July.
When Eli turned 4...
On May 14th my dear little Eli turned 4. It was a busy day which started with his last day of school and ended with gymnastics. On the way home from gymnastics I asked Eli what he wanted for dinner. I told him he could pick anything he wanted, as he was the birthday boy. He thought long and hard before answering... Burger King.
So, with Burger King in hand we ventured home and had his birthday dinner followed by a Backyardigan cake. The funny thing about Eli is that he really doesn't like cake. He likes the idea of cake, but he never eats it. This was no exception. He was excited to have a Backyardigan cake and he loved blowing out the candles, but all he ate was the ice cream. I am pretty sure he is the only child in the world who doesn't like birthday cake. He will never admit he doesn't like cake. When asked why he wasn't eating his cake his reply was "I love birthday cake, but I don't really want it right now. I think I will eat it tomorrow." Tomorrow has never come.
After cake he opened his gifts. He loved all of his gifts.
As promised, or sort of but not completely promised, here are some pics:
Worst Mommy-blogger on the web...
Today is August 1st. It was over two months ago that I sat down and posted something on this blog. In those two months so many things have happened. While I missed a number of events that make me a horrible Mommy Blogger, one stands out above all the rest... Eli turned 4.
That's right folks, I missed a post wishing my sensitive, wonderful son a very happy 4th birthday. I think I officially win the prize for the worst Mommy Blogger on the web. I wonder if I will be able to find some sort of widget for that. If not, maybe one of my many graphic artist friends will step up and make me one, we all know I deserve it. I will do a post, albeit a late one, discussing this monumental day and possibly even add some pictures. However, grandparents don't get your hopes up, as I have been such a failure of late, I don't want more disappointment.
Other items that should have been posted, but weren't:
Early May brought the Annual Mother's Day Tea at Preschool. This year I was able to enjoy it with Eli. He sang and danced and we enjoyed some cake and juice together. It was a nice way to spend a few hours and I can't wait to go back next year when he is a little older and will hopefully be a little more animated. Shortly after the Mother's Day Tea, Eli celebrated his last day of his first year of Preschool. He will go back in September in the three day, Pre-K program. I can't believe how fast he is growing. He matures a little every single day, and it is a beautiful thing.
On May 15th Jon and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We actually had a babysitter for only the 3rd time in 6 years and enjoyed a very nice night out. As we waited outside PF Chang, which we love and the kids hate, we watched a number of high school kids getting ready to go to Prom. There was an enormous stretch hummer/limo thing that held at least 1,000 kids (perhaps a slight exaggeration). The best part was watching all of the girls in their flashy (not always pretty) dresses and their matching dates. We got a kick out of all the boys in white tuxes and lime green ties. It was also fun to comment on the boys we would never let Isobel or Emmy date and the dresses we would never let them wear. On the flip side, we discussed all of the ways we would never let Eli act. For instance, my son will never wear sunglasses with a tux after dark. If he does, he better be high or drunk and trying to convince me he is not. Otherwise, he will get the knob prize, and that will depress me beyond belief. I strongly believe these are realistic expectations for a parent... don't you?
At the end of May, Isobel finished her first official year of elementary school. She is now a 1st grader. She did wonderfully in kindergarten, passed with flying colors. Her teacher made the nicest note on her end of year report card, "you are a kind friend." If there is one thing that makes me the most proud of Isobel it is her heart. She is empathetic and kind, always the first to understand that while people are different they all deserve kindness and respect. It makes me proud to be her mother and, more importantly, proud to know her. This knowledge will make it possible to get through her pre-teen years, which I am sure will be complete and total hell.
At the very end of May Isobel and Eli had their Gymnastics Fun Meet at the YMCA. It was fun to see them perform all of the skills they learned in Gymnastics this year. They have both improved immensely.
In June Eli started soccer at Kids First, which is a local athletic club specifically for kids. Jon loves watching him, but I find myself very frustrated. Not because of the program, the instructors are fantastic and they are doing a great job teaching soccer fundamentals to 4 year olds, which can't be easy. The frustrating part is that Eli doesn't listen. The instructors will tell the kids to dribble the ball over to some cones, and then stop the ball with their foot. They are then allowed to bend over and pick up the little cone before heading to the other end. The whistle blows and all the other kids do as the instructor said, not Eli. He kicks (not dribbles) the ball towards the net, then shoots a goal. He then proceeds to the other side of the small field and kick another goal. I find myself cringe as this occurs... why can't he just listen? I just don't understand and it frustrates me. Jon is much better at being supportive, even when Eli is not listening. It is possible to not watch Eli without feeling like a horrible mom, because Bel is in gymnastics at the same time. Leading to the next event in our two month hiatus... Also in June,
Isobel started gymnastics at Kids First, which is a local athletic club specifically for kids (did I already mention that?). The facility is amazing! Isobel is only standing still when the teachers are explaining what they will be doing. I was worried that it would be a bit too advanced for her, but she has adjusted to the more rigorous environment nicely. If pressed, I would tell you that she has improved dramatically since the move. She is getting stronger and braver. In fact, today she attempted a somersault and handstand on the balance beam. A month ago, she wouldn't even walk on the beam without someone holding her hand. Huge improvement!
