Leaves and Bugs

On some of the sweetest words

2011-09-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Cora: I could snuggle you all day, without breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Seriously, does life get any better? Her wild brother joined in and we had a quiet little moment Sunday morning. One moment like that gives purpose to everything else I do. I will never love doing the dishes or putting away laundry. I will never mark the day I clean the toilet with a smiley face on my calendar. But I can find joy and contentment in doing those things for my loves.

On the good things in life

2011-08-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

My life is made good by the little moments

the closeness of my children and the nonsense we whisper in the early minutes before we're late for anything

the weight and warmth of the Bug in my lap, the softness of the yarn, the smoothness of the needles

laying in the floor with my Leaves, making anything we imagine with tiny interlocking bricks

the sound of singing from the shower

the sound of a light saber always

fingers in the flour and sugar, sampling each ingredient as it is made into something altogether different

soft curly hair sliding through my fingers into long braids

a nose being wiggled against mine

tiny popsicle toes tucked between my feet to warm them

love.

On the Best of the Bug

2011-07-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

These are some of the reasons I think Cora is great:

She likes to curl up in my lap and knit.

She named her stuffed elephant "Fallulah Jones."

She is a strong little girl, handling more than most children with more grace than most adults.

She is inclusive.

She named her stuffed red panda "Sadie M'lady."

She is almost always smiling and singing.

She will do anything for a laugh.

She named her stuffed chihuahua "Ferocious."

She gladly plays Pokemon, and Star Wars, and whatever else Levi asks her to.

She loves animals and is always gentle with them.

She believes that God heals her every scrape and that He is healing her every day.

She dances.

She knows what she wants and has no problem asking for it.

She is beautiful.

She loves.

On the most influential woman in my life

2011-05-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

When my daughter was 8 months old, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. On the ride from the specialist's office in Atlanta to my parents' house, I called my mother to let her know. I don't remember the words I used, just that she had to decipher them through my sobbing. When we arrived at her house, she was in the driveway, watering her rosebushes. This image will stick with me for the rest of my life. I was certain before that second that my world had turned upside down and that everything I believed before that time had become untrue. But my mom was watering the rosebushes. Because they would bloom again. They would grow taller and fuller, there would be buds, and later beautiful, fragrant blossoms.

I never saw her cry about the diagnosis. I know that there were many tears shed, I also know that I didn't see them. Her strength empowered me to stand. I was raised by a strong, godly, powerful woman, and some of that must be in my bones, too. I see in her both soft femininity and resolute strength. And that's who I will be.

On the elegance of the Bug

2011-04-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

My daughter loves bananas. I like that they come in their own wrappers. They require no preparation on my part before being consumed. How convenient.

But Cora does not like to eat them this way. Instead, she unwraps them, slices them, places the slices in a bowl, and eats them with a fork. How elegant.

On a messy house

2011-03-24T15:14:00.001-07:00

I am a good mom. I know this because my house is a disaster.

Every pile of clean, folded laundry that never made it to the drawer is evidence of snuggles on the couch.

Every dirty dish left in the sink is proof that I chose to be a mom instead of a maid.

Every toy, book, or whatever out of place and on the floor (being stepped over a million times) represents time spent playing or reading instead of tidying.

Every mess is proof that I have given my "best" to my kids and saved my "what's left" for housework.

On staying young

2011-03-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight we were watching the new version of "The Karate Kid." While being dropped off for his first day of school, the kid's mother says "I love you," and the kid acts embarrassed.

Levi: (incredulously) Why is that embarrassing? It's his mom. We tell each other "I love you" in public all the time.

I am not at all anxious for my boy to grow up. He still thinks I'm amazing, and pretty, and "the best mommy ever," and he doesn't hesitate to tell me so. I hope that even after my many faults are made evident to him, I'll still be his "tiny little mommy," and that I'll manage to somehow make it through his adolescence without too much embarrassing, emotional damage.

On winning literature

2011-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

Each week, the first graders in Mrs. Guy's class write a few sentences about an animal. Last week, Levi's story was chosen by his teacher as the best in the class. Here it is:

The frightened pig was about to be cooked at the farm. The pig was very scared. He ran away. Why did he run away? He was about to be cooked into bacon!

