Papa's Birthday

So....Last Saturday was Papa's birthday. I told Greta the day before that we would go to see him and have cake. There are no 2 things greater...Apparently. We put her down to sleep as usual with a bath and reading books and rocking and singing songs. I shut the light out and said goodnight. Greta continued to sing happy birthday to Papa over and over and over again until 11 o'clock when I finally fell asleep. She may have gone longer. I also heard her singing, "If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake"...This is one of our favorites to sing in the kitchen and it has quirky choreography you may also see someday.

I thought that she would sleep in since she was awake so late, but the little bug was up at daylight and ready to go. We got ready and drove to Clinton where upon our arrival Greta announced that she was tired and needed to go home! But we made it through lunch and ate at a cute little cafe on the Clinton square. We went home for ice cream cake and instead of singing for Papa like she had practiced, Greta just put her fingers in her mouth and jumped at odd beats through the song. Papa beamed with pride. He is 66! We love him so much.

Jack showed off and stood up unassisted for the first time. He stood there and gave a grin and then slowly crouched down with ease. He is amusing us with his usual antics. Jack turns 8 months tomorrow and I really just don't believe it. It is going too fast. Papa said the same thing...His 66 years have flown by....Guess we are having fun!

Temper Tantrums?

I have to write this down because it is almost unbelievable. Okay...Greta is just good. She just is. She is the kind of toddler that you dream of (I don't know how I got this lucky.) She begs for haircuts and sits perfectly still and says thank you very much. She doesn't fight, she shares, she asks nicely. She hugs and kisses and minds. I could go on, but I won't.

But, we had a temper tantrum at bedtime last week. We pushed her too hard and she was over tired. I don't even really know what triggered it, but she was a hyperventilating mess. I took her into our room and sat her on the bed where she bawled so hard she could hardly breathe. I took her back into her room and laid her blanket on the ground and dimmed the lights and I sat by her blanket and bowed my head and took deep breaths to get her to follow and calm down.

After what seemed like forever, she sputtered the words out, "I wanna go downstairs and eat broccoli"?! I said, "Tomorrow we can, but now it is bed time." She sputtered, "broccoli!" "Broccoli" BROCCOLI!" We waited and calmed down again. Then Greta said to me, "May Me go downstairs and eat some broccoli and watch a bit of Oswald, just a bit, does that sound nice?" It did sound nice.

Because she asked so nice, we did go back downstairs for a few minutes and ate broccoli... and everyone was happy. And I will never tell anyone again that I have a child that begs to eat green leafies because no one will ever believe me.

Like a Warm Bath

We found a church! My friend and mentor, Laurel, put the buzz in my ear long ago about attending her church. Back then, we didn't even have Greta. We lived far away, and we spent our Sunday mornings sipping strong coffee in our pajamas on the couch. But, she told me about her church and especially about the choral director, Charles Bruffy. I have known of him since I was in college. I knew he was incredible and conducted the Kansas City Chorale. He has been compared to Robert Shaw and has won a Grammy or two. Little did I know I would meet him. Laurel has told him about me and I am nervous/ eager to sing for him and possibly sing in his choir. I have missed singing so much. I think that it is a part of me that I need to give more attention.

But, that is only the cherry on top - there is icing and cake to this situation, too! Two Sundays in a row we have managed to finish our big fat Belgian waffles in time to go to this church. It is a Presbyterian church that is almost two blocks from our home. We took Greta into the nursery and introduced her to the teachers and talked to them about how this was her very first time away from us. They assured me that if panic ensued, we would be found and reunited. WHEW! Greta was making friends and we ducked out and headed toward the sanctuary. Jack absolutely loves the music and all of the little old ladies waving at him. He had great time.

The church is familiar to me. It reminds me of the church I grew up in. I felt a calm and warmth there, that I am even happy to write about. It felt like a warm bath...ahhh. I have given so much thought to the spiritual growth of Derek and myself and my babies. I want to give them a foundation that will open the door to a phenomenal relationship with God and the way his Spirit can touch their lives. I want them to learn and enjoy Bible stories but I don't want any fire and brimstone or any of their experience with church to be laced with fear. I want their relationship with God to bloom in its own time.

That first Sunday their children's choir sang. It was so sweet and silly me got all misty eyed, partly with memories of myself in my little tiny choir robe and partly with thoughts of Greta and Jack up there singing, too. I wonder what the future will bring...

OH! And Greta did great in the nursery with all of the little boys and girls. She cried for a little while, but a sweet girl home from college working in the nursery took her for a walk and cheered her up. When we went to get her after the service she was sitting at the little table looking all around with her big blue eyes. She was pleased to have made a Zaccheus puppet on a popsicle stick and showed me how he got up in the tree to see Jesus...What a good story to start with! And this Sunday, Greta was with us in the sanctuary because of the holiday and lack of friends to play with in the nursery. She was so good and tried to whisper, but was just loud enough to give all the old ladies around us a good chuckle. Several times she said, "Jesus?" "Oh, I like your toes!" "That's a good book!"
Amen.

Greta in the Garden

Greta loves purple flowers...and worms...and her friend, Caitlin.

Couple of Cow Pokes

Last Sunday we met friends, Cohen, Tara and Jason at Antioch Park for a picnic. Tara and Jason made this special because they both have memories of playing here when they were little. The miniature town is the same and our kids loved it just as much.

So, we had fried chicken and all the fixins and then let the kids run around like crazy. I think this marks the beginning of summer...It is going to be one to remember!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

I had a wonderful weekend of treats and surprises. It was Mother's Day, after all! Derek made an appointment for me at Natural Body Spa for a massage. It was just perfect - just what this over tired mother needed! My very good friend, Tara, went with me and she had a facial. Afterwards we walked into a few boutiques and picked out shoes and summer dresses that we loved...and we laughed because in the end we found ourselves at a table of baby and toddler shoes and were shopping for our little ones instead of ourselves. I was glad to see that I am not the only mom that always does this. We went to North and had a glass of wine in the sun until our poor husbands called with crying hungry babies in the background. The good news was that they had a table all ready for us at Houlihan's and we met them there for dinner, followed by an ice cream cone at Dairy Queen. This was a perfect day.

On Sunday we drove to Windsor and met Papa and Gee for a picnic and fishing at Windsor Park. The weather was cool -almost cold out! The trees and grass are so green and lush right now. It was really pretty. Greta and I picked out a bright flower pot and filled it with pink flowers for Gee and we also found some wonderful tea for her to enjoy every afternoon. I hope she does!

So, back to the fishing.....We caught nothing but some seaweed. All Greta wanted to catch was a shoe, but the shoes weren't biting that day. Gee and Papa got Greta a Snoopy fishing pole just like we all had growing up. We baited the hook with the half of Greta's sonic hamburger that she wouldn't eat. (We dare not bait with worms because Greta absolutely loves them...in a very affectionate kind of way...Never ever to see one on a hook.) Derek taught her how to cast and watch the bobbin and reel in the slack. I was so fond of fishing as a child. I love seeing my little girl out in the mud loving it just as much. It is still a wonderful way to enjoy quiet and nature and get to know yourself better with your thoughts....And to get to know some frogs along the bank.

May Day

We made May baskets today after splashing in puddles. Greta painted them and we baked chocolate chip cookies and picked some flowers from the backyard to put in them. Then we went next door and hung them on the door knob, rang the bell and ran like crazy. We got one from our old friend down the street, Henry. How sweet. The best part was that we caught him before he ran away and so we got to kiss him! Happy spring to us!