And of course, June brought Father's Day. As I have mentioned many times before I am very lucky to have Jon. He is a wonderful person and a terrific Father. I have listened to a number of people over the years comment on how hands off their husbands are. It always surprises me to hear how many moments some Dad's miss in their kids’ lives. That is not the case on our house. Jon finds a way to come to everything that is important to the kids, and me. He even took a few days off the week before Father's day just so I could go to Kansas and play with my old friends. For that and for everything else he does, I will always be thankful. I cannot mention Father's Day without mentioning my own Dad. He, just like Jon, always put my sister and me first. There was never a question as to his priorities. The best part was that he was actually here on Father's Day, so I got to celebrate with him. There is nothing better than being with your Dad on Father's Day. I love you, Dad!
Finally, Emmy has matured so much over the last few months. She is talking all the time and in well formed sentences. She is so much fun, there is no way I can capture in words how much energy and beauty she has. If you manage to look at her without smiling, she will make sure you are smiling before you look away.
While I am sure many more small things have happened over this period, I didn't write any of them down... yet another failure. I know I have said this before, but I am going to try very, very hard to start posting on a regular basis... I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens..
That's right folks, I missed a post wishing my sensitive, wonderful son a very happy 4th birthday. I think I officially win the prize for the worst Mommy Blogger on the web. I wonder if I will be able to find some sort of widget for that. If not, maybe one of my many graphic artist friends will step up and make me one, we all know I deserve it. I will do a post, albeit a late one, discussing this monumental day and possibly even add some pictures. However, grandparents don't get your hopes up, as I have been such a failure of late, I don't want more disappointment.
Other items that should have been posted, but weren't:
Early May brought the Annual Mother's Day Tea at Preschool. This year I was able to enjoy it with Eli. He sang and danced and we enjoyed some cake and juice together. It was a nice way to spend a few hours and I can't wait to go back next year when he is a little older and will hopefully be a little more animated. Shortly after the Mother's Day Tea, Eli celebrated his last day of his first year of Preschool. He will go back in September in the three day, Pre-K program. I can't believe how fast he is growing. He matures a little every single day, and it is a beautiful thing.
On May 15th Jon and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We actually had a babysitter for only the 3rd time in 6 years and enjoyed a very nice night out. As we waited outside PF Chang, which we love and the kids hate, we watched a number of high school kids getting ready to go to Prom. There was an enormous stretch hummer/limo thing that held at least 1,000 kids (perhaps a slight exaggeration). The best part was watching all of the girls in their flashy (not always pretty) dresses and their matching dates. We got a kick out of all the boys in white tuxes and lime green ties. It was also fun to comment on the boys we would never let Isobel or Emmy date and the dresses we would never let them wear. On the flip side, we discussed all of the ways we would never let Eli act. For instance, my son will never wear sunglasses with a tux after dark. If he does, he better be high or drunk and trying to convince me he is not. Otherwise, he will get the knob prize, and that will depress me beyond belief. I strongly believe these are realistic expectations for a parent... don't you?
At the end of May, Isobel finished her first official year of elementary school. She is now a 1st grader. She did wonderfully in kindergarten, passed with flying colors. Her teacher made the nicest note on her end of year report card, "you are a kind friend." If there is one thing that makes me the most proud of Isobel it is her heart. She is empathetic and kind, always the first to understand that while people are different they all deserve kindness and respect. It makes me proud to be her mother and, more importantly, proud to know her. This knowledge will make it possible to get through her pre-teen years, which I am sure will be complete and total hell.
At the very end of May Isobel and Eli had their Gymnastics Fun Meet at the YMCA. It was fun to see them perform all of the skills they learned in Gymnastics this year. They have both improved immensely.
In June Eli started soccer at Kids First, which is a local athletic club specifically for kids. Jon loves watching him, but I find myself very frustrated. Not because of the program, the instructors are fantastic and they are doing a great job teaching soccer fundamentals to 4 year olds, which can't be easy. The frustrating part is that Eli doesn't listen. The instructors will tell the kids to dribble the ball over to some cones, and then stop the ball with their foot. They are then allowed to bend over and pick up the little cone before heading to the other end. The whistle blows and all the other kids do as the instructor said, not Eli. He kicks (not dribbles) the ball towards the net, then shoots a goal. He then proceeds to the other side of the small field and kick another goal. I find myself cringe as this occurs... why can't he just listen? I just don't understand and it frustrates me. Jon is much better at being supportive, even when Eli is not listening. It is possible to not watch Eli without feeling like a horrible mom, because Bel is in gymnastics at the same time. Leading to the next event in our two month hiatus... Also in June,
Isobel started gymnastics at Kids First, which is a local athletic club specifically for kids (did I already mention that?). The facility is amazing! Isobel is only standing still when the teachers are explaining what they will be doing. I was worried that it would be a bit too advanced for her, but she has adjusted to the more rigorous environment nicely. If pressed, I would tell you that she has improved dramatically since the move. She is getting stronger and braver. In fact, today she attempted a somersault and handstand on the balance beam. A month ago, she wouldn't even walk on the beam without someone holding her hand. Huge improvement!