This story is a) amazing and b) makes me wonder if the choice to remove meat from my son's diet influenced his narrative. It does seem as though he is in favor of sparing the pig and forgoing the bacon. (Although our vegetarianism has never been about animal rights) No matter the inspiration, I am super proud of my gifted and talented boy and his incredible creativity.

On likes and dislikes

2011-03-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Likes:

Levi and Cora (loves, actually)

Movies that make me think

Yummy (vegetarian) food

Laughing

Tolkien, Lewis, Rowling

Movies that make me laugh

Creating

Mockumentaries (e.g. Spinal Tap and The Office)

People. All kinds, we all have the "divine spark" and should therefore all be valued.

Summer, sunshine and warmth

Truth and Beauty (which, for me, are inextricable)

Dislikes:

Hidden motives

Romantic comedies

Snootiness

Most reality television (Top Chef is the exception and one of my favorite shows)

Being cold

Doing laundry

Adding "licious" to words to make new words

Criticism and judgement

Triteness (especially when used by those who are completely clueless about that which they are speaking)

On the funniest people I know

2011-02-27T12:01:00.000-08:00

Levi: (pointing a lego star wars storm trooper holding a tiny gun at Cora) It's loaded.

Cora: I'm not scared of you.

Levi: (in the highest, squeakiest voice imaginable) peuw

Me: hysterical laughter

Seriously, those two monchhichis make me laugh harder than anyone else.

On blobs

2011-01-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

Me: Ugh. I look like a blob.

Levi: I think you look like a cute blob.

Me: Awww...thanks, Leaves.

If I have to be a blob, at least I'm a cute one.

On the dangers of equipping a small girl with long pointy things

2011-01-26T17:09:00.001-08:00

Cora: I want to learn how to knit.

Me: I'm not quite sure you're old enough.

Cora: Mom, I'm five.

Me: Ok.

Levi: I'm not so sure about this.

Me: About what?

Levi: Cora knitting. She could poke something.

She didn't poke anything. And she did successfully knit about an inch of a scarf (I held the left needle, but she did all the work.) She is very proud of herself. Her mom is a little proud, too.

On the very best way to wake up

2011-01-24T18:28:00.001-08:00

Early this morning, after getting the call about the 2 hour delay, crawling back into bed, and just beginning to drift off to sleep, I was visited by a beautiful bug.

Cora: I'm the one you're looking for.

Me: For what?

Cora: For snuggling.

truth. love.

On the wisdom of little girls (a beautiful one in particular)

2011-01-21T16:03:00.000-08:00

Me: Ugh. I hope we don't get any more snow this year.

Cora: Mom. (slight sigh of exasperation) If God wants it to snow, there will be snow. If He doesn't want it to snow, it won't.

Duh. It could be so simple. I wish I was more like the couple in C.S. Lewis's space trilogy. They "like weather," all of it. I do not. I like the sun. And that is probably wrong. After all, "The fruit we are eating is the best fruit of all.*" And I've been told repeatedly by one of my favorite people, that the snow deposits nitrogen in the ground which will make the spring blossoms even more plentiful. (Silly me, I thought it was April showers that did that).

I, once again, need to emulate Cora, and accept whatever gift is sent to me, even if it makes me shiver.

*I didn't really mean to reference the Space Trilogy twice in the post, but what I've read by Mr. Lewis has a way of sneaking into my head and sticking there.

On veggies

2011-01-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

Levi: Mom, you should be on Top Chef.

Me: Thanks, Levi, but really I'm not a chef.

Levi: Seriously, Mom, you would win.

How sweet is he? Tonight for dinner I made cous cous and roasted sweet potatoes, new potatoes and brussels sprouts. For the kids I also cooked a chicken breast in some butter and a garlic herb blend. Guess what was left on their plate...the chicken. They scarfed the cous cous, but really, who wouldn't? It's delicious. Both types of potatoes and even the brussels sprouts also disappeared from their plates. The only thing Levi wanted seconds of was the brusselss sprouts. Maybe the chicken was disgusting. I don't think it was; it smelled really good. I obviously didn't taste it, but I do know that when I cut it up, it seemed juicy. Yet it was left behind. And I don't care. I didn't want to force my vegetarianism on them. But I'm not sure I'm going to continue cooking meat if it's just going to end up in the trash.

