Makes you happy

Please excuse the terrible ipod picture...also how adorable is Miss E's self-declared soccer outfit? 

Today was a heck of a day. Peter was with his friends, leaving the kids and I on our own.

We went to soccer, and Mr. T and I froze (seriously - it's indoor soccer, why the heck is it so cold in there) watching Miss E play. Then, over lunch time, we headed to urgent care to get some antibiotics for the raging sinus infection I have. An hour long wait there (before lunch) and then about 30 minutes in the doctor's office. After that it was home for a quick lunch, to the pharmacy to pick up meds (which weren't there), to our friend's house to pick up all the Girl Scout cookies Miss E sold, then to a movie (Phantom Menace), then home for dinner, several panicked phone calls to various dr's and pharmacies and then leaving our dinner in the middle to race to the store to pick up the meds. A trying day for sure. All around.

The best part? These kids. They were hungry and tired but they sat at the Doctor's for an hour with Miss E showing Mr. T how to play Mario and Mr. T showing Miss E how great he was at a game on the ipod. Only one chair in the doctor's office? No problem, they shared it. Even the doctor told me how wonderful they were. Leaving dinner in the middle to run to pharmacy only to wait for 20 minutes? No worries, Miss E just sat and read Mr. T a book. It was amazing. At some point I realized, that even though today was difficult, hanging with these guys is truly what I want to be doing at this point in my life. They just are awesome kids.

Hopefully by tomorrow morning these miracle drugs called antibiotics will make it so my face feels a little less like I took a right hook to it.

Childhood

Wrestling with your sister. Or just grabbing her leg while she is singing loudly at the top of her lungs. Making Valentine's for 25 other kindergartners. Or 24 other first graders and meticulously taping lollypops in each one. Hating everything but mac and cheese for dinner. Asking to stay up later. Declaring yourself a Ninja. A smile so heartwarming that no one is immune. Watching cartoons on Saturday or Sunday morning before your parents get up. Blueberry muffins for breakfast.

I hope these kids will remember some of the small moments that so far has made up the bulk of their lives.

Daily Routine

Mr. T it's time to get dressed.

Miss E do you have your homework?

Have you guys brushed your teeth?

5 minutes until we leave.

Time to go, let's head out to the van.

Mr. T are your straps done?

Miss E you're bus today.

Mr. T you are after care, I'll pick you up at 2:30.

Have a good day, I love you guys!

Your Sky

As it always does this time of year, the rain has returned. Our soft blanket of gray has covered us up again and it all feels pretty cozy. I think because I have lived here my entire life, the gray and rain doesn't bother me nearly as much as those I know who have moved here as adults.

When I went out to get the paper early this morning I noticed the sky gorgeously reflected on the wet boards of our front porch, but getting my camera to reflect what my eye sees is kind of a trick. I finally figured out how to capture those winter tree branches and clouds in a non-blobby manner.

Favorite

This whole day was pretty much my favorite. Played hooky from work and hung out with Peter. We went to Home Depot and Ikea to plan out some near and far in the future home projects (new doors, floors and bedroom furniture!). We went out to lunch. 

Tonight I sat with Miss E and we read another chapter of Harry Potter. Sharing my favorite (late) childhood books with my girl? Awesome. I tried to read it to her about a year ago but she wasn't understanding all of the school and Quiddich stuff so I stopped and decided to wait until she was begging me each night to read another chapter and boy oh boy has that been worth it. She is so excited by the book. She wants to know all about each character, she was nervous about what house Harry would be put in and keeps asking how the book is going to end (she is her mother's daughter....). I love it. Love love love love it. 

Makes You Smile

In the midst of our morning chaos, Miss E scribbled this note for me and left it on the bathroom rug. I found it as I was getting ready to take a shower. Such a sweet way to start off the morning.

10am

A few months ago, my nephew decided he was done with Legos. This was about the same time that Mr. T became obsessed with Legos - the Lego king of the house. Trouble was, my nephews sets were all mixed up. My sister brought up a garbage bag with out six lego sets in it and asked if we wanted it. I of course said yes and it has sat in a corner of my room from then until this weekend. This was the first time that I was brave enough to get it out and tackle separating the kits. Mr. T is all in on this project. It's pretty much the only thing he has wanted to do this weekend. Last night Miss E spent the night at my parents house and Mr. T did Lego's. This morning at 7 after Peter had gone to work, he was doing Lego's and when this picture was taken, I was trying to coax him to leave so we could go pick up Miss E. "Just one more piece mommy" was always the answer.