And of course, June brought Father's Day. As I have mentioned many times before I am very lucky to have Jon. He is a wonderful person and a terrific Father. I have listened to a number of people over the years comment on how hands off their husbands are. It always surprises me to hear how many moments some Dad's miss in their kids’ lives. That is not the case on our house. Jon finds a way to come to everything that is important to the kids, and me. He even took a few days off the week before Father's day just so I could go to Kansas and play with my old friends. For that and for everything else he does, I will always be thankful. I cannot mention Father's Day without mentioning my own Dad. He, just like Jon, always put my sister and me first. There was never a question as to his priorities. The best part was that he was actually here on Father's Day, so I got to celebrate with him. There is nothing better than being with your Dad on Father's Day. I love you, Dad!
Finally, Emmy has matured so much over the last few months. She is talking all the time and in well formed sentences. She is so much fun, there is no way I can capture in words how much energy and beauty she has. If you manage to look at her without smiling, she will make sure you are smiling before you look away.
While I am sure many more small things have happened over this period, I didn't write any of them down... yet another failure. I know I have said this before, but I am going to try very, very hard to start posting on a regular basis... I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens..
Monday, June 8, 2009
One, Two, Three...
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about sibling interactions and familial relationships lately. Isobel, Eli and Emmy have moments where they fight, but for the most part I can see how much they love each other. They can play together for hours and enjoy every minute of it. I hope that it continues throughout their lives. I know there is nothing I can do to help them maintain a close relationship. I can teach them that family is important and try to instill in them how important it is to love and accept each other regardless of their own beliefs and feelings, but I can't force them to like each other.
I have always found sibling relationships fascinating. I have so many friends who will tell you that their siblings are their best friends. I am actually surprised when my friends tell me that they talk to their siblings and are happy to see them. I am shocked to hear that people go on vacations to visit their siblings... does that really happen?
I think back to my own childhood with my sister and try to think of one good memory. One time when M was kind to me, one time we enjoyed each other’s company. I can't seem to find even a single memory in my mind. I can think of times when we laughed, but it was always followed by her turning mean and saying something hurtful. I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn't afraid of M's next reaction, which would shift at a single moment. It took me years to realize that she was really just sad and wanted everyone around her to be sad as well. There are so many things I would have liked to have said to her, but never had the courage. I was always afraid that she would attack me... verbally (we never hit each other, I think she may have tickled me once or twice out of spite).
The sad thing is that I worshiped her. I thought she was the coolest person ever. I wanted to be just like her, but happy. I used to sneak into her room when she wasn't home and listen to her music, just hoping that I would like it. When she chose her college and decided that she was going to leave home, I was devastated. I started acting out and even spent a few hours with a psychologist because I didn't know how to deal with this separation. I didn't know how to be Missy and not M's sister. It was easily one of the most difficult moments in my young life. However, I prevailed with the knowledge that it didn't matter because we were sisters and you can't change that... how wrong I was.
Fast forward four years. It is New Years Day and I am recovering from a night of having a little too much fun with my friends (Mom/Dad - you probably shouldn't read this... it may shatter your image of me as the wholesome child - haha). I was hung-over and regretting all the fun I had the night before, but I was up way early in the morning and heading home to start a nice road trip with my big sis. I was going to drive with her to Northampton, spend a week and fly home. I was so excited. I was actually going to get to spend time with M, who by that point had surpassed cool and become super cool (at least in my eyes). Unfortunately, the trip was awful. It was this trip that my sister fell of her pedestal. I know I have said this before but I have never forgiven her for that tumble. She was no longer this super cool feminist idol that I had created, she was an insecure driveling idiot who bowed to the men (well, man) in her life. I realize that most of the time when elder siblings become "human" to the younger, all is forgiven. I think it is typically a moment when the younger thinks to themselves "Wow, they are human? Of course they are human, why didn't I realize that before?” It was not that way for me. Not at all. Since that moment I have tried to forget about that fateful trip.
I have tried to have the kind of relationship that siblings should have. I have tried to visit her and I have asked her to visit me. She has told me many, many times that she would come and visit, but she never shows up. I don't mean she doesn't set a date or it just doesn't happen. I mean I will be sitting around waiting for her to call or waiting for her to show up and she never does. It has happened so many times that my friends even know that she isn't going to show up and they warn me not get excited and not to get my hopes up. There is nothing more embarrassing than telling everyone I know that I can't work tonight because my big sister is finally coming to visit me, telling them how I can't wait for them to meet her. Planning a whole night of where I will take her and what we will do, only to spend the next five hours sitting in one place, alone, waiting for her to show up. Not only did she not show up, she never once apologized for not showing up, in fact she never even mentioned it.
Although I can't remember the nature of the fight or even the premise of it, I remember the moment I decided that I wasn't going to allow her to hurt me anymore. I remember the moment that I realized that just because she was my sister, I wasn't obligated to like her. Of course, I still loved her, but that didn't mean I had to subject myself to her coldness and her ridicule. At that moment, I remembered all of the horrible things she had done to me throughout my life and I forgot all of the good ones. I am sure that my sister has done something nice for me; I can't imagine that she hasn't. I am also sure that the horrible moments are not as horrible as I remember them, but I have not been able to get past them, and I don't think I ever will.