On the new year

2011-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

I love the word "new." It conjures feelings of pure freshness, like a downy chick, and a crisp apple, and a piece of white paper with no mistakes yet. I realize this is slightly Michael Scott of me, but I love the potential of an empty page of cardstock. I am incredibly inspired by the clean slate that each new year brings. So, here is my to do list for 2011:

Learn to play at least three real songs on my guitar, instead of just randomly playing the five chords I know.

Clean out my basement. This might actually take all year.

Eat more fresh, healthy foods. I always forget how much I love to cook until I make myself do it, so I'm determined to find lots of tasty recipes to try this year.

Dream with God and find the courage to follow those dreams.

Learn to hula hoop.

Finish all the knitting projects I've started.

Be a good mom. Listen to my children. Help them find their strengths. Encourage and build them up. Make sure they know exactly how amazing and wonderfully-created they are.

2010-12-29T08:13:00.000-08:00

The first winter we lived here in Franklin, it snowed. And I was sick. I had a fever and had to stay in my bed. We were living at the Inn and my third floor bedroom overlooked the hill. I loved the view from my frosty window. Then the other children started sledding. Their joyous rides left my pristine hill scarred. I was partly jealous of the fun they were having while I was stuck in bed, but I was even more upset that their fun ruined my real life Christmas card view. I was selfish, an adolescent trait I like to think I've outgrown.

Today I took my kids and my sister out in the snow. We had about 10 inches of powdery fluff covering our backyard. It was untouched and beautiful. And they left it scarred and pock-marked. I forewent the sledding and instead watched them pile in and tumble out, squealing and giggling. And I realized I was grinning. Like an idiot. (Despite the lack of feeling in my extremities.)

I just started writing this, hoping that the theme would come to me while I typed. It didn't. Maybe it's about the joy in life's messes. Maybe it's about finding fulfillment in the happiness of others. Maybe it's just about snow.

2010-12-19T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is a story dictated to me by Cora:

Princess Twinklebear

There once was a panda princess named Twinklebear. She got married and lived in a castle. She put her new crown on. It was a gold crown, with pink jewels. She looked out the window and she saw birds. They flew in the castle and out the other window. They stole the jewels off of her crown. So Twinklebear said “You give those back!” and she put her paws on her hips. She was not happy. And the birds put them back on the crown. The birds flew out the window and said “Mom! Mom! There was a princess in the castle!” So the Mom bird and the Dad bird flew to the castle as fast as they could and took the whole entire crown. Twinklebear said “Give that back right this very minute!” with her paws on her hips. The birds put it back on her head and flew back to their nest, but it was gone. The squirrels took their nest and put it in their hole and put acorns and nuts in it. The birds had to sleep in the castle for a quick nap. Twinklebear had wings on her elbows and she flew to the squirrels hole. She got the nest and dumped the acorns and nuts out. Then she flew back to her castle and put it on her bed. She said, “Birds! Birds! I found your nest.” They came to her bed and took the nest and put it back on their tree.

The End

This was Levi's:

Navigator

One day there was a boy named Levi. He loved space adventure. He built his own spacecraft. It looked like a giant metal octopus. It was very shiny. He took his pet chihuahua, Puck, with him on adventures.

He liked to visit Pluto, even though it's not a planet anymore. They always went in tunnels on Pluto. In the tunnels, they found ice crystals, because Pluto is very cold. There were also ice aliens. They shot ice out of their hands, and tried to freeze Levi and Puck and keep them on Pluto forever. But Levi and Puck had suits that repel the ice. And they were very quick.

After they were done on Pluto they go to Venus. On Venus they checked out the volcanoes and the lava. There were also aliens that threw fireballs at Levi and Puck. But they had fireproof suits too.

After they were done on Venus, they went to Neptune and looked at water. There were lots of kinds of creatures on Neptune. They took a creature called a germfish home in a special tank. It had a fish head with a green body that you could see through.

