About Resolutions

What is it about January 1st that makes us resolve to change, to do better, to be better? Is there some unseen, yet magical, moment that occurs during that anticipated countdown to the new year that makes it more special than any other day? Because I don't get it. For me, the only difference between New Years Eve and New Years Day is whatever amount of sleep I got in between.

Perhaps it's because my life seems laden with resolutions already. Daily. Hourly. I make them...then I break them. I begin, only to fail, redraft, and resolve again. And life changes. Situations and circumstances are hurled about and I'm typically forced to rethink enough as it is. So, I say resolution, shmesolution!

This year I've decided to let go. I spend enough of my time beating myself up for my imperfections that I've resolved to seek less perfection. That's right, people, I'm shooting for mediocrity! (So far, so good...if I may say so myself.) And though I don't think I'm supposed to admit to this--there's a lot of pressure in our society to at least pretend we're perfect even if we're not actually achieving it--please know that if you find me in my pajamas in the middle of the day, eating chocolate, in a mess of a house, with my children beating up on each other, while food boils over on the stove...I'm working on being "at one" with it. So just smile and back me up.

Please?

The Birthday Girl

The anticipation for Lindy's seventh birthday nearly pushed us all over the edge. Not only did she have a calendar to check off each day (with a huge red circle around the 26th) but she barraged her parents dozens of times each day to find out exactly how long it was until her birthday. It's been a long month.

But the big day finally arrived. Unlike every other morning of her life, Lindy awoke bright and early with a smile on her face, eager to greet the day. She was fairly impatient with the rest of us as we attempted to cling to any last remnant of sleep we could. At one point she decided to pile various toys and books on top of her sister's head in order to encourage wakefulness. It worked.

She enjoyed a scrambled-egg breakfast, made to order. Later, per her re

quest, the entire family joined her at school for school lunch. "Scrumptious!" she declares with oozing sarcasm.

Her classmates made her the cutest little birthday cards. Her face was pure delight as she opened each card and oohed and aaahed at every heartfelt wish.

To celebrate the big 7, she got to choose where she wanted to eat and invite one friend to join us. She chose Wingers and her first-grade BFF, Emma. (Two seven year olds are, as a matter of fact, more difficult to manage than one. FYI.)

Lindy enjoyed every second of being in the spotlight. It was certainly her day and she loved it.

Happy birthday, Lindy!

Post Edit: We keep telling her to STOP growing up. But, as usual, she isn't listening.

Sneek Peek

Today I had a chance to take some pictures of a couple newborn twins. I'm still in the middle of the editing process, but wanted to give Laura (and all of you) a little sneak peek at these adorable little babies.

Meet Brielle and Dylan. Aren't they sweet?

Thanks for the opportunity, Laura...your little ones were so much fun to work with. I can't wait to show you the rest.

Career Path

As his older sister dreams of being a vet, a paleontologist, or marine biologist...Curtis apparently entertains plans of different sort.

Imagine his father's joy.

In Honor

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lindy's teacher spent a little time talking with her class about the late Dr. King. They were then assigned to write their own "I Have a Dream" statement.

Apparently dreams aren't what you would call "lofty" in the first grade.

"I Have a Dream that I could have a puppy because they are cute."

Post Edit: I felt a little better once I read a few of her classmates "dreams" today. Among her wish for a puppy were wishes to "win the new Super Mario bros" and "to be a salon girl". I guess we're not doing so bad.

For the Record

I spend a lot of time blogging about my precocious, strong-willed, seven year-old. She has a habit of pushing all my buttons (with alarming accuracy) and, well...we haven't been known to be the best of friends. I tend to share the more aggravating experiences because they just happen to be funny.

Today, however, I thought I'd share a few things. You know, for the record:

Typically at night, as I tuck her in bed, she will give me the strongest hug and whisper, "Goodnight mom. I love you. See you in the morning." And even though there's a strong possibility her tenacious grip has less to do with me and more to do with delaying the closing of the door...I have to admit I love those hugs.

Yesterday she asked me for a drink. As I walked to the kitchen she said, "Oh, mom? In case I forget, thanks for getting me a drink."

Randomly she will tell me I'm an "awesome mom" or that I'm "the bestest mom ever".

She runs and fetches things ALL THE TIME. Diapers, garbage bags, thermometers, shoes...etc.

She will do all sorts of crazy things just to make her little brother laugh. And he laughs a lot.

Her sweetness is abounding. I just love that girl.

Not a Morning Person

If you've ever asked yourselves any of the following questions:

1. Why is Lindy a "Later Gator" (starting school at 9:15am) instead of an "Early Bird" (at 8am)?

2. Why is the Jones family habitually late for 9am Church?

3. Why does Amy look so haggard first thing in the morning?

It's because THIS is what 8:15am looks like at our house:

When a 6 year old hates getting up in the morning this much there's just no chance of starting a day off right.

Adorable

As we cruised the aisles of Target the other day my second daughter let out a squeal of delight and loudly exclaimed, "Ooooh, it's so aDORable!" I turned to examine what she had cradled in her arms. Expecting something in the stuffed-animal genre, I was quite surprised to find that she lovingly held a tiny plunger.

While a plunger of miniscule proportions does seem to fall in the "interesting yet impractical" category, I'm not sure the term "adorable" should be applied. But my girls seem to yearn for all things adorable...so there we stood looking at an adorable little plunger. Who knew?