My sister is now a fine upstanding individual. She is a doctor and a mother to two biological children, an adopted child, a step child and is in the process of adopting another. She spends her free time sharing her adoption story with strangers and encouraging them to think about the world. She donates money to a plethora of organizations and spends free time thinking about the world and all of the people in it who are less fortunate than she. She takes action to help make the world a better place. Yet, for some reason, I still don't want to know her.
It is sad to know that my children will never have a real relationship with their cousins. Isobel is always asking when she will see her cousin again. They are the same age and love each other so much, but they don't know each other and I fear they never will. Even that doesn't motivate me to forgive her.
Now, please don't misunderstand, it is not as if my sister is sitting around thinking how nice it would be to have a relationship with me. It is possible that she is less interested in knowing me than I am in knowing her... very possible.
Regardless of my non-relationship with my sister, my parents did everything right. They instilled in us the importance of family. They never favored one of us over the other or harbored a competitive environment that would fuel sibling rivalry. I would even say that they went out of their way not to compare us. They did everything right. Yet, something went terribly wrong.
Which leads to the reason I am writing this post? How can I, as a parent, ensure that my children have a healthy relationship later in life? Is there anything I can do that will prevent my children from ending up like M and I? Is there a way to teach them to forgive no matter what?
I go out of my way to tell my children that destructive relationships are not relationships worth having. I teach them that if someone doesn't want to be their friend, then they are not a friend worth having. I make sure that they realize that mean people or people who make them feel bad about themselves are not worth having in their lives. What happens, though, if the mean person is a family member? Is a destructive relationship worth having if it is family? If so, does that cause confusion in other aspects of the child’s life? Is it realistic to expect them to recognize a destructive relationship outside of the family if they are taught to ignore it within the family?
As much as I want my children to be close and depend on each other, I don't want them to do it at the expense of their own feelings. I hope that none of them will do anything so severe to the other that it is unforgivable, but if that happens, I will have to accept it. After all, I have not set the best example for forgive and forget.
I have always found sibling relationships fascinating. I have so many friends who will tell you that their siblings are their best friends. I am actually surprised when my friends tell me that they talk to their siblings and are happy to see them. I am shocked to hear that people go on vacations to visit their siblings... does that really happen?
I think back to my own childhood with my sister and try to think of one good memory. One time when M was kind to me, one time we enjoyed each other’s company. I can't seem to find even a single memory in my mind. I can think of times when we laughed, but it was always followed by her turning mean and saying something hurtful. I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn't afraid of M's next reaction, which would shift at a single moment. It took me years to realize that she was really just sad and wanted everyone around her to be sad as well. There are so many things I would have liked to have said to her, but never had the courage. I was always afraid that she would attack me... verbally (we never hit each other, I think she may have tickled me once or twice out of spite).
The sad thing is that I worshiped her. I thought she was the coolest person ever. I wanted to be just like her, but happy. I used to sneak into her room when she wasn't home and listen to her music, just hoping that I would like it. When she chose her college and decided that she was going to leave home, I was devastated. I started acting out and even spent a few hours with a psychologist because I didn't know how to deal with this separation. I didn't know how to be Missy and not M's sister. It was easily one of the most difficult moments in my young life. However, I prevailed with the knowledge that it didn't matter because we were sisters and you can't change that... how wrong I was.
Fast forward four years. It is New Years Day and I am recovering from a night of having a little too much fun with my friends (Mom/Dad - you probably shouldn't read this... it may shatter your image of me as the wholesome child - haha). I was hung-over and regretting all the fun I had the night before, but I was up way early in the morning and heading home to start a nice road trip with my big sis. I was going to drive with her to Northampton, spend a week and fly home. I was so excited. I was actually going to get to spend time with M, who by that point had surpassed cool and become super cool (at least in my eyes). Unfortunately, the trip was awful. It was this trip that my sister fell of her pedestal. I know I have said this before but I have never forgiven her for that tumble. She was no longer this super cool feminist idol that I had created, she was an insecure driveling idiot who bowed to the men (well, man) in her life. I realize that most of the time when elder siblings become "human" to the younger, all is forgiven. I think it is typically a moment when the younger thinks to themselves "Wow, they are human? Of course they are human, why didn't I realize that before?” It was not that way for me. Not at all. Since that moment I have tried to forget about that fateful trip.
I have tried to have the kind of relationship that siblings should have. I have tried to visit her and I have asked her to visit me. She has told me many, many times that she would come and visit, but she never shows up. I don't mean she doesn't set a date or it just doesn't happen. I mean I will be sitting around waiting for her to call or waiting for her to show up and she never does. It has happened so many times that my friends even know that she isn't going to show up and they warn me not get excited and not to get my hopes up. There is nothing more embarrassing than telling everyone I know that I can't work tonight because my big sister is finally coming to visit me, telling them how I can't wait for them to meet her. Planning a whole night of where I will take her and what we will do, only to spend the next five hours sitting in one place, alone, waiting for her to show up. Not only did she not show up, she never once apologized for not showing up, in fact she never even mentioned it.