After Neptune, they went to a planet called Bug. There were lots of bugs. There were weird looking bugs, bugs that ate fish, bugs that ate plants and bugs that crawl all over the planet.

Levi and Puck were ready to go home. They had a good time for the rest of their lives.

The End

2010-12-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

Cora: (singing a song about various animals, the noises they make, and what they eat)

Me: Is that a real song? Or did you just make it up?

Cora: I didn't make it up. I learned it from myself.

Wow. That is all.

2010-12-12T04:55:00.001-08:00

Levi and Cora: Hooray the snow! It snowed! Snow!

Cora: Seriously, Mom, look outside. It snowed.

Me: ugh.

Levi: Are we going to get to play in it?

Me: Yes (a little confused, they always get to play in it)

Levi: But you hate it.

Me: I love you much more than I hate snow.

I don't really hate snow. It is very pretty. I love how it mutes the outside sounds and covers everything up with beautiful glistening white. But snow melts. And gets into my socks. And it is so cold! I will bundle up my amazing children, put on my brave face and stay out in it as long as I can, with their smiles and the promise of warm beverages to keep me going.

2010-12-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

These are some of the reasons I think Levi is great:

He gives me a legitimate reason to play with Legos. And we have a ton of fun creating things together.

His first response when someone is hurting is to pray.

He has some crazy amazing dance moves.

He separates his m&m's by colors before eating them.

He is persistent and tenacious.

He looks out for his sister, especially when it comes to boys.

He eats everything I make and tells me that I'm the best cook ever.

He does the rubber arm run.

He likes to snuggle, and thinks he still fits in my lap. (He doesn't)

He has great taste in music.

He wanted a faux-hawk. And he rocked it.

He always "evens me out."

He loves.

2010-12-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

I wish that I had the time to get this written by Tuesday, but I didn't. So...

Seven years (and two days) ago, my life changed in ways I couldn't even have imagined. At 2:16 in the afternoon, my life instantly became more amazing, challenging and rewarding. The most handsome baby boy ever born was placed in my arms and suddenly I had more gravity; what had held me to the earth before was nothing in comparison to the 8 pounds and 13 ounces that I was then holding. My Leaves, my Buppa, my Boy, my Handsome Pants, my son is one of the two biggest blessings of my life, and I am incredibly proud of him. I am always amazed by the way he can be both wild and protective, silly and strong, inquisitive and considerate. I am so blessed to be a part of his journey, and I can't wait to see him fulfill God's destiny.

2010-12-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely in love with my kids. I realize that is basically the theme of this blog, but for some reason I felt it needed to be said. Due to my recent injury (it's a really cool story involving rock climbing, falcons, men on horses, and chasing blue sky, but this isn't the place for it) I am supposed to stay off my feet this weekend. Without my two monchichis to help me out and entertain me I would have gone completely crazy. They somehow manage to both challenge and encourage me. They provide constant insights into how I am viewed by my heavenly parent, and amaze me with their unending faith. They can ALWAYS make me laugh. In fact, that skill has gotten them out of a lot of trouble. I love my partners in silliness and I am so grateful that I get to be their mom.

2010-12-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

In order to wake up my sweet girl, I have to snuggle and tickle and kiss her. I pull the blanket off of her and she pulls it back on (all without opening her eyes because I'm apparently very easily fooled). This process usually takes several minutes and she always insists she is way too tired for waking up.

This morning:

Me: Coooorrrraaa...

Cora: (bolts upright) It's December!!!

Me: Yup

Cora: We get to open a door today!

She was so excited about opening a door on her chocolate advent calendar. It was an incredibly simple thing: a scripture and a piece of candy. But she was thrilled. And, once again, I was challenged by my children. I tend to go through the holidays as if checking things off my to-do list. But this year, I am committed to living more like Cora, savoring each experience and getting excited about celebrating the birth of Jesus. Is there anything more worthy of my enthusiasm?

2010-11-14T17:03:00.000-08:00

Levi: Look, there's a squirrel. I want to shoot it.

Me: Why? What has that squirrel done to you?

Levi: (long pause) You do not understand hunting.

