Little February Happenings

I had big plans for Valentine’s Day, but it’s somehow come & gone, and I’m still finding myself thinking about all the cute ideas I want to do for the month of love.

Bottom line, none of it’s happening the way I had planned, but I’m learning to let go of the extras and concentrate on the essentials.

AnnMarie has been loosing lots of teeth lately; it’s been fun to experience the tooth fairy stage with her and see how excited she gets to put her little teeth under her pillow in her purple velvet bag.

Carlie builds forts pretty much all the time and takes pretend naps in her daily depiction of Princess and the Pea. 

Gabriel is smiling more all the time…. now that he doesn’t have a cold and his four canine teeth finally came in.  Teething has been so hard for him!  The teeth go up and down a few times before they’ll decide to stay, but once they’re in, life is so much better for all of us.  :)

We’re trying to decide what to do with this non-homey looking entrance of ours.  I don’t know what the previous owners were going for here, but we’re working on a change. 

Jared & I attended an NBA game last week in Portland which was quite an experience for both of us.  My sister-in-law was so kind to take our kids for the night so that we could take advantage of the tickets we acquired.  The players are huge, and although I highly dislike their tattoo-covered bodies, they’ve definitely got skills.

The house is quiet now…

it’s time for bed…

but today on President’s Day, I can’t help but feel blessed for our health and happiness – for George Washington, this country, and my beautiful family.

And the fact that my Invisalign braces will be removed tomorrow which could possibly be one of the best days of my life yet.  j/k – I’m just so excited to be done with cankers…and headaches…and double takes from people thinking that I possibly left Crest whitening strips in or something like that.    

Tootles.  

A Creative Endeavor

I’ve had a pit of uneasiness lately during a few of my students’ piano lessons. 

It has nothing to do with them or the fact that January seems to be the hardest month to rekindle motivation and practice with purpose again…   

but more to do with this little monkey ^^^^ who as of late, vocally protests any piano lesson that he’s awake to hear.  Thankfully, I have understanding students and helpers who demonstrate kind patience.  I tease my students that he does not prefer that song they are playing; it’s really just a matter of taste (j/k).

I feel like he’s doing this all day long - poor thing.  

And when I enforce stroller (or highchair), this is the look he maintains:

Oh, it tests my patience sometimes…but I just have to remind myself that someday he’ll be a man (possibly with facial hair as Carlie discussed today), and these moments won’t last forever.  I’m a different (hopefully, more patient) mother than I was with my first, and I see his anxiety as opportunity to realign priorities and try to figure out this budding personality of his. 

I’m Right Behind You

Carlie made it back from Idaho yesterday, and it’s been so nice to have her home.  This was the first time she’d been away from me, and I think it was good for both of us.  I was able to better recognize what I love about Carlie.  She brightens up our home with her funny personality and her thoughtful stories.  She has a way of cracking us up!  I love her so much!

She’s been fighting a cold all week long; I feel bad that she was sick on her vacation, but regardless, I know she had a great time. 

Carlie has been taking a weekly gymnastics class, and this morning, there was a Gymfest in which the participants did an obstacle course demonstrating certain skills they’ve learned in class.  I didn’t want to push it, but since there were personalized trophies involved, we decided to take her.  When we got there, we quickly realized that it was going to be a bigger obstacle course than we thought it would be, and honestly, Carlie was not feeling good at all by this point. 

AnnMarie suggested that she follow and encourage Carlie the whole way.  We all agreed it was a great idea.  With every obstacle AnnMarie would say, “I’m right behind you Carlie!”  It was touching to see the love they had for each other in that instance.    

At the end, when Carlie stood on the podium to receive her trophy, she told the photographer that she wanted her sister, AnnMarie, to be in the picture.  I think this photo captures just how proud AnnMarie was of Carlie.  She was not expecting to be in the picture.  AnnMarie was completely content to let Carlie shine.  She was genuinely so happy for her sister, and I felt lucky to be there with them in that moment. 

I hope that when the real obstacles of life come their way, they’ll continue to be each other’s biggest fans, and that they’ll lovingly be able to say, “I’m right behind you.”