Although I can't remember the nature of the fight or even the premise of it, I remember the moment I decided that I wasn't going to allow her to hurt me anymore. I remember the moment that I realized that just because she was my sister, I wasn't obligated to like her. Of course, I still loved her, but that didn't mean I had to subject myself to her coldness and her ridicule. At that moment, I remembered all of the horrible things she had done to me throughout my life and I forgot all of the good ones. I am sure that my sister has done something nice for me; I can't imagine that she hasn't. I am also sure that the horrible moments are not as horrible as I remember them, but I have not been able to get past them, and I don't think I ever will.
My sister is now a fine upstanding individual. She is a doctor and a mother to two biological children, an adopted child, a step child and is in the process of adopting another. She spends her free time sharing her adoption story with strangers and encouraging them to think about the world. She donates money to a plethora of organizations and spends free time thinking about the world and all of the people in it who are less fortunate than she. She takes action to help make the world a better place. Yet, for some reason, I still don't want to know her.
It is sad to know that my children will never have a real relationship with their cousins. Isobel is always asking when she will see her cousin again. They are the same age and love each other so much, but they don't know each other and I fear they never will. Even that doesn't motivate me to forgive her.
Now, please don't misunderstand, it is not as if my sister is sitting around thinking how nice it would be to have a relationship with me. It is possible that she is less interested in knowing me than I am in knowing her... very possible.
Regardless of my non-relationship with my sister, my parents did everything right. They instilled in us the importance of family. They never favored one of us over the other or harbored a competitive environment that would fuel sibling rivalry. I would even say that they went out of their way not to compare us. They did everything right. Yet, something went terribly wrong.
Which leads to the reason I am writing this post? How can I, as a parent, ensure that my children have a healthy relationship later in life? Is there anything I can do that will prevent my children from ending up like M and I? Is there a way to teach them to forgive no matter what?
I go out of my way to tell my children that destructive relationships are not relationships worth having. I teach them that if someone doesn't want to be their friend, then they are not a friend worth having. I make sure that they realize that mean people or people who make them feel bad about themselves are not worth having in their lives. What happens, though, if the mean person is a family member? Is a destructive relationship worth having if it is family? If so, does that cause confusion in other aspects of the child’s life? Is it realistic to expect them to recognize a destructive relationship outside of the family if they are taught to ignore it within the family?
As much as I want my children to be close and depend on each other, I don't want them to do it at the expense of their own feelings. I hope that none of them will do anything so severe to the other that it is unforgivable, but if that happens, I will have to accept it. After all, I have not set the best example for forgive and forget.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Emmy!
Two years ago yesterday I said to my good friend R something along the lines of "At least she will stay in until May; I can't afford a diamond baby."
Less than two hours later Jon pulled up to a stop sign in Saline, MI and I turn to him and said "either my water just broke or I wet my pants and I am pretty sure I didn't have to go to the bathroom."
Unwilling to accept that my water had broken so early I made him continue home. After all, I had a roast in the crock pot and I didn't want to waste it... I love roast.
We drove the rest of the way home with little incident, making a few phone calls along the way.
When we got home Jon said "Take out the roast, get everything we need and we will go to the hospital."
"No." I replied, "Even if my water did break I am always in labor for hours... give the kids baths and I will make potatoes." I was determined to eat that roast.
While Jon was giving Eli and Bel baths the contractions started. Not those pesky early labor contractions, but those "Holy shit I can't walk and talk and breathe while these are going on" kind.
So, I suggested to Jon that we should probably start the 30 minute drive to the hospital.
We dropped the kids off at B & K's (who were our saviors multiple times during our Ann Arbor lives) and headed to U of M for what was clearly going to be the birth of our "diamond baby".
Why do I ever speak?!?
When we arrived at the hospital I was told that my water hadn't broken, I rolled my eyes at the triage nurse and said, "I promise you my water has broken."
"Well, according the test I just performed there is no amniotic fluid present. However, you appear to be having pretty steady contractions, so let's just check you out."
I was admitted less than 5 minutes letter dilated to a 5. Oh and did I mention that the exam showed that my amniotic sac was not intact... REALLY!?!
I should preface the next part of the story with how pleasant early labor with Eli was. I had my epidural at 6 and I was hardly aware of the contractions. However, post epidural labor was not so pleasant, leaving me with the desire to attempt an undedicated labor with Emmy. After all, this was baby number three; I was an old pro at this whole birthing thing.
So, on the way to my room I told my L&D nurse that I wanted to attempt an unmedicated labor. I told her that I am not totally sold on it, but I want to give it a shot.
What an enormous mistake! Ten minutes later I am at a 6 and begging for that epidural. I couldn't get it fast enough. I didn't even care that they had to stick me twice.
A few hours later, I looked at the clock and smiled... It was 12:01. This meant that I was going to have another emerald baby. An hour and 53 minutes later at 1:54 am, Emmy graced us with her presence.
Less than two hours later Jon pulled up to a stop sign in Saline, MI and I turn to him and said "either my water just broke or I wet my pants and I am pretty sure I didn't have to go to the bathroom."
Unwilling to accept that my water had broken so early I made him continue home. After all, I had a roast in the crock pot and I didn't want to waste it... I love roast.
We drove the rest of the way home with little incident, making a few phone calls along the way.
When we got home Jon said "Take out the roast, get everything we need and we will go to the hospital."