I don't. That is an indisputable fact. Levi went on to inform me that he would, in fact, eat the squirrel after shooting a piece of metal through its little body and knocking it out of its leafy home. Gross. There is nothing about a squirrel that makes me think it should be consumed. In fact, when I think about the way meat is extracted from animals my stomach turns. I can't bear the thought of it. And I can't ignore it either. I can't just close my eyes and chew and pretend I don't know where it came from. But Levi doesn't have that same hang up. He wants to kill and eat. Thank goodness he has Dad and Grandpa Ranger.

2010-10-27T20:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning it was pouring rain. Weighty, fat drops were falling from the sky (needless to say, my hair was not straightened and very frizzy). My umbrella was, of course, in the car.

Me: We're going to have to make a run for it.

Levi: Got it! (he safely entered the vehicle)

Me: Ok, Cora, let's go!

I ran to the car, opened her door and hopped in the front seat.

Cora: Waaaaaahhhhh!

She was motionless in front of the car. I got out, hoisted her sopping wet body into her seat and shut the door.

Cora: I'm soaked!

Me: Well, you were just standing in the rain!

Cora: I wasn't just standing; I was crying too!

2010-10-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Cora: Why did the spider move?

Me: I don't know.

Cora: Because he wanted a new website.

Me: hysterical laughter.

This joke is not funny. But I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that Cora actually executed a joke. It took me completely by surprise, and I loved it. Bolstered by the melodic tinkling of bells that is my laughter, she tried again.

Cora: What do tigers eat?

Me: I don't know, what?

Cora: People.

This joke is incredibly funny. I almost had to pull over, I was laughing so hard. Tears were forming in the corners of my eyes. And she came up with this one on her own. Classic.

Cora: What do I get when I pitch a fit?

Me: A spanking.

Levi: That is not funny.

My two favorite comedians.

2010-09-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Me: Levi, how did you get so smart?

Levi: I came from a smart Mom.

Later that day:

Me: I want a mini granola bar.

Levi: Is that because you are a mini Mom?

Either he loves me way more than I deserve, and thinks I'm way more awesome than I actually am (and will be very disappointed very soon), or he really wants something. Either way, I love that boy of mine, and I'm so grateful that I get to be in his life. (also, I'm grateful for how much he encourages and uplifts me.)

2010-09-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

Me: Ugh, I hope the kitchen fairy turns up to clean this mess.

Levi: The kitchen fairy? Is that real?

Me: I guess we'll just have to wait until the morning.

Levi the next morning: The kitchen fairy came!

This might not be that extraordinary except that Levi is a true skeptic. When he was 3, he asked me if Santa Claus was real. When he found a dollar under his pillow where his tooth used to be, he told me that he knew I put the money there. But the kitchen fairy seemed plausible to him. Presents in a stocking? Had to be Mom. Money under a pillow? Definitely Mom. A clean kitchen? Fairies are the only explanation.

2010-09-10T18:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt that peace that doesn't make sense? I am content. I really don't have a reason to be. But I am. I'm having trouble explaining it without the use of cliches or christian-ese. I just know (seriously, I KNOW) that I'm making my Father proud, that Jesus is delighting in me, and that the Holy Spirit is guiding me. I'm not saying I'm perfect, or that I've got anything figured out. I'm not and I haven't. My life is full of daily trips, fumbles and confusion. I'm just saying that right now, in this tiny little breath, I have peace that actually does transcend understanding. (That's probably because my understanding is so limited, but don't let that diminish His capabilities). It's my prayer that I hear and respond to His guidance and continue to find His peace. I am loved.

2010-09-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

Cora: I'm going to tell God I want to stay five.

Me: Why?

Cora: I don't want to grow up.

Me: There are lots of things that you can do when you grow up. Like paint your own nails.

Cora: (trying not to smile)

Me: And learn how to drive.

Cora: I like going with you.

Me: And when you get a lot older, you can have a boyfriend.

Levi: (covering his ears)

Seriously, this happened at dinner tonight. I love that Cora isn't anxious to grow up; I know one day she will be, and right now I'm savoring her innocence, sweetness and, most of all, her happiness. She is content right where she is, and I love that about her. I adore Levi's big-brother, don't-mess-with-my-baby-sister, protective nature. He is everything I would want a big brother to be: always looking out for his girls. When I pick them up from school and ask them how their day went, he always reciprocates with, "How was work?" I love that my wild man also has such a big heart. My kids are amazing.

