Little Mommy

It's no secret that Lydia is Mommy's helper. While this often brings a smile to my face, it also brings some frustrations when she refuses to leave my side for 12 hours every day (with the exception of her nap, of course).

A few weeks ago, Mike and Jonah left for the day. I woke up that morning and said, "It's girls' day, Lydie! What do you want to do today? We can go get ice cream or play with playdoh...."

"Clean play room," she said, "It's really messy."

A little later that day, sticking with the cleaning theme that Lydia desired, I set up my ironing board in Jonah's room. "I'll iron and you have a choice. You can play in your room, you can play in the play room, or you can even play in Jonah's room with his toys since he's not here!"

She sat down on the trampoline in his room and declared, "Sit right here. Take clothes off hangers for you."

Whoa, Lydia. Don't have too much fun on our girls' day!

This evening I was preparing dinner, Jonah was outside playing with the kids in the neighborhood, and Lydia was organizing coupons before she walked out our front door. Wait! Did she just walk out the front door?

"Why did you go outside?" I asked.

"I'm checking on the kids. Jonah's staying safe."

I grabbed a piece of paper so that I could write down her words exactly as she said them.

She left the house again. "I'm just telling Jonah two minutes to come in."

"Actually, Lydia, dinner won't be ready for 12 minutes."

She ran out the door again and yelled, "Are you safe, Jonah?"

"I think he's safe. Do you think so?"

"Yeah."

So she sat down in the kitchen-- and started organizing her coupons again.

Yesterday

Lydia received a present after I found the money.

She picked out her princess helmet and elbow pads. They cost almost as much as the bike :)

sometimes money grows on trees

You know the feeling you get when you reach in an old coat pocket and find a five dollar bill? It's a good feeling.

This afternoon I was cleaning out drawers for a garage sale this weekend. I found a black velvet wallet that my mother-in-law gave me many years ago. I used it occasionally to store extra cash when we lived in Michigan.

I opened it up.

I found $129.

Now that was a GREAT feeling!

a visit with cousins

neighborhood friends

I grew up in a subdivision. Mike grew up in the woods. I have fond memories of playing flashlight tag, catching lightening bugs, and building leaf houses with Amy, Leslie, Jason, Troy, and Adam (to name a few). Mike has fond memories of riding on his 4-wheeler through the woods with his brother and playing with Evan-I'll-get-you-with-my-short-arm (that's what Mike always says-- as if it's one word) who lived through the woods.

Mike has always talked about owning a home in the woods. I've always wanted a house in a subdivision.

I'm getting my wish. Our little subdivision is growing. They're building the ninth house.

Jonah was outside yesterday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. He even had a picnic lunch on our neighbor's back porch. We played with the slip & slide, enjoyed sidewalk chalk, took advantage of the swing sets, and even filled water balloons.

Lydia thinks the big kids are her friends too. "Wait for me, Tyler," she says (as if eight year old Tyler really cares about waiting for her :)

This is going to be a fun summer.

Graduation

Jonah graduated from preschool this week. School is officially over, and we're preparing to transition to a summer routine.

I am so thankful for Jonah's preschool this year after last year's experience. I cried when the program first started. It was a mixture of emotions. I was thankful for Kiddie Kampus. I was thankful for Mrs. Fox. I was thankful that Jonah was up on stage and fit in. Unlike other mothers, my tears had nothing to do with my child getting older; they were all about the progress he's making. And in that moment, I was so proud!



Mrs. Fox, Miss Tonya, and Miss Diane. At his conference a few weeks ago, they had nothing negative to share with us! Nothing! They clearly took the time to love him, understand him, and appreciate his strengths. (I keep thinking about last year when the teacher could say nothing positive. My blood pressure rises just thinking about it. AAGH.) I've definitely learned to appreciate good teachers.
Jonah's friend, Reanna. Jonah told me once that he was going to marry Reanna. She's very special to him. We carpooled with Reanna this year; I loved listening to their conversations. Reanna's family is moving to Arkansas in a few weeks. They will be missed!

For Beth

"Mom...Dad.... Don't even try to make me laugh. This picture taking stuff is serious business."


"Ah, the smell of goose poop at the lake..."

A Mother's Day Present

6:15: I suggest Jonah should remove the training wheels on his bike so that he can keep up with his friends in the neighborhood. He's been avoiding it, saying that he'll do it "this summer." I'm secretly worried that he'll get frustrated or won't be able to focus. I talk to him about patience and explain that if he starts to learn tonight then he'll probably be able to ride his bike by the end of the week.

6:16: I go inside to give Lydia her bath and put her to bed. Mike stays outside to help Jonah.

6:50: Jonah calls me outside.

He did it... in thirty-five minutes.

"It helped that he's fearless," Mike says.

They're enjoying some ice cream to celebrate right now.



Yeah! We're proud parents tonight :)

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