"No." I replied, "Even if my water did break I am always in labor for hours... give the kids baths and I will make potatoes." I was determined to eat that roast.
While Jon was giving Eli and Bel baths the contractions started. Not those pesky early labor contractions, but those "Holy shit I can't walk and talk and breathe while these are going on" kind.
So, I suggested to Jon that we should probably start the 30 minute drive to the hospital.
We dropped the kids off at B & K's (who were our saviors multiple times during our Ann Arbor lives) and headed to U of M for what was clearly going to be the birth of our "diamond baby".
Why do I ever speak?!?
When we arrived at the hospital I was told that my water hadn't broken, I rolled my eyes at the triage nurse and said, "I promise you my water has broken."
"Well, according the test I just performed there is no amniotic fluid present. However, you appear to be having pretty steady contractions, so let's just check you out."
I was admitted less than 5 minutes letter dilated to a 5. Oh and did I mention that the exam showed that my amniotic sac was not intact... REALLY!?!
I should preface the next part of the story with how pleasant early labor with Eli was. I had my epidural at 6 and I was hardly aware of the contractions. However, post epidural labor was not so pleasant, leaving me with the desire to attempt an undedicated labor with Emmy. After all, this was baby number three; I was an old pro at this whole birthing thing.
So, on the way to my room I told my L&D nurse that I wanted to attempt an unmedicated labor. I told her that I am not totally sold on it, but I want to give it a shot.
What an enormous mistake! Ten minutes later I am at a 6 and begging for that epidural. I couldn't get it fast enough. I didn't even care that they had to stick me twice.
A few hours later, I looked at the clock and smiled... It was 12:01. This meant that I was going to have another emerald baby. An hour and 53 minutes later at 1:54 am, Emmy graced us with her presence.
The good news: Little Miss Emmy was born on May Day, my very favorite holiday.
The bad news: I spent my 31st birthday in the NICU watching my May Day baby struggle to breath. Strangely that was my best birthday ever. As I have mentioned in a previous post, May 2nd, 2007 was the day Emmy's toes turned pink.
I am very lucky to have such a happy and healthy two year old. It is because of her that my life is complete. Isobel and Eli started our family, but Emmy completed it... in many ways. She is such an amazing person. In fact, it is almost impossible to look at her and not smile.
Happy Birthday, my sweet baby girl! We love you!
Just in case you were wondering... I never did get to eat the roast.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Day Two
Marley had a rough night and morning. She had some vomiting and just couldn't get comfortable. I have to say cleaning vomit out of one of those Elizabethan collars at 1:00 in the morning is not the most attractive way to spend time. It increases the yuck factor of animal vomit by about 1,000,000.
At 4:00 we woke up to Marley wheezing, it was pretty scary. Intellectually I know that this is normal after being intubated, but it still scared me to death. I was actually at my computer finding the closest 24 hour veterinary hospital. Jon was able to convince me to go back to bed once she stopped, but I didn't sleep very well. However, he was right... she made it through the rest of the night.
This morning I called the vet and the ophthalmologist to make sure that all of these things were normal. Apparently they are not normal, but not abnormal either. They had us discontinue the medicine and see if that helped stop the vomiting. Thankfully, it did. The other positive side effect of discontinuing the medicine is that Marley is not lethargic anymore. She is clearly feeling better... what a relief!
So, now that she has turned the corner I am feeling much better about the whole situation. I am ready for her to feel good again and I am confident that will happen soon.
I have taken some pictures, but haven't decided if I am going to post them or not... it is a little sad and a little pathetic. I may wait until the swelling goes down to take the after photos...
Oh and on another note... Eli is adjusting and did not seem scared of Marley today. He is still a little timid, but getting better. I think he has also turned a corner.
At 4:00 we woke up to Marley wheezing, it was pretty scary. Intellectually I know that this is normal after being intubated, but it still scared me to death. I was actually at my computer finding the closest 24 hour veterinary hospital. Jon was able to convince me to go back to bed once she stopped, but I didn't sleep very well. However, he was right... she made it through the rest of the night.
This morning I called the vet and the ophthalmologist to make sure that all of these things were normal. Apparently they are not normal, but not abnormal either. They had us discontinue the medicine and see if that helped stop the vomiting. Thankfully, it did. The other positive side effect of discontinuing the medicine is that Marley is not lethargic anymore. She is clearly feeling better... what a relief!
So, now that she has turned the corner I am feeling much better about the whole situation. I am ready for her to feel good again and I am confident that will happen soon.
I have taken some pictures, but haven't decided if I am going to post them or not... it is a little sad and a little pathetic. I may wait until the swelling goes down to take the after photos...
Oh and on another note... Eli is adjusting and did not seem scared of Marley today. He is still a little timid, but getting better. I think he has also turned a corner.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
lions and tigers and dolphins oh my...
Eli: "I like dolphins."
Bel: "No you don't. You like lions."
Eli "Oh ya, I like lions."
Way to stand your ground, man.
Bel: "No you don't. You like lions."
Eli "Oh ya, I like lions."
Way to stand your ground, man.
Bel and Emmy's show
The other day I was sitting in my office listening to Bel and Emmy sing Lenka over the baby moniter.