2010-08-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

It seemed colder this morning. I was watching the lap swimmers (one of whom was 93) and I realized that I wasn't hot. It felt like summer was coming to its end. This evening I let the kids watch a movie and eat pizza in the living room because I realized it was the last night they would be allowed to stay up a little bit later before school started. I have always loved summer. The sun is one of my best friends. I'm dreading the cool months ahead. I know that there is beauty in the fall and winter, but I'm definitely happiest when I'm feeling the warmth of the sun and seeing the brightness even when my eyes are closed. My children are beautifully tanned and have sun streaked hair. I love it. But their white bottoms will cease to stand out as their skin returns to its normal color, and I will no longer have proof of summer. I am determined to spend as much time in the sun as I possibly can these next few weeks, before summer is just a memory.

2010-08-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Levi: I know the future.

Me: Oh really?

Levi: I know my future. I know that today I'm going to behave. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know that I'm going to be a good boy.

Me: dumbstruck with the profoundness of a six-year-old boy's wisdom.

This conversation might be the result of me often asking Levi, "Who do you want to be today? You get to decide if you want to be the awesome Levi that I love or the kid who acts in ways that aren't ok. It's up to you." Yesterday he decided to see his future. He was going to be Levi, and that meant behaving and being his amazing, wonderfully created self. I was incredibly challenged and encouraged by both his foresight and his faith. I definitely do not know what is going to happen this evening or tomorrow or next year. But I know that I am Sarah.

2010-08-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

I know that I've already written a post about my amazing sister, but I'm about to write another one. She's great. She just is. She knows the perfect time to pull out a "kids incorporated" reference. And she also knows when I need someone just to listen and when I actually need advice. And she puzzles with me. Like 80-year-old women, we have a great time putting together jigsaw puzzles. As kids we used to gather around a huge Rescuers Down Under puzzle and always had the best time. To reignite our passion for puzzles, we tried to find a Twilight themed one, but had to settle for a photo-mosaic of Van Gogh's Starry Night. And it is so hard! After about two hours of intense puzzling we only got the border done. We were mildly distracted by Survivorman in the background and I'm blaming our lack of progress partly on that. But we rolled it up in our puzzle storage felt mat inflatable tube thing (that I'm sure has a real name, but I don't know what it is) and we're planning on working on it whenever we're together. Like nerds.

Yesterday, I found a puzzle piece on the floor of my bedroom. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. Ok, that's a bit of an overstatement. But still, I was worried that if there was a piece in my room there might be some in the car, under a seat, in the driveway, or in Puck's belly. Overcome with anxiety, I immediately unrolled our puzzle from the puzzle storage felt mat inflatable tube thing (I've just decided to call it a psfmitt. The p and f are silent). In my haste, I opened it on my bed. Bad idea. The border we'd worked so hard on was in segments. I moved it to the floor to reconstruct it. I did, and found that we were a two pieces short. By this point I was near tears, but luckily found the missing pieces on my bed. I replaced them and very carefully rolled it back up in the psfmitt. I carefully stored it and I am not moving it until Melody can work on it with me. I can't wait until she gets here so we can plug in our puzzle light and hunch over tiny interlocking pieces with a Mike's in one hand and the enlarged picture of the final product in the other. Good times.

2010-08-04T13:12:00.001-07:00

Ok...so here's a conversation I had with Levi while trying to find all natural ranch dressing:

Me: Want to try this one? It's "Cowgirl Ranch."

Levi: (with his twinkly, mischievous eyes) Is it made from actual cowgirls?

Me: No.

Levi: Then yes. (with a silly half grin)

He definitely knows how to make me laugh.

2010-08-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

The following is a conversation I had with Cora this evening at the dinner table:

Cora: I am going to beat Levi up.

Me: What?
Cora: I am eating way faster than he is.

Me: I think you mean you're going to beat Levi.

Cora: Oh. Yeah. I ate those noodles like a fish.