I did enjoy the show and I absolutely do not want my money back.
I did enjoy the show and I absolutely do not want my money back.
Enucleation
A few weeks ago we noticed that Marley's eye was bulging; it wasn't enormous, but noticeable. So, on the 9th we took her to the vet and they noted that she had Primary Glaucoma in her left eye and referred us to a Veterinary Ophthalmologist.
On Good Friday we were told that her left eye was a blind eye and it was time to make her comfortable. The options were constant medication to keep the pressure behind the eye down, enucleation or a prosthetic eye. The first was not really an option for us, as it doesn't guarantee her comfort and they use human Glaucoma medicine which would be very costly. The prosthetic seemed daunting to us, a task too big to undertake. Marley would have kept the outer portion of her eye, and a black marble would be placed behind the outer layer to look as if she still had her eye. The daunting part was the daily care of the eye. We would need to be diligent about putting eye drops in her eye to keep it moist and clean. This seemed like a lot of work for a purely cosmetic option, so we opted for the enucleation.
This is one of the hardest decisions I have made as an adult. Not only did we have to decide what to do we also had to decide where to do it; the ophthalmologist or the vet. After checking a few other health issues (last dental cleaning, the cause of a small lump on her chest) we opted for the Ophthalmologist. We had the option of the specialist, it seemed best to use it.
Last Thursday I scheduled the appointment. On Friday, I took Marley into our vet to have her surgical blood work done and had to see a different vet in the practice. He did not make a good impression on me. After seeming irritated that he was doing blood work for a surgery he wasn't performing, he had the audacity to call me back and give me a spiel about how Marley has bad teeth. According to him, she really needed another cleaning (even though it had only been 8 months and his partner told us just the week before that her teeth could use a cleaning, but it could wait) and he told me he thinks she has a cracked tooth that will need to be surgically extracted (he wouldn't be sure until she was under anesthesia), so as a consumer it would be in my best interest to have all the procedures done all at once, by him. I felt swindled. I don't know if she has a cracked tooth or not, but if she does, he will not be doing the extraction. It felt slimy and dirty... I am not sure I will be going back to that practice at all.
Sorry... Rant Over!
So, this morning, I took Marley into the ophthalmologist at 8:00 and dropped her off for her surgery. I was totally prepared... so I thought. They went over the standard information about how Marley will be going under anesthesia and, although unlikely, anything could happen. I was prepared for this... I know the anesthesia spiel. Then they pulled out a DNR! I was not prepared for that. I had to check a box that said that I would like them to perform life saving procedures on my Marley... I lost it. I tried so hard to be strong, but I crumbled under the vision of my little girl laying on the operating table wired to all of these machines getting chest compressions... the reality that it could happen broke my heart.
Luckily, nothing bad happened. The surgery was a huge success and she is doing very well. She is groggy and her eye is terribly swollen, but that is all temporary. Within two weeks she will be comfortable and happy (hopefully). The kids were a little freaked out when they first saw her, but they are adjusting. Eli still won't pet her, but Bel and Emmy have both stepped up and given her some much needed loving. I am sure Eli will step up as soon as the swelling goes down, which will hopefully be within the next 24 hours.
We love you, Marley and can't wait for you to be back to your old self (well, minus your left eye)!!!
On Good Friday we were told that her left eye was a blind eye and it was time to make her comfortable. The options were constant medication to keep the pressure behind the eye down, enucleation or a prosthetic eye. The first was not really an option for us, as it doesn't guarantee her comfort and they use human Glaucoma medicine which would be very costly. The prosthetic seemed daunting to us, a task too big to undertake. Marley would have kept the outer portion of her eye, and a black marble would be placed behind the outer layer to look as if she still had her eye. The daunting part was the daily care of the eye. We would need to be diligent about putting eye drops in her eye to keep it moist and clean. This seemed like a lot of work for a purely cosmetic option, so we opted for the enucleation.
This is one of the hardest decisions I have made as an adult. Not only did we have to decide what to do we also had to decide where to do it; the ophthalmologist or the vet. After checking a few other health issues (last dental cleaning, the cause of a small lump on her chest) we opted for the Ophthalmologist. We had the option of the specialist, it seemed best to use it.
Last Thursday I scheduled the appointment. On Friday, I took Marley into our vet to have her surgical blood work done and had to see a different vet in the practice. He did not make a good impression on me. After seeming irritated that he was doing blood work for a surgery he wasn't performing, he had the audacity to call me back and give me a spiel about how Marley has bad teeth. According to him, she really needed another cleaning (even though it had only been 8 months and his partner told us just the week before that her teeth could use a cleaning, but it could wait) and he told me he thinks she has a cracked tooth that will need to be surgically extracted (he wouldn't be sure until she was under anesthesia), so as a consumer it would be in my best interest to have all the procedures done all at once, by him. I felt swindled. I don't know if she has a cracked tooth or not, but if she does, he will not be doing the extraction. It felt slimy and dirty... I am not sure I will be going back to that practice at all.
Sorry... Rant Over!
So, this morning, I took Marley into the ophthalmologist at 8:00 and dropped her off for her surgery. I was totally prepared... so I thought. They went over the standard information about how Marley will be going under anesthesia and, although unlikely, anything could happen. I was prepared for this... I know the anesthesia spiel. Then they pulled out a DNR! I was not prepared for that. I had to check a box that said that I would like them to perform life saving procedures on my Marley... I lost it. I tried so hard to be strong, but I crumbled under the vision of my little girl laying on the operating table wired to all of these machines getting chest compressions... the reality that it could happen broke my heart.
Luckily, nothing bad happened. The surgery was a huge success and she is doing very well. She is groggy and her eye is terribly swollen, but that is all temporary. Within two weeks she will be comfortable and happy (hopefully). The kids were a little freaked out when they first saw her, but they are adjusting. Eli still won't pet her, but Bel and Emmy have both stepped up and given her some much needed loving. I am sure Eli will step up as soon as the swelling goes down, which will hopefully be within the next 24 hours.
We love you, Marley and can't wait for you to be back to your old self (well, minus your left eye)!!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hot potato...
Jon made a valiant, but unsuccessful effort to get Eli to eat his potatoes the other night.
Jon: "Eli look your sisters love them. Isobel is on her second helping and Emmy has had like five helpings, in fact Emmy is going to turn into a potato."
Eli: "You have a potato costume, Daddy?"
Jon: "Eli look your sisters love them. Isobel is on her second helping and Emmy has had like five helpings, in fact Emmy is going to turn into a potato."
Eli: "You have a potato costume, Daddy?"
Monkey or Man...
Today...
Me: "Eli, what's your favorite fruit?"
Eli: "Bananas, but I'm not a monkey, I'm a man."
Me: "Eli, what's your favorite fruit?"
Eli: "Bananas, but I'm not a monkey, I'm a man."
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Show (2)
Seriously cute!
Isobel is so shy about singing... you can hear her but the minute the camera is on her she stops. It has become a game between Jon and Isobel over the years. Isobel won... this time.
Best Friends Forever...
Preparing for Isobel's birthday party was quite a chore. I had no idea it could be so difficult to plan a 6th birthday.
After much deliberation we decided to go with a girls only party. Mostly because there were only three boys Isobel wanted to invite. One was out of town for the month and one was unlisted, making it impossible to send an invitation. The idea of inviting only one boy seemed cruel.
She carefully chose her guest list. It took three days for her to narrow it down to the 13 she wanted to invite. She was constantly adding and removing people. Finally she had it just right and we sent out the invitations.
Two days before her party Isobel came home from school and told me that she had to invite a girl in her class to her party.
"Isobel she wasn't on your list and now it is too late to add her." I calmly told her, although I was a little irritated considering how meticulous she was in creating her list.
"But I have to Mom." she whined.
"Why?"
"Because she is my best friend."
"If she is your best friend, why wasn't she on your original list?"
"She only told me we were best friends today, mom."
I just love this girl!
After much deliberation we decided to go with a girls only party. Mostly because there were only three boys Isobel wanted to invite. One was out of town for the month and one was unlisted, making it impossible to send an invitation. The idea of inviting only one boy seemed cruel.
She carefully chose her guest list. It took three days for her to narrow it down to the 13 she wanted to invite. She was constantly adding and removing people. Finally she had it just right and we sent out the invitations.
Two days before her party Isobel came home from school and told me that she had to invite a girl in her class to her party.
"Isobel she wasn't on your list and now it is too late to add her." I calmly told her, although I was a little irritated considering how meticulous she was in creating her list.
"But I have to Mom." she whined.
"Why?"
"Because she is my best friend."
"If she is your best friend, why wasn't she on your original list?"
"She only told me we were best friends today, mom."
I just love this girl!
Time Warp...
I have not been very good about updating this blog. I want to say that it is because I have been so busy, but that would be a lie. The truth is that previously when I had free time I would write on the blog... now, when I have free time I spend it on Facebook. Seriously, that little social networking site is just a complete and total time warp. A fantastic time warp, but a time warp none the less. However, I have been able to reconnect with people that I love making it worth every single lost minute.
What this means is that I have a little notebook with stories for the blog... the problem is that they will be completely out of sequence and happened a long, long time ago. I am, however, still going to post them... because they are cute. And what is the point of this outlet if not for cute stories about my kids... I hope you will bear with me over the next couple of days while I catch up. After that, I will try very hard to add some new stories on a regular basis.
What this means is that I have a little notebook with stories for the blog... the problem is that they will be completely out of sequence and happened a long, long time ago. I am, however, still going to post them... because they are cute. And what is the point of this outlet if not for cute stories about my kids... I hope you will bear with me over the next couple of days while I catch up. After that, I will try very hard to add some new stories on a regular basis.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Isobel's Birthday Party...
So, a really, really long time ago Isobel turned six. A few days before she turned six, she had a birthday party. It was a fantastic birthday party. She and 14 of her friends (including Eli and a few other younger siblings) spent an hour running around an obstacle course in the gymnastics studio at the YMCA. Did I mention it was fantastic?!?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Bel and Jon!!!
Six years ago today Isobel decided that she wanted to wish her dad a happy birthday in person. By dinner, she was finally here. This was Jon's best birthday and also his last. Since that day, his birthday has been overshadowed by Bel's and he has not complained once (well, not seriously).
I love you both very, very much.
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