Me: I don't think fish eat noodles.

Cora: I meant like a Cora-fish.

Me: Oh.

She's pretty awesome.

2010-08-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Ummm...yea. So, I'm not so good at blogging. But I'm going to get better...hopefully. No, I am definitely going to remember. Probably.

2009-09-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

My sister is an amazing mother. No one plans on having a baby with...I'm not sure what word to use here. "Special needs?" I don't like it, it sounds too PC or something, but I don't know how else to phrase it so...No mother plans on having a baby with special needs. But sadly, it happens I don't know how many times every day. And sometimes the parents of these babies have a chance to prepare, but sometimes the problem goes undetected for days, weeks, months. And then the world turns upside down. And those mothers can feel the dreams they nurtured while growing their children slipping away. The future becomes more abstract, and the only thing that matters is this moment, this struggle, this (occasional) victory.
My sister was in a situation like that. She has been through more than I can imagine surviving. But she did much more than survive. She is raising a wonderful little boy. I feel blessed to know my nephew, and to have been a witness of God's plan that is so evident in his life. While God's hand can't be denied in his recovery, my sister gets a lot of the credit, too. It's awesome to see all of those things that used to annoy me when we were young (her unwavering resolve, her inability to ignore a mess, her love of a schedule...) being used to benefit her family. She never fails to make me laugh, but she is also there for me whenever I need her. I don't want to sound too much like the older sister, but I am so proud of her. I am looking forward to watching my little neffy-poo grow, and seeing my sister continue to handle each new phase with grace and strength.

2009-09-02T07:40:00.001-07:00

Today I'm trying to get my house clean and my laundry under control. Having a child in school can really wear a mom out. I don't respond well to schedules, and even worse when someone else's schedule is imposed upon me. Trying to fit everything into the time allotted me by the Department of Education is really taking it's toll. For instance: We eat lunch at about 1:00 and I have to get to the school at about 2:30. It takes the Bug an average of 12 minutes per bite of sandwich (which is a different post all together). Meaning all errands and housework have to be done in the morning, after I get home from dropping Levi at school and after Cora eats breakfast (again, accounting for her unnaturally long consumption time) but before lunch. Trying to schedule it all so that I can optimize my time is making my head hurt. So, instead of getting work done, I think I'll blog about it.

2009-08-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

For the next two days I will be carving with my very favorite medium. I love starting with a big (yummy) rectangle made of flour and butter and sugar and watching it turn into something else. Today, that something else will be a firetruck. A vintage firetruck. A vintage chocolate and buttercream firetruck. Tomorrow I will be turning a few round tiers into a castle fit for a princess. And a carriage. And an extra 6 inch tall three tiered cake so the birthday girl has a cake of her very own. I might be up a little late the next few nights. Trying to be a mom and a decorator only occasionally goes together. Although, I think it must seem like magic to the kids, finding completed creations in the refrigerator when the night before it was just bare cake. (And I do let them eat the scraps, so don't feel bad for them) If I'm ever not sure if something I've made is any good, I let them look at it and automatically feel better about my skills. So, if you have the same standards as a four or five-year-old, I'm am the baker for you.

2009-08-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am feeling like I am in two places today. A big part of me is in a kindergarten classroom at Cartoogechaye Elementary this morning. My little Leavesy started school today and couldn't be happier; that's an understatement. When I woke him up this morning he said, "First day of school!" and bounded out of his top bunk. He was ready for me to leave him long before I was ready to go. I can't really figure out why this is so hard for me. I always loved school, and I know he will, too. He is a curious little boy (who recently asked me if bones are rigid, and if they are, how do we bend our arms and fingers...) and I think he will do really well in school, but I find myself clinging a little. Maybe it's partly because I got left on the playground my first day of kindergarten and was still wandering the school when my mom came to get me. Although, my son's sense of direction is already better than mine. Maybe it's because I can't help but think ahead to next year, when it will be the Bug who starts kindergarten. I knew these days were coming, but they snuck up on me. I am grateful for all of the time I got to spend with them at home and I'm really trying to be excited about this next stage we're going through.

Hello

2009-08-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided to start a blog. And already I